Our joints experience constant stress throughout our lives. As a result, the cartilaginous tissue wears out, the bone tissue is deformed and arthrosis of the shoulder joint occurs, which has become one of the most common problems in increasingly older people.
The development of the disease can lead to complete limitation of movement and constant pain in the joints. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis 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 defined in medicine as arthrosis of the shoulder joint ICD-10 - M19. 91. Most often, arthrosis occurs in the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder, which most often experiences constant and intense stress during the day.
Under the influence of injuries and various inflammatory processes, cartilaginous tissue is damaged and gradually weakens, becoming fragile and thin. Cracks form in the cartilage, in which salts begin to deposit, accelerating the destructive processes of cartilaginous tissues. As a result of these salt deposits, the bone tissue becomes dense and begins to deform, resulting in acromioclavicular osteoarthritis.
This process occurs slowly and chronically, at first it is asymptomatic, but gradually the manifestations of the disease increase and over time can lead to complete immobility of the joint region.
The following factors can trigger the onset of the pathological process:
- Shoulder injuries that caused deformation of the joint and inflammation.
- Insufficient blood supply to the shoulder joint, which lasts for a long time - this condition can be caused by vascular disorders.
- High and constant loads on joints are observed among construction workers, athletes and porters.
- Congenital joint pathologies.
- Poor nutrition and, as a result, 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 the human being, which causes quite frequent injuries to the joint. Even a small injury to a joint that recurs regularly and over a long period of time leads to the development of osteoarthritis. Arthrosis of the right shoulder joint is more common, because the majority of the population is "right-handed" and the load on the right side is always greater.
Causes and factors for the development of the disease
Most often, osteoarthritis is diagnosed in elderly people, and the older the person, the greater the likelihood of detecting the pathology.
Causes and prerequisites for the development of shoulder arthrosis:
- Injuries. Fractures, bruises and dislocations affect the bone and cartilaginous tissue of the shoulder joint, causing various complications - damage to the capsule, rupture of ligaments. Timely treatment prevents the development of complications and the occurrence of arthrosis.
- Vascular pathologies. Diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and varicose veins can affect the development of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the risk of the disease increases in people who abuse smoking.
- Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity, combined with excessive eating, causes extra pounds. As a result, metabolism is disturbed, which leads to impaired blood circulation in cartilage and periarticular tissues - arthrosis develops.
- Hormonal and immunological disorders- gout, psoriasis, etc.
- Joint diseases– synovitis, chronic and acute arthritis, aseptic tissue necrosis.
- Endocrine system diseases and metabolic disorders. These conditions cause the body to become deficient in vitamins and minerals needed for joint health (such as calcium and phosphorus). This negatively affects the condition of the joints and complicates the recovery processes in them.
Most often, arthrosis does not occur under the influence of one factor, its development is promoted by a combination of several causes simultaneously.
Types and symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis
Since the development of arthrosis continues for a long time, at first the disease may practically not manifest itself, only sometimes making itself felt after severe physical overload or hypothermia.
The main symptoms of arthrosis:
- Pain in the shoulder.This is the main sign of arthrosis - the pain is of a different nature, it usually intensifies with movement and load on the shoulder joint. The pain causes discomfort, which limits shoulder mobility.
- Grinding sound when moving. Salt deposits in the shoulder joints cause a characteristic grinding (or clicking) sound in the joint during movement.
- Movement restrictions. It manifests itself depending on the stage of arthrosis - at the beginning of the disease there are no restrictions, during exacerbation the patient cannot freely rotate and move his arm.
Sometimes the location of the pain may be atypical and may hurt in the arm or elbow. With palpation, you can determine the main sources of pain - the lower edge of the scapula and the clavicle.
Observation!In the initial phase, 1st degree osteoarthritis does not cause symptoms. This is due to the absence of nerve endings in the cartilaginous tissue, as a result of which the disease begins to manifest itself when the pathological process extends far beyond the joints..
