Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a fairly common problem that many patients face, especially in old age.When osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint develops, the cartilage tissue of the humeral head and the articulating joint cavity of the shoulder blade are affected.Damage and weakening of the cartilage tissue leads to changes and deformation of the bone structures.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
The most common causes of arthrosis of the shoulder joint are increased load on the shoulder joint and previous injuries: intra-articular fractures, dislocations, bruises.The development of osteoarthritis can be promoted by vascular diseases and lack of exercise, which disrupt the normal nutrition of the joint.
Sometimes arthrosis of the shoulder joint develops as a result of concomitant diseases: psoriasis, gout, infectious arthritis and others.
Symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can take a long time to develop.In the first stages, the disease usually does not manifest itself.But at a certain point the first symptoms still appear.They usually occur after increased joint stress or hypothermia.
The main symptom is pain that increases with movement in the shoulder joint.Unpleasant sensations can spread throughout the arm.When the joint moves, a clicking or grinding noise can often be heard.
The pain is initially only felt when moving, but in the later stages of osteoarthritis it also bothers you at rest.During exacerbations of the disease and in later stages of osteoarthritis, the patient is also unable to rotate and abduct the arm freely.The final stage of arthrosis of the shoulder joint leads to disability of the patient: the joint is largely deformed and practically immobile.A person needs to hold his hand in a forced position that is least painful for him.However, this stage rarely occurs.
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be carried out using conservative or surgical methods.
Conservative treatment involves the use of chondroprotectors, which help restore cartilage tissue and stop its destruction.During exacerbations, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.Corticosteroids, given as injections into the affected area, help control severe inflammation.Ointments and gels are often used for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
Special orthoses are also used to immobilize the shoulder joint and provide gentle therapy.If you continue to put strain on the shoulder girdle, the development of osteoarthritis in the early stages cannot be stopped.Important aspects of treatment include physiotherapy, massage and physiotherapy.
Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is rarely performed due to the low prevalence of advanced forms of osteoarthritis.The shoulder joint and the adjacent shoulder blade joint are replaced with a prosthesis.