Our joints are under constant stress throughout our lives. As a result, the cartilage tissue wears out, the bone tissue is deformed, and arthrosis of the shoulder joint develops, which has become one of the most common problems of the elderly and the elderly.
The development of the disease can lead to complete limitation of movements and constant pain in the joints. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis should be started with the first manifestations of the disease.
What is arthrosis of the shoulder joint
Dystrophic changes in the cartilage and adjacent bone tissue of the shoulder joint are called arthrosis of the shoulder joint by medical science ICD-10 - M19. 91. Most often, arthrosis occurs in the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder, which most often experiences constant stress and severe stress during the day.
As a result of injuries and various inflammatory processes, the cartilage tissue is damaged and gradually weakens, becomes fragile and thinner. Cracks form in the cartilage, in which salts begin to deposit, accelerating the destructive processes in the cartilage tissue. As a result of such salt deposits, the bone tissue thickens and begins to deform, acromioclavicular arthrosis develops.
This process takes place slowly and is chronic, at first it is asymptomatic, but gradually the manifestations of the disease increase, and over time it can lead to complete immobility of the joint area.
The following factors can provoke the development of the pathological process:
- Shoulder injuries that caused deformation and inflammation of the joint.
- Insufficient blood supply to the shoulder joint that lasts for a long time - this condition can be caused by vascular disorders.
- Among construction workers, athletes and loaders, a constant heavy load on the joints can be observed.
- Congenital joint pathologies.
- Poor nutrition and metabolic disorders as a result.
Important! The most common form of the disease is post-traumatic arthrosis of the shoulder joint, ICD-10 code - M19. 91.
The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile in humans, which causes quite frequent joint injuries. Even small joint injuries that are repeated regularly and over a long period of time lead to the development of arthrosis. Arthrosis of the right shoulder joint is the most common, because the majority of the population is "right-handed", the load on the right side is always greater.
Causes and factors of the development of the disease
Most often, arthrosis is diagnosed in older people, and the older the person, the greater the probability of detecting the pathology.
Causes and prerequisites for the development of shoulder joint arthrosis:
- Injuries. Fractures, bruises, and dislocations affect the bone and cartilage tissue of the shoulder joint, causing various complications - damage to the capsule, torn ligaments. Timely treatment prevents the development of complications and the occurrence of arthrosis.
- Vascular pathologies. Diabetes, arteriosclerosis and varicose veins can affect the development of arthrosis. In addition, the risk of the disease increases in people who abuse tobacco.
- Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity, combined with overeating, causes extra pounds. As a result, the metabolism is interrupted, which leads to the deterioration of the blood circulation of the cartilages and periarticular tissues - arthrosis develops.
- Hormonal and immune system disorders- gout, psoriasis, etc.
- Joint diseases– synovitis, chronic and acute arthritis, aseptic tissue death.
- Diseases of the endocrine system and metabolic disorders. These conditions cause the body to lack vitamins and minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus) necessary for joint health. This negatively affects the condition of the joints and complicates the recovery process.
Most often, arthrosis does not occur under the influence of one factor, its development is facilitated by a simultaneous combination of several causes.
Types and symptoms of shoulder joint arthrosis
Since the development of arthrosis takes a long time, the disease practically does not appear at first, only sometimes it makes itself felt after severe physical overload or hypothermia.
The main symptoms of arthrosis:
Shoulder pain. This is the main sign of arthrosis - the pain is of a different nature, usually increases with movement and loading of the shoulder joint. The pain causes discomfort, which limits the movement of the shoulder.Crackling sound when moving . Salt deposits in the shoulder joints cause a characteristic crunching (or clicking) sound in the joint during movement.Movement restrictions . It manifests itself depending on the stage of arthrosis - at the beginning of the disease there are no restrictions, during exacerbation the patient cannot freely rotate and move his arm.
Sometimes the localization of pain can be atypical and it can hurt in the arm or elbow. By palpation, you can determine the main sources of pain - the lower edge of the scapula and collarbone.
Note! In the initial stage, arthrosis of the 1st degree does not cause symptoms. This is due to the lack of nerve endings in the cartilage tissue, as a result of which the disease begins to manifest itself when the pathological process extends far beyond the joints. .
