Shoulder arthrosis

Shoulder joint arthrosis is a chronic disease based on damage to cartilage tissue followed by the appearance of bone growths and limited mobility. Older people most often suffer, but hard physical work and inflammatory processes contribute to the early development of the pathology. Without timely treatment, the movement of the affected joint is completely blocked.

general information

Cartilage is a smooth layer between the contact areas of the bones. It ensures easy sliding together, guaranteeing free and painless working together. 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. However, bone growths begin to appear along the edge 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 are spasmodic, the ligaments weaken and lose their elasticity. Without treatment, the person loses the ability to move the arm.

Views

Depending on the cause of development, a distinction is made between primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The primary form occurs on its own, most often in the background of excessive joint overload. The secondary is provoked by third party pathology such as trauma, intense inflammation, metabolic disorders, and so on. Both forms of the disease are similar in their symptoms.

The reasons

Unlike the knee, ankle, and hip joints, the shoulder does not experience significant stress while walking, so this form of arthrosis is much less common. The pathology can be caused by:

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

Heredity plays an important role in the predisposition to arthrosis.

Degree

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

• Grade 1 is characterized by minimal manifestations: pain occurs only with intense or sustained exertion and resolves rapidly after rest, and X-rays reveal subchondral sclerosis of the joint surfaces;
• In grade 2 arthrosis, the pain becomes much stronger, one has to use painkillers to feel better; X-ray shows marked joint stenosis, extensive areas of cartilage destruction, and bone growths (osteophytes);
• Grade 3 of the disease is accompanied by constant intense pain, joint mobility is significantly limited, the image shows complete destruction of cartilage tissue, deformation of bone structures, and a large number of osteophytes.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of shoulder arthrosis are:

• pain: results from decreased joint surface smoothness, osteophytic growth, and bone deformity; the intensity, duration, and nature of the feelings depend on the degree of damage;
• crunching: a characteristic symptom of the disease that occurs in the early stages; it differs from physiology in its coarser tonality and is often accompanied by pain;
• restriction of mobility: associated with the appearance of pathological growths and destroyed cartilage particles in the joint; in the first stages it is represented by mild morning stiffness, later it grows to full immobility (ankylosis);
• deformity: first only the change in the contour of the joint and then the contour of the hand occurs in the later stages of the disease, indicating complete destruction of the cartilage and the involvement of bones, muscles and ligaments in the pathological process.

The progression of symptoms can take years or even decades, but eventually arthrosis of the shoulder joint leads to immobility of the arm and severe pain.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing shoulder arthrosis requires an integrated approach. To determine the exact diagnosis and determine the extent of the lesion, your doctor will use the following methods:

• questioning and collecting a medical history: recording the patient's complaints, determining the conditions under which certain symptoms occur; information on previous illnesses and injuries, parental joint damage, is clarified without failure;
• examination: the doctor visually evaluates the joint, determines the range of movement, the zone of greatest pain, etc. ;
• X-ray and CT: the main diagnostic method that allows to view the characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis (joint space narrowing, cartilage degeneration, bone growth and deformities);
• Ultrasound: allows the condition of cartilage, bones, ligaments, joint capsule and muscles to be assessed;
• MRI: allows the acquisition of virtual slices of all structures in the affected area;
• laboratory diagnosis: a blood test reveals an active inflammatory process often associated with arthrosis;
• arthroscopy: examination of the joint from the inside with a camera inserted through a small puncture.

If the disease is secondary in nature, examination and consultation of narrow specialists about the underlying disease is mandatory.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

The treatment of shoulder arthrosis depends on the extent of the lesion: in stages 1 and 2, the disease can be successfully stopped or delayed by appropriate selection of drugs. With extensive destruction, the only way to restore mobility and stop pain altogether is a surgical operation - arthroscopy to "cleanse" the joint.

Drug treatment

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

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

The selection of specific drugs, their dosage, frequency of administration and duration of the course is only done by a doctor! It is important to note that self-medication can cause accelerated joint degeneration and other side effects.

Physiotherapy

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

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

Like medications, physiotherapy, massage, and exercise should be prescribed and performed under the supervision of a professional. If they are beneficial during a quiet period, the effect underlying the acute inflammatory process may cause increased pain.

Surgery

The last stage of arthrosis of the shoulder joint is accompanied by severe symptoms and requires surgical treatment. Most of the changes caused by degeneration are irreversible, so the only way to restore human mobility is through endoprosthetics. The affected joint is replaced with a modern prosthesis that fully takes over its functions. This operation is especially effective in young and middle-aged people as it allows them to live without pain for years.

Prophylaxis

Like all joint diseases, shoulder arthrosis is easier to prevent than to cure. Orthopedists recommend following these rules:

• excludes or minimizes occupational risk factors (vibration, weight lifting);
• do not allow hypodynamics, but do not strive for sports records: it is better to choose a moderate training option;
• nutrition and weight control;
• participate in regular inspections to identify potential problems.

Diet

In case of any degree of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, it is important to pay attention to nutrition:

• avoid overeating and being overweight;
• minimizes harmful products: fatty, spicy, salty, alcohol, canned food, smoked meats;
• consuming sufficient amounts of high collagen (jelly meat, aspic) and omega-3 (fatty fish, olive oil) foods;
• give preference to cooked, steamed or steamed foods over fried foods;
• reduce the amount of fast digestible carbohydrates.

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

Consequences and complications

Even a slight pain and crackling can become unpleasant consequences. Without treatment, arthrosis leads to:

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

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

Treatment in a specialized clinic

It is impossible to cure arthrosis alone. Specialists of the modern clinic offer patients complex methods of treating shoulder arthrosis:

• modern drug regimens that combine high efficacy with minimal side effects;
• proven and new physiotherapy techniques over time;
• PRP therapy;
• physiotherapy exercises and massage to relieve the restriction of joint movements.

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

The patient is monitored throughout treatment to keep the disease under control.

Advantages of modern clinics

Special blades are offered to their patients:

• comprehensive health screenings;
• advanced examinations for accurate diagnosis;
• consultations of narrow professionals of various profiles;
• modern treatment regimens, including not only medications but also physiotherapy, massage and exercise;
• at a reasonable price for all services.

Shoulder arthrosis is a problem that can completely change a person’s life. Do not let the disease get into an irreversible stage, consult an orthopedic doctor.