In everyday life, we often do not attach importance to occasional painful feelings in the body. Only when the pain grows painful and constant, we go to the clinic. 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 deformance of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease associated with degenerative cartilage depletion.
The disease is prone to progression and worsening of functional disorders of the human musculoskeletal system. The influence of pathogenic factors leads to thinning of cartilage, the appearance of cracks and its subsequent destruction.
Factors for shoulder arthrosis
There are many reasons for the development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. The main ones are:
- vascular diseases that lead to disruption of proper blood flow 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 of age. This is due to age-related changes in the shape of cartilage wear.
Degree of disease development
Depending on the gradual deterioration of a person's well-being on the background of the course of the disease, there are signs of 1, 2, 3 degrees of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
The first phase
The initial stage is characterized by minor changes in the joint, the appearance of pain when moving and lifting weights. This is due to the reduction in the elasticity of the cartilage tissue. The maneuverability of the joint is reduced, as a result, the mobility of the patient's hands is limited.
In the pictures, the doctor notes a slight narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bone growths in places where the cartilage is thinning. With proper treatment, first-degree arthrosis stops and the joint returns to a healthy state.
Second phase
If the patient did not pay attention to the symptoms of arthrosis of the first degree, the second stage progresses rapidly, in which it is already problematic to restore the disturbed structure of joint tissues.
The second degree has more pronounced signs. The joint cavity narrows to a minimum, pain in the shoulder and shoulder area increases, becomes regular, crunch occurs when moving the arm, muscles partially atrophy, osteophytes (bone growths) are visible on X-rays.
The third phase
The last phase is characterized by changes in bone tissue, deformity is pronounced, the joint is almost immobilized, there is constant pain. Without taking measures to stop the degenerative process in the tissues, there is a high probability of complete violation of the motor activity of the hand.
Some patients have difficulty in self-care. The degree of the disease under consideration is the most difficult to cure, requiring surgical intervention. The third stage of arthrosis of the shoulder joint is extremely rare. As a rule, this is the result of excessive systemic loads on the damaged joint (for example, in professional sports).
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the scapular-shoulder joint has been asymptomatic for a long time. In most cases, the first sign is an acute feeling of pain. At the beginning of the disease, pain rarely occurs - due to physical activity, due to unpleasant movements of the hands.
In the future, the pain increases, it begins to appear at night with sudden movements, uncomfortable position, and then during the day, it becomes more and more disturbing and becomes systematic.
If treatment is not started on time, then the pain will be accompanied by a feeling of stiffness in the movements. Clicks and squeaks are heard in the shoulder joint. This area also often swells, which is accompanied by an increase in whole body temperature and in the area of the damaged joint. Redness of the skin may occur.
Diagnosis
If you feel pain in the shoulder area, consult a doctor who will perform 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, which consists of introducing radioactive isotopes into the body and obtaining an image by determining the radiation they emit,
- arthroscopy - a method of visual inspection 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 who are faced with the disease in question, the question is often asked: is it possible to cure osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint forever? The therapy of any degenerative joint disease is aimed primarily at alleviating the symptoms and suppressing the complications of the disease. Complete healing is possible only by replacing the affected joint with an artificial one.
Depending on the severity of arthrosis and secondary causes of its occurrence, treatment of arthrosis-arthritis of the shoulder joint is prescribed by a rheumatologist (in the initial stages), orthopedist or orthopedic traumatologist, surgeon, arthrologist (with advanced forms of arthrosis). These are the main experts.
Auxiliary include: therapist (treatment is performed by a generalist if it is not possible to get it from a rheumatologist, orthopedist, surgeon), physiotherapist, radiologist. Which doctor will treat the patient depends on the stage and cause of the disease.
Bitan! The disease is chronic, so there is no need to talk about complete recovery. So far, there are no drugs that can completely cure it.
Effective treatment consists of the following methods.
