Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder osteoarthritis is a chronic disease in which joint cartilage and adjacent bone tissue are broken down, worn down and destroyed.If you treat this disease negligently and do not start treatment on time, the consequences can be quite devastating, including loss of motor functions of the hand.

Why does shoulder osteoarthritis develop?

The trigger for the development of shoulder arthrosis is inflammation in the joint.It can occur for various reasons:

• Injuries.Shoulder osteoarthritis can develop due to a previous shoulder injury or persistent, mild microtrauma to the shoulder, as is typical in athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In vascular diseases, blood circulation is usually impaired, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the joints.This leads to degenerative changes in the joint tissue, i.e.h.to osteoarthritis.
• Excessive strain.This is often related to the patient's professional activity (loader, construction worker).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.They often significantly affect the joint tissue and have a destructive effect on it.These are diseases such as psoriasis, gout, etc.
• Inheritance.It has been proven that children of parents with arthrosis of the shoulder joint are more susceptible to developing joint damage than others.This also includes people who were born with joint defects.Both find the usual strain on their hands to be excessive, so that the cartilage wears out much faster.
• Disturbances in metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Because of this, salts begin to accumulate in the joints and the cartilage tissue ceases to receive proper nutrients (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begins to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.Joint diseases such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc. can be a prerequisite for the development of osteoarthritis.
• Age.Elderly people (50 years and older) are particularly at risk, as joint tissue wears out with age, which in turn leads to the development of pathology.

Signs of shoulder osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is characterized by a long development, which sometimes does not manifest itself at all in the initial stages.Therefore, you should be very careful at the slightest symptomatic manifestations.Shoulder osteoarthritis is usually indicated by:

1. Pain is considered the main symptom of the disease.Aching pain often bothers patients in the morning.Pain syndromes are also more likely to occur during sudden changes in the weather.When you put strain on your painful shoulder, such as lifting heavy objects, the pain also reminds you of yourself.The patient feels pain even when palpating the shoulder.With the development of shoulder arthrosis, pain begins to occur even in a resting position.This circumstance should be taken into account - with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain can occur not only in the affected joint, but also be localized in the arm, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Because of the pain, it becomes difficult for the patient to independently perform seemingly simple tasks, such as combing their hair.By the way, this action is one of the test movements for diagnosing osteoarthritis.Rotational movements and attempts to move the arm backwards are also difficult.If treatment is not started on time, complete movement of the shoulder joint and, accordingly, the arm gradually occurs and a contracture occurs.
3. Painful grinding, creaking in the joint.It usually arises from salt deposits in the diseased joint (osteophytes).Initially, a weak, creaking rustling noise occurs in the diseased joint;As the disease progresses, distinct, crispy clicking noises occur that can be heard even from a greater distance from the patient.
4. Swelling, increased general temperature and redness at the site of the affected joint.These signs confirm the presence of inflammation in the diseased joint.
5. Hardening of the connection.This symptom occurs when the disease has progressed due to bone growths covering the joint.

You should not delay a visit to the clinic if you suddenly feel pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation.In fact, osteoarthritis is virtually untreatable in its later stages.Please note that some patients may not experience any signs of the disease at all.

Symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis depending on the stage of the disease:

1. The first degree of shoulder arthrosis is characterized by morning and evening pain.The patient must “develop” the joint before it can move without stiffness.A sharp movement of the shoulder or arm is accompanied by a slight, still painless crunch.No pain is observed at rest.The x-ray examination shows no significant changes in the joint.
2. Shoulder osteoarthritis in the second stage is associated with greater pain and a noticeable grinding sensation.The amplitude of movement of the hand is reduced, but the joint remains mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. Third degree is a severe, advanced stage of the disease.Patients can only shake their hand lightly;the stabbing pain torments her constantly.The joint itself becomes severely inflamed and deformed.There is even partial atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint.The joint can only be healed through surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely develops to this stage.It only occurs in patients who do not care for the affected joint and expose it to unbearable strain.
4. Stage four – absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of the bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve the pain syndrome.This stage occurs mainly in older patients.

Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis

Drug treatment of shoulder arthrosis is primarily aimed at destroying the source of the inflammatory process and pain.Your doctor will usually prescribe NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).First, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

In cases of severe inflammation, doctors often resort to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory medications that are used to treat joint blockages.This procedure involves an injection into the joint itself. This method is a non-invasive treatment method, i.e.h.neither skin nor mucous membranes are damaged.This usually involves the use of ointments, gels, creams, etc.

For shoulder arthrosis, chondroprotectors are also prescribed - drugs that can restore damaged cartilage, based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to drug treatment, exercise therapy, sanatorium treatment, massage and physiotherapy are also used.The latter refers to ultrasound treatment procedures, laser therapy, mud therapy, cryotherapy and magnetic field therapy.Recently, the treatment of osteoarthritis with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become very popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastic exercises, without overloading the joint, stimulate the muscles to the necessary extent, thereby developing and restoring the joint.

In addition, the patient is prescribed a therapeutic diet based on avoiding too spicy and salty foods.Doctors advise eating more foods containing collagen: turkey, seafood, vegetables and salmon.

In cases where shoulder arthrosis has led to complete destruction of the articular cartilage, a surgical procedure called endoprosthetics is performed, in which a ceramic, plastic or metal prosthesis is implanted in place of the affected joint.

Traditional medicine has also proven effective in the fight against shoulder osteoarthritis.

Folk remedies are usually effective as an additional pain reliever.Remember that they are not able to restore a shoulder joint affected by osteoarthritis.This requires medical treatment under medical guidance.

Compressed

Boil oat flakes (30 g) in two glasses of water for about 10 minutes.Soak a piece of gauze folded in several layers with the resulting solution and apply to sore spots for at least half an hour.

A cabbage juice compress has proven to be a good pain reliever.Usually the treatment is carried out every evening, leaving the treatment on the painful joint until the morning.

You can simply apply cabbage leaves smeared with honey on the affected joint at night.

Rub

Infuse elecampane roots (50 g) with vodka (125 ml) for a few weeks.The mixture should be rubbed onto painful joints.

Leave angelica roots (15 g) to act for half an hour and pour boiling water over them.The strained solution must be rubbed into the affected areas 3-5 times a day.

Herbal baths

You can add various herbal decoctions and infusions to a bath filled with water.Specialists note the special effect of baths with decoctions of mustard, hay dust, mint and burdock.Such baths should be taken before the body is thoroughly steamed.After rubbing the joints, the patient must then lie down and be covered with a warm blanket so that the body retains heat for longer.

Anoint

To regular petroleum jelly you need to add 15 g of sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort.The resulting mixture should be regularly rubbed into the joint area.