Shoulder Arthritis - From First Symptoms to Recovery

Throughout our lives, our joints are under constant stress. This leads to the wear and tear of cartilage tissue, deformation of bone tissue, and shoulder joint arthrosis, which has become one of the most common problems in the elderly.Progression of the disease can lead to complete limitation of movement and persistent pain in the joints. Therefore, treatment of arthropathy should start from the first manifestation of the disease.

What is shoulder joint disease

Dystrophic changes in the cartilage and adjacent bone tissue of the shoulder joint are medically defined as arthritis of the shoulder joint ICD-10 - M19. 91. Most commonly, arthrosis occurs in the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder, which is most commonly exposed to constant pressure and severe stress during the day.Under the influence of injury and various inflammatory processes, cartilage tissue is damaged and gradually weakens, becoming fragile and weak. Cracks form in the cartilage and salt begins to deposit in them, accelerating the process of cartilage tissue destruction. As a result of salt deposition, the bone tissue becomes dense and begins to deform, forming the acromioclavicular joint.The process is slow and chronic; at first it is asymptomatic, but the manifestations of the disease gradually increase and, over time, may lead to complete immobility of the joint area.The following factors can trigger the pathological process:

• Shoulder injuries deform the joint and cause inflammation.
• Insufficient blood supply to the shoulder joint for a long period of time - this condition may be caused by vascular disease.
• Sustained high loads on joints have been observed in construction workers, athletes, and loaders.
• Congenital joint disease.
• Malnutrition, leading to metabolic disorders.

important!The most common form of the disease is post-traumatic arthropathy of the shoulder, ICD-10 code -M19. 91.

The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints in the human body and often causes joint injuries. Even small injuries to joints, repeated over time and regularly, can lead to the development of arthrosis. Arthritis of the right shoulder joint is most common because most people are "right-handed" and the load is always higher on the right side.

Causes and factors of disease

Most often, arthropathy is diagnosed in older people, and the older you are, the more likely it is that pathology will be discovered.Causes and prerequisites for shoulder arthritis:

• Injuried. Fractures, bruises, and dislocations can affect the bone and cartilage tissue of the shoulder joint, causing a variety of complications—capsular damage, ligament rupture. Prompt treatment can prevent complications and joint disease.
• Vascular Pathology. Diabetes, atherosclerosis, and varicose veins can influence the development of arthropathy. Additionally, people who abuse cigarettes are at increased risk of developing the disease.
• lack of physical activity. A lack of physical activity, combined with overeating, can lead to weight gain. As a result, metabolism is disrupted, leading to impaired blood circulation in the cartilage and tissues surrounding the joints - the formation of arthropathy.
• Hormonal and immune disorders- Gout, psoriasis, etc.
• joint disease– Synovitis, chronic and acute arthritis, sterile tissue necrosis.
• Endocrine system diseases and metabolic disorders. These conditions can cause the body to be deficient in vitamins and minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus) needed for joint health. This can negatively affect the condition of the joint and complicate its recovery process.

In most cases, arthropathy does not develop under the influence of one factor; its development is promoted by a combination of factors at the same time.

Types and symptoms of shoulder arthritis

Because arthropathy develops over a long period of time, the disease may not actually manifest itself initially and is only sometimes felt after severe physical overload or hypothermia.The main symptoms of joint disease:

1. shoulder pain.This is the main symptom of arthropathy - pain of a different nature, which usually worsens with movement and loading of the shoulder joint. The pain can cause discomfort that limits the shoulder's mobility.
2. There is a squeaking sound when moving. Salt deposits in the shoulder joint can cause the joint to make a characteristic crunching (or clicking) sound when it moves.
3. movement restrictions. Its manifestations depend on the stage of arthrosis - at the beginning of the disease there are no restrictions, during the exacerbation the patient is unable to freely rotate and move the arm.

Sometimes the pain may be in an atypical location and may hurt the arm or elbow. By palpation, you can identify the main source of pain - the lower edge of the scapula and collarbone.

notes!In its initial stages, primary arthropathy causes no symptoms. This is due to the lack of nerve endings in the cartilage tissue, so the disease begins to manifest itself when the pathological process extends far beyond the joint..

