How to cure osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease of the cartilage tissue, in which the normal functioning of the joint is disrupted. In most cases, the disease is chronic. Shoulder osteoarthritis is characterized by pain and gradual loss of hand function. Most often, the pathology is detected in old age. Causes of osteoarthritis are age-related changes in the body, shoulder injuries, birth defects, and constant stress on the shoulder girdle. If a person is faced with discomfort in the shoulder girdle, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. With the help of a complex effect, it is possible to stop the development of degenerative changes.

What is shoulder osteoarthritis?

Shoulder arthrosis - damage to the cartilage tissue of the joint, during which degenerative changes occur. The blood supply is disrupted in the cartilage tissue, so it ceases to receive a sufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen.At risk are people who experience excessive stress on their shoulders on a daily basis and have congenital defects in the joint tissues.In the early stages, the person feels aching pain, but normal shoulder function is preserved. If the provoking factors are not eliminated, the disease will cause serious harm to health.

Diagnostics plays an important role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. With the help of X-rays, it is possible to accurately determine the cause of the ailment and the degree of damage.

Anatomical background

Congenital disorders of the structure of the joints and connective tissue can become the causes of the appearance of the disease. If a person has features in the structure of the shoulder girdle, then even a normal load can provoke the appearance of arthrosis. To avoid problems, you will need to take preventive measures and regularly visit a doctor. Congenital dysplasia can be controlled with massage and physical therapy.

Causes and risk factors

All seniors are at risk.According to WHO statistics, the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis after 45 years increases significantly.At the age of 65, more than 50% of people suffer from this disease. Among the reasons that provoke the early onset of the disease are:

• damage to the rotator cuff of the shoulder;
• shoulder injury;
• constant stress associated with sports or work;
• infectious and autoimmune diseases;
• obesity;
• improper metabolism.

The older a person gets, the greater the risk of developing degenerative joint damage.

Views

The defeat of cartilage tissue is divided into primary and secondary. The diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis is made if there are no concomitant diseases. It is usually detected in old age. The reason for its appearance is age-related changes. Secondary vision occurs due to injury or against the background of another disease. In addition, the disease is classified by location.Degenerative changes in the shoulder can occur in the area of the shoulder joint itself or in the acromioclavicular joint.

Stages of development and symptoms

Symptoms depend on the stage of development of shoulder osteoarthritis. The pathology is divided into three phases:

1. The first. . . There are aching pains that intensify at night, the functionality of the shoulder girdle is preserved.
2. The second one. . . When moving the hands, a creak is heard, the pain is constant, there is limited mobility of the shoulder.
3. Third. . . Severe pain, the arm is fixed in one position, protrusions are visible in the affected area, a sharp deformation of the joint is noted on the x-ray.

The disease may not develop for a long time. If a person continues to load the shoulder girdle, the condition worsens.

Which doctor to contact

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is treated by several doctors. The initial examination is done by a therapist or rheumatologist. In addition, the following specialists may be involved in the treatment:

• surgeon;
• orthopedic;
• neurologist.

In most cases, the treatment regimen is drawn up by a rheumatologist.The help of a surgeon is needed if the disease requires surgical treatment or intra-articular manipulations.Consultation with a neurologist is necessary if the nerve bundle has been compressed due to the disease.

Only after a diagnostic examination, the therapist or rheumatologist will determine whether the help of other specialists is needed.

Diagnostics

Laboratory hardware and tests, as well as manual examination, are used to make an accurate diagnosis. First of all, an inspection with various tests is carried out. The history of the person is studied. All this helps to make a preliminary diagnosis. Also, MRI and X-rays are used to determine the degree of narrowing of the joint space, the condition of blood vessels, synovium, tendons.

Manual examination

Manual examination includes palpation of the affected area and performing diagnostic tests. Pain usually occurs on palpation of the acromioclavicular joint. If a person has trouble putting their hand behind their head, this could signal the presence of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. During a manual examination, the doctor will be able to detect inflammation. The information obtained during the manual examination plays an important role in the diagnosis.The examination must be performed by an experienced rheumatologist or therapist, so as not to cause harm during tests and functional tests.

Instrumental methods

Instrumental research methods allow you to determine:

• the degree of narrowing of the joint space;
• uneven joint surface;
• localization of arthrosis.

After using instrumental diagnostic methods, the necessary therapy is selected. For diagnosis, radiography, CT or MRI is used. These methods provide the necessary information. The instrumental examination can be repeated during the treatment.

