Our joints are exposed to constant stress throughout our lives. As a result, the cartilage tissue wears out, the bone tissue deforms and osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint occurs, which has become one of the most common problems among increasingly older people.
The development of the disease can lead to complete limitation of movement and persistent joint pain. Therefore, treatment of osteoarthritis should begin at the first manifestations of the disease.
What is osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint?
Dystrophic changes in the cartilage and adjacent bone tissue of the shoulder joint are known in medicine as arthrosis of the shoulder joint ICD-10 - M19. 91 defined. Osteoarthritis most often occurs in the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder, which is usually exposed to constant stress and heavy loads during the day.
Under the influence of injuries and various inflammatory processes, the cartilage tissue is damaged and gradually weakens, becoming brittle and thin. Cracks form in the cartilage, in which salts begin to be deposited, which accelerate the destructive processes in the cartilage tissue. As a result of such salt deposits, the bone tissue becomes dense and begins to deform, resulting in acromioclavicular arthrosis.
This process is slow and chronic; Initially it is asymptomatic, but gradually the severity of the disease increases and over time it can lead to complete immobility in the joint area.
The following factors can trigger the onset of the pathological process:
- Shoulder injuries that have resulted in deformation of the joint and inflammation.
- Insufficient blood supply to the shoulder joint that persists for a long period of time - this condition can be caused by vascular diseases.
- Construction workers, athletes and shippers constantly experience high levels of stress on their joints.
- Congenital joint diseases.
- Malnutrition and resulting metabolic disorders.
Important!The most common form of the disease is post-traumatic arthrosis of the shoulder joint, ICD-10 code -M19. 91.
The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile in humans, which often leads to joint injuries. Even a small injury to a joint that repeats regularly and over a longer period of time leads to the development of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis of the right shoulder joint is the most common because most of the population is "right-handed" and the load on the right side is always higher.
Causes and factors in the development of the disease
Most often, arthrosis is diagnosed in older people, and the older the person, the greater the likelihood that pathology will be discovered.
Causes and prerequisites for the development of shoulder arthrosis:
- Injuries. Fractures, bruises and dislocations affect the bone and cartilage tissue of the shoulder joint and cause various complications – capsular damage, rupture of ligaments. Timely treatment prevents the development of complications and the occurrence of arthrosis.
- Vascular pathologies. Diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis and varicose veins can influence the development of osteoarthritis. The risk of disease is also increased in people who abuse smoking.
- Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity combined with overeating leads to extra pounds. This disrupts the metabolism, which leads to impaired blood flow to the cartilage and periarticular tissue - osteoarthritis occurs.
- Hormonal and immune disorders- Gout, psoriasis, etc.
- Joint diseases– Synovitis, chronic and acute arthritis, aseptic tissue necrosis.
- Diseases of the endocrine system and metabolic disorders. These diseases cause the body to lack vitamins and minerals necessary for joint health (such as calcium and phosphorus). This negatively affects the condition of the joints and complicates their recovery processes.
Most often, osteoarthritis does not arise under the influence of one factor, but its development is promoted by a combination of several causes at the same time.
Types and symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis
Since the development of arthrosis continues over a long period of time, the disease may initially practically not manifest itself and sometimes only becomes noticeable after severe physical overload or hypothermia.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Shoulder pain.This is the main sign of osteoarthritis - the pain varies in nature and usually increases with movement and strain on the shoulder joint. The pain causes discomfort that limits shoulder mobility.
- Crunching noise when moving. Salt deposits in the shoulder joints cause a characteristic crunching (or clicking) sound in the joint when you move.
- Movement restrictions. It manifests itself depending on the stage of osteoarthritis - at the beginning of the disease there are no restrictions, during the exacerbation the patient cannot turn and move the arm freely.
Sometimes the location of the pain can be atypical and cause pain in the arm or elbow. Palpation allows you to determine the main sources of pain - the lower edge of the scapula and collarbone.
Take note!In the early stages, grade 1 osteoarthritis does not cause any symptoms. This is due to the absence of nerve endings in the cartilage tissue, as a result of which the disease begins to manifest itself when the pathological process goes far beyond the joints.
