Osteoarthritis of the shoulder

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease based on damage to cartilage tissue, accompanied by the appearance of bone growths and limited mobility. The elderly most often suffer, but hard physical work and inflammatory processes contribute to the early development of pathology. Without timely treatment, movements in the affected joint are completely blocked.

General information

Cartilage is a smooth layer between the contact areas of the bones. It ensures their easy sliding towards each other, guaranteeing free and painless work on the joints. Excessive stress, inflammation, or trauma can trigger a degenerative process that gradually spreads over the entire surface.

As a result, the smoothness of the joint surfaces is disturbed and the movements begin to cause pain. At the same time, growths on the bones begin to appear along the edges of the joint, replacing the affected cartilage. As the degenerative process progresses, it involves not only the bones but also the surrounding tissues. The limb is deformed, the muscles spasm, and the ligaments become weak and lose elasticity. Without treatment, a person loses the ability to move the arm.

Reviews

Depending on the cause of development, there are primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The primary form occurs on its own, most often against the background of excessive joint overload. Secondary is caused by third-party pathology, for example, trauma, intense inflammation, metabolic disorders, etc. Both forms of the disease are similar in symptoms.

Reasons

Unlike the knee, ankle and hip joints, the shoulder does not experience significant stress when walking, which is why this form of osteoarthritis occurs much less frequently. Pathology can be caused by:

• regular excessive physical activity: weightlifting, professional sports, vibration;
• congenital abnormalities of the structure of the shoulder joint and adjacent structures;
• rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases;
• congenital connective tissue weakness, accompanied by joint hypermobility;
• injuries: sprains, sprains and ruptures of ligaments, intra-articular bone fractures;
• hormonal changes and disorders (including pregnancy, menopause);
• inflammatory diseases of the joints and periarticular structures (arthritis, bursitis, etc. );
• metabolic disorders, including gout, diabetes mellitus.

Heredity plays an important role in the predisposition to osteoarthritis.

Degrees

Doctors identify 3 degrees of deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint, which determine its symptoms and the choice of treatment tactics:

• Grade 1 is characterized by minimal manifestations: pain occurs only with intense or prolonged exertion and passes quickly after rest, and X-ray reveals subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces;
• in grade 2 osteoarthritis the pain becomes much stronger, the person must use painkillers to feel better; radiography shows marked narrowing of the joint space, extensive areas of cartilage destruction, as well as bone growths (osteophytes);
• Grade 3 disease is accompanied by constant intense pain, joint mobility is significantly limited, and the picture shows complete destruction of cartilage tissue, deformation of bone structures and a large number of osteophytes.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis include:

• pain: occurs by reducing the smoothness of joint surfaces, osteophyte growth and bone deformation; the intensity, duration, and nature of the sensations depend on the degree of damage;
• crunch: one of the characteristic symptoms of the disease, which appears in the early stages; differs from physiological in a coarser tonality, and is also often accompanied by pain;
• restriction of mobility: associated with the appearance of pathological growths and particles of destroyed cartilage inside the joint; in the first stages it is represented by a slight morning stiffness, later it grows to complete immobility (ankylosis);
• deformation: a change in the contour of first only the joint and then the hand occurs in the later stages of the disease and indicates the complete destruction of cartilage and the involvement of bones, muscles and ligaments in the pathological process.

The progression of symptoms can take years or even decades, but ultimately osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint leads to an inability to move the arm and severe pain.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of shoulder arthrosis requires an integrated approach. To make an accurate diagnosis and determine the extent of the lesion, the doctor uses the following methods:

• examination and collection of anamnesis: the patient's complaints are recorded, the circumstances of the appearance of certain symptoms are determined; information about past illnesses and injuries, the presence of joint damage in parents is clarified without error;
• examination: the doctor visually assesses the joint, determines the range of motion, the zone of greatest pain, etc. ;
• X-ray and CT: the main diagnostic method that allows you to see the characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis (narrowing of the joint space, cartilage degeneration, bone growth and deformities);
• Ultrasound: allows the assessment of the condition of cartilage, bones, ligaments, joint capsules and muscles;
• MRI: allows you to obtain virtual slices of all structures of the affected area;
• laboratory diagnosis: a blood test reveals an active inflammatory process, which often accompanies osteoarthritis;
• arthroscopy: examination of the joint from the inside with a camera inserted through a small puncture.