Depending on the nature and extent of damage to bone and cartilage tissue, there are three stages of arthrosis, characterized by certain symptoms.
| Symptoms | 1st stage | 2nd stage | 3rd stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | Occurs rarely - usually at night or in the morning, after exercise or hypothermia | Severe pain that occurs with any movement | The pain is constant, even at rest |
| Movement restrictions | A little | The range of possible movements is reduced | A marked and sometimes complete limitation of mobility. Abducting the arm and raising it becomes impossible. The hand must be held in a forced position, which is very painful |
| Creaks and pops in the shoulder joint | Light crunching sound when moving suddenly - no pain | With every movement you hear a creak and a clear click | Constant clicking heard with any 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 inflammation in the joint all the time |
| Joint hardening | Not present | Occurs rarely | There is hardening and deformation of the shoulder |
| Changes in the joint visible on x-ray | Not present | Signs of joint deformation, narrowing of the joint space and appearance of osteophytes are visible | Traces of joint destruction are visible |
The first phase period can last from several months to several years. Arthrosis of the shoulder joint of the 3rd degree is treated only with the help of surgical measures, as the condition threatens disability.
One of the types of pathology is deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint. This condition means the destruction of articular cartilage, causing irreversible changes in the bones of the articular surfaces. In addition to cartilaginous tissue, these changes also affect the joint capsule and synovial membrane, which leads to the destruction and deformation of the shoulder joint.
Deforming arthrosis is manifested by dull, dull pain in the shoulder joint, which intensifies with changes in the weather and at night. The pathology is chronic, which does not allow it to be completely cured, but it will help alleviate unpleasant symptoms and stop destructive processes in tissues.
How to cure osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint
Before treating shoulder arthrosis, a number of diagnostic measures are carried out with the aim of determining the shape and stage of arthrosis. Among these measures, it is necessary to carry out laboratory and biochemical blood tests, which can confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
If shoulder arthrosis is suspected, the patient is asked to perform a series of self-diagnostic measures:
- Place your hands between your shoulder blades in the shape of a lock;
- Tie a belt at the back of your waist;
- Bend your elbow at shoulder level and comb the hair at the back of your neck.
If the patient performs all of these activities without difficulty, he or she is not at risk of osteoarthritis. But if completing tasks is difficult and causes pain in the collarbone and shoulder area, further research is needed - fluoroscopy and MRI are used for a more accurate diagnosis.
Arthrosis of the 2nd degree and first stage of the disease are treated with conservative methods, only if there is no result can surgical measures be used.
Conservative methods of treating arthrosis are carried out in combination, when treatment is carried out in several directions at once:
- Treatment with medications;
- Physiotherapy;
- Treatment with traditional methods;
- Therapeutic gymnastics and acupuncture;
- Special diet;
- Spa treatment.
Important!An important condition for the treatment of shoulder arthrosis is to ensure rest of the shoulder joint (this is easier to do when arthrosis of the left shoulder joint is observed), and such a gentle regimen should be used even after the end of the course of therapy. If the patient continues to carry the shoulder girdle, the disease will progress, which will eventually lead to surgery.
Surgical measures include endoprosthetic surgery - replacing a diseased (worn out) joint with its 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.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment has several directions - pain relief, relief of inflammatory processes and direct restoration of cartilaginous tissue.
Medicines and pills
To eliminate inflammation and pain, the following groups of medications are used:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Analgesics and antispasmodics.
These medications can be prescribed orally or intramuscularly (in the form of injections). They relieve pain and inflammation well, but they cannot be taken for a long time - treatment is carried out in short courses.
The destruction of cartilaginous tissue is treated with drugs from the chondroprotective group, which include the active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.
Chondroprotectors are a valuable building material for cartilage tissue, but medications have a restorative effect only in the first two stages. The first results from using chondroprotectors are observed only 3 months after use, and the general course of treatment is about a year.
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is mandatory to use food supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes containing substances that prevent the demineralization of joint tissues.
For 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. These injections have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, but they have many side effects, so they cannot always be used in treatment.
Ointments
For external use, ointments applied to the skin in the region of the shoulder joint are effectively used. Osteoarthritis ointments have an anesthetic effect, contain anti-inflammatory substances and agents that increase blood circulation.
