Shoulder arthritis isarthropathy, which is characterized by degeneration, abrasion, and destruction of cartilage, as well as adjacent bone tissues. This disease is also known as adhesive bursitis, polydural disease, frozen shoulder syndrome.
The disease is chronic, progressive. At first, the disease develops, as a rule, unnoticed by the patient. At this point, just an x-ray can make a diagnosis. Then the first minor symptoms appear: for example, pain when trying to bring the spoon to the mouth. Symptoms increase, and then mobility of the affected arm is severely or completely limited. A person's quality of life declines, sleep deteriorates, so it is almost impossible to choose a location where pain is eliminated.
There are two main manifestations of the disease. The first is pain (first observed with movement, then - at rest). The second manifestation is muscle restriction (spasticity). For example, the patient is unable to raise his or her arm back.
Cartilage problems occur in many people. Statistically, joint disease is diagnosed in 7% of the population. Although shoulder osteoarthritis is less dangerous than hip osteoarthritis, the consequences are still very scary. We are talking about complete immobility of the hand, and this is a serious inconvenience in everyday life and is not suitable for most types of work.
The danger of this disease lies in the inability to repair the damage it has caused. It is important to identify arthrosis in the early stages of development, and therefore, if the slightest discomfort occurs, begin to carefully monitor your shoulder.
For the first time, the pain that has appeared can be tried to get rid of with medication. Pain can be caused, such as by difficult movement, heavy lifting, or playing sports. If the pain doesn't go away after 3-4 days, see a doctor. First, you can test the mobility of the joints: do a movement that mimics wearing an apron (putting your hands behind your back). If you feel pain at the same time, you should not postpone your trip to the doctor. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a "devious" disease, only needing to be vigilant to prevent it in time.
Causes of shoulder osteoarthritis
- Natural wear and tear of cartilage. The risk group includes people over 50 years old, but special attention should be paid to the condition of bones and joints after 40. At this age, it is necessary to reduce the load on them.
- Injured. The degenerative process of cartilage and bone tissue can cause mechanical damage. It can be not only a serious injury, but also a number of minor injuries, which, for example, occur in athletes.
- Playing a sport puts a lot of stress on the shoulder joint. We're talking tennis, rowing, swimming, handball, volleyball.
- Circulatory disorders in the shoulder and neck region. It can be caused by disease, genetic factors, or trauma.
- Work involves transferring weight. Arthritis develops due to the constant straining of the muscles in the shoulder joint.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, although infrequent, still leads to the development of fibromyalgia.
- Autoimmune disorder.
- Endocrine system disorders.
- Certain metabolic diseases, gout, etc. v.
- genetic predisposition. If someone in the family has shoulder osteoarthritis, the patient should limit the burden on the joint and consult a specialist.
Developmental stages of shoulder osteoarthritis
- First stage. Joints may creak from time to time. The pain occurs in the morning and evening. Pain can occur in bad weather. Discomfort during movement does exist, but after the hand "grows" everything returns to normal.
- Second stage. The mobility of the hand is significantly reduced. At this stage, a person begins to "adapt" his movements to existing inconveniences: for example, while wearing a jacket, one must avoid jerking the arms behind the back when wearing the jacket. Symptoms of the first stage intensify.
- Third stage. The joint is completely immobilized. The amplitude of hand movement is limited to a few degrees. Constant pain. Due to the immobility of the joint, the muscles of the shoulder and neck area begin to atrophy.
- Fourth stage. The hand is completely motionless. Joints harden and bones grow together, because there is no cartilage between them. The pain was strong. It is not always eliminated by pain relievers.
Already in the second stage, the symptoms of the disease are already evident, so the disease rarely reaches the third and fourth stages. This happens if the patient completely ignores the problem or tries to get rid of it with the help of self-medication. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a complex disease that only a doctor can eliminate.
Symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis
- Pain at rest or with exercise.
- Discomfort when weather conditions change.
- Pain after prolonged exercise that lasts a day or more.
- crunch.
- Stiffness of movement due to pain.
- Swelling of the joint area.
- Sensation of an elevated temperature in this area (sign of an inflammatory process).
- Difficulty sleeping due to not being able to lie on the side for a long time.
Symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient. Much depends on the cause of the disease and its course. We've talked about the main signs that make you want to see a doctor in the first place: pain and stiffness. If you notice these symptoms, you should definitely see a specialist. Medical intervention is required with such severe symptoms, even if it is not joint disease but something else.
Diagnosis of shoulder osteoarthritis
Diagnosis begins with taking a history. The patient tells the therapist about the symptoms and when the signs of the disease first appeared. The patient needs to remember whether this discomfort was present before the injury, bruise, or dislocation.
Next, the doctor conducts a visual examination of the affected area. At this stage, swelling and other visible signs of shoulder dryness can be identified. To assess joint mobility, the doctor asks the patient to do preliminary tests. For example, bring your hand to the lock behind your back. There is a high probability that the disease will "manifested" on its own at this stage.
Specialists use hardware diagnostics.
- X-ray. Confirm or refute the diagnosis. Allows you to determine the location of the lesion, the inflammatory process. Provides information about the distance between the bones: if they are too close together, the cartilage has begun to wear down.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Provides information on the condition of tendons and cartilage.
- CT scan. Provides 3D X-ray images of the area being examined, allowing you to assess the overall picture.
Modern diagnostic methods not only help determine the status of shoulder osteoarthritis, but also provide information about the disease stage and progression of the disease. This allows doctors to precisely design therapies.
Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis
The main task is to prevent the development of the disease, improve joint mobility, reduce pain and improve the quality of life for patients. Let's look at the methods doctors use to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder.
- Medicines. Pain relievers are used to relieve pain. Medicines that improve blood circulation are also used (if needed).
- Smooth driving mode.
- Diet.
- Massage. Metameric (point) massage is particularly effective.
- metameric method. Designed by Vladimir Andreevich Bersenev. It implies an impact on those who measure the affected nerve and ultimately on the affected joints. The main procedure is to inject the metame that is injected into the affected area. They prevent degenerative and destructive processes, improve joint mobility.
As in the case of arthritis of the knee or hip, treatment is only effective when therapy is tailored to the individual patient's characteristics, symptoms, and disease stage. There is no single pattern that will work in all cases.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a complicated disease, but with timely examination by a doctor, the prognosis is positive. If you find yourself with the above symptoms, don't delay seeing a specialist later. Each day delay complicates the treatment process and worsens the prognosis. Contact a specialist medical center, where your doctor will develop a personalized treatment plan to help with the condition.