When confirming a diagnosis such as osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, symptoms and treatment are largely interrelated. This pathology refers to degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This disorder is characterized by gradual wear and tear of cartilage tissue and the main elements of articulation. According to statistics, more than 45% of modern elderly people have pronounced manifestations of this disease of the shoulder joint. This pathology is extremely dangerous as it can cause early disability. At first, the shoulder joints burst, but then more severe symptoms appear.
Main signs of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Traumatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is most common in relatively young people. The causes of this pathological condition are rooted in tissue damage. Even minor injuries can provoke the development of the disease. In this case, the pathology manifests itself more quickly and proceeds in a more acute form than in tissue damage against the background of the natural aging process. Thus, when the characteristic symptoms of this pathological condition appear, targeted treatment is needed to prevent the problem from getting worse.
In most cases, this disorder is asymptomatic for a long time. Initially, osteoarthritis of the right shoulder may present with a slight decrease in joint mobility after significant physical stress. There are also short-term bouts of dull pain. Such signs of the development of pathology can be ignored by a person for a long time.
It should be noted that deforming osteoarthritis (DOA) of the left shoulder joint is observed many times less than the right. This is due to the peculiarities of the distribution of the load when lifting weights in everyday life. However, in this case the symptoms are much more intense even in the early stages of the pathological process. With certain movements of the arm, there is often a characteristic crunch in the shoulder. Painful sensations in this case may be completely absent. Shoulder-scapular arthrosis of the left shoulder joint, as well as the right one, can be manifested for a long time with insignificant morphological changes in the tissue structure.
In this pathological condition, even after a short period of rest, there may be severe stiffness. It becomes difficult to move your arm completely. In some cases, the discomfort may continue. A hand with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is difficult to obey in the morning. There may be severe tingling. In addition, in this disease, already in the early stages of its development, there is a violation of muscle tone in the affected area. In the future, in osteoarthritis, the shoulder joint becomes crunchy when performing various hand movements. Even in this case, the intense painful sensations may be absent.
Many shoulder diseases are a contraindication to emergency military service. However, the changes must be clear. The military often does not recruit young people with severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder. This should be taken into account when undergoing a medical examination.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
If the primary signs of acromioclavicular joint are ignored by the patient himself, the situation may worsen in the future. By acromion is meant an element of the shoulder complex consisting of the bones of the shoulder, shoulder blade and clavicle. It is this element that is affected against the background of significant thinning and destruction of cartilage tissue. In stages 2 and 3 of the development of such a pathological condition as osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, the symptoms become very clear.
In this case, the changes in the structure of the tissues are very pronounced. Already in the 2nd stage of the pathological process, when you raise your arm up and move it to the side, the shoulder clearly cracks. The joint gradually deforms, which is accompanied by episodes of the inflammatory process. In this case, pain may occur when lifting even a small weight. There is often tension in the muscles of the neck. The temperature in the area of the affected joint rises. In addition, swelling and puffiness are observed.
The crunch in the shoulder joint and the pain in the 3rd stage of the development of the pathological process continue constantly. Gradually, the restriction of joint mobility increases. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is accompanied by increased sensitivity to changes in weather conditions. In cold and rainy weather, the patient may complain of shoulder pain. When the arm is raised, the symptoms of the disease in humans intensify. In women, the worsening of the manifestations of this pathology is observed in the postmenopausal period. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder leads to complete destruction of joint surfaces and bone elements. This causes immobilization of the limb. Such an unfavorable move is extremely rare. Usually the reasons for its development are rooted in the lack of adequate treatment and the presence of increased physical activity of the joint.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
When characteristic signs of a pathological condition appear, you should contact a specialist as soon as possible. Given which doctor treats osteoarthritis, it should be borne in mind that this disease in some highly specialized centers is stopped under the supervision of an arthrologist. In most cases, patients are assisted by a traumatologist, rheumatologist or orthopedist. The complete diagnosis of the disease of the shoulder joint is performed under the supervision of a number of doctors. It should be borne in mind that such a pathological condition as osteoarthritis progresses slowly, but in the absence of targeted therapy, the outcome can be extremely unfavorable.
The specialist collects the most accurate medical history and assesses the patient's complaints. A physical examination is performed.
This allows the doctor to suspect pathology when he finds out the reason why the joints crunch during rotation.
Restricted mobility and other symptoms may indicate a problem. However, a number of tests and analyzes are needed to understand what to do to eliminate the symptoms. To make an accurate diagnosis of DOA in the shoulder joint, it is necessary to perform a conventional X-ray in two projections. In rare cases, doctors must resort to more specific research methods that allow accurate data on the condition of the joint. A comprehensive review may require:
- Ultrasound of the affected area;
- NMR;
- scintigraphy;
- CT;
- thermography;
- arthroscopy.
In the process of diagnosing the pathology, general blood and urine tests are performed. Such tests may reveal signs of the inflammatory process. In addition, indicators of changes obtained from laboratory tests may indicate the addition of arthritis, which is quite common in this case.
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
After a thorough examination of the condition of the shoulder joint, the doctor will choose the appropriate therapy. If the disease is in the acute phase of development, then when considering how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, external joint fixation with an incision or elastic bandage may be prescribed. This reduces the intensity of the symptomatic manifestations. During this period, the use of a number of drugs to eliminate the obvious signs of pathology has been shown.
In the presence of severe pain, drugs belonging to the group of analgesics are usually prescribed. In addition, injections of corticosteroids into the joint cavity may be recommended. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective. They are used for long courses, as they help to eliminate not only the inflammatory process, but also the swelling. In addition, they reduce the tension of the neck muscles.
