Problems of the shoulder joint are not as common as those of the hip joint or the knee, but they do exist, and among them it is worth highlighting shoulder joint arthrosis, whose symptoms and treatment have their own characteristics. In most cases, a rheumatologist deals with these problems. Generally, arthrosis of the shoulder joint has its own specific symptoms and is characterized by degenerative processes not only in the cartilage itself. The capsule, the ligament apparatus and the joint bags, of which there are many, very often suffer.
As a result of everything that happens, the joint is deformed, the range of motion is limited. In addition to the fact that such a condition develops, arthrosis is accompanied by pain. The reasons for this condition can be very diverse, we will try to understand them in detail.
What makes everything happen
The inflammatory process leads to the consequences of arthrosis of the shoulder joint. It develops due to various factors, some are fought by a rheumatologist, and some will require the help of a traumatologist.
The most common cause of osteoarthritis is a traumatic injury. This is observed in athletes as a result of microtrauma, during a common displacement or after a fracture. Then arthrosis is post-traumatic and requires its own approach to treatment.
In the pathology of blood vessels, the tissues experience a lack of oxygen, tissue dystrophy occurs. As a result, arthrosis develops in both the right and left shoulder joints. Often this condition can be observed with excessive physical exertion.
Often the causes lie in hormonal disturbances or autoimmune damage to the cartilage. In the latter case, the rheumatologist deals with such arthrosis of the shoulder joint. Arthrosis occurs, for example, in psoriasis, gout.
It is certain that the reasons may lie in heredity, especially if the parents suffered from this disease. Also, arthrosis can develop in people with congenital defects of the shoulder joint.
Symptoms can also occur with age as the cartilage wears down. People over 50 are at risk.
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint develops for a long time and its symptoms do not appear. In this regard, you should constantly monitor the condition of the shoulder joint and, if even mild symptoms appear, immediately consult a doctor.
It all starts with pain, which first manifests itself in arthrosis. Joint pain, especially in the morning or when the weather changes. When lifting weights, this symptom is also actively felt, often the shoulder area cannot even be touched. As the symptoms progress, arthrosis appears even at rest. In addition to joint pain, symptoms can be in the back, forearm or elbow.
The symptoms are complemented by a limitation of movements, the main reasons for this are pain. A person usually cannot perform simple actions, such as combing their hair or brushing their teeth.
The scratch simulation test allows you to determine the presence of arthrosis.
It's also hard to get your hand back. If drugs and gymnastics are not prescribed in time, then contractures simply cannot be avoided.
Complements the symptoms of crunch, which can occur to any degree. This is due to the growth of bone tissue, and at an early stage only the person himself feels it, and then it is heard even from a distance. Swelling joins, and not only the joint, but also the shoulder, forearm, the skin may turn red. All this indicates the presence of an inflammatory process.
Lateral abduction of the arm becomes a problem in the late stages of the disease. This happens due to growths that abundantly cover the joint area. There is some specificity depending on the degree - at each stage, the disease can manifest itself in different ways.
Depending on the degree
In the first stage of the disease, the pain bothers only in the morning and evening. It may take time for a person to get rid of the "hardness". The sharp movement is accompanied by a slight crunch, which is not a cause of pain.
At rest, at this pain level, there is no pain, and there are no changes on the X-ray film. Everything starts from the second degree, when the manifestations become more pronounced.
Symptoms in the second stage are complemented by more pronounced crunching and pain. It is no longer possible to fully move the arm, but the mobility of the joint is preserved. At this stage, the destruction and deformation of the cartilage occurs, there are characteristic manifestations of the X-ray picture.
In the third degree, the process can be considered ongoing and drug treatment already has minimal success. In this case, only light rocking movements are possible, and sharp pain becomes a constant companion. The area of the joint becomes severely inflamed, accompanied by deformity, pain in the area of the shoulder and forearm. In this way, post-traumatic arthrosis is most often manifested, which can be in the area of the right or left shoulder joint.
If you do not perform special exercises, the muscles will atrophy. Only surgical treatment can help in this case. However, this stage is rarely reached, only in case of constant overloads.
In the fourth degree, it is not necessary to talk about the joint as such, because it simply does not exist. Post-traumatic arthrosis leads to this condition, especially if the injury is severe. Medicines, even powerful ones, are not able to cope with the pain. You can meet this stage in elderly and senile people. The pain often radiates to the forearm and only adequate treatment can help.
Treatment
There are special drugs that can stop the disease. The main thing is to prescribe treatment with them as early as possible, even if the arthrosis is post-traumatic.
Medicines
In the first place are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There are a large number of them and only a doctor can choose the right one. In addition to reducing pain, the inflammatory process is also removed. Treatment with these drugs is carried out in courses, otherwise the effect on the cartilage can be negative.
Also, drugs have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa. With caution, they are prescribed to those who have problems with this body. Long-term use may lead to ulceration.
Local treatment
In case of a strong inflammatory process, drugs based on hormones are injected into the joint. Medicines have a local anti-inflammatory effect, but this is not safe for the joint itself, as it destroys the cartilage. The local use of ointments, which also effectively relieve pain, is justified.
The scheme is complemented by drugs called chondroprotectors. Treatment of the disease with these drugs will take a long time, but they contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue and the normal function of the joint. The composition includes glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. The effect lasts for a long time, even after stopping the drugs.
Physiotherapy and gymnastics
There are many techniques that practically do not use drugs, but allow you to get excellent results. In this disease, treatment is carried out with the help of:
- magnetic therapy;
- therapeutic baths;
- laser;
- ultrasound;
- dirt.
In parallel, special exercises are performed to increase the range of motion in the joint. Gymnastics has many techniques that are prescribed depending on the degree and stage of the disease.
It is best to perform the exercises under the supervision of an experienced doctor who will choose the optimal ones.
Operation
When gymnastics and drug treatment do not help, it is necessary to do surgery. Shoulder arthroplasty can solve the problem. They completely replace everything old and worn, the prosthesis itself is made of metal or ceramic. The service life of such an implant is approximately 15 to 25 years.
Treatment of this disease is very difficult and not always possible. Success has only an integrated approach, where the treatment consists of drugs, which are supplemented by gymnastics or special exercises, physiotherapy. Especially worried about the ailment in the right shoulder as it is the working arm.
It is better to treat the disease at an early stage and not to go to extremes. If arthrosis is treated at the first stage, many negative consequences can be avoided. But it is not recommended to treat this disease yourself.