Medications
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with drugs reduces the symptoms of inflammatory processes and relieves pain. The following pharmacological groups are used for this:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Painkillers.
- Glucocorticosteroid hormonal preparations. They are used in the composition of ointments and injections into the joint in the treatment of shoulder-scapular arthrosis.
In addition, antibiotics, vitamin-mineral complexes and other specific drugs prescribed by a doctor are used for treatment, depending on the clinical picture of the patient's disease.
Physiotherapy
Physical exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle are an integral element of the complex treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint. Exercises are performed at the end of the inflammatory process, in the period of remission.
Physiotherapy helps to restore the joint, its mobility, stops the progression of the disease, strengthens the affected apparatus and reduces pain.
Before starting gymnastics, prepare your muscles for the upcoming loads by warming up and stretching. A simple training complex includes the following exercises:
- In a sitting position, take one hand behind your back, the other - on the side of the waist, stretch. Put your hands on your knees and relax. Perform slowly.
- Alternately and simultaneously lifting the shoulders. Perform 10 times.
- Shoulder movements back and forth, alternately and simultaneously. Run 10 times.
- In a sitting position, hang your arm and relax. Perform a swing back and forth without bending at the elbow. Repeat 10 times with each hand.
Author's methods of treating arthrosis are especially popular. This exercise therapy is performed in specialized centers, but is also easily performed at home.
The feature of physical exercises is their focus on restoring the entire musculoskeletal system, and not just the mobility of individual joints.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is included in the complex of measures for the treatment of deforming arthrosis. It is effective in the early stages of the disease. Medications 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,
- medicinal mud.
Operation
When current therapeutic measures have not brought positive dynamics and the disease progresses, surgical intervention is prescribed.
The following types of operations are possible:
- Puncture of the shoulder joint is a minimally invasive method that allows the removal of inflammatory fluid from the joint cavity and the introduction of the drug there.
- Arthroscopy is performed using a video camera by puncturing the joint area. This treatment option relieves symptoms without the need for a long recovery period after surgery.
- Endoprosthetics - replacement of damaged areas of the joint with artificial elements.
Folk remedies
In the treatment of deforming arthrosis, folk remedies are popular and widely used at home. However, remember that alternative treatments should be used in addition to the main drug therapy.
The following herbal recipes are effective:
- Tincture of elecampane for grinding. Stimulates blood circulation, relieves pain. To prepare it, 100 g of dried root of the plant is poured with 250 ml of vodka and applied to the affected area no more than five times a day.
- Oatmeal compress. Reduces pain syndrome. It is prepared in the following way: one full spoonful of oatmeal is poured with 500 ml of water, put on the fire and cook for about 10 minutes. The prepared mass is cooled to skin-resistant temperature and applied to gauze. Such a compress is applied to the affected joint for one to two hours.
- physiological compress. It slows down the inflammatory process. Method of preparation: dissolve 50 g of salt in two glasses of water. Dip a piece of gauze into the prepared solution for three hours, then squeeze it, warm it and apply it on the sore joint until the dressing has cooled completely.
Prevention
To prevent the onset and subsequent progression of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, it is important to follow simple rules for disease prevention. This includes:
- maintaining an active lifestyle,
- regular long walks
- training exercises, gymnastics, yoga,
- giving up bad habits (smoking, alcohol),
- cold and hot shower,
- swimming,
- weight control,
- proper nutrition,
- timely and thorough treatment,
- avoidance of injury, excessive physical exertion, hypothermia.
Conclusion
Deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint significantly impairs a person's quality of life, reduces the mobility of the musculoskeletal system and causes discomfort with increasing pain. The disease cannot be completely cured, but the use of a full range of therapeutic and preventive measures with a high degree of probability enables the disease to remain in remission.
The outcome of the resulting pathology of the joint depends entirely on the person, his willingness to engage in regular therapeutic exercises and adhere to preventive measures. A person with this diagnosis can lead a full life.