Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.

Shoulder osteoarthritis is a chronic pathology in which the articular cartilage and adjacent bone tissue degrade, wear and break.If you treat this disease negligently and do not start treatment on time, the consequences can be quite disastrous, including the loss of motor functions of the hand.

Why does shoulder osteoarthritis develop?

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

• Injuries.Osteoarthritis of the shoulder can develop due to a previous injury to the shoulder or minor and constant microtrauma to the shoulder, typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.In case of vascular pathologies, blood circulation is often impaired, which leads to insufficient blood supply to the joints.As a result, the joint tissues undergo degenerative changes, that is, osteoarthritis develops.
• Excessive load.This is usually associated with the work activities of patients (loaders, builders).
• Hormonal or autoimmune alterations.They often significantly affect the tissues of the joints and have a destructive effect on them.These are diseases such as psoriasis, gout, etc.
• Inheritance.It has been proven that children of parents with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint are more likely than others to develop joint defects.This also includes people who were already born with a joint defect.Both perceive the usual load placed on their hands as excessive and, therefore, the cartilage wear process occurs much faster.
• Failures in metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Because of this, salts begin to accumulate in the joints and the cartilage tissues stop receiving adequate nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.A prerequisite for the development of osteoarthritis may be joint pathologies such as arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc.
• Age.Older people (50 years and older) are especially at risk, as joint tissues wear out with age, which in itself leads to the development of pathology.

Signs of shoulder osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by a long development, which sometimes does not manifest itself in any way in the initial stages.Therefore, you have to be very careful with the slightest symptomatic manifestations.Shoulder osteoarthritis is usually indicated by:

1. Pain is considered the main symptom of the disease.Pain often bothers patients in the morning.Pain syndromes are also more possible with sudden changes in weather.If you subject your sore shoulder to any load, for example, lifting something heavy, the pain will also remind you of yourself.The patient feels pain even when palpating the shoulder.With the development of shoulder arthrosis, pain begins to appear even in a calm position.This fact should be taken into account: with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, pain can occur not only in the affected joint, but can also be localized in the arm, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Due to pain, the patient finds it difficult to cope with seemingly simple tasks on his own, such as combing his hair.By the way, this action is one of the test movements to diagnose osteoarthritis.Rotational movements and attempts to move the arm backwards are also difficult.If treatment is not started in time, gradually the shoulder joint and, consequently, the arm stop moving completely and a contracture develops.
3. Painful crunching, grinding in the joint.It usually occurs due to salts deposited in the diseased joint (osteophytes).Initially, a weak, crackling crack appears in the diseased joint;As the disease progresses, it becomes distinct crisp clicks, audible even at some distance from the patient.
4. Swelling, increased general temperature and redness at the affected joint site.These signs confirm the presence of inflammation in the diseased joint.
5. Stiffening of the joint.This symptom appears when the disease is advanced due to bone growths that cover the joint.

Don't postpone visiting the clinic if you suddenly start to feel pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation.In fact, in the later stages, osteoarthritis is practically untreatable.Please note that some patients may not have any signs of the disease.

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

1. The first degree of shoulder osteoarthritis is characterized by morning and evening pain.The patient needs to “develop” the joint before it begins to move without stiffness.A sudden movement of the shoulder or arm is accompanied by a slight, although painless, crunch.At rest no pain is observed.Radiological examination shows no significant changes in the joint.
2. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder in the second stage is accompanied by more intense pain and a clear crunch.The range of possible hand movements is reduced, but the joint remains mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. The third degree is an advanced and serious stage of the disease.Patients can only lightly shake hands;acute pain constantly torments them.The joint itself becomes very inflamed and deformed.There is even partial atrophy of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint.The joint can only be cured through surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely reaches this stage.It only occurs in patients who do not take care of the affected joint and subject it to unbearable overloads.
4. Stage four: absolute destruction of the joint and fusion of the bones.Even strong pain relievers do not relieve pain syndrome.This stage occurs mainly in elderly patients.

Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis.

Pharmacological treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis aims, first of all, to destroy the source of the inflammatory process and pain.Typically, your doctor will prescribe NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).First of all, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Often, with severe inflammation, doctors turn to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory medications that are used for joint blockage.This procedure consists of an injection that is applied to the joint itself.This method is a non-invasive treatment method, that is, it does not damage the skin or mucous membranes.As a rule, this involves the use of ointments, gels, creams, etc.

Chondroprotectors are also prescribed for shoulder osteoarthritis, medications that can restore damaged cartilage, based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to drug treatment, physiotherapy, sanatorium treatment, massage and physiotherapy are also used.The latter refers to treatment procedures with ultrasound, laser therapy, mud therapy, cryotherapy and magnetotherapy.Recently, the treatment of osteoarthritis with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become quite popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastic exercises, without overloading the joint, stimulate the muscles to the necessary extent, as a result the joint develops and restores.

Additionally, the patient is prescribed a therapeutic diet based on avoiding foods that are too spicy and salty.Doctors recommend eating more foods that contain collagen: turkey, seafood, vegetables and salmon.

In cases where shoulder osteoarthritis has caused the complete destruction of the articular cartilage, a surgical operation called endoprosthesis is performed, during which a ceramic, plastic or metal prosthesis is implanted in place of the affected joint.

Traditional medicine has also proven effective in the fight against osteoarthritis of the shoulder.

Home remedies are often effective as additional pain relievers.Remember, they cannot restore a shoulder joint affected by osteoarthritis.This requires medical treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

Compresses

Boil oats (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 it to sore spots for at least half an hour.

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

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

rubbing

Infuse elecampane roots (50 g) with vodka (125 ml) for a couple of weeks.The mixture should be rubbed on the sore joints.

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

herbal baths

You can add various herbal decoctions and infusions to a bath filled with water.Connoisseurs note the special effect of baths with decoctions of mustard, hay powder, mint and burdock.Such baths should be taken before the body is completely steamed and then, after rubbing the joints, the patient should lie down, covered with a warm blanket, so that the body retains heat longer.

Ointments

To normal Vaseline you must add 15 g of melilot, hops and St. John's wort.The resulting mixture should be rubbed regularly into the joint area.