How to cure osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease of the cartilage tissue, in which the normal functioning of the joint is disturbed. In most cases, the disease is chronic. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is characterized by pain and a progressive loss of hand functionality. Most often, the pathology is detected in old age. The causes of osteoarthritis are senile changes in the body, shoulder injuries, birth defects, and constant stress on the shoulder girdle. If a person is faced with discomfort in the shoulder girdle, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. With the help of a complex effect, it is possible to stop the development of degenerative changes.

What is osteoarthritis of the shoulder

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder - damage to the cartilage tissue of the joint, during which degenerative changes occur. The blood supply is disturbed in the cartilage tissue, so that it stops receiving a sufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen.At risk are people who experience excessive stress on their shoulders on a daily basis and who have birth defects of the joint tissues.At first, the person feels painful pain, but the normal functionality of the shoulder is preserved. If the provoking factors are not eliminated, the disease will cause serious damage to health.

Diagnosis plays an important role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. With the help of x-rays, it is possible to accurately determine the cause of the disease and the degree of damage.

Anatomical background

Congenital disorders of the structure of the joints and connective tissue can become the causes of the onset of the disease. If a person has features in the structure of the shoulder girdle, even an ordinary load can provoke the appearance of osteoarthritis. To avoid problems, you will need to take preventative measures and see a doctor regularly. Congenital dysplasia can be controlled with massage and exercise therapy.

Causes and risk factors

All older people are at risk.According to WHO statistics, the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis after 45 years increases significantly.At 65 years of age, more than 50% of people suffer from this disease. Among the reasons that provoke the early onset of the disease are:

• shoulder rotator cuff damage;
• shoulder injury;
• constant stress associated with sport or work;
• infectious and autoimmune pathologies;
• obesity;
• incorrect metabolism.

The older a person gets, the higher the risk of developing degenerative joint damage.

Views

The defeat of cartilage tissue is divided into primary and secondary. The diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis is made in the absence of concomitant pathologies. It is usually detected in old age. The reason for its appearance is age-related changes. Secondary eyesight is due to injury or against the background of another disease. In addition, the disease is classified by localization.Degenerative changes in the shoulder can occur in the shoulder joint itself or in the acromioclavicular joint.

Developmental stages and symptoms

Symptoms depend on the stage of development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder. Pathology is divided into three stages:

1. The first one. . . There are aching pains that intensify at night, the functionality of the shoulder girdle is preserved.
2. The second. . . When moving the hands, a cracking sound is heard, the pain is constant, the mobility of the shoulder is limited.
3. Third. . . Severe pain, the arm is fixed in one position, protrusions are visible in the affected area, a strong deformation of the joint is noticeable on the x-ray.

The disease may not develop for a long time. If a person continues to load the shoulder belt, the condition worsens.

Which doctor to contact

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is treated by different doctors. The initial examination is performed by a therapist or rheumatologist. In addition, the following specialists may be involved in the treatment:

• surgeon;
• orthopedist;
• neurologist.

In most cases, the treatment regimen is established by a rheumatologist.The help of a surgeon is necessary if the disease requires surgical treatment or intra-articular manipulation.A consultation with a neurologist is necessary if the nerve bundle has been compressed due to the disease.

It is only after a diagnostic examination that the therapist or rheumatologist will determine whether help from other specialists is needed.

Diagnostic

Hardware and laboratory tests, as well as manual examinations are used to make an accurate diagnosis. First of all, an inspection is carried out with various tests. The person's story is being studied. All this helps to make a preliminary diagnosis. In addition, MRI and X-rays are used to determine the degree of narrowing of the joint space, the condition of blood vessels, synovium, tendons.

Manual review

The manual examination includes palpation of the affected area and performing diagnostic tests. Pain usually occurs on palpation of the acromioclavicular joint. If a person has difficulty putting their hand behind their head, it may indicate the presence of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. During a manual examination, the doctor will be able to detect inflammation. The information obtained during the manual examination plays an important role in the diagnosis.The examination should be carried out by an experienced rheumatologist or therapist, so as not to harm during tests and functional tests.

Instrumental methods

The methods of instrumental research make it possible to determine:

• the degree of narrowing of the joint space;
• uneven joint surface;
• localization of osteoarthritis.

After using instrumental diagnostic methods, the necessary treatment is selected. For diagnosis, X-ray, CT or MRI are used. These methods provide the necessary information. The instrumental examination can be repeated during the treatment.

