In everyday life, we often do not give importance to the occasional pain sensations in the body. Only when the pain becomes painful and constant, we go to the clinic. This approach is fundamentally wrong, because it allows the disease to progress intensively. There are many pathologies of the skeletal system. One of them is osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
What is shoulder osteoarthritis
Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease associated with degenerative depletion of the cartilage.
The disease is prone to progression and aggravation of functional disorders of the human musculoskeletal system. The influence of pathogenic factors leads to thinning of the cartilage, the appearance of cracks and its subsequent destruction.
Factors in the occurrence of shoulder osteoarthritis
There are many reasons for the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint. The main ones are:
- vascular diseases that lead to disruption of the proper blood supply to the joint,
- injury,
- heavy physical load on the shoulder joint,
- metabolic disease,
- genetic predisposition,
- diseases of the endocrine system,
- age-related changes in the joint,
- congenital changes
- extensive diseases of the musculoskeletal system,
- Autoimmune Diseases.
The risk group includes people over the age of 55. This is due to age-related changes in the form of cartilage wear.
The degree of development of the disease
Depending on the gradual deterioration of a person's well-being against the background of the course of the disease, signs of 1, 2, 3 degrees of arthrosis of the shoulder joint are distinguished.
First stage
The initial stage is characterized by minor changes in the joint, the appearance of pain during movement and weight lifting. This is due to a decrease in the elasticity of the cartilage tissue. The maneuverability of the joint is reduced, consequently the mobility of the patient's hands is limited.
In the images, the doctor notes a slight narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bony growths where the cartilage is thinning. With the right treatment, first degree osteoarthritis is stopped and the joint returns to a healthy state.
Second phase
If the patient did not pay attention to the symptoms of arthrosis of the first degree, the second degree rapidly progresses, in which it is already problematic to restore the disturbed structure of the joint tissues.
The second degree has more pronounced signs. The joint cavity narrows to a minimum, the pain in the scapula and shoulder area increases, becomes regular, a crunch appears when moving the hand, the muscles are partially atrophied, osteophytes (bone growths) are visible on X-rays.
Third stage
The last stage is characterized by changes in bone tissues, there is a pronounced deformity, the joint is almost immobilized, there is constant pain. Without taking measures to stop the degenerative process in the tissues, there is a high probability of a complete violation of the motor activity of the hand.
Some patients have difficulty self-care. The degree of the disease under consideration is the most difficult to cure, requires surgical intervention. The third stage of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is extremely rare. As a rule, it becomes the result of excessive systemic loads on the damaged joint (for example, in professional sports).
Symptoms
For a long time, arthrosis of the shoulder-blade joint is asymptomatic. In most cases, the first sign is a sharp pain sensation. At the onset of the disease, pain rarely occurs, due to physical activity, awkward hand movements.
In the future, the pains increase, begin to appear at night with sudden movements, an uncomfortable position, and then during the day, disturbing more often and becoming systematic.
If the treatment is not started in a timely manner, a feeling of stiffness in the movements will join the pain. There are clicks and creaks in the shoulder joint. This area also often swells, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature of the whole body and in the area of the damaged joint. There may be redness on the skin.
Diagnostics
If you experience pain in the shoulder area, contact a doctor who will conduct an initial examination and interview.
For the diagnosis of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the following methods are used:
- radiography,
- laboratory tests,
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
- computed tomography (CT),
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound),
- scintigraphy - a method of functional imaging, which consists in introducing radioactive isotopes into the body and obtaining an image by determining the radiation emitted by them,
- arthroscopy - a method of visual examination of the joint cavity with a special optical device (arthroscope),
- thermography is a method of recording the infrared radiation of the human body.
Treatment
For many people who are faced with the disease in question, the question often arises: is it possible to cure osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint forever? Treatment of any degenerative joint diseases is mainly aimed at relieving the symptoms and combating the complications of the disease. A complete cure is possible only by replacing the affected joint with an artificial one.
Depending on the severity of arthrosis and the secondary causes of its occurrence, the treatment of arthrosis-arthritis of the shoulder joint is prescribed by a rheumatologist (in the initial stages), an orthopedic or orthopedic traumatologist, a surgeon, an arthrologist (with advanced forms of arthrosis). These are the leading experts.
Auxiliary ones include: a therapist (a generalist performs the treatment if it cannot be obtained from a rheumatologist, orthopedist, surgeon), physiotherapist, radiologist. Which doctor will treat the patient depends on the stage and cause of the disease.
