In our daily lives, we often do not pay attention to the sensations of pain in the body. We go to the clinic only when the pain is painful and stabilizes. 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 arthrosis?
Osteoarthritis deformities of the shoulder joint are a chronic disease associated with degenerative cartilage depletion.
The disease tends to progress and aggravate functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The influence of pathogenic factors leads to thinning of cartilage, the appearance of cracks and subsequent destruction.
Factors that cause shoulder osteoarthritis
There are many reasons for the development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. The main ones are:
- vascular diseases that cause impaired 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 55 years old. This is due to age-related changes in the form of cartilage erosion.
The degree of development of the disease
Depending on the gradual deterioration of a person's well-being in the background of the disease, the symptoms of 1st, 2nd, 3rd degree arthrosis of the shoulder joint differ.
The first stage
The initial stage is characterized by small changes in the joint, the appearance of pain during movement and weight lifting. This is due to a decrease in the elasticity of cartilage tissue. The maneuverability of the joint is reduced, resulting in limited mobility of the patient's hands.
In the pictures, the doctor notes a slight narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bone protrusions where the cartilage is thinned. With proper treatment, first-degree osteoarthritis is stopped and the joint is returned to a healthy state.
The second stage
If the patient does not pay attention to the symptoms of first-degree osteoarthritis, the second degree progresses rapidly, in which case it is already problematic to restore the damaged structure of the joint tissues.
The second degree has more obvious symptoms. The articular cavity narrows to a minimum, pain in the scapula and shoulder area increases, becomes regular, crunches are seen when the hand is moved, partial muscle atrophy, osteophytes (bone growths) are seen on X-rays.
The third stage
The last stage is characterized by changes in the bone tissue, there is an obvious deformation, the joint is almost motionless, there is constant pain. Without taking measures to stop the degenerative process in the tissues, there is a high probability of complete disruption of motor function of the hand.
Some patients have difficulty caring for themselves. The degree of the disease in question is the most difficult to treat, requiring surgical intervention. The third stage of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is very rare. As a rule, the damaged joint is the result of excessive systemic loads (for example, in professional sports).
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the scapular-shoulder joint has long been asymptomatic. In most cases, the first sign is a sharp pain. At the beginning of the disease, pain rarely occurs - due to physical activity, restless movements of the hands.
In the future, the pain increases, begins to appear at night with sudden movements, in a restless position, and then becomes more frequent and systematic during the day.
If treatment is not started on time, the feeling of stiffness in the movements will add to the pain. There are clicks and squeaks in the shoulder joint. This area is also often swollen, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature throughout the body and in the area of the damaged joint. Redness may occur on the skin.
Diagnostics
If you feel pain in the shoulder area, contact a doctor who will conduct an initial examination and interview.
The following methods are used to diagnose osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint:
- radiography,
- laboratory tests,
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
- computed tomography (CT),
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound),
- scintigraphy - a method of functional imaging, consisting of the introduction of radioactive isotopes into the body and obtaining an image by determining the radiation they emit;
- 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 with this disease, the question often arises: is it possible to cure osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint forever? Treatment of any degenerative diseases of the joints is primarily aimed at eliminating the symptoms and combating the complications of the disease. Complete treatment is possible only by replacing the affected joint with an artificial one.
Depending on the severity of osteoarthritis and the secondary causes of its occurrence, the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is prescribed by a rheumatologist (in the early stages), orthopedist or orthopedist traumatologist, surgeon, arthrologist (in the initial stage). advanced forms of osteoarthritis). These are key specialists.
Assistants include: therapist (rheumatologist, orthopedist, general practitioner if it is not possible to get from a surgeon), physiotherapist, radiologist. Which doctor will treat the patient depends on the stage and cause of the disease.
It is important! The disease is chronic, so there is no need to talk about a complete cure. So far, there is no cure for it.
Effective treatment consists of the following methods.