Depending on the nature and degree of damage to the bone and cartilage tissue, arthrosis has three stages, characterized by certain symptoms.
| Pain | It occurs rarely - usually in the evening or morning, after exercise or hypothermia | Intense pain that occurs with any movement | The pain is constant, even at rest |
| Movement restrictions | Somewhat | The amplitude of possible movements decreases | A sharp and sometimes complete restriction of mobility. Abduction and lifting of the arm becomes impossible. The hand has to be held in a forced position, which is very painful |
| Grinding and cracking in the shoulder joint | Soft crunching sound on sudden movement - no pain | With every movement you hear a squeak and a clean crunch | Constant creaking clicks are heard with any movement |
| Local manifestations (redness and swelling in the joint area, increased temperature at the site of the disease) | Not present | Appears during the period of exacerbation | There is constant inflammation in the joint |
| Hardening of the joint | Not present | It happens rarely | There is hardening and deformation of the shoulder |
| Changes in the joint visible on X-ray | Not present | Signs of joint deformation, narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of osteophytes are visible | Signs of joint damage are visible |
The period of the first stage can last from several months to several years. Grade 3 arthrosis of the shoulder joint is treated only with surgical intervention, because the condition threatens with disability.
One type of pathology is deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint. This condition means the destruction of the articular cartilage, which causes irreversible changes in the bones of the joint surfaces. In addition to the cartilage tissue, such changes also affect the joint capsule and synovial membrane, which leads to the destruction and deformation of the shoulder joint.
Deforming arthrosis is manifested by aching and dull pain in the shoulder joint, which increases with changes in the weather and at night. The pathology is chronic, which does not allow complete recovery, but it helps to relieve unpleasant symptoms and stop the destructive processes of tissues.
How to cure arthrosis in the shoulder joint
Before treating shoulder arthrosis, a number of diagnostic measures are performed to determine the form and stage of arthrosis. Among such measures, laboratory and biochemical blood tests should be performed, which can confirm the presence of the inflammatory process in the body.
If arthrosis of the shoulder is suspected, the patient should perform a number of self-diagnostic measures:
- Place your hands between your shoulder blades in the form of a lock;
- Tie a belt around the back of your waist;
- Bend your elbows at shoulder level and comb the hair at the back of your head.
If the patient performs all these activities without difficulty, there is no risk of arthrosis. But if performing tasks is difficult and causes pain in the collarbone and shoulder area, more thorough research is needed - fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging are used for a more accurate diagnosis.
2nd degree arthrosis and the first stage of the disease are treated with conservative methods, surgical intervention can only be used if there is no result.
Conservative methods of treating arthrosis are carried out in combination, when the treatment is carried out in several directions at once:
- Drug treatment;
- Physiotherapy;
- Treatment with traditional methods;
- Therapeutic gymnastics and acupuncture;
- Special diet;
- Spa treatment.
Important! An important condition for the treatment of shoulder joint arthrosis is to rest the shoulder joint (this can be done more easily if arthrosis of the left shoulder joint is detected), and such gentle treatment must be used even after the end of the course. therapy. If the patient continues to burden the shoulder girdle, the disease progresses, which eventually leads to surgery.
Operative measures include endoprosthetic surgery - replacement of the diseased (worn) joint with an artificial equivalent. This operation is expensive, and although it significantly improves the patient's quality of life, the disadvantage is that it must be repeated every 10-15 years.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment has several directions - pain relief, relief of inflammatory processes and direct restoration of cartilage tissue.
Medicines and pills
The following drug groups are used to eliminate inflammation and pain:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Pain relievers and antispasmodics.
These drugs can be prescribed orally or intramuscularly (in the form of injections). They relieve pain and relieve inflammation well, but they cannot be taken for a long time - the treatment is carried out in short courses.
Cartilage tissue destruction is treated with drugs from the group of chondroprotectors, which contain active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.
Chondroprotectors are a valuable building material for cartilage tissue, but the drugs have a restorative effect only in the first two stages. The first results of the use of chondroprotectors can be observed only after 3 months of use, and the general treatment is about a year.
When treating arthrosis, it is mandatory to take dietary supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes, which contain substances that prevent the demineralization of joint tissues.
In case of severe inflammatory processes, the so-called "intra-articular blockade" method is used. The essence of the technique is the introduction of hormonal drugs into the cavity of the acromion joint. Such injections have a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but have many side effects, so they are not always used in treatment.
Ointments
For external use, ointments applied to the skin in the area of the shoulder joint are effectively used. Anti-arthrosis ointments have an anesthetic effect, contain anti-inflammatory substances and agents that increase blood circulation.