Chondroprotectors are often used for osteoarthritis. These drugs help reduce the rate of destruction of cartilage tissue. Such agents are especially effective when the patient is diagnosed with post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint in the early stages of its development. Glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs are often introduced into the treatment regimen. These drugs are used to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, which accompanies severe inflammation of the tissues. In addition, these drugs have a pronounced immunosuppressive and antiallergic effect. Thus, when the question arises how to cure osteoarthritis, which is accompanied by an autoimmune reaction, it can not be done without such drugs.
To suppress osteoarthritis, drugs are selected by the doctor individually for each patient. This will give you the best effect. However, treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder is only with drugs in most cases is not recommended. In order to eliminate the manifestations and prevent exacerbations of this pathological condition, it is necessary to use physiotherapy methods, to follow a diet and certain rules of conduct. Currently, the answer to the question of whether osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be cured is no. However, with the right integrated approach, it is possible to achieve a marked improvement in the situation.
Physiotherapy to eliminate osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
There are a number of procedures and exercises that can alleviate the condition of people suffering from this disease. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that all physiotherapeutic manipulations should be agreed with the doctor, as in certain circumstances they may worsen the course of such pathology as osteoarthritis of the ACS. Often in DOA of the right shoulder joint, treatment includes:
- massage course;
- paraffin therapy;
- exercise therapy;
- UHF;
- hydrogen sulfide and radon baths;
- ultrasound exposure;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic field therapy.
In addition, a course of manual therapy may be recommended. How many sessions an osteopath should have depends largely on how quickly the DOA syndrome progresses. It often takes a long time to turn to it to achieve a positive result. In most cases, osteopathic treatment can achieve clear improvement and stop the joints from squeaking. To recover from this disease, you need to learn how to properly perform a set of exercises. In the future, to maintain normal joint function, it is necessary to do such exercises for the rest of your life.
As in the case of damage to the knee joint, and in case of violation of the integrity of the articulation of the shoulder blade, therapeutic exercises are first learned under the supervision of a physiotherapist. This will avoid straining the joint and at the same time will help strengthen the muscles that serve as its framework. Such damage to the clavicle and shoulder joint remains in the patient forever, but its manifestations are effectively treated with an integrated approach.
Diet therapy to alleviate the manifestation of the disease
Proper nutrition is just as important in arthritis. It should be aimed at reducing body weight. At the same time, it is very important that the products included in the daily diet fully meet the body's needs for protein, vitamins and minerals. The diet for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint should be aimed at reducing the amount of salt consumed. When choosing foods that can be eaten, you should take into account the recommendations of your doctor.
With a deformed shoulder, it is recommended to include in the diet foods high in collagen. These include jellies, jellies and strong bone broths. In such diseases of the musculoskeletal system, it is desirable to increase the consumption of high-fat dairy products, as they contain high levels of calcium, which is necessary to repair damaged cartilage tissue.
In the presence of such a disease as shoulder osteoarthritis, it is mandatory to introduce into the diet oatmeal, buckwheat porridge and barley. Osteoarthritis has certain limitations. Products made from white flour and sweets should be discarded. The diet for this pathology involves the use of a large number of vegetables and fruits. These products help to increase the speed of metabolic processes and are characterized by increased content of vitamins and minerals. Their use helps to quickly deal with even such a disease as deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. When planning meals for osteoarthritis, all semi-finished products, canned food, marinades should be completely abandoned.
Vegetables and meat should be steamed or stewed. It is also allowed to bake dishes in the oven. To suppress clavicle osteoarthritis as well as coxarthrosis, it is very important to get used to eating food in small portions. Systemic overeating contributes to weight gain and negatively affects the speed of metabolic processes.
Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Surgery is usually prescribed in stage 3 of the development of the pathological process and, moreover, if the disease progresses rapidly and can not be suppressed by conservative methods. Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be used in the presence of severe deformity. In this situation, the installation of an endoprosthesis is shown, the damaged elements of the joint are replaced with artificial ones.
This is the only way to suppress the disease if the articulation is too deformed, due to which the mobility of the arm is impaired.
Proper surgery and then a course of rehabilitation allows you to return a person to normal life.
If deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is treated without complications, the patient can forget about the pain and discomfort for a long time by raising his arm and making other movements with it. Modern endoprostheses are made of high-strength polymers and titanium. They are characterized by a long service life.
Folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder
Various recipes based on herbs and other natural ingredients can be used only as an additional method of exposure and after agreeing on the appropriateness of such therapy with the attending physician. When a problem arises, how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with folk remedies, they often use a mixture of propolis and lard. To prepare this composition, these components must be taken in equal proportions. To mix well, they must first be melted in a water bath. The resulting composition should be rubbed into the affected area.
To eliminate inflammation and painful manifestations it is necessary to take a decoction of corn stigmas. To prepare it, you need to take about 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable raw materials and boil with boiling water. You need to insist the drug for 5-10 minutes. You should consume 1 tablespoon before each meal. l of liquid. The course of treatment can be continued until the acute symptoms of joint damage disappear.
Herbal baths can give some positive effect. To prepare them, you need to add a cool decoction of medicinal plants such as chamomile, burdock and nettle to hot water. After the procedure, do not forget to rub with a dry cloth.
In addition, oatmeal compresses can eliminate the acute manifestations of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. First, this herbal product must be steamed and removed to infuse for 15-20 minutes. The finished product should be placed on gauze, folded several times and fixed on the shoulder with a bandage and adhesive tape. It is necessary to keep the compress overnight.
In folk medicine, burdock leaves are often used to eliminate the manifestations of this disease. They should be fixed on the blade and left overnight. The course of treatment with this drug is about 2 weeks.