Deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint is a common pathology, especially in older patients. The disease is chronic and develops rapidly. It is equally often diagnosed in patients of both sexes. Due to degenerative disorders, damage is observed not only in the cartilaginous tissue of the joint, but also in the bone tissue. The causes of the problem are microtraumatic injuries to the shoulder joint and inflammatory processes that develop in it. The cartilaginous tissue gradually becomes thinner, microcracks appear on it in which salt deposits accumulate. Then destructive processes gradually affect the bones, which become denser, grow and eventually change their anatomical shape. The disease progresses over a long period of time, without causing any discomfort to a person in the initial stages of the disease. In fact, this is precisely where its danger lies. Let us dwell in more detail on the causes, symptoms, as well as how and with what to treat deforming arthrosis.
Why does the pathology occur?
Among the causes of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, experts name the following conditions and factors.
Traumatic injuries
Shoulder injuries include intra-articular fractures, dislocations and contusions. Fractures are characterized by the fact that the fracture line is located in the joint cavity. In addition to the bone, it also affects the cartilage, causing further injuries: the ligaments are torn, the capsule is damaged.
Shoulder dislocation is one of the most common injuries, which often leads to complications, joint deformation and the development of osteoarthritis. As a result, the joint may lose mobility completely.
Dislocations of the right shoulder are seen more often in right-handed people and of the left shoulder in left-handed people.
Bruises occur as a result of a strong blow, for example from an accident, a fall or playing sports. Due to the bruise, the bones do not move, the cartilaginous tissue is not destroyed, but its normal nutrition is disrupted, which can even lead to post-traumatic arthrosis.
Increased load
In some groups of people, excessive load on the shoulder joint is observed:
- Professional athletes: volleyball players, tennis players, track and field athletes.
- Builders, plasterers, loaders.
- Dachnikov.
Everyone has to do the same type of movements with their hand raised for a long time. Therefore, they experience microcracks and injuries, sprained ligaments, overloaded muscles, and the functioning of blood vessels is disrupted. The joint lacks nutrients and becomes deformed.
If a person does not monitor the load and does not take preventive measures, glenohumeral arthrosis may occur.
Joint pathologies
Some joint pathologies can cause the development of deforming arthrosis.
- synovitis. Its cause is an infection that causes intense formation of intra-articular fluid. Due to the accumulation of fluid, the joint swells and starts to hurt. Most often this problem is observed in connection with a shoulder injury. If synovitis is left untreated, there is a high probability of complications. The disease is treated with therapeutic agents. The pain is relieved by NSAIDs. Additionally, the patient will undergo a puncture to pump out the accumulated fluid inside the joint. The shoulder is then fixed in a stationary position. Synovitis of an infectious nature is treated with antibiotics. In more difficult situations, surgical treatment is performed.
- Arthritis of the shoulder joint of various origins. Its signs: shoulder swelling and pronounced joint pain.
- Bone necrosis also causes osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. Triggered by injury or genetic factors, it is characterized by the fact that bone cells begin to die. Medicine offers therapeutic or surgical correction of the condition, depending on the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of the body. Chondroprotectors restore bone tissue, and NSAIDs help cope with pain. The use of medications is complemented by physiotherapy, massage and physical therapy.
Hereditary, congenital and acquired pathologies
Various anomalies in the structure of the shoulder (congenital or acquired) almost always deform it. The consequence of muscular dystrophy is insufficient nutrition of the joint tissues and therefore arthrosis of the shoulder.
If a person has a collagen deficiency, this will also provoke the development of pathology.
The probability of developing shoulder arthrosis is much higher in those people whose relatives had similar problems, including coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis, becauseunderdevelopment of cartilaginous tissue is hereditary.
Diseases of the blood vessels
The condition in which the likelihood of arthrosis of the shoulder joint increases is considered a variety of disorders in the functioning of blood vessels.
- Physical inactivity also significantly increases the chance of developing pathologies. It is caused by insufficient physical activity. The disease is characterized by apathy, drowsiness, decreased appetite and insomnia. One of the most common complications of physical inactivity is cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis. The disease is treated conservatively; you also need to follow a diet and physical therapy.
- Obliterative endarteritis. The pathology occurs due to impaired blood circulation, which results in a lack of oxygen supply to the tissues of the vessel. Therefore, their performance is limited and then they die.
- Poor nutrition and insufficient physical activity are the conditions for obesity and impaired metabolism, which leads to poor blood circulation in the joint tissues. The result of the process is the development of arthrosis.
- Varicose veins, in which blood flow in the vessels slows down, are also one of the conditions that cause degenerative changes in the joints.
Hormonal imbalances and weakened immunity
Disturbed hormone levels and reduced immunity can become a factor causing destructive tendencies in joint tissues.
- The changes that occur in a woman's body due to menopause are characterized by metabolic disorders. The lack of calcium in the bones during this period is the result of a decrease in estrogen levels in the female body. The consequence of these processes is possible arthrosis of the joints.
- Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious pathology caused by various reasons (stress, decreased immunity, impaired metabolism, etc. ). The disease is systemic, therefore, under certain conditions, not only the skin, but also internal organs, bones and joints can be affected.
- Men often suffer from osteoarthritis due to gout. It occurs due to excessive accumulation of uric acid in the form of small crystals in the joints. Signs of pathology include joint swelling and pain. Externally, their manifestation can be noted at the time of paroxysmal exacerbation of gout. Most often this happens at night. The shoulder is hot and the skin turns red. In an advanced situation, gout can become a provoking factor for the development of the pathology. To avoid complications, gout must be treated with medications, without forgetting about diet and physical therapy.
- Reduced immunity can be the cause of arthrosis due to exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the joint cavities.