Important!Osteoarthritis ointments help relieve unpleasant symptoms, but cannot cure the disease.
The advantages of ointments over analgesics are that they have a local anesthetic effect without causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract. But they also have a disadvantage - with the intensity of the pain syndrome, they are not always able to quickly relieve pain.
Physiotherapy
The main method of treating arthrosis in the early stages is the use of medications. Physiotherapeutic procedures can enhance the effect of taking medications and also reduce the likelihood of side effects.
The following therapeutic methods are used to treat osteoarthritis:
- Electrophoresis;
- Exposure to a magnetic field;
- Exposure to radiation (ultraviolet, infrared, laser);
- Ultrasound.
Physiotherapy activities are carried out several times a year - in courses. The type and method of treatment are 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 permission of the attending physician.
Gymnastics and exercise therapy
Physiotherapy for arthrosis of the shoulder joint should be carried out only in the remission phase; during exacerbations, gymnastic exercises are contraindicated.
Physiotherapy exercises can be found on the Internet, but they must all be agreed with your doctor.
Important!You cannot select exercises for arthrosis on your own, no matter what authorized sites these procedures are described on and no matter what flattering reviews accompany them. Many of them have contraindications and can do more harm than good - therefore, before starting exercise, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Rules for home exercises for arthrosis:
- Exercise therapy cannot be carried out if there are decompensated diseases of the lungs and heart, if there is a high temperature or if there are diseases for which any physical activity is contraindicated.
- Exercise should not cause pain. Otherwise, they will be chosen incorrectly and may cause complications.
- When treating arthrosis of the shoulder joint, gymnastics requires regularity - it must be done daily. Initially, training should last no more than 5 minutes per day, gradually increasing the time to 20 minutes.
- You need to do the exercises gradually - first with a quarter of the strength, and then gradually increasing the load. The intensity of the movements and their amplitude should gradually increase. The older the age and the longer the sedentary lifestyle, the slower the process of increasing intensity.
- Exercises are performed in a light, semi-relaxed state - sitting or lying down.
Several simple exercises can be done independently every day, at any convenient 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 will help improve blood circulation in the shoulder joint and promote the restoration of cartilaginous tissue.
Massage can only be performed if the acute pain subsides and the inflammatory process subsides.
During the procedure, not only the sore shoulder is massaged, but also the collar area on both sides, as well as the forearm area.
Diet
Dietary rules for arthrosis - elimination of factors influencing the development of the disease and metabolic disorders.
Diet basics:
- Limit sweet, starchy, fatty and salty foods.
- Keep your 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 amount of dairy products in your diet, which are sources of calcium, as well as seafood and fish (a source of collagen and phosphorus).
- Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
If you have osteoarthritis, you should never go hungry - the menu should be designed in such a way as to increase the supply of nutrients without harming the body and reduce the amount of harmful foods.
ethnoscience
Doctors recommend home treatment with folk remedies as an addition to medical therapy:
- Pork fat is mixed in equal proportions with propolis. The resulting ointment is rubbed with massaging movements into the shoulder joint area.
- To relieve pain, herbal baths with decoctions of chamomile, burdock and nettle are recommended.
- A popular remedy for osteoarthritis is oatmeal. They are prepared in boiling water, after which the decoction is used to make shoulder compresses, which are applied at night.
Folk remedies do not cause side effects and have no contraindications for use.
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent osteoarthritis involve minimizing the factors that cause the disease.
General recommendations:
- Elimination of inappropriate loads on the joint associated with sporting or professional activities.
- Minimizing the risk of injury to the shoulder joint.
- Mandatory consultations with a therapist in case of injury or pain in the shoulder joint to minimize the risk of complications.
- Prevent the appearance of excess weight - control your diet and practice daily physical activity (gymnastics, walking, swimming).
- In old age, use medications that promote the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue.
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is a dangerous disease that can lead to complete immobility of the joint and disability. You should consult a doctor at the first signs of illness. Treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive and include conservative and alternative therapy methods.