If the disease is of a secondary nature, examinations and consultations with narrow specialists on the basic pathology are mandatory.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint depends on the degree of the lesion: in the 1st and 2nd stages, the disease can be successfully stopped or delayed by the correct choice of medication. With extensive destruction, the only way to restore mobility and completely stop the pain is surgery - arthroscopy with "cleaning" of the joint.

Drug treatment

Medical treatment of shoulder arthrosis is aimed at reducing symptoms and restoring cartilage tissue. The following groups of drugs are used for this:

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: block inflammatory reactions and reduce pain; they are available in the form of tablets, ointments, suppositories and in the form of injections;
• hormonal agents (corticosteroids): used when NSAIDs are ineffective, have a similar effect; long-acting drugs, injected directly into the joint cavity, provide a good effect;
• antispasmodics, B vitamins: used to reduce muscle spasms that inevitably accompany advanced osteoarthritis;
• chondroprotectors: designed for long-term use, aimed at restoring cartilage tissue;
• drugs that improve microcirculation: indirectly stimulate regeneration processes by improving the blood supply to the affected area;
• enzyme blockers: partially slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue.

The choice of certain drugs, their dose, frequency of administration and duration of the course is carried out only by a doctor! It is important to remember that self-medication can cause accelerated joint degeneration and other side effects.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy techniques and physiotherapy exercises greatly facilitate the course of the disease and enhance the effect of medications. The following procedures have been shown to have a good effect:

• magnetotherapy: relieves pain, relieves inflammation, improves microcirculation and stimulates the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
• shock wave therapy: exposure to acoustic waves of a certain frequency contributes to the destruction of osteophytes, which facilitates movement in the affected joint;
• electrophoresis, phonophoresis: introduction of drugs (painkillers, chondroprotectors) into tissues by means of electrical impulses or ultrasound; promotes better drug absorption;
• massage and physiotherapy exercises: dosed loads on the joint and intense manual action stimulate blood circulation in the tissues.

Like medication, physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy should be prescribed and performed under the supervision of a specialist. If they are useful in the quiet period, then the effect in the background of the acute inflammatory process can cause increased pain.

Surgery

The last stage of osteoarthritis of the shoulder is accompanied by severe symptoms and requires surgical treatment. Most of the changes that have occurred as a result of degeneration are irreversible, which is why the only way to restore a person’s mobility is endoprosthetics. The affected joint is replaced with a modern prosthesis that completely takes over its functions. This operation is especially effective in young and middle age, because it allows you to live without pain for years.

Prophylaxis

Like any joint disease, osteoarthritis of the shoulder is easier to prevent than to cure. Orthopedists recommend following the following rules:

• eliminate or minimize occupational risk factors (vibration, weight lifting);
• not to allow hypodynamics, but also not to strive for sports records: it is better to choose a moderate training option;
• control diet and weight;
• undergo regular examinations to identify possible problems.

Diet

With shoulder osteoarthritis of any degree, it is important to follow a diet:

• avoid overeating and being overweight;
• minimize harmful products: fatty, spicy, salty, alcohol, canned food, smoked meat;
• eat a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen (jelly meat, aspic) and omega-3 (fatty fish, olive oil);
• give preference to cooked, steamed or stewed food, rather than fried food;
• reduce the amount of fast-digesting carbohydrates.

The diet should be complete and contain the required amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Consequences and complications

Even mild pain and cracking in the shoulder can turn into unpleasant consequences. Without treatment, osteoarthritis leads to:

• significant limitation of mobility to ankylosis (bone fusion);
• severe pain even at rest;
• severe deformity of the shoulder and whole arm.

To avoid these problems, it is important not to search the internet for how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with folk remedies, but simply contact an orthopedist to choose a therapy.

Treatment in a specialized clinic

It is impossible to cure osteoarthritis on your own. Specialists of the modern clinic offer patients complex methods of treatment of shoulder arthrosis:

• modern drug therapy regimens that combine high efficacy and minimal side effects;
• time-tested and new physiotherapy techniques;
• PRP therapy;
• physiotherapy exercises and massage to relieve joint movement limitations.

If necessary, a medical puncture of the joint is performed by introducing painkillers or artificial synovial fluid that facilitates movement.

We monitor the patient throughout the treatment to keep the disease under control.

Advantages of modern clinics

Specialized blades offer their patients:

• comprehensive health examination programs;
• advanced examinations for accurate diagnosis;
• consultations of narrow experts of various profiles;
• modern treatment regimens, which include not only medications but also physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy;
• favorable prices for all services.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a problem that can completely change a person's life. Do not allow the disease to pass into an irreversible phase, come for a consultation with an orthopedist.