Shoulder Arthritis Symptoms and Treatment

Shoulder joint deformity is a common pathology, especially in elderly patients. The disease is chronic and progresses rapidly. The disease is diagnosed equally often in men and women. Due to degenerative diseases, damage is observed not only in the cartilage tissue of the joints, but also in the bone tissue. The cause of this problem is microtrauma to the shoulder joint and the inflammatory process that occurs in it. The cartilage tissue gradually becomes thinner, micro-cracks appear in it, and salt deposits accumulate in it. Destructive processes then gradually affect the bone, which becomes denser, grows, and ultimately changes its anatomical shape. The disease develops over a long period of time and does not cause any discomfort in the initial stages of the disease. In fact, that's exactly what's dangerous about it. Let’s discuss in more detail the causes, symptoms, and how and what to treat deformed joints.

Why do pathological phenomena occur?

Among the causes of shoulder arthritis, experts point to the following conditions and factors.

trauma

Shoulder injuries include intra-articular fractures, dislocations and bruising. Fractures are characterized by fracture lines located within the joint cavity. In addition to bone, it affects cartilage, causing additional damage: torn ligaments, damaged capsules.Shoulder dislocation is one of the most common injuries, often leading to complications, joint deformity, and arthropathy. As a result, the joint may completely lose mobility.Right-handers more commonly experience right shoulder dislocation, while left-handers more commonly experience left shoulder dislocation.

Bruises are caused by a strong blow, such as from an accident, fall, or sports. As a result of bruising, the bones are not displaced and the cartilage tissue is not destroyed, but its normal nutrition is destroyed, which may also lead to post-traumatic arthropathy.

load increase

Overloading of the shoulder joint has been observed in certain populations:

• Professional athletes: volleyball players, tennis players, track and field athletes.
• Builders, plasterers, loaders.
• Dachnikov.

They all have to raise their hands for a long time to do the same thing. As a result, they develop microcracks and damage, ligament sprains, excessive muscle tension, and disruption of vascular function. Joints become deformed due to lack of nutrition.If a person does not monitor loading and does not take preventive measures, glenohumeral joints can develop.

Arthropathy

Some joint pathologies can lead to degenerative arthropathy.

• Synovitis. The reason is that infection causes a large amount of fluid to form in the joints. Due to the accumulation of fluid, the joint swells and begins to hurt. Most commonly, this problem is associated with shoulder injuries. If synovitis is left untreated, complications are likely to develop. The disease is treated with therapeutic agents. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain. In addition, patients will undergo a puncture to drain the fluid that has accumulated in the joint. Then hold the shoulders in a resting position. Infectious synovitis can be treated with antibiotics. In the most difficult cases, surgical treatment is performed.
• Arthritis of the shoulder joint of various origins. Symptoms are: shoulder swelling and significant joint pain.
• Osteonecrosis can also cause arthritis in the shoulder joint. Triggered by injury or genetics, it is characterized by the death of bone cells. Depending on the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of the body, medicine can provide treatment or surgical correction. Chondroprotectants restore bone tissue, and NSAIDs help relieve pain. Medication is supplemented by physical therapy, massage and exercise therapy.

Heredity, congenital and acquired pathology

Various abnormalities of the shoulder structure (congenital or acquired) almost always deform it. The consequence of muscular dystrophy is insufficient nutrition of joint tissues, which can lead to shoulder arthropathy.If a person is deficient in collagen, this can also trigger the development of pathology.

Those who have relatives with similar problems, including hip and knee arthropathy, are much more likely to develop shoulder arthrosis because chondrodysplasia is hereditary.

vascular disease

Various disorders of vascular function are thought to increase the likelihood of arthritis in the shoulder joint.

• Lack of physical activity also significantly increases the likelihood of developing pathology. This is caused by insufficient physical activity. The disease is characterized by apathy, lethargy, decreased appetite, and insomnia. One of the most common complications of physical inactivity is cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis. The disease is treated conservatively; diet and exercise regimen also need to be followed.
• Eliminate endoarteritis. The pathology occurs due to impaired blood circulation, resulting in a lack of oxygen supply to vascular tissues. Therefore, their performance is limited and then they die.
• Malnutrition and insufficient physical activity are conditions that lead to obesity and impaired metabolism, leading to difficulty in blood circulation to joint tissues. The result of this process is the development of arthropathy.
• Varicose veins cause slowing of blood flow in blood vessels and are one of the conditions that cause degenerative changes in joints.

Hormonal imbalances and reduced immunity

Disturbed hormonal levels and reduced immunity may be factors that contribute to the tendency of joint tissue destruction.

• The changes that occur in a woman's body as a result of menopause are characterized by metabolic disturbances. The lack of calcium in bones during this period is the result of declining estrogen levels in women. The result of these processes may be arthritis of the joints.
• Psoriasis is a chronic, non-infectious disease caused by a variety of causes (stress, reduced immunity, impaired metabolism, etc. ). The disease is systemic, so in some conditions it affects not only the skin but also the internal organs, bones and joints.
• Men often suffer from joint disease due to gout. It occurs due to excessive accumulation of uric acid in the form of small crystals in the joints. Pathological symptoms include joint swelling and pain. Externally, their manifestations can be noticed during exacerbations of gout paroxysms. This usually happens at night. The shoulder feels hot and the skin turns red. In advanced cases, gout may become a predisposing factor in the development of pathology. To avoid complications, gout must be treated with medication, not forgetting diet and exercise therapy.
• Decreased immunity due to an exacerbation of the inflammatory process in the joint space may be the cause of arthropathy.

