Arthritis Of The Shoulder Joint (shoulder Arthritis) - Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments For Shoulder Arthritis

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Causes, symptoms and treatments for shoulder arthritis

Content:

• Shoulder arthritis symptoms
• Shoulder arthritis causes
• Shoulder arthritis treatment

Shoulder arthritis is an inflammatory process that causes degeneration and degeneration of the articular cartilage. A joint affected by this disease loses its ability to function normally.

The largest number of cases was recorded in the United States (more than 42 million people), the disease is widespread in Asian and European countries. The main risk group is people over 50.

Shoulder arthritis symptoms

A common symptom common to all types of shoulder arthritis is severe pain that causes constant discomfort. Gradually, the pain increases, impedes the movement of the hand.

There are other signs that suggest arthritis:

The body temperature rises (in particular, this affects the diseased area).

The mobility of the arm is reduced, it is difficult for the patient to raise it.

Even a slight movement is accompanied by a specific crunch in the joint.

Deterioration of the general condition, chronic weakness.

Swelling (typical for rheumatoid arthritis).

The acute form of the disease makes itself felt with sharp painful attacks, chronic arthritis can be asymptomatic.

When analyzing the symptoms of the disease, its stage is also taken into account:

• First stage. Aching pains that increase with exertion, subside at rest. The intensity of pain manifestations depends on the time of day (intensified at night), the current weather. The arm and shoulder get tired quickly.
• Second stage. The nature of the painful sensations changes to a permanent one; they cannot be eliminated with the help of rest and reduction of loads. There is a feeling of stiffness, a clicking sound is added when moving the hand.
• Stage Three. Irreversible changes take over the articular tissues, shoulder deformation occurs.

Shoulder arthritis causes

Depending on the reasons that led to the appearance of arthritis of the shoulder joint in the patient, several forms of the disease can be distinguished:

• Post-traumatic arthritis. The form is found most often, it becomes the result of trauma experienced in the past, stretching, dislocation, fractures. Repeated injury can cause damage to the blood vessels. Years later, even small cracks in cartilage or bone remind of themselves. Serious injury can lead to immediate arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease can develop against the background of previous infectious diseases, low immunity.
• Osteoarthritis. With rare exceptions, people over 50 become victims of the disease. The form develops as a result of wear and tear of cartilaginous and bone tissues, subjecting them to destruction. In addition to representatives of older age groups, athletes involved in wrestling, throwing shells and similar sports are at risk. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is also dangerous for those who often have to endure heavy loads - loaders.

On the subject: Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder arthritis treatment

Having discovered the symptoms of arthritis of the shoulder joint, a person should immediately make an appointment with a doctor. With the help of the results of analyzes and radiography, the specialist will accurately establish the form and stage of the disease, prescribe the correct treatment: medication, physiotherapy, surgical.

Drug therapy

Treatment of shoulder arthritis involves the appointment of a whole range of medications.

It may include the following funds, depending on the indications:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• analgesics;
• glucocorticoids;
• external therapy means;
• immunomodulatory drugs.

NSAIDs

NSAIDs are prescribed to a patient who has arthritis of the shoulder joint to relieve the inflammatory process. The funds allow you to relieve swelling, reduce the intensity of pain. The group's drugs are aimed at combating the symptoms of arthritis. They do not affect the destructive process, do not control the development of the disease.

• Among the medicines of the NSAID group for arthritis of the shoulder joint, the most often prescribed are "Meloxicam", "Nimesulide", "Celecocib", "Ketoprofen", "Diclofenac sodium".

• Ketoprofen is one of the most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis. The drug is characterized by rapid absorption, instantly reaches the site of inflammation. Its action is to block inflammatory mediators, relieve tissue swelling, and improve their microcirculation. It can also be seen as an effective pain reliever. The disadvantage is a large number of side effects and contraindications.
• "Diclofenac sodium" is a drug tested for years. The medicine has an analgesic effect, is characterized by an anti-inflammatory effect. Of the minuses of the drug, there is a long range of contraindications, the likelihood of negative consequences (skin rashes, stomach bleeding, impaired digestive processes). These factors lead to a decrease in the popularity of the tool, despite its effectiveness.
• "Meloxicam" is a relatively new drug that has a less destructive effect on the stomach. However, its use does not exclude a disorder of the digestive system, attacks of headaches. From the advantages of the tool - it is used only once a day.
• "Nimesulide" is an effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug characterized by high digestibility. Practically safe in terms of side effects.
• Celecocib is a drug considered to be the most effective in terms of pain relief. There are almost no contraindications for use.

Analgesics

The main purpose of the group's drugs is to relieve pain that causes discomfort to a patient suffering from shoulder arthritis. Necessarily prescribed for painful forms (for example, osteoarthritis), may contain paracetamol, codeine, aspirin.