Important! The disease belongs to the number of chronic, so there is no need to talk about a full recovery. So far, there are no drugs that would completely cure it.
Effective treatment consists of the following methods.
Medicines
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint with drugs reduces the symptoms of inflammatory processes and relieves pain. For this, the following pharmacological groups are used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Pain relievers.
- Hormonal preparations based on glucocorticosteroids. They are used as part of ointments and injections into the joint in the treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder-scapular.
In addition, antibiotics, vitamins and mineral complexes and other specific drugs are used for treatment, which are prescribed by the attending physician, depending on the clinical picture of the patient's disease.
Physiotherapy
Physical exercises aimed at strengthening the shoulder girdle muscles are an integral element of the complex treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint. Exercises are performed at the end of the inflammatory process, during the period of remission.
Physiotherapy helps to restore the joint, its mobility, stops the progression of the disease, strengthens the affected apparatus and reduces pain.
Before starting gymnastics, prepare the muscles for the upcoming loads by warming up and stretching. A simple training complex includes the following exercises:
- In a sitting position, take one hand behind your back, the other - from the side of the waist, stretch. Put your hands on your knees and relax. Run slowly.
- Alternating and simultaneous lifting of the shoulders. Run 10 times.
- Movement of the shoulders back and forth, alternating and simultaneous. Run 10 times.
- In a sitting position, hang your arm and relax. Rock back and forth without bending at the elbow. Repeat 10 times with each hand.
Especially popular are the author's methods for the treatment of arthrosis. This physical therapy is performed in specialized centers, but it is easy to do at home.
A feature of physical exercises is their focus on restoring the entire musculoskeletal system and not just the mobility of individual joints.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is included in the complex of measures for the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis. It is effective in the early stages of the disease. Medicines and physiotherapy for coxarthrosis, osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint are prescribed by a doctor after examination and diagnosis.
Physiotherapy treatment includes:
- ultraviolet irradiation,
- UHF therapy,
- magnetotherapy,
- ultrasound therapy,
- amplification therapy,
- therapeutic baths,
- healing mud.
Surgery
When the ongoing therapeutic measures have not brought positive dynamics and the disease progresses, surgical intervention is prescribed.
The following types of operations are possible:
- Puncture of the shoulder joint is a minimally invasive method that allows you to eliminate inflammatory fluid from the joint cavity and introduce a drug there.
- Arthroscopy is performed using a video camera by perforating the joint area. This treatment option relieves symptoms without requiring a long recovery period after surgery.
- Endoprosthesis - replacement of damaged areas of the joint with artificial elements.
Folk remedies
In the treatment of deforming arthrosis, folk remedies are popular and widely used at home. However, remember that in addition to the main drug therapy, alternative treatments should be used.
The following herbal recipes are effective:
- Tincture of elecampane for grinding. Stimulates the processes of blood circulation, relieves pain. To prepare it, 100 g of dry roots of the plant are infused with 250 ml of vodka and applied to the affected area no more than five times a day.
- Oatmeal wrap. Reduces the pain syndrome. It is prepared as follows: a spoonful of oatmeal is poured into 500 ml of water, set on fire and boiled for about 10 minutes. The prepared mass is cooled to a skin-tolerant temperature and applied to gauze. Such a compress is applied to the affected joint for one or two hours.
- Salt pack. Slows down the inflammatory process. Method of preparation: dissolve 50 g of salt in two glasses of water. Soak a piece of gauze in the prepared solution for three hours, then squeeze it, heat it and apply it to the sore joint until the dressing cools completely.
Prevention
To prevent the onset and subsequent progression of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, it is important to follow simple rules for the prevention of the disease. These include:
- maintaining an active lifestyle,
- regular long walks
- workout exercises, gymnastics, yoga,
- giving up bad habits (smoking, alcohol),
- cold and hot shower,
- I swim,
- weight control,
- proper nutrition,
- timely and complete treatment,
- avoid injury, excessive physical exertion, hypothermia.
Conclusion
Deformation of arthrosis of the shoulder joint significantly impairs a person's quality of life, reduces the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, and causes discomfort with increasing pain. The disease cannot be cured completely, but the use of a full range of therapeutic and preventive measures with a high degree of probability allows you to keep the disease in remission.
The outcome of the joint pathology that has arisen depends entirely on the person, on his willingness to regularly engage in therapeutic exercises and to adhere to preventive measures. A person with this diagnosis could lead a full life.