Laboratory

Laboratory tests allow you to assess the condition of the body as a whole, as well as exclude inflammatory arthritis. First of all, blood is taken for analysis. With osteoarthritis, all indications of clinical and biochemical blood test are within normal limits. With arthritis, the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes, the amount of immunoglobulins and other markers of the inflammatory process in the body are significantly increased. Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis and selects an effective treatment regimen.

For accurate results, donate blood in the morning on an empty stomach.

Treatment

The treatment approach is complex. Medicines, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises are used. If the disease is advanced or unresponsive to treatment, surgery is used. Basic principles of therapy:

• relieve pain;
• stop the development of the disease;
• initiate the mechanisms of restoration of cartilage tissue.

At the initial stage, the result is achieved through the use of drugs.It is important to exclude provoking factors. Stable remission is achieved through physiotherapy and physical therapy.

Drug

The following groups of drugs can be used for treatment:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory;
• chondroprotector;
• corticosteroids;
• vasodilators.

NSAIDs and corticosteroids are used to relieve pain. They apply for a limited time. Chondroprotectors can accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue. Vasodilators help improve blood flow and relieve spasm of small vessels.

Before prescribing this or that remedy, it is necessary to carefully study the contraindications. Only a doctor can correctly combine all drugs.

Surgical

Surgical intervention is performed only as a last resort, when irreversible degenerative processes have occurred. The reasons for the operation are:

• lack of effect from conservative therapy;
• the occurrence of complications;
• the appearance of severe degenerative changes.

If the joint has lost its original appearance, arthroplasty is performed.The diseased joint is replaced with an artificial one. The operation is complex and requires high qualifications from the surgeon. Puncture and arthroscopy can also be done to treat osteoarthritis.

sting

Puncture is performed if a large amount of fluid has accumulated in the joint cavity. Also, this procedure is done with infectious inflammation to determine the type of infection. Eliminating excess fluid helps reduce pressure on the shoulder joint and increase its mobility. The procedure is minimally invasive, so recovery after its completion occurs as soon as possible. Puncture has indications and contraindications. It is used only in case of accumulation of fluid in the joint capsule or if an infectious complication of osteoarthritis is suspected.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that removes damaged shoulder cartilage. The operation is performed using endoscopic equipment and a micro camera. The advantage of this method of treatment is rapid rehabilitation. Removing the destroyed cartilage allows you to relieve stress and restore the mobility of the joint. The disadvantage of the procedure is that access to the affected area is somewhat limited.

Endoprosthesis

Endoprosthesis is a complete replacement of a damaged joint with a biocompatible analog.Titanium construction is commonly used. The operation also eliminates stage 3 osteoarthritis. Long-term rehabilitation is performed after endoprosthesis. As a result, it is possible to achieve complete disposal of the affected areas and chronic pain, as well as restore the mobility of the shoulder girdle.

The operation is not always possible. In older people, the rehabilitation period is much more difficult. Other treatment options are used before the appointment of arthroplasty.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures play an important role in eliminating arthrosis of the shoulder girdle. With their help, it is possible to restore normal joint mobility and reduce the severity of pain. The following procedures are performed:

• electrophoresis;
• local cryotherapy;
• magnetotherapy.

Physiotherapy can be used if there are no acute manifestations of the disease (severe pain, limited mobility). Regular exposure will completely eliminate the discomfort. Any procedure must be performed by a qualified technician.Before visiting the physiotherapy rooms, you need to consult with your doctor.

kinesitherapy

Kinesiotherapy refers to the use of active and passive methods to restore shoulder function. If the disease is mild, the person can start using an active method of recovery through exercise. The passive method consists of external exposure through massage or mechanotherapy. Kinesiotherapy helps to quickly get rid of the manifestations of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.

The passive method of recovery through mechanotherapy is available to people of any age.

Physical therapy

Physiotherapy exercises allow you to load the muscles and restore the mobility of the shoulder joint. Static exercises are mainly used. A dynamic load in which active shoulder rotation is performed is undesirable. The following exercises can be performed:

1. Swaying shoulders- it is necessary to take the starting position, sitting on a chair and putting your hands on your knees. Relax your shoulders, then start swinging your elbows. At the same time, the hands are on the knees.
2. Slow rotation- you need to sit on a chair and put your hands on your knees, then slowly begin to rotate your shoulders with short pauses. Circular movements are performed back and forth.