Altered metabolism
Failure to supply various vitamins and microelements in the body (especially calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D) often causes a lack of nutrition of the intraarticular fluid, cartilage and bone tissue of the joint, which, in turn, causes degeneration, dystrophic changes in them.
Due to diabetes, blood vessels become thinner, blood flow within them decreases, and the periarticular tissues do not receive enough nutrients. All this leads to arthrosis.
Age-related changes
With age, bones and cartilage tissue become thinner and weaker. The likelihood of developing shoulder osteoarthritis after the age of 50 increases significantly.
Most often, shoulder arthrosis is observed due to exposure to a complex of the listed conditions.
Symptoms
Deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint is characterized by a disease that develops gradually over a long period of time. Initially it shows practically nothing, however, in the later stages of development the following symptoms are observed.
- Shoulder pain. Its character, very often aching, pulling, disturbs a person in the morning, after a night's rest. It can occur before a climate change. If physical activity is required on the affected shoulder, the pain becomes intense and pronounced. As the situation worsens, the pain syndrome manifests itself even at rest. Wearing an orthosis helps solve the problem.
- Impaired motor activity of the affected arm occurs due to severe pain. Exacerbation often occurs due to hypothermia or sprain of the ligaments. The patient cannot raise his arm or perform usual movements. Experience unbearable pain when making circular motions in your shoulder or trying to move your arm behind your back. If therapy is not started promptly, complete immobilization of the upper limbs may occur.
- Creaks and creaks in the joint are initially not very noticeable and may be barely noticeable. Later they become intense and can be heard not only by the patient, but also by the people around him.
- Inflammation of the joint is manifested by edema, swelling, local increase in skin temperature and redness.
- The feeling of hardening of the joint is caused by the growth of bone tissue - osteophytes, which occurs if the disease is in an advanced stage.
Development of the disease
The disease goes through three stages in its development. The symptoms at each stage are similar to each other, however they differ greatly in intensity.
1st degree osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint of the 1st degree is characterized by slight pain in the morning and evening. The patient "develops" the joint with effort before performing the movements. A slight crunch in the shoulder is possible if a person shakes his hand sharply. At rest no pain is felt.
Second degree
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint of the 2nd degree is manifested by more severe pain, a creaking sound in the shoulder is clearly audible. The mobility of the hand is still preserved, but is already significantly reduced. The destructive process is already present, the tissues of the joint gradually become thinner and dystrophy is observed. Ligaments, cartilage and bones are affected. Wearing a special orthopedic device - an orthosis or bandage - helps reduce the intensity of pain.
3 degree osteoarthritis
The third degree of the disease is the most serious. The symptoms of osteoarthritis significantly change a person's quality of life. The patient can only turn the arm slightly, constantly feels sharp pain in the shoulder and a deformation of the joint is observed. The muscles partially atrophy. The problem is resolved with surgery. In its absence, complete immobility and disability are likely.
Treatment
It is completely impossible to cure deforming arthrosis. You can only slow its progression and influence the symptoms. Doctors offer two types of treatment for deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint: therapeutic and surgical.
Therapeutic treatment
As a therapeutic correction of the patient's condition, doctors suggest using the following groups of drugs.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The main goal at this stage of treatment is to relieve inflammation and pain. Drugs suppress inflammatory processes and relieve pain. It is important to remember that NSAIDs are used for a limited period. They are prescribed both in the form of tablets and injections.
- Treatment of shoulder joint arthritis involves the use of corticosteroids. They help relieve inflammation, thereby stopping the development of the pathology.
- Chondroprotectors for arthrosis are prescribed in the non-acute phase to restore damaged cartilage and bone tissue. These drugs are based on various active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid. They help stop the destruction of cartilage tissue and restore it. But the effectiveness of the use of chondroprotectors can be expected only in the initial stages of the disease, becauseFor their action the main condition is necessary: cartilaginous tissue must remain in the affected joint. Otherwise, these drugs will not help. All these drugs are prescribed by a doctor. You can expect positive results from their use no earlier than six months of use.
- External agents (ointments, gels, creams) are also widely used in the treatment of arthrosis.
- Analgesics also relieve pain and are used intermittently.
Surgery
The operation is performed in the third degree of development of the pathology. It consists of the prosthetic replacement of the shoulder and scapula. Surgical treatment has contraindications, most often the advanced age of the patient.
The decision on how to treat arthrosis of the shoulder joint will be made by an orthopedist or traumatologist.
Additional methods of conservative treatment of shoulder arthrosis include physical therapy, massage and traditional medicine. A prerequisite for these methods is that they cannot be used during a flare-up period.
With shoulder osteoarthritis, physical therapy can significantly alleviate the patient's condition. In the series of exercises, it is necessary to select simple movements (circular movements, lifting, flexion-extension of the arm). Gymnastics is performed at a calm pace, without overload.
Self-treatment
For treatment at home, you can use folk recipes. But their use must be agreed with the treating doctor.
- Rubbing the sore joint helps a lot with osteoarthritis. The rub is prepared with 50 g of elecampane root and 125 ml of vodka. The tincture is left for two weeks in a dark place, then used to massage the shoulder before going to bed.
- Oatmeal compresses are easy to prepare. Take 30 g of flakes per half liter of water and boil for 8-10 minutes. The decoction is moistened with gauze folded several times, then applied to the affected joint for half an hour.
- You can use cabbage leaves as a compress (at night). They deal with pain well.
- Herbal baths are recommended for the treatment of deforming arthrosis. Mustard, mint and burdock are used to prepare them.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, like any other joint disease, cannot be ignored. Its treatment must be approached comprehensively, follow the doctor's orders: take medications in a disciplined manner, carry out a complex of physical therapy. To prevent arthrosis, you should not overload the joints, avoid overcooling and observe your diet.