Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder arthrosis is a chronic pathology in which the articular cartilage and adjacent bone tissue degrades, wears out and breaks down.If you treat this disease carelessly and do not start treatment in time, the consequences can be quite catastrophic, including the loss of motor functions of the hand.

Why does shoulder joint arthrosis develop?

The impetus for the development of shoulder joint arthrosis is arthritis.It can appear for various reasons:

• Injuries.Shoulder joint arthrosis can develop as a result of a previous shoulder injury or permanent, minor microtrauma of the shoulder typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In the case of vascular pathologies, blood circulation is usually impaired, which leads to insufficient blood supply to the joints.As a result, the joint tissues undergo degenerative changes, i.e. arthrosis develops.
• Excessive load.This is often related to the patients' work activities (loaders, builders).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.They often significantly affect joint tissues and have a destructive effect on them.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 prone to joint disorders than others.This includes people who were born with any kind of joint defect.Both feel the usual load on their hands is excessive, so cartilage wear occurs much faster.
• Failures of metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Because of this, salts accumulate in the joints, and the cartilage tissues do not receive the proper nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.A prerequisite for the development of arthrosis may be joint pathologies, such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc.
• Age.The elderly (50 and older) are particularly at risk, as joint tissues wear out with age, which in itself leads to the development of pathology.

Signs of arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Arthritis is characterized by a long development, sometimes it is not manifested in any way in the initial stage.Therefore, you should be very careful about the slightest symptoms.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint 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 with sudden changes in weather.If you put the sore shoulder under any load, for example, lift something heavy, then the pain will also remind you.The patient also feels pain when feeling the shoulder.With the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain occurs even in a quiet position.This fact should be taken into account - with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the pain can occur not only in the affected joint, but also in the arm, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Due to the pain, it is difficult for the patient to cope independently with seemingly simple tasks, such as combing the hair.By the way, this operation is one of the test movements for the diagnosis of arthrosis.Rotating movements and moving the arm backwards are also difficult.If the treatment is not started in time, then the shoulder joint and, accordingly, the arm will stop completely and the contracture will develop.
3. Painful cracking, grinding in the joint.It usually occurs due to salts (osteophytes) deposited in the diseased joint.Initially, a weak, creaking rustle appears in the diseased joint;as the disease progresses, it becomes distinct, crunching clicks that can be heard at some 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 joint.This symptom occurs when the disease has progressed due to bone growth covering the joint.

Do not delay going to the clinic if you suddenly start to feel pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation.In fact, in the later stages, arthrosis is practically untreatable.Please note that some patients may have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of arthrosis of the shoulder joint depending on the stage of the disease:

1. The first degree of the shoulder joint 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, even painless squeak.Pain is not noticeable at rest.X-ray examination shows no significant changes in the joint.
2. In the second stage, shoulder joint arthrosis is accompanied by more intense pain and a clear squeaking sound.The amplitude of the possible movements of the hand decreases, but the joint remains mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. The third degree is the severe, advanced stage of the disease.Patients can only shake their hands slightly;they are constantly tormented by sharp pain.The joint itself becomes very inflamed and deformed.Even partial atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint occurs.The joint can only be cured by surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely develops at this stage.It occurs only in patients who do not take care of the affected joint and are subjected to unbearable overload.
4. Fourth stage - absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of the bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve the pain syndrome.This stage occurs mainly in elderly patients.

Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint

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

Often, in severe inflammation, doctors resort to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory drugs used for joint blockade.This procedure is an injection into the joint itself.This method is a non-invasive treatment method, i.e. neither the skin nor the mucous membrane is damaged.Usually ointments, gels, creams, etc.means use.

Chondroprotectors are also prescribed for arthrosis of the shoulder joint - drugs based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which can restore damaged cartilage.

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 therapy.Recently, the treatment of arthrosis with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become very popular due to its effectiveness.Physiotherapy exercises stimulate the muscles to the required extent without overloading the joint, as a result of which the joint develops and recovers.

In addition, he prescribes a therapeutic diet for the patient, which is based on avoiding excessively spicy and salty foods.Doctors advise eating more collagen-rich foods: turkey, seafood, greens, and salmon.

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

Traditional medicine has also proven to be effective in the fight against shoulder arthritis.

Folk remedies are generally effective as adjunctive pain relievers.Remember that they cannot restore the shoulder joint affected by arthrosis.This requires medical treatment under the guidance of a physician.

It compresses

Boil oatmeal (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 it to the painful places for at least half an hour.

The cabbage juice poultice proved to be a good pain reliever.It is usually done every evening and left on the sore joint until morning.

At night, you can simply apply cabbage leaves smeared with honey on the affected joint.

Rubbing

Infuse elecampane roots (50 g) with vodka (125 ml) for several weeks.The mixture should be rubbed on the painful joints.

Let the angelica root (15 g) stand for half an hour, pour boiling water over it.The strained solution should be rubbed into the affected areas 3-5 times a day.

Herbal baths

Various herbal decoctions and decoctions can be added to the bath filled with water.People in the know note the special effect of baths made with mustard, hay powder, mint and burdock decoctions.Such baths should be performed before thoroughly steaming the body, and then after rubbing the joints, the patient should lie down with a warm blanket so that the body retains the heat longer.

Ointments

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