Laboratory

Laboratory tests allow you to assess the condition of the body as a whole and exclude inflammatory arthritis. First, the blood is taken for analysis. With osteoarthritis, all clinical and biochemical blood test indications are within normal limits. With arthritis, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation, the amount of immunoglobulins and other markers of the inflammatory process in the body are significantly increased. Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis and selects an effective treatment regimen.

For accurate results, donate blood in the morning on an empty stomach.

Processing

The therapeutic approach is complex. Medicines, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises are used. If the disease is advanced or does not respond to treatment, surgery is used. Basics of therapy:

• ease the pain;
• stop the development of the disease;
• start the mechanisms of restoration of cartilage tissue.

At the initial stage, the result is achieved through the use of drugs.It is important to exclude provoking factors. Stable remission is achieved through physiotherapy and exercise therapy.

Medication

The following groups of drugs can be used for treatment:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug;
• chondroprotectors;
• corticosteroids;
• vasodilators.

NSAIDs and corticosteroids are used to relieve pain. They apply for a limited time. Chondroprotectors can accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue. Vasodilators help improve blood circulation and relieve spasms of small vessels.

Before prescribing this or that remedy, it is necessary to carefully study the contraindications. Only a doctor can correctly combine all drugs.

Surgical

Surgical intervention is carried out only as a last resort, when irreversible degenerative processes have occurred. The reasons for the operation are:

• lack of effect of conservative treatment;
• the occurrence of complications;
• the appearance of severe degenerative changes.

If the joint has lost its original appearance, an arthroplasty is performed.The diseased joint is replaced by an artificial joint. The operation is complex and requires high qualifications of the surgeon. Puncture and arthroscopy can also be done to treat osteoarthritis.

Puncture

The puncture is performed if a large amount of fluid has accumulated in the joint cavity. Also, this procedure is performed with infectious inflammations to determine the type of infection. Getting rid of excess fluid helps reduce pressure on the shoulder joint and increase its mobility. The procedure is minimally invasive, so recovery after its completion takes place as soon as possible. The puncture has indications and contraindications. It is only used if there is an accumulation of fluid in the joint capsule or if there is a suspicion of an infectious complication of osteoarthritis.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that removes damaged shoulder cartilage. The operation is performed using endoscopic equipment and a micro-camera. The advantage of this method of treatment is rapid rehabilitation. Removing destroyed cartilage helps relieve stress and restore joint mobility. The downside to the procedure is that access to the affected area is somewhat limited.

Endoprostheses

The stent is a complete replacement of a damaged joint with a biocompatible analogue.Titanium construction is commonly used. The operation allows you to get rid of even stage 3 osteoarthritis. Long-term rehabilitation is carried out after endoprosthesis. As a result, it is possible to completely eliminate the affected areas and chronic pain, as well as restore the mobility of the shoulder girdle.

The operation is not always possible. In the elderly, the rehabilitation period is much more difficult. Other treatment options are used before the appointment of the joint replacement.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures play an important role in eliminating osteoarthritis of the shoulder girdle. With their help, it is possible to restore normal joint mobility and reduce the intensity of pain. The following procedures are performed:

• electrophoresis;
• local cryotherapy;
• magnetotherapy.

Physiotherapy can be used if there are no acute manifestations of the disease (severe pain, limited mobility). Regular exposure will completely eliminate the discomfort. All procedures should be performed by a qualified technician.Before visiting physiotherapy rooms, you should consult your doctor.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy refers to the use of active and passive methods to restore the functionality of the shoulder. If the disease is mild, then the person can start using an active method of recovery through exercise. The passive method consists of external exposure by massage or mechanotherapy. Physical therapy helps to quickly get rid of manifestations of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.

The passive method of recovery by mechanotherapy is accessible to people of all ages.

Exercise therapy

Physiotherapy exercises allow you to exercise the muscles and restore mobility to the shoulder joint. Most of the time, static exercises are used. Dynamic load in which active shoulder rotation is performed is undesirable. The following exercises can be performed:

1. Shoulder swing- you have to take the starting position, sitting on a chair and putting your hands on your knees. Relax your shoulders, then start swinging your elbows. At the same time, the hands are on the knees.
2. Slow rotation- you need to sit in a chair and put your hands on your knees, then slowly start to rotate your shoulders with short pauses. Circular movements are performed back and forth.

Physiotherapy can only be used during remission, when pain and limited movement are almost completely absent.

