In confirming a diagnosis such as osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, symptoms and treatment are largely interconnected. This pathology refers to degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This disorder is characterized by the progressive wear of the cartilage tissue and the main elements of the joint. 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, because it can cause early disability. At first, the shoulder joints creak, but later more pronounced symptoms appear.
Primary signs of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
In relatively young people, traumatic arthrosis of the shoulder joint is most often observed. The causes of this pathological condition have their origin in tissue damage. Even minor injuries can provoke the development of the disease. In this case, the pathology manifests itself faster and progresses more acutely than with tissue damage against the background of the natural aging process. Thus, when the characteristic symptoms of this pathological condition appear, targeted treatment is required to prevent the problem from worsening.
In most cases, this disorder is asymptomatic for a long time. At first, arthrosis of the right shoulder may be manifested by a slight decrease in the mobility of the joint after significant physical stress. There are also brief episodes 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 osteoarthritis deformans (DOA) of the left shoulder joint is seen much less often than the right. This is due to the peculiarities of the load distribution when lifting weights in everyday life. However, in this case, the symptoms are much more intense even in the early stages of the development of the pathological process. With certain movements of the hand, 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, for a long time can be manifested by minor morphological changes in the structure of the tissues.
In this pathological condition, even after a brief period of rest, severe stiffness may occur. It becomes difficult to fully move the hand. In some cases, the discomfort may persist. Hand with arthrosis of the shoulder joint in the morning obeys with difficulty. There may be severe numbness. Also, with this disease, already in the early stages of its development, there is a violation of muscle tone in the affected area. In the future, with osteoarthritis, the shoulder joint creaks when performing various movements of the hand. Even in this case, intense painful sensations may be absent.
Many shoulder diseases are a contraindication for urgent military service. However, the changes must be clearly expressed. The military often does not use young people with severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder. This must be taken into account when passing a medical examination.
The main symptoms of arthrosis of the shoulder joint
If the patient himself ignores the primary signs of the acromioclavicular joint, the situation may worsen in the future. Under the acromion is understood an element of the shoulder complex, consisting of the bones of the shoulder, the scapula and the clavicle. It is this element that is affected against the background of significant thinning and destruction of cartilage tissue. At stages 2 and 3 of the development of such a pathological condition as osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, the symptoms become very distinct.
In this case, the changes in the structure of the tissues are pronounced. Already at the second stage of the pathological process, when raising the arm and moving it to the sides, the shoulder clearly creaks. The joint is gradually deformed, which is accompanied by episodes of the inflammatory process. In this case, when lifting even a small weight, pain may appear. There is often tension in the neck muscles. The temperature in the affected joint area rises. In addition, swelling and swelling are observed.
A crunch in the shoulder joint and pain at the third stage of the development of the pathological process constantly persist. Gradually, the limitation of mobility of the joint increases. Shoulder arthrosis is accompanied by increased sensitivity to changes in weather conditions. In cold and rainy weather, the patient may complain of aches and pains in the shoulders. By raising the arm, the symptoms of the disease in a person intensify. In women, the aggravation of the manifestations of this pathology is observed in the postmenopausal period. Shoulder osteoarthritis leads to the complete destruction of the articular surfaces and bone elements. This causes immobilization of the limb. Such an unfavorable course is extremely rare. Usually, the causes of its development lie in the absence of adequate treatment and the presence of increased physical stress on 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. Taking into account which doctor treats arthrosis, it should be borne in mind that this disease in some very specialized centers is stopped under the control of an arthrologist. In most cases, patients are seen by a traumatologist, rheumatologist or orthopedist. Comprehensive diagnosis of shoulder joint disease is carried out under the supervision of several 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 anamnesis and evaluates the patient's complaints. A physical exam is performed.
This allows the doctor to suspect a pathology by finding out the reason why the joints creak during rotation.
Restricted mobility and other symptoms may indicate a problem. However, to understand what to do to eliminate the symptoms, a number of studies and analyzes are required. To make an accurate diagnosis of DOA of the shoulder joint, it is necessary to take a conventional radiograph in two projections. In rare cases, doctors have to resort to more specific research methods that make it possible to obtain accurate data on the state of the joint. A complete exam may require:
- Ultrasound of the affected area;
- magnetic resonance;
- scintigraphy;
- CONNECTICUT;
- thermography;
- arthroscopy
In the process of diagnosing pathology, general blood and urine tests are performed. Such studies can reveal signs of the inflammatory process. Also, indicators of changes obtained from laboratory tests may indicate the addition of arthritis, which is quite often observed in this case.
Medical treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
After a complete examination of the condition of the shoulder joint, the doctor will select an appropriate therapy. If the disease is in the acute phase of development, when considering how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, external fixation of the joint with a cut or elastic bandage may be prescribed. This reduces the intensity of symptomatic manifestations. During this period, the use of a number of drugs is shown to eliminate bright signs of pathology.
In the presence of a pronounced pain syndrome, drugs belonging to the group of analgesics are usually prescribed. In addition, corticosteroid injections into the joint cavity may be recommended. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective. They are used for long courses, because they help to eliminate not only the inflammatory process, but also edema. In addition, they reduce the tension of the neck muscles.
