Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder osteoarthritis is a chronic pathology in which the articular cartilage and adjacent bone tissue degrade, wear and break.If you treat this disease negligently and do not start treatment in a timely manner, the consequences can be quite disastrous, including loss of motor functions of the hand.

Why does shoulder osteoarthritis develop?

The impetus for the development of shoulder osteoarthritis is inflammation in the joint.It can appear for several reasons:

• Injuries.Shoulder osteoarthritis can develop due to a previous shoulder injury or constant small microtrauma to the shoulder, typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In vascular pathologies, blood circulation is often impaired, which leads to insufficient blood supply to the joints.As a result, the articular tissues undergo degenerative changes, that is, arthrosis develops.
• Excessive load.This is often associated with the work activities of patients (loaders, builders).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.They often significantly affect the articular tissues, having a destructive effect on them.These are diseases such as psoriasis, gout, etc.
• Heredity.It has been proven that children of parents with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint are more likely to develop joint defects than others.This also includes people who were born with a joint defect.Both perceive the usual load placed on the hands as excessive, and therefore the process of cartilage wear occurs much faster.
• Failures in metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Because of this, salts begin to accumulate in the joints and the cartilaginous tissues stop receiving adequate nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.A prerequisite for the development of arthrosis may be joint pathologies such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc.
• Age.Elderly people (50 years and older) are especially at risk, since joint tissues wear out with age, which in itself leads to the development of pathologies.

Signs of shoulder osteoarthritis

Arthrosis is characterized by a long development, sometimes not manifesting itself at all in the initial stages.Therefore, you should be very careful with the slightest symptomatic manifestations.Shoulder osteoarthritis is usually indicated by:

1. Pain is considered the main symptom of the disease.Severe pain usually bothers patients in the morning.Pain syndromes are also more possible with sudden changes in weather.If you subject your sore shoulder to any load, for example, lifting something heavy, the pain will also remind you of itself.The patient feels pain even when touching the shoulder.With the development of shoulder arthrosis, pain begins to occur even in a quiet position.This fact must be taken into account - with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain can occur not only in the affected joint, but also localized in the arm, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Because of the pain, it becomes difficult for the patient to perform seemingly simple tasks on their own, for example, combing their hair.In fact, this action is one of the test movements for diagnosing osteoarthritis.Rotational movements and attempts to move the arm backwards are also difficult.If treatment is not started on time, gradually the shoulder joint and, consequently, the arm stop moving completely and contracture develops.
3. Painful crunch, grinding in the joint.It usually occurs due to salts deposited in the diseased joint (osteophytes).Initially, a weak, creaking rustle appears in the diseased joint;as the disease progresses, it turns into distinct crunchy clicks, audible even at some distance from the patient.
4. Swelling, increased general temperature and redness at the affected joint site.These signs confirm the presence of inflammation in the diseased joint.
5. Joint hardening.This symptom appears when the disease is advanced due to bone growths covering the joint.

You should not delay going to the clinic if you suddenly start to feel pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation.In fact, in the later stages, osteoarthritis is practically intractable.Note that some patients may not show any signs of the disease.

Symptoms of shoulder arthrosis depending on the stage of the disease:

1. The first degree of shoulder osteoarthritis is characterized by morning and nighttime pain.The patient needs to “develop” the joint before it begins to move without stiffness.A sudden movement of the shoulder or arm is accompanied by a slight, still painless, crunching sound.At rest, no pain is observed.Radiographic examination does not show significant changes in the joint.
2. Shoulder arthrosis in the second stage is accompanied by more intense pain and a clear crunching sound.The range of possible movements of the hand is reduced, but the joint is still mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. The third degree is a serious and advanced stage of the disease.Patients can only squeeze the hand lightly;acute pain torments them constantly.The joint itself becomes very inflamed and deformed.There is even partial atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint.The joint can only be cured by surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely develops to this stage.It only occurs in patients who do not take care of the affected joint and subject it to unbearable stress.
4. Stage four – absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of the bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve pain syndrome.This phase occurs mainly in elderly patients.

Shoulder osteoarthritis treatment

Drug treatment for shoulder arthrosis is aimed, first of all, at destroying the source of the inflammatory process and pain.Typically, your doctor will prescribe NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Firstly, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Often, with severe inflammation, doctors resort to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory medications used for joint blockage.This procedure is an injection given into the joint itself.This method is a non-invasive treatment method, that is, with it neither the skin nor the mucous membranes are damaged.As a rule, it involves the use of ointments, gels, creams, etc.

Chondroprotectors are also prescribed for shoulder arthrosis - drugs that can restore damaged cartilage, based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to drug treatment, exercise therapy, sanatorium treatment, massage and physiotherapy are also used.The latter refers to ultrasound treatment procedures, laser therapy, mud therapy, cryotherapy and magnetic therapy.Recently, the treatment of arthrosis with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become quite popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastics exercises, without overloading the joint, stimulate the muscles to the necessary extent, thereby developing and restoring the joint.

Additionally, the patient is prescribed a therapeutic diet based on the avoidance of very spicy and salty foods.Doctors advise eating more foods that contain collagen: turkey, seafood, green vegetables and salmon.

In cases where shoulder arthrosis has led to the complete destruction of the articular cartilage, a surgical operation called endoprosthesis is performed, during which a ceramic, plastic or metal prosthesis is implanted in place of the affected joint.

Traditional medicine has also demonstrated effectiveness in combating shoulder osteoarthritis.

Folk remedies are often effective as additional pain relievers.Remember that they are not able to restore a shoulder joint affected by osteoarthritis.This requires medical treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

Compresses

Boil oats (30 g) in two glasses of water for about 10 minutes.Soak a piece of gauze folded in several layers with the resulting solution and apply to the wounds for at least half an hour.

A cabbage juice compress has proven to be a good pain reliever.It is usually done every night, leaving the sore joint until the morning.

You can simply apply cabbage leaves smeared with honey on the affected joint at night.

Rubbing

Infuse elecampane roots (50 g) with vodka (125 ml) for a few weeks.The mixture must be rubbed into painful joints.

Leave angelica roots (15 g) for half an hour, pour boiling water over them.The strained solution should be rubbed into the affected areas 3-5 times a day.

Herbal baths

You can add various herbal decoctions and infusions to a bath filled with water.Experienced people note the special effect of baths with decoctions of mustard, hay powder, mint and burdock.These baths should be taken before the body is well steamed, and then, after rubbing the joints, the patient needs to lie down, covered with a warm blanket, so that the body retains heat for longer.

Ointments

To regular petroleum jelly you need to add 15 g of sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort. The resulting mixture must be regularly rubbed into the joint area.