Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

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

Why does shoulder arthrosis develop?

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

• injuries.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder can develop due to previous trauma to the shoulder or persistent, minor microtrauma to the shoulder, typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In vascular pathologies, blood circulation is usually disturbed, which leads to insufficient blood supply to the joints.As a result, joint tissues undergo degenerative changes, i.e. arthrosis develops.
• excessive load.This is often related to patients' work activities (loaders, builders).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.Often they significantly affect joint tissues, which has a destructive effect 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 have already been born with any joint defects.Both of them perceive the normal load placed on the hands as excessive, and therefore the process of cartilage wear occurs much faster.
• Disorders in metabolic processes and endocrine system.Due to this, salts begin to accumulate in the joints, cartilaginous tissues stop receiving proper nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to decay.
• Joint diseases.A prerequisite for the development of arthrosis can be joint pathologies, such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc.
• age.Elderly people (over 50 years old) are especially at risk, as 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 at all in the initial stages.Therefore, you should be very careful about the slightest symptom.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is usually observed:

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 any strain on your painful shoulder, for example by lifting something heavy, then the pain will remind you of itself.The patient feels pain even when feeling the shoulder.With the development of arthrosis of the shoulder, pain begins even in a quiet state.This fact should be taken into account - in the case of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain can occur not only in the affected joint, it can be localized in the arm, elbow or back.
2. motor dysfunction.Due to pain, it is 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 the diagnosis of arthrosis.Rotational movements and attempts to pull the arm back are also difficult.If the treatment is not started on time, then gradually the shoulder joint and, accordingly, the arm stops moving and contracture develops.
3. Painful cramping, cracking in the joint.This usually occurs due to salts deposited in the diseased joint (osteophytes).Initially, a weak, crackling sound appears in the affected joint;As the disease progresses, it turns into a clear crackling click that can be heard 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 diseased joint.
5. Joint stiffness.This symptom occurs when the disease progresses due to bone formations that cover the joint.

You should not delay going to the clinic if you suddenly start having pain in the shoulder area, especially after a bruise or dislocation.Indeed, in the later stages, arthrosis is practically not curable.Please note that some patients may have no symptoms at all.

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 light, still painless cracking sound.There is no pain at rest.X-ray examination does not show significant changes in the joint.
2. In the second stage, arthrosis of the shoulder is accompanied by stronger pain and a clear crackling sound.The amplitude of the possible movements of the hand decreases, but the joint is still 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 hands slightly;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 be cured only by surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely develops before this stage.This happens only in patients who do not take care of the damaged joint and subject it to unbearable overloads.
4. The fourth stage - absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve pain syndrome.This stage occurs mainly in elderly patients.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

Drug treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder aims, first of all, to destroy the inflammatory process and the source of pain.Your doctor will usually prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).First of all, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Often, with severe inflammation, doctors refer to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory drugs used for joint blockages.This procedure is an injection made into the joint.This method is a non-invasive method of treatment, that is, neither the skin nor the mucous membranes are damaged.As a rule, it refers to ointments, gels, creams, etc.

In shoulder arthrosis, chondroprotectors are also prescribed - drugs that can restore damaged cartilage, based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to medical 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 using puppies (hirudotherapy) has become quite popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastics exercises without overloading the joint stimulate the muscles to the required extent, as a result of which the joint develops and recovers.

In addition, the patient is prescribed a therapeutic diet based on very spicy and salty foods.Doctors recommend eating more collagen-rich foods: turkey, seafood, greens, and salmon.

In cases where arthrosis of the shoulder has caused complete destruction of the articular cartilage, a surgical operation called endoprosthesis is performed, during which a ceramic, plastic or metal prosthesis is implanted in the place of the damaged 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 cannot restore the shoulder joint affected by arthrosis.This requires medical treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

Compresses

Boil oatmeal (30 g) in two cups of water for about 10 minutes.Wet a piece of gauze folded in several layers with the resulting solution and apply it to the painful areas for at least half an hour.

Cabbage juice compress has proven to be a good pain reliever.It is usually done every night, leaving a sore joint until morning.

You can simply apply honey-coated cabbage leaves on the affected joint at night.

rub

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

Leave the angelica roots (15 g) for half an hour, pour boiling water.The strained solution should be rubbed on the affected areas 3-5 times a day.

Herbal baths

You can add various herbal decoctions and infusions to a bath full of water.Knowledgeable people note the special effect of baths with a decoction of mustard, hay dust, mint and burdock.Such baths should be taken until the body is thoroughly steamed, and then after rubbing the joints, the patient should lie down with a warm blanket so that the body can retain heat for a long time.

Ointments

You should add 15 g of sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort to regular Vaseline.The resulting mixture should be rubbed regularly in the joint area.