• Paracetamol is an antipyretic agent. It is prescribed if to combat such symptoms of arthritis as fever, fever.
• Analgin is characterized by an analgesic effect, but it does not have an anti-inflammatory effect. There is a possibility of negative consequences of admission - disruption of the digestive tract. The remedy is not recommended for ulcers, it is used only after meals.
• Codeine can lead to side effects such as stool disturbances and nausea.

External therapy means

This group includes creams and ointments that help reduce the pain threshold, enhancing the effects of the drugs described above.

• "Diclofenac" is the most popular remedy among the ointments, which are prescribed to a patient with arthritis of the shoulder joint. Of the advantages, there is no destructive effect on the digestive system, the minimum number of contraindications. Shows the best results in the fight against rheumatoid form. It is applied 3-4 times a day (basically a two-week course), gently rubbed into the skin of the affected area until absorbed.
• "Fastum gel", "Bystrumgel" are based on ketoprofen and are prescribed for inflammatory processes in the joints. Ointments are used three times a day, the duration of the course is set by the doctor.
• "Long cream" helps in removing puffiness, fights stiffness of joints, relieves pain. It is often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, has contraindications and negative effects. The frequency of application is 4 times a day, the average duration of the course is a month.
• Gel "Deep Relief" is characterized by an excellent analgesic effect, helps in eliminating puffiness, fights pain, inflammation. The duration of the course is chosen by the doctor, the frequency of use is 4 times a day.

All external therapy drugs have contraindications; they cannot be prescribed independently.

Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are an important part of the treatment for shoulder arthritis. Injections of drugs allow you to maximize the mobility of the affected joint, relieve inflammation, and reduce pain. The funds do not have a destructive effect on the body, but there are dangerous side effects (disruption of the adrenal glands, osteoporosis, cataracts). The correct dosage, selected by the doctor, can reduce the risk of use. In advanced situations, injections are placed directly into the damaged joint.

Chondroprotectors

In the treatment of arthritis of the shoulder joint, modern medicine is increasingly turning to such an innovative means as chondroprotectors. The composition of these preparations includes biologically active elements. Useful substances can significantly slow down the process of destruction taking place in the affected joints.

Chondroprotectors, with their constant use in certain cases, make it possible to achieve absolute restoration of the affected areas. Their effectiveness depends on the form and stage of shoulder arthritis in a particular patient.

On the subject: Chondroprotectors for arthrosis

Physiotherapy treatment

Arthritis of the shoulder joint is also treated with the help of physiotherapy tools - laser, electrophoresis, massage. The benefit or harm that procedures can bring is determined by the form of the disease. Physiotherapy treatment allows you to stop inflammatory processes, reduce the intensity of pain manifestations, and restore blood circulation. Muscle tissue is stretched, muscles are toned, and blood circulation is restored.

With the successful elimination of pain, therapeutic exercises are added, with the help of which the motor capabilities of the joint are increased.

Health food

Diet cannot be the only tool in the fight against shoulder arthritis. However, it has a positive effect on the state of the patient's immunity, accelerates the healing process.

• What can't you eat? When drawing up a dietary menu, you should minimize or completely abandon salty, sweet and fatty foods. Pastry products are also prohibited, the patient can only afford bread made from wholemeal flour. Alcoholic beverages that negatively affect the effectiveness of drugs are strictly not allowed.
• What can you eat? Vegetables and fruits (green, orange and yellow) should be the basis of the diet of a person suffering from arthritis. You also need to add dairy products to the menu. Fish is extremely useful for the patient (salmon, tuna, trout will be especially valuable). It is best to concentrate on boiled and stewed foods, leaving fried foods until recovery.
• What can you drink? The patient needs two liters of still water daily. Freshly squeezed juices will also benefit him.

Surgical treatments

If the patient has a pronounced pathological process, there is a persistent deformation of the joint, it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. The surgical method of combating the disease in most cases means a partial replacement of a portion of the bone (carrying out hemiarthroplasty). Prosthetics may also be required - a complete replacement of the joint.

If arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint becomes the object of treatment, the surgeon chooses the resection technique. The operation is the removal of a bone element from the edge of the clavicle. In this case, the scar tissue will gradually fill the remaining cavity.

Surgical intervention allows you to solve the following tasks:

• Relief of pain from a patient suffering from shoulder joint arthritis.
• Putting in order the lost (completely or partially) motor function of the hand.
• Return of full working capacity.

Self-medication, as well as lack of proper treatment, is extremely dangerous. If you find symptoms of shoulder arthritis, you should immediately visit a doctor.

Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist

Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.