Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder arthrosis is a chronic pathology in which articular cartilage and adjacent bone tissue degrade, wear and break down.If you carelessly treat this disease 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 arthrosis develop?

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

• Injuries.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder can develop due to a previous shoulder injury or constant, minor shoulder microtrauma, typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In vascular pathologies, blood circulation is usually disturbed, which leads to insufficient blood flow to the joints.As a result, joint tissues undergo degenerative changes, i.e. arthrosis develops.
• Excessive load.This is often related to the patient's work activities (loaders, construction workers).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.They often significantly affect joint tissues, acting destructively on them.These are diseases such as psoriasis, gout, etc.
• Heredity.It has been proven that children of parents with arthrosis of the shoulder joint are more prone to developing joint defects than others.This also includes people who are already born with any joint defects.Both of them perceive the usual load on the hands as excessive, so the process of wearing down the cartilage takes place much faster.
• Disorders in metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Because of this, salts begin to accumulate in the joints, and cartilage tissues stop receiving proper nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.Joint pathologies such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc. can be a prerequisite for the development of arthrosis.
• Old age.Elderly people (50 and over) are especially at risk, because joint tissues wear out with age, which in itself leads to the development of pathology.

Signs of shoulder arthrosis

Arthrosis is characterized by a long development, sometimes it is not manifested in any way in the initial stages.Therefore, you should be very careful about the smallest symptomatic manifestations.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is usually indicated by:

1. Pain is considered the main symptom of the disease.Aching pain often torments patients in the morning.Painful syndromes are also possible with sudden weather changes.If you subject the painful shoulder to any load, for example, lifting something heavy, then the pain will remind you of yourself.The patient feels pain even when feeling the shoulder.With the development of arthrosis of the shoulder, pain begins to appear even in a quiet position.This fact should be taken into account - with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain can appear not only in the affected joint, but can be localized in the hand, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Because of the pain, it becomes difficult for the patient to independently cope with seemingly simple tasks, for example, combing the hair.By the way, this action is one of the test movements for diagnosing arthrosis.Rotational movements and attempts to move the arm backwards are also difficult.If the treatment is not started in time, the shoulder joint and, accordingly, the arm completely stop moving, and a contracture develops.
3. Painful grinding, grinding in the joint.It usually occurs due to the deposition of salt in the diseased joint (osteophytes).At first, a weak, creaky rustle appears in the affected joint;as the disease progresses, it turns into distinct crunching clicks, audible even 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 affected joint.
5. Joint hardening.This symptom occurs when the disease has advanced due to bony growths covering the joint.

You should not delay going to the clinic if you suddenly start to feel pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation.Indeed, in the later stages, arthrosis is practically incurable.Note that some patients may not have any signs of illness.

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

1. The first degree of shoulder arthrosis is characterized by morning and evening pain.The patient needs to "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.There is no pain at rest.X-ray examination shows no significant changes in the joint.
2. Shoulder arthrosis in the second stage is accompanied by more intense pain and a clear grinding.The range of possible hand movements is reduced, but the wrist is still mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. The third stage is the severe, advanced stage of the disease.Patients can only be handled lightly;sharp pain constantly torments them.The joint itself becomes very inflamed and deformed.There is even partial atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint.The joint can only be cured by surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely develops to this stage.It occurs only in patients who do not take care of the affected joint and expose it to unbearable overloads.
4. The fourth stage – absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of the bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve the pain syndrome.This stage mainly occurs in elderly patients.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder with drugs 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 of all, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Often, with severe inflammation, doctors resort to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory drugs used to block joints.This procedure is an injection given into the joint itself.This method is a non-invasive method of treatment, i.e. it does not damage the skin or mucous membranes.As a rule, it includes 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, physical therapy, sanatorium treatment, massage and physiotherapy are also used.The latter refers to ultrasound treatment procedures, laser therapy, mud therapy, cryotherapy and magnetotherapy.Recently, the treatment of arthrosis with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become quite popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastic exercises, without overloading the joint, stimulate the muscles to the required extent, as a result of which the joint develops and regenerates.

Additionally, the patient is prescribed a therapeutic diet based on avoiding overly spicy and salty foods.Doctors advise eating more foods that contain collagen: turkey, seafood, greens and salmon.

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

Traditional medicine has also shown effectiveness in the fight against shoulder arthrosis.

Folk remedies are usually effective as an additional pain reliever.Remember, they are not able to restore the shoulder joint affected by arthrosis.This requires treatment under medical supervision.

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 to the painful places for at least half an hour.

A cabbage juice compress has proven to be a good pain reliever.It is usually done every evening, leaving it on the painful joint until morning.

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

Rubbing

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

Leave the angelica roots (15 g) for half an hour, 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 the bath filled with water.Knowledgeable people note the special effect of baths with decoctions of mustard, hay powder, mint and thistle.Such baths should be taken before the body is thoroughly scalded, and then, after rubbing the joints, the patient should lie down, covered with a warm blanket, so that the body retains heat longer.

Fats

It is necessary to add 15 g of sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort to the usual vaseline.The obtained mixture should be regularly rubbed into the area of the joints.