Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a fairly common problem that many patients face, especially in old age.As a result of the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the cartilaginous tissue of the head of the humerus and the articular cavity of the scapula that articulates with it are affected.Damage and weakening of cartilaginous tissue lead to changes and deformation of 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 a sedentary lifestyle, which disrupt the normal nutrition of the joint.
Sometimes arthrosis of the shoulder joint develops as a consequence of concomitant diseases: psoriasis, gout, infectious arthritis and others.
Shoulder osteoarthritis symptoms
The development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can take a long time.In the early stages, the disease usually does not manifest itself.But at a certain point the first symptoms still appear.As a rule, they occur after increased load on the joint or hypothermia.
The main symptom is pain that increases with movement of the shoulder joint.Unpleasant sensations can spread throughout the arm.When making movements in the joint, a clicking or grinding sound is often heard.
At first, the pain is only felt when moving, but in the later stages of osteoarthritis it bothers even at rest.During exacerbations of the disease and in the later stages of osteoarthritis, the patient is also unable to freely rotate and abduct the arm.The last stage of arthrosis of the shoulder joint leads to the patient's disability: the joint becomes severely deformed and practically immobile.The person should keep their hand in a forced position, which is less painful for them.However, this phase is a rare occurrence.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be carried out by conservative or surgical methods.
Conservative treatment involves the appointment of chondroprotectors, which help restore cartilaginous tissue and prevent its destruction.During exacerbations, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation.Corticosteroids, which are used as injections into the affected area, help fight severe inflammation.For arthrosis of the shoulder joint, ointments and gels are also often used.
Special orthoses are also used to immobilize the shoulder joint and provide a gentle regimen.If you continue to load the shoulder girdle, the development of arthrosis in the early stages cannot be stopped.Important aspects of treatment are physiotherapy, massage and physiotherapy.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint is performed infrequently due to the low prevalence of advanced forms of arthrosis.It consists of replacing the shoulder joint and the adjacent scapula joint with a prosthesis.