Physiotherapy can only be used during remission, when pain and limited movement are almost completely absent.

Massage

Massaging the affected area allows you to achieve the following effects:

• improve tissue nutrition;
• relieve swelling;
• tone the muscles;
• remove pain.

It is advisable that all actions be carried out by a qualified specialist. When performing self-massage, avoid strong pressure and sudden movements.The result of the massage effect is evident within a few weeks of regular use.

The massage should be accompanied by other activities. If a person performs exercises from the physical therapy complex and visits a massage parlor, he will achieve great results.

Mechanotherapy

By mechanotherapy we mean a set of exercises that are performed on specialized mechanisms. This method allows you to recover in the shortest possible time. Mechanotherapy is ideal for rehabilitation after surgery. Special mechanisms allow you to adjust the load, allowing for faster recovery of muscles and ligaments. All actions are performed in stationary conditions. Classes on rehabilitation mechanisms should be conducted with an instructor. It will correctly select the load and the necessary simulator.

Joint traction

The joints are stretched using a specialized device. With this procedure the following effects can be obtained:

• improve blood circulation;
• widen the joint space;
• relieve tension from the ligaments.

Narrowing of the joint space is one of the main manifestations of osteoarthritis. With this procedure you can improve the situation. The degree of load is selected individually. Initially, the traction is performed with minimal weights.

Before prescribing joint traction, it is necessary to conduct an examination for possible contraindications.

Folk methods

Traditional methods allow you to eliminate pain and speed up the process of restoring cartilage tissue. The following remedies can be applied:

1. burdock leaves- fresh burdock leaves are crushed until soft and applied to the affected area for 30-60 minutes. Fixation is done with gauze.
2. Salt pack- 50 g of salt is dissolved in 450 ml of water, after which gauze is placed in the liquid. The gauze is removed, heated and applied to the shoulder for 45 minutes.
3. Jelly- 2 teaspoons of gelatin will need to be diluted in 100 ml of warm water, after which the liquid is heated to a boil. Gelatin is taken orally 1 time a day before meals. Promotes the restoration of cartilage tissue.

Traditional methods will help to achieve a good result in therapy. It is recommended to use them during remission.

Diet for osteoarthritis

With any type of osteoarthritis (shoulder, wrist, ankle), it is necessary to provide your body with all the nutrients for the rapid restoration of cartilage tissue. You will need to add the following foods to your diet:

• peanuts;
• bran;
• gelatinous jelly;
• buckwheat porridge;
• egg.

Nutrition should be balanced. Vitamin supplements can be taken to obtain essential vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to eat 4-5 times a day. Alcoholic beverages and sweets are excluded during the treatment of osteoarthritis. If a person is to achieve lasting remission, he will have to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition on an ongoing basis.

Complications and prognosis

The prognosis depends on the age of the person, the degree of damage, the individual characteristics of the organism. At a young age it is possible to achieve complete restoration of cartilage tissue and joint function. In old age, you will have to adhere to certain rules to achieve lasting improvement in the condition. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder responds better to therapy than osteoarthritis of the foot, as the shoulder girdle is easy to isolate from stress. This allows for more effective conservative treatment.

Differences between shoulder osteoarthritis and arthritis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis have the same manifestations, but differ in the clinical picture. The main difference is that osteoarthritis is a non-inflammatory disease.In the early stages, pain in osteoarthritis worries a person only after exercise, and in arthritis it is constant.Arthritis is a degenerative inflammatory disease. Its treatment is somewhat different from that of osteoarthritis.

In order not to confuse these diseases, methods of differential diagnosis are used. Laboratory and instrumental studies will help to accurately determine the presence or absence of inflammation.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of osteoarthritis consists in eliminating the provoking factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You will need to do the following:

• give moderate physical activity;
• avoid hypothermia;
• use chondroprotector;
• avoid hard physical work;
• reduce body weight to normal.

Preventive actions will help keep joints healthy into old age. Prevention should be followed with particular attention by people over the age of 45 or actively involved in sports.

conclusions

1. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease in which gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joint occurs.As a result, the person is in pain and movement is limited.
2. Treatment for the disease includesthe use of medicines, the performance of physiotherapy and the performance of exercises from the complex of physiotherapy exercises.
3. At an early stage in the course of the disease, the prognosis for complete recovery is favorable.
4. Prevention can significantly reduce the likelihood of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.