Depending on the type and extent of damage to the bone and cartilage tissue, three stages of osteoarthritis are distinguished, which are characterized by certain symptoms.
| Symptoms | 1st stage | 2nd stage | 3rd stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| pain | Occurs rarely - usually in the evening or morning, after exercise or hypothermia | Intense pain that occurs with every movement | The pain is constant even at rest |
| Movement restrictions | Light | The amplitude of possible movements is reduced | A severe and sometimes complete restriction of mobility. Abduction of the arm and its elevation become impossible. The hand has to be held in a forced position, which is very painful |
| Crunching and crunching in the shoulder joint | Slight crunching with sudden movement - no pain | With every movement you can hear a creak and a distinct grinding sound | Constant grinding clicks can be heard with every movement |
| Local manifestations (redness and swelling in the joint area, increased temperature at the site of the disease) | Not present | Appears during periods of exacerbation | There is constant inflammation in the joint |
| Hardening of the connection | Not present | Rarely happens | The shoulder hardens and deforms |
| Joint changes visible on x-ray | Not present | Signs of joint deformation, narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of osteophytes can be seen | Traces of joint destruction are visible |
The period of the first stage can last from several months to several years. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint of the 3rd degree is treated only with the help of surgical measures, because the condition threatens disability.
One of the types of pathologies is deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint. This condition means the destruction of the articular cartilage, which leads to irreversible changes in the bones of the articular surfaces. In addition to the cartilage tissue, such changes also affect the joint capsule and the synovial membrane, which leads to destruction and deformation of the shoulder joint.
Deforming osteoarthritis manifests itself as aching and dull pain in the shoulder joint, which intensifies during changes in the weather and at night. The pathology is chronic and therefore cannot be completely cured. However, it relieves unpleasant symptoms and stops destructive processes in the tissue.
How to cure arthrosis in the shoulder joint
Before treating shoulder arthrosis, various diagnostic measures are carried out aimed at determining the form and stage of arthrosis. These measures include conducting laboratory and biochemical blood tests that can confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
If shoulder arthrosis is suspected, the patient is asked to carry out a number of self-diagnostic measures:
- Place your hands between your shoulder blades in the form of a lock.
- Tie a belt around the back of your waist.
- Bend your elbow at shoulder height and comb the hair at the back of your head.
If the patient performs all of these activities without any problems, he or she is not at risk of developing osteoarthritis. However, if completing tasks is difficult and causes pain in the collarbone and shoulder area, a more detailed examination is required - for a more accurate diagnosis, fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging are used.
Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree and the first stage of the disease are treated with conservative methods, only if there is no result can surgical measures be used.
Conservative methods of arthrosis treatment are carried out in combination, when treatment is carried out in several directions at once:
- treatment with medication;
- Physical therapy;
- treatment with traditional methods;
- therapeutic gymnastics and acupuncture;
- special diet;
- Spa treatment.
Important!An important prerequisite for the treatment of shoulder arthrosis is to protect the shoulder joint (this is easier if there is arthrosis of the left shoulder joint) and such gentle treatment should be applied even after the completion of therapy. If the patient continues to put pressure on the shoulder girdle, the disease will progress, ultimately leading to surgery.
Surgical measures include endoprosthetic surgery - the replacement of a diseased (worn out) joint with an artificial counterpart. This operation is expensive and although it significantly improves the patient's quality of life, it has the disadvantage that the operation must be repeated every 10-15 years.
Medication
Drug treatment has several directions: pain relief, relief of inflammatory processes and direct restoration of cartilage tissue.
Medicines and pills
To eliminate inflammation and pain, the following groups of drugs are used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Analgesics and antispasmodics.
These medications can be prescribed either orally or intramuscularly (in the form of injections). They relieve pain well and relieve inflammation, but they cannot be taken for a long period of time - treatment is carried out in short courses.
The destruction of cartilage tissue is treated with drugs from the group of chondroprotectors, which include the active ingredients glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.
Chondroprotectors are a valuable building material for cartilage tissue, but drugs have a regenerating effect only in the first two stages. The first results of the use of chondroprotectors are observed already 3 months after application, and the general duration of treatment is about a year.
When treating arthrosis, it is imperative to take nutritional supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes with substances that prevent demineralization of joint tissue.
In severe inflammatory processes, a method called "intra-articular blockade" is used. The essence of the technique is the introduction of hormonal drugs into the cavity of the acromion joint. Such injections have a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but have many side effects and therefore cannot always be used for treatmentbe used.
Anoint
Ointments that are applied to the skin in the shoulder joint area are effective for external use. Ointments for osteoarthritis have an anesthetic effect, contain anti-inflammatory substances and active ingredients that promote blood circulation.