Arthropathy is divided into three stages based on the nature and extent of damage to bone and cartilage tissue, with certain symptoms.

symptom	The first stage	second stage	The third phase
pain	Occurs rarely - usually in the evening or morning, after exercise, or after hypothermia	Severe pain occurs with any movement	Pain that persists, even at rest
movement restrictions	slightly	Reduced range of motion possible	Mobility is severely limited, sometimes completely. Abduction and elevation of the arm become impossible. The hand has to be kept in a forced position which is very painful
Shoulder joint creaking	Slight crunching sound when moving suddenly - no pain	You will hear a crunch and a clear crunch with every movement	Any movement produces a constant crunching sound
Local manifestations (redness and swelling of joints, increased temperature at the affected area)	does not exist	Occurs during an exacerbation of illness	There is always inflammation in the joints
Joint hardening	does not exist	Rarely happens	Sclerosis and deformation of the shoulder
Joint changes visible on X-rays	does not exist	Visible signs of joint deformity, joint space narrowing, and osteophytes	Traces of joint damage are clearly visible

The first phase can last from a few months to a few years. Third-degree arthritis of the shoulder joint can be treated only with the help of surgical measures, since this condition carries the risk of disability.One such pathological type is shoulder joint deformity. This condition means that the joint cartilage is destroyed, causing irreversible changes in the bones of the joint surface. In addition to cartilage tissue, this change also affects the joint capsule and synovium, leading to destruction and deformation of the shoulder joint.Deformed joints manifest as soreness and dull pain in the shoulder joint, which worsens when the weather changes and at night. The disease is chronic and cannot be completely cured, but it can help relieve uncomfortable symptoms and stop the tissue-destroying process.

How to Treat Shoulder Arthritis

Before treating the shoulder joint, many diagnostic measures need to be performed to determine the form and stage of the joint. Among these measures, it is necessary to carry out laboratory and biochemical blood tests, which can confirm the presence of inflammatory processes in the body.If shoulder arthropathy is suspected, the patient is asked to perform a number of self-diagnostic measures:

• Place your hands in a lock between your shoulder blades;
• Tie the belt behind your waist;
• Bend your elbows to shoulder height and comb the hair at the back of your head.

If the patient performs all these activities without difficulty, then he is not at risk of developing joint disease. But if it's difficult to complete the task and causes pain in the collarbone and shoulder area, more in-depth research is needed - using fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging for a more accurate diagnosis. Second-degree joints and primary disease are treated conservatively; surgical measures can only be used if there are no results.Conservative treatment methods for arthropathy are carried out in combination when treating in several directions simultaneously:

• medical treatement;
• physiotherapy;
• Treated using traditional methods;
• therapeutic gymnastics and acupuncture;
• special diet;
• Spa treatments.

important!An important condition for the treatment of shoulder arthrosis is to ensure rest of the shoulder joint (this is easier to do when arthrosis is observed in the left shoulder joint), and this gentle treatment regimen should be used even after the course of treatment. treat. If the patient continues to bear load from the shoulder girdle, the disease will progress, eventually leading to the need for surgery.

Surgical measures include endoprosthetic surgery - the replacement of diseased (worn) joints with artificial joints. This surgery is expensive and, while it significantly improves the patient's quality of life, has the disadvantage of having to repeat the surgery every 10-15 years.

medical treatement

Medical treatment has several directions - pain relief, relief of the inflammatory process and direct repair of cartilage tissue.

Medicines and pills

To eliminate inflammation and pain, the following groups of drugs are used:

• NSAIDs;
• Analgesics and antispasmodics.

These drugs can be taken by mouth or given into a muscle (in the form of an injection). They are great for relieving pain and relieving inflammation, but are not meant to be taken long term - treatment is for the short term.The destruction of cartilage tissue is treated with drugs from the chondroprotectant group, which includes the active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.Chondroprotectants are valuable building materials for cartilage tissue, but the drugs only have a restorative effect during the first two phases. The first results of using chondroprotectants are observed only 3 months after use, and the usual course of treatment is about one year.When treating joint diseases, it is necessary to take dietary supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes containing substances that prevent demineralization of joint tissues.For severe inflammatory processes, a method called "intra-articular block" is used. The essence of this technique is to introduce hormonal drugs into the acromion joint space. Such injections have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, but have many side effects and therefore cannot always be used for treatment.

ointment

For external use, effectively use ointment applied to the skin of the shoulder joint area. Joint ointments have an anesthetic effect and contain anti-inflammatory substances and drugs that promote blood circulation.

important!Arthritis ointments can help relieve uncomfortable symptoms but do not cure the disease.

