It is arthrosis of the shoulderjoint disease, characterized by degradation, wear and destruction of cartilage as well as adjacent bone tissue. The disease is also called adhesive capsulitis, humeroscapular polyarthrosis, frozen shoulder syndrome.
The disease belongs to the category of chronic, progressive. Initially, the disease develops, as a rule, unnoticed by the patient. At this time, it can only be diagnosed by X-ray. Then the first minor symptoms appear: for