Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a fairly common problem that many patients face, especially at an older age.As a result of the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the cartilaginous tissue of the head of the humerus and the joint cavity of the scapula that articulates with it are affected.Damage and weakening of cartilaginous tissue leads to changes and deformations of bone structures.
Causes of arthrosis of the shoulder joint
The most common causes of arthrosis of the shoulder joint are increased load on the shoulder joint and previous injuries: intraarticular fractures, dislocations, bruises.The development of arthrosis can be favored by vascular diseases and physical inactivity, which interrupt 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.
Symptoms of shoulder arthritis
The development of arthrosis 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 an increased load on the joint or in hypothermia.
The main symptom is pain that increases with movement of the shoulder joint.Unpleasant sensations can spread throughout the arm.When performing movements in the joint, a clicking or creaking sound is often heard.
At the beginning the pain is felt only when moving, but in the later stages of osteoarthritis it also bothers you at rest.During exacerbations of the disease and in the later stages of arthrosis, the patient also cannot freely rotate and abduct the arm.The last stage of arthrosis of the shoulder joint leads to disability of the patient: the joint is largely deformed and practically immobile.A person must keep his hand in a forced position, which is less painful for him.However, this stage is a rare event.
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint can be carried out using conservative or surgical methods.
Conservative treatment involves the appointment of chondroprotectors, which help restore cartilaginous tissue and stop its destruction.During flare-ups, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and relieve 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 to immobilize the shoulder joint and a gentle regimen are also used.If you continue to load the shoulder girdle, the development of arthrosis in the early stages cannot be stopped.Important aspects of treatment are physical therapy, massage and physiotherapy.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint is rarely performed due to the low prevalence of advanced arthritic forms.It consists of replacing the shoulder joint and the adjacent scapula joint with a prosthesis.