From arthrosis, chondroprotectors are often used. These medications help reduce the rate of cartilage tissue destruction. Such remedies are especially effective when a patient has been diagnosed with post-traumatic arthrosis of the shoulder joint at the initial stage of its development. Often, glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs are introduced into the therapy 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. Therefore, when the question arises how to cure arthrosis, which is accompanied by an autoimmune reaction, such drugs cannot be dispensed with.
To suppress arthrosis, the doctor selects drugs individually for each patient. This will give you the best effect. However, treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with medication alone in most cases is not recommended. To eliminate the manifestations and prevent exacerbations of this pathological condition, the use of physiotherapy methods, following a diet and certain rules of behavior are required. Currently, the answer to the question whether osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be cured is negative. However, with the correct integrated approach, it is possible to achieve a pronounced improvement in the condition.
Physiotherapy for the elimination of arthrosis 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 must be taken into account that any physiotherapeutic manipulation must be agreed with the doctor, since, in certain circumstances, it can aggravate the course of a pathology such as ACS arthrosis. Often with DOA of the right shoulder joint, treatment involves:
- massage course;
- paraffin therapy;
- exercise therapy;
- ultrahigh frequency;
- hydrogen sulfide and radon baths;
- ultrasound exposure;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic field therapy.
In addition, a course of manual therapy may be recommended. The number of sessions the osteopath should have depends largely on how quickly the DOA syndrome progresses. It often takes a long time to resort to it to achieve a positive result. In most cases, with osteopathic treatment a clear improvement can be achieved and the joints stop creaking. In order to recover from this disease, you need to learn how to correctly perform a complex of exercise therapy. In the future, in order to maintain the normal function of the joint, it is required to perform such exercises for the rest of your life.
Both in case of damage to the knee joint and in case of violation of the integrity of the scapular joint, therapeutic exercises are first learned under the supervision of a physical therapist. This will prevent overloading the joint and, at the same time, help strengthen the muscles that serve as its structure. Such damage to the clavicle region and the shoulder-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.
Equally important is proper nutrition in arthritis. It should be aimed at reducing body weight. At the same time, it is very important that the products that are included in the daily diet fully satisfy the body's needs for proteins, 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 need to take into account the recommendations of the doctor.
With a deformed shoulder, it is recommended to introduce dishes containing a lot of collagen into the diet. These include jelly, jellies, and strong bone broths. With such diseases of the musculoskeletal system, it is desirable to increase the consumption of high-fat dairy products, since they contain a high content of calcium, which is necessary to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
In the presence of such a disease as shoulder arthrosis, it is imperative to introduce oatmeal, buckwheat and barley porridge into the diet. Nutrition with osteoarthritis has certain limitations. Products made with 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 increase the speed of metabolic processes and are distinguished by an increased content of vitamins and minerals. Its use helps to quickly cope even with such a disease as deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint. When planning meals for arthrosis, semi-finished products, canned food and 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 arthrosis, as well as coxarthrosis, it is very important to get used to eating food in small portions. Systematic overeating contributes to an increase in body weight and negatively affects the rate of metabolic processes.
Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Surgical intervention is usually prescribed at stage 3 of the development of the pathological process, and, moreover, if the disease is rapidly progressing and cannot be suppressed by conservative methods. Surgical treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be used in the presence of severe deformity. In this situation, the installation of an endoprosthesis is indicated, the damaged elements of the joint are replaced with artificial elements.
This is the only way to suppress the disease if the joint becomes too deformed, thereby affecting the mobility of the hand.
Proper surgical intervention, and then a rehabilitation course, allows you to return a person to a normal life.
If the deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint was treated without complications, the patient can forget about pain and discomfort for a long time, raising his arm and making other movements with it. Modern stents are made from high-strength polymers and titanium. They are characterized by a long service life.
Folk remedies for arthrosis of the shoulder
Various recipes based on herbs and other natural ingredients can only be used as an additional method of exposure, and after agreeing on the suitability of such therapy with the attending physician. When the problem arises, how to treat arthrosis of the shoulder joint with folk remedies, they often use a mixture of propolis and pork fat. 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 must 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. IVegetable raw materials and brew with boiling water. It is required to insist the remedy for 5-10 minutes. Before each meal, you should consume 1 tbsp. liquids. The course of treatment may continue until the acute symptoms of joint damage subside.
Herbal baths can give a certain positive effect. To prepare them, you need to add a cold decoction of medicinal plants such as chamomile, burdock and nettle to hot water. After the procedure, be sure to rub with a dry towel.
Also, oatmeal compresses can eliminate acute manifestations of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. First, this herbal product must be prepared and removed to infuse for 15-20 minutes. The finished product must be placed on gauze folded several times and fixed on the shoulder with a bandage and adhesive plaster. It is necessary to keep the compress all night.
In folk medicine, burdock leaves are often used to eliminate the manifestations of this disease. They should be fixed on the shoulder blade and left overnight. The course of treatment with this remedy is about 2 weeks.