Important!Ointments for osteoarthritis relieve unpleasant symptoms, but cannot cure the disease.
The advantage of ointments over painkillers is that they have a local anesthetic effect without damaging the gastrointestinal tract. But they also have a disadvantage: given the intensity of the pain syndrome, they cannot always relieve the pain quickly.
physical therapy
The main method of treating arthrosis in the initial stages is taking medication. Physiotherapeutic procedures can increase the effect of medication and also reduce the likelihood of side effects.
The following therapeutic methods are used to treat osteoarthritis:
- electrophoresis;
- exposure to a magnetic field;
- radiation exposure (ultraviolet, infrared, laser);
- Ultrasonic.
Physiotherapeutic activities are carried out several times a year - in courses. The type and method of treatment is selected individually for each patient, depending on the degree of the disease, the patient's age and other indications.
Home treatment
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint at home is carried out in addition to drug therapy with the consent of the attending physician.
Gymnastics and exercise therapy
Physiotherapy for arthrosis of the shoulder joint should only be carried out in the remission stage; in case of exacerbations, gymnastic exercises are contraindicated.
You can find exercise therapy exercises on the Internet, but all of these must be coordinated with your doctor.
Important!You cannot choose the arthrosis exercises yourself, regardless of what reputable websites describe these procedures and regardless of what flattering reviews accompany them. Many of them have contraindications and can do more harm than good - so you should definitely consult a doctor before starting training.
Rules for home exercises for arthrosis:
- Exercise therapy cannot be carried out if there are decompensated diseases of the lungs and heart, there is a high fever or there are diseases in which any physical activity is contraindicated.
- Exercise shouldn't cause pain. Otherwise, they will be chosen incorrectly and can lead to complications.
- In the treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, gymnastics requires regularity - it must be done daily. Training should initially last no more than 5 minutes per day and gradually increase the time to 20 minutes.
- You need to perform the exercises gradually - first with a quarter force, then gradually increasing the load. The intensity of movements and their amplitude should increase gradually. The older the age and the longer the duration of a sedentary lifestyle, the slower the process of increasing intensity.
- The exercises are performed in a light, semi-relaxed state - sitting or lying down.
A number of simple exercises can be performed independently every day at any time: raising and lowering the shoulders, swinging the arm back and forth, rotating the shoulders.
massage
Massage for arthrosis of the shoulder joint is best done immediately after exercise therapy and gymnastics. This helps improve blood flow to the shoulder joint and promotes the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Massage can only be performed when the acute pain subsides and the inflammatory process subsides.
During the procedure, not only the painful shoulder is massaged, but also the collar area on both sides and the forearm area.
diet
Diet rules for arthrosis - elimination of factors that influence the development of the disease and metabolic disorders.
Basic principles of nutrition:
- Limiting sweet, starchy, fatty and salty foods.
- Reduce salt intake to a minimum.
- Reduce portion sizes but increase the number of meals (eat in small portions, but often).
- Replace the consumption of animal fats with dairy and vegetable fats.
- Increase the proportion of dairy dishes in your diet, which are sources of calcium, as well as seafood and fish (sources of collagen and phosphorus).
- Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you should never starve - the menu should be designed to increase the supply of nutrients without harming the body and reduce the amount of harmful foods.
ethnoscience
As a complement to drug therapy, doctors recommend home treatment with folk remedies:
- Pork fat is mixed with propolis in equal proportions. The resulting ointment is rubbed into the shoulder joint area with massage movements.
- To relieve pain, herbal baths with decoctions of chamomile, burdock and nettle are recommended.
- A folk remedy for arthrosis is oatmeal. They are brewed in boiling water, then compresses for the shoulder are made from the decoction, which are applied at night.
Folk remedies do not cause side effects and have no contraindications to use.
prevention
Preventive measures to prevent osteoarthritis consist of minimizing the factors that trigger the disease.
General recommendations:
- Elimination of insufficient stress on the joint caused by sporting or professional activities.
- Minimizing the risk of injury to the shoulder joint.
- Mandatory consultations with a therapist in case of injuries or pain in the shoulder joint to minimize the risk of complications.
- Prevent the appearance of excess weight - control your diet and engage in daily physical activity (gymnastics, walking, swimming).
- In old age, medications should be used that promote the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a dangerous disease that can lead to complete immobility of the joint and disability. At the first signs of illness you should see a doctor. The treatment of osteoarthritis must be comprehensive and include both conservative and alternative therapy methods.