Impaired metabolism

Insufficient intake of various vitamins and trace elements (especially calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D) in the body often leads to a lack of nutrition in the joint fluid, cartilage, and bone tissue of the joints, which in turn causes degenerative diseases. They undergo nutritional changes. Due to diabetes, blood vessels become thinner, blood flow through them is reduced, and the tissues around the joints do not receive adequate nutrients. All of these can lead to joint disease.

age-related changes

As we age, bone and cartilage tissue become thinner and more fragile. The likelihood of shoulder joint disease increases sharply after the age of 50.Most often, shoulder joints are observed due to exposure to the complexities of the listed conditions.

symptom

Shoulder deforming arthropathy is characterized by a disease that develops gradually over a long period of time. Initially, it shows almost nothing, however, in the later stages of development, the following symptoms are observed.

1. Shoulder pain. It is characterized, most commonly, by pain, pulling, and bothering a person in the morning after a night's rest. Probably before the weather changes. If the affected shoulder requires physical activity, the pain may become severe and noticeable. As the condition worsens, pain syndrome may occur even at rest. Wearing orthotics can help solve this problem.
2. Motor activities of the affected arm are impaired due to severe pain. The condition often worsens due to hypothermia or sprained ligaments. The patient is unable to lift his arms or perform usual movements. He would feel excruciating pain when he made circular motions on his shoulders or tried to move his arms behind his back. If treatment is not started promptly, complete immobilization of the upper limb may occur.
3. Crunches and squeaks in joints may not be noticeable initially and may even be barely noticeable. Later the sound becomes intense and can be heard not only by the patient but also by those around him.
4. Joint inflammation manifests as edema, swelling, localized skin temperature increase, and redness.
5. The feeling of stiffness in the joints is caused by the growth of bone tissue (osteophytes), which may become apparent if the disease progresses.

disease development

The disease develops through three stages. The symptoms of each stage are similar but vary significantly in intensity.

first degree arthropathy

Degree 1 arthropathy of the shoulder joint is characterized by mild pain in the morning and evening. Patients work hard to "develop" their joints before performing movements. If a person jerks the hand violently, the shoulder may creak slightly. When resting, there is no pain.

second degree

Second-degree arthrosis of the shoulder joint presents with severe pain and a clear creaking sound in the shoulder. The mobility of the hand is still preserved, but has been significantly reduced. Destructive processes are already present, the joint tissue gradually becomes thinner, and dystrophy is observed. Ligaments, cartilage and bones are affected. Wearing special orthotics (orthotics or bandages) can help reduce the intensity of the pain.

Joint 3 degrees

The third degree of illness is the most severe. Symptoms of joint disease can significantly alter a person's quality of life. The patient could only slightly rotate his arm, and suffered from persistent severe pain in his shoulder and joint deformation. Muscles partially atrophy. Surgery solved the problem. Without it, complete immobility and disability are likely.

treat

Arthrosplasia is completely impossible to cure. You can only slow its progression and affect symptoms. Doctors offer two types of treatment for shoulder deformity: therapeutic treatment and surgical treatment.

therapeutic treatment

As a therapeutic correction to the patient's condition, doctors recommend the following groups of drugs.

• NSAIDs. The main goal of treatment during this phase is to relieve inflammation and pain. These drugs suppress the inflammatory process and relieve pain. It is important to remember that NSAIDs can only be used for a limited time. They are prescribed in the form of tablets and injections.
• Treatment for shoulder arthritis involves the use of corticosteroids. They help relieve inflammation and thus prevent the development of pathology.
• Articular chondroprotectants are used in the non-acute phase to restore damaged cartilage and bone tissue. These drugs are based on several active substances: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid. They help stop the destruction of cartilage tissue and allow it to recover. But the effectiveness of the use of chondroprotectants can be expected only in the initial stages of the disease, since for their action the main condition is necessary - cartilage tissue must be preserved in the affected joint. Otherwise, these medications will not help. All of these medications are prescribed by doctors. You can see positive results after six months of use.
• Topical preparations (ointments, gels, creams) are also widely used in the treatment of arthropathy.
• Analgesics also relieve pain, but are used inconsistently.

Surgery

The operation is performed in the third degree of pathological development. It involves prosthetic replacement of the shoulder and scapula. There are contraindications to surgical treatment, the most common being advanced patient age.How to treat shoulder arthritis will be determined by your orthopedic surgeon or traumatologist.Other methods of conservative treatment of the shoulder include exercise therapy, massage, and traditional medicine. A prerequisite for these methods is that they cannot be used during exacerbations.

For the shoulder joint, physical therapy can provide significant relief for patients. In this set of exercises, you need to choose simple movements (circular movements, weight lifting, arm extensions). The rhythm of gymnastics should be calm and not overloaded.

self-treatment

For home treatment, you can use folk recipes. However, their use must be approved by the attending physician.

• Rubbing sore joints can go a long way in treating arthritis. The liniment is formulated with 50 grams of Elecampane root and 125 ml of vodka. Leave the tincture in a dark place for two weeks and rub onto your shoulders before bed.
• Oatmeal is easy to make yourself. Take 30 g of flakes per half a liter of water and boil for 8-10 minutes. Wet gauze with the soup several times and apply it to the affected area for half an hour.

• You can use cabbage leaves as a dressing (at night). They handle pain well.
• Herbal baths are recommended for the treatment of degenerative joint disease. Mustard, mint and burdock are used to prepare them.

Like other joint diseases, arthritis of the shoulder joint cannot be ignored. Its treatment must be carried out comprehensively, following the doctor's instructions: strict medication intake, complex exercise therapy. To prevent joint disease, you should not overstrain your joints, avoid excessive cold, and pay attention to your diet.