Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Shoulder arthrosis is a chronic pathology in which the articular cartilage and adjacent bone tissue deteriorates, wears out and breaks down.If you treat this disease negligently and do not start treatment in time, the consequences can be quite disastrous, including the loss of motor functions of the hand.

Why does shoulder arthrosis develop?

The impetus for the development of shoulder arthrosis is inflammation in the joint.It can appear for various reasons:

• Injuries.Shoulder arthrosis can be caused by a previous shoulder injury or permanent, minor microtrauma, the minor microtrauma typical of athletes.
• Vascular diseases.With vascular pathologies, blood circulation is disturbed, which causes blood supply to the joints.As a result, the articular tissues undergo degenerative changes, that is, arthrosis develops.
• Overload.This is often associated with patients' work activities (loaders, builders).
• Hormonal or autoimmune disorders.Often they affect joint tissues, have a destructive effect on them.These are psoriasis, gout, etc.Some diseases.
• Hereditary.It has been proven that children of parents with arthrosis of the shoulder joint are more prone to develop joint defects than others.This includes people already born with any joint defects.Both of them take the normal load on the hands as if they were excessive, and therefore the process of cartilage wear occurs faster.
• Failures in metabolic processes and the endocrine system.Therefore, salts begin to accumulate in the joints, and the cartilage tissues do not receive proper nutrition (phosphorus, calcium, etc.) and begin to deteriorate.
• Joint diseases.A condition for the development of arthrosis is arthritis, bone necrosis, synovitis, etc.There may be some joint pathologies.
• Age.Elderly people (50 and older) are especially at risk, because joint tissues wear out with age, which itself leads to the development of pathology.

Symptoms of shoulder arthrosis

Arthrosis is characterized by a long development, sometimes it does not manifest itself in any way in the initial stages.Therefore, you should be very careful about the smallest symptomatic manifestations.Shoulder arthrosis is usually indicated:

1. Pain is considered the main symptom of the disease.Aching pains often bother patients in the morning.Pain syndromes are also possible with sudden changes in weather conditions.If you direct your shoulder to any load of pain, for example, lift something heavy, then the pain will also remind you.The patient also feels pain when feeling the shoulder.With the development of shoulder arthrosis, pain begins to occur even in a quiet state.This fact should be taken into account - with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, pain can occur only in the affected joint, it can be located in the arm, elbow or back.
2. Motor dysfunction.Because of the pain, it becomes difficult for the patient to cope with simple tasks in which he ruffles his own hair.By the way, this movement is one of the test movements for the diagnosis of arthrosis.Turning movements and attempts to move the arm back are also difficult.If the treatment is not started in time, gradually the shoulder joint and, therefore, the arm stops moving completely and the contracture develops.
3. Painful crisis, in the joint.It usually occurs due to salts deposited in the diseased joint (osteophytes).At first, a weak, creeping rash appears in the joint of the patient;As the disease progresses, it becomes distinct clicks that can be heard even at some distance from the patient.
4. Swelling, increased general temperature and redness at the site of the affected joint.These signs confirm the presence of inflammation in the patient joint.
5. Joint hardening.This symptom appears when the disease develops due to bone growths surrounding the joint.

If you suddenly start experiencing pain in your shoulder, especially after a bruise or dislocation, you should not go to the clinic.Indeed, in the later stages, arthrosis is practically incurable.Remember that some patients may have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of shoulder arthrosis depending on the stage of the disease:

1. First degree shoulder arthrosis is characterized by morning and evening pain.The joint needs to be "developed" before the patient can move without stiffness.A sharp movement of the shoulder or arm is accompanied by a slight, still painless sound.No pain is observed at rest.X-ray examination does not show significant changes in the joint.
2. In the second stage, shoulder arthrosis is accompanied by more intense pain and a clearly audible sound.The amplitude of the possible movements of the hand decreases, but the joint is still mobile.The joint has already begun to collapse and deform.
3. The third degree is a severe, advanced stage of the disease.Patients can only shake their hands a little;Acute pain torments them constantly.The joint itself is very inflamed and deformed.There is also partial atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint.The joint can only be treated with surgery.Osteoarthritis rarely progresses to this stage.It occurs in patients who do not pay attention to the affected joint and are not subjected to unbearable overloads.
4. Stage four - the absolute destruction of the joint and the fusion of bones.Even strong painkillers do not relieve the pain syndrome.This stage occurs mainly in elderly patients.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

Medical treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder is primarily to destroy the inflammatory process and the source of pain.Typically, your doctor will prescribe NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).First of all, they stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Often, with severe inflammation, doctors turn to corticosteroids.These are anti-inflammatory drugs used in joint blockade.This procedure is an injection given to the joint itself.This method is a non-invasive treatment, which means that the skin and mucous membranes are not damaged.As a rule, ointments, gels, creams, etc.Covers the use.

Chondroprotectors are also prescribed for shoulder arthrosis, drugs that can restore damaged cartilage based on hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to drug treatment, exercise therapy, sanatorium treatment, massage and physiotherapy are also used.The latter refers to ultrasound treatment procedures, laser therapy, mud therapy, cryotherapy and magnetic therapy.Recently, the treatment of arthrosis using leeches (hirudotherapy) has become quite popular due to its effectiveness.Therapeutic gymnastics exercises, without overloading the joint, stimulate the muscles to the required extent, resulting in joint development and recovery.

In addition, the patient prescribes a therapeutic diet based on the avoidance of very spicy and salty foods.Doctors eat more collagen-rich foods: Turkey, seafood, greens, and salmon.

In cases of increased arthrosis of the shoulder, which led to the complete destruction of the articular cartilage, a surgical operation called endoprosthetics is performed, during which a ceramic, plastic or metal prosthesis is applied in place of the affected joint.

Traditional medicine has also shown its effectiveness in the fight against shoulder arthritis.

Folk remedies are generally effective as an additional pain reliever.Remember that they cannot restore a shoulder joint affected by arthrosis.This requires medical treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

Squeeze

Boil oatmeal (30 g) in two cups of water for about 10 minutes.As a result, soak a cloth folded in several layers and apply to the sore spots for at least half an hour.

Cabbage juice compress has proven itself to be a good pain reliever.It is usually left on the joint every night until morning.

You can simply apply small cabbage leaves with honey on the affected joints at night.

Friction

Elecampane roots (50 g) with Vodka (125 ml) for several weeks.The mixture should be applied to painful joints.

Leave the Angelica roots (15 g) for half an hour, pour boiling water over them.The affected areas should be rubbed with filtered solution 3-5 times a day.

Herbal baths

For a bath full of water, you can add various herbal infusions and infusions.Informed people note the special effect of baths with the application of mustard, grass powder, mint and burdock.Such baths should be taken before a thorough steaming of the body, then after rubbing the joints, the patient should be covered with a warm blanket, so the body keeps even warmer.

Maz

For permanent vaseline, you need to add 15 g of sweet clover, hops and stable John's Wort.The resulting mixture should be rubbed into the joint area regularly.