Important! Anti-arthrosis ointments help relieve unpleasant symptoms, but they cannot cure the disease.
The advantage of ointments over painkillers is that they have a local anesthetic effect without harming the gastrointestinal tract. But they also have a drawback - with the intensity of the pain syndrome, they cannot always relieve the pain quickly.
Physiotherapy
The main way to treat arthrosis in the first stages is to take medicines. Physiotherapy procedures can enhance the effect of taking medications and reduce the likelihood of side effects.
The following therapeutic methods are used in the treatment of arthrosis:
- electrophoresis;
- exposure to magnetic fields;
- Radiation exposure (ultraviolet, infrared, laser);
- Ultrasound.
Physiotherapy activities are carried out several times a year - in courses. The type and method of treatment is selected individually for each patient, depending on the extent of the disease, the patient's age and other indications.
Home treatment
Home treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint is carried out as a supplement to drug therapy, with the permission of the attending physician.
Gymnastics and gymnastics therapy
Physiotherapy for arthrosis of the shoulder joint should only be carried out during the remission phase, gymnastic exercises are contraindicated during exacerbations.
Exercise therapy exercises can be found on the Internet, but all of them must be agreed with the doctor.
Important! You cannot independently choose the necessary exercises for arthrosis, regardless of what authoritative websites describe these procedures and whatever flattering reviews accompany them. Many of them have contraindications and can cause more harm than good - so be sure to consult your doctor before starting the exercises.
Rules for home exercises for arthrosis:
- Exercise therapy cannot be performed if there are decompensated diseases of the lungs and heart, a high fever, or if there are diseases for which any physical activity is contraindicated.
- The exercise should not cause pain. Otherwise, they will be selected incorrectly and may cause complications.
- When treating arthrosis of the shoulder joint, gymnastics requires regularity - this should be done daily. At first, training should not last more than 5 minutes a day, gradually increasing the time to 20 minutes.
- The exercises should be done gradually - first with quarter strength, then gradually increasing the load. The intensity and amplitude of the movements should be gradually increased. The older the age and the longer the sedentary lifestyle, the slower the increase in intensity.
- The exercises are performed in an easy, semi-relaxed state - sitting or lying down.
A number of simple exercises can be performed independently every day, at any convenient time: raising and lowering the shoulders, swinging the arm back and forth, rotating the shoulders.
Massage
Massage for arthrosis of the shoulder joint is best done immediately after exercise therapy and gymnastics. This helps to improve blood circulation in the shoulder joint and promotes cartilage tissue repair.
The massage can only be performed when the acute pain subsides and the inflammatory process decreases.
During the procedure, we massage not only the painful shoulder, but also the collar area on both sides, as well as the area of the forearm.
Diet
Dietary rules for arthrosis - factors affecting the development of the disease and elimination of metabolic disorders.
Basic principles of the diet:
- Limitation of sweet, starchy, fatty and salty foods.
- Minimize salt intake.
- Reduce portion sizes but increase the number of meals (eat small portions but often).
- Replace the consumption of animal fats with dairy and vegetable fats.
- Increase the amount of dairy foods, which are sources of calcium, as well as seafood and fish (sources of collagen and phosphorus) in your diet.
- Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
If you suffer from arthrosis, you should never starve - the menu should be designed in such a way as to increase the supply of nutrients without harming the body and reduce the amount of harmful foods.
ethnoscience
Doctors recommend home treatment with folk remedies as a supplement to medical therapy:
- Mix pork fat with propolis in equal proportions. Rub the resulting ointment into the area of the shoulder joint with massage movements.
- Herbal baths with decoctions of chamomile, burdock and nettle are recommended to relieve pain.
- Oatmeal is a folk remedy for arthrosis. It is boiled in boiling water, and then a shoulder poultice is made from the decoction, which is applied at night.
Folk remedies do not cause side effects and there are no contraindications for use.
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent arthrosis include minimizing the factors that cause the disease.
General recommendations:
- Elimination of inappropriate loading of the joint in connection with sports or professional activities.
- Minimizing the risk of injury to the shoulder joint.
- Mandatory consultations with the therapist in case of injury or pain in the shoulder joint in order to minimize the risk of complications.
- Prevent the appearance of excess weight - check your diet and do daily physical activity (exercise, walking, swimming).
- In old age, use drugs that promote the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a dangerous disease that can lead to complete immobility of the joint and disability. At the first signs of the disease, you should consult a doctor. Treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive and include both conservative and alternative therapeutic methods.