Medications
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint reduces the symptoms of inflammatory processes and relieves pain. The following pharmacological groups are used for this purpose:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Painkillers.
- Glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs. They are used as part of joint ointments and injections in the treatment of shoulder-scapular arthrosis.
In addition, antibiotics, vitamins and mineral complexes and other special drugs are used for treatment, which are prescribed by the attending physician depending on the clinical picture of the patient's disease.
Physiotherapy
Exercise aimed at strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle is an integral element of the complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. Exercises are performed at the end of the inflammatory process, during remission.
Physiotherapy helps the joint to restore its mobility, stop the progression of the disease, strengthen the affected apparatus and reduce pain.
Before you start gymnastics, warm up and stretch to prepare your muscles for the upcoming loads. A simple set of exercises includes the following exercises:
- In a sitting position, hold one hand on the back, the other - on the back, lie down. Put your hands on your knees and relax. Do it slowly.
- Alternate and simultaneous lifting of the shoulders. Perform 10 times.
- Shoulders move back and forth alternately and simultaneously. Avoid 10 times.
- In a sitting position, hang your arm and relax. Swing back and forth without bending at the elbow. Repeat 10 times with each hand.
Author's methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis are especially popular. This exercise therapy is performed in specialized centers, but it is easy to do at home.
One of the features of physical exercises is that they are aimed at restoring not only the mobility of individual joints, but the entire musculoskeletal system.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a set of measures for the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis. It is effective in the early stages of the disease. Drugs and physiotherapy for coxarthrosis, arthrosis of the shoulder joint are prescribed by a doctor after examination and diagnosis.
Physiotherapy treatment includes:
- ultraviolet radiation,
- UHF therapy,
- magnetotherapy,
- ultrasound therapy,
- amplipulse therapy,
- therapeutic baths,
- therapeutic mud.
Surgery
When ongoing therapeutic measures do not bring positive dynamics and the disease progresses, surgery is prescribed.
The following types of operations are possible:
- A puncture of the shoulder joint is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the inflammatory fluid to be removed from the joint cavity and a drug to be administered there.
- Arthroscopy is performed using a video camera with a perforation of the articular area. This treatment option eliminates symptoms without requiring a long recovery period after surgery.
- Endoprostheses - replacement of damaged areas of the joint with artificial elements.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are popular in the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis and are widely used at home. However, keep in mind that in addition to basic drug therapy, alternative therapies should be used.
The following herbal recipes are effective:
- Elecampane tincture for grinding. Stimulates blood circulation processes, relieves pain. To prepare, 100 g of dried 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 compress. Reduces pain syndromeIt is prepared as follows: a full tablespoon of oatmeal is poured into 500 ml of water, put on fire and boil for about 10 minutes. The prepared mass is cooled to a temperature resistant to the skin and applied to the gauze. Such a compress is applied to the affected joint for an hour or two.
- Salty compress. The inflammatory process is slow. Preparation: Dissolve 50 g of salt in two cups of water. Dip a piece of gauze into the prepared solution for three hours, then squeeze it, heat it and apply it to the painful joint until the bandage is completely cool.
Prevention
To prevent the onset and subsequent development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, it is important to follow simple rules to prevent the disease. These include:
- maintain an active lifestyle,
- regular long walks
- workouts, gymnastics, yoga,
- giving up bad habits (smoking, alcohol),
- cold and hot showers,
- swimming,
- weight control,
- proper nutrition,
- timely and comprehensive treatment,
- avoidance of injuries, excessive physical force, hypothermia.
The result
Deformative arthrosis of the shoulder joint significantly impairs a person's quality of life, reduces the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, and causes anxiety with increasing pain. It is not possible to completely cure the disease, but most likely the use of all therapeutic and prophylactic measures will allow the disease to remain in remission.
The outcome of the joint pathology depends entirely on the person, his readiness to engage in regular therapeutic exercises and preventive measures. A person with this diagnosis can live a full life.