Massage

Massaging the affected area achieves the following effects:

• improve tissue nutrition;
• relieve swelling;
• tone muscles;
• remove the pain.

It is advisable that all actions be carried out by a qualified specialist. During self-massage, strong pressures and sudden movements should be avoided.The result of the massage effect is noticeable within a few weeks after regular use.

The massage must be accompanied by other activities. If a person performs exercises of the exercise therapy complex and visits a massage room, he will achieve excellent results.

Mechanotherapy

Mechanotherapy refers to a set of exercises performed on specialized mechanisms. This method allows you to recover in the shortest possible time. Mechanotherapy is ideal for rehabilitation after surgery. Special mechanisms allow you to adjust the load, allowing faster recovery of muscles and ligaments. All actions are performed under stationary conditions. Classes on rehabilitation mechanisms should be taught with an instructor. It will correctly select the load and the necessary simulator.

Joint traction

The joints are stretched using a specialized device. With this procedure, the following effects can be achieved:

• improve blood circulation;
• enlarge the joint space;
• relieve tension in ligaments.

Narrowing of the joint space is one of the main manifestations of osteoarthritis. With this procedure, you can improve the situation. The degree of load is selected individually. Initially, traction is carried out with minimal weights.

Before prescribing joint traction, it is necessary to conduct an examination of possible contraindications.

Folk methods

Traditional methods allow you to get rid of pain and speed up the process of restoring cartilage tissue. The following remedies can be applied:

1. Burdock leaves- fresh burdock leaves are crushed until tender and applied to the affected area for 30-60 minutes. Fixing is carried out with gauze.
2. Salt compress- 50 g of salt are dissolved in 450 ml of water, after which a gauze is placed in the liquid. The gauze is removed, heated and applied to the shoulder for 45 minutes.
3. Gelatin- 2 teaspoons of gelatin will need to be diluted in 100 ml of lukewarm water, after which the liquid is heated to a boil. Gelatin is taken orally once a day before meals. It promotes the restoration of cartilage tissue.

Traditional methods will help to achieve a good result in therapy. It is advisable to use them during remission.

Diet for osteoarthritis

With any type of osteoarthritis (shoulder, wrist, ankle), you need to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs for the rapid restoration of cartilage tissue. You will need to add the following foods to your diet:

• nuts;
• fiber;
• gelatinous jelly;
• buckwheat porridge;
• eggs.

Nutrition must be balanced. Vitamin supplements can be taken to obtain essential vitamins and minerals. It is advisable to eat 4 to 5 times a day. During the treatment of osteoarthritis, alcoholic beverages and sweets are excluded. If a person wants to achieve lasting remission, then they will need to adhere to the principles of good nutrition on an ongoing basis.

Complications and prognosis

The prognosis depends on the age of the person, the degree of damage, the individual characteristics of the organism. At a young age, it is possible to achieve a complete restoration of cartilage tissue and joint functionality. In old age, you will have to adhere to certain rules to achieve lasting improvement in the condition. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder responds better to treatment than osteoarthritis of the foot because the shoulder girdle is easy to isolate from stress. This allows for more effective conservative treatment.

Differences between osteoarthritis of the shoulder and arthritis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis have the same manifestations, but differ in the clinical picture. The main difference is that osteoarthritis is a non-inflammatory disease.At first, pain in osteoarthritis worries a person only after exercise, and in arthritis it is constant.Arthritis is an inflammatory-degenerative disease. Its treatment is somewhat different from that of osteoarthritis.

In order not to confuse these diseases, methods of differential diagnosis are used. Laboratory and instrumental studies will help to accurately determine the presence or absence of inflammation.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of osteoarthritis involves eliminating provoking factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You will need to do the following:

• practice moderate physical activity;
• avoid hypothermia;
• use chondroprotectors;
• avoid hard physical labor;
• bring body weight back to normal.

Preventive actions will help keep the joints healthy until old age. Prevention should be particularly followed by people over 45 or actively involved in sport.

conclusions

1. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a degenerative disease characterized by progressive destruction of the cartilage tissue in the joint.As a result, the person is in pain and movement is limited.
2. Treatment of the disease includesthe use of drugs, carrying out physiotherapy and carrying out exercises of the physiotherapy exercise complex.
3. At an early stage in the course of the disease, the prognosis for complete recovery is favorable.
4. Prevention can significantly reduce the risk of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.