The advantage of ointment over analgesics is that it has a local anesthetic effect and does not damage the gastrointestinal tract. But they also have a drawback—they don’t always provide quick relief as the pain syndrome gets more severe.

physiotherapy

The main method of treating arthrosis in the first stage is medication. Physical therapy procedures can enhance the effectiveness of the medications you take and reduce the likelihood of side effects.The following treatments are used to treat arthropathy:

• electrophoresis;
• exposure to magnetic fields;
• Radiation exposure (UV, IR, laser);
• ultrasound.

Physiotherapy activities take place several times a year during the course. The type and method of treatment are selected individually for each patient based on the extent of the disease, patient age and other indications.

family therapy

At-home treatment of the shoulder joint can be used in addition to medical therapy with the approval of your treating physician.

Gymnastics and sports therapy

Physical therapy of the shoulder joint can only be performed during the remission period; during the exacerbation period, gymnastics exercises are prohibited.Exercise therapy exercises can be found on the Internet, but all of them must be approved by your doctor.

important!You cannot choose exercises for treating joint disease on your own, no matter what authoritative websites these procedures are described on, and no matter what flattering reviews accompany them. Many of them have contraindications and may cause harm rather than benefit - so you should definitely talk to your doctor before starting to exercise.

Home Exercise Rules for Arthritis:

• Exercise therapy cannot be performed if you have decompensated lung or cardiac disease, are hyperthermic, or have a medical condition that precludes physical activity.
• Exercise should not cause pain. Otherwise, their selection is incorrect and may lead to complications.
• When treating arthrosis of the shoulder joint, gymnastics require regularity - they need to be performed every day. At the beginning, the training time should not exceed 5 minutes a day, and gradually increase to 20 minutes.
• You need to perform the exercises gradually - first at a quarter intensity and then gradually increase the load. The intensity and amplitude of exercise should be gradually increased. The older you get and the longer you live a sedentary lifestyle, the slower the process of increasing intensity.
• Exercises are performed in an easy, semi-relaxed state - sitting or lying down.

There are some simple exercises that can be done independently every day at any convenient time: raising and lowering the shoulders, swinging the arms back and forth, and rotating the shoulders.

massage

Shoulder joint massage is best performed immediately after sports therapy and gymnastics. This will help improve blood circulation in the shoulder joint and promote the recovery of cartilage tissue.Massage can be performed only when the acute pain subsides and the inflammatory process is reduced.During the surgery, not only the sore shoulders are massaged, but also the collar area and forearm area on both sides.

diet

Dietary rules for joint disease - elimination of factors that influence the development of the disease and metabolic disorders.Basic principles of diet:

• Limit sweet, starchy, fatty and salty foods.
• Reduce salt intake to a minimum.
• Reduce portion sizes but increase meal frequency (eat small but often).
• Replace animal fat consumption with dairy and vegetable fats.
• Increase the amount of dairy products in your diet, which are a source of calcium, as well as seafood and fish (sources of collagen and phosphorus).
• Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

If you suffer from joint disease, you should never go hungry - the menu should be designed to increase the supply of nutrients without harming the body, and to reduce the amount of harmful foods.

ethnoscience

Doctors recommend treatment at home with folk remedies as a complement to pharmacological treatments:

• Lard and propolis are mixed in equal proportions. Apply the resulting ointment to the shoulder joint area using massaging movements.
• To relieve pain, it is recommended to take an herbal bath with a decoction of chamomile, burdock and nettle.
• A folk remedy for joint disease is oatmeal. Boil them in boiling water and apply the decoction to the shoulders and apply them at night.

Folk remedies do not cause side effects and have no contraindications for their use.

prevention

Preventative measures to prevent joint disease include minimizing the factors that cause the disease.General advice:

• Eliminates joint underloading associated with sports or professional activities.
• Minimize risk of shoulder joint injury.
• If the shoulder joint is injured or painful, it is important to consult a therapist to minimize the risk of complications.
• Prevent excess weight - control your diet and engage in daily physical activity (gymnastics, walking, swimming).
• In old age, medications that promote the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue are used.

Shoulder arthritis is a dangerous disease that can lead to complete loss of movement and disability in the joint. You should consult your doctor at the first sign of illness. Treatment of arthrosis must be comprehensive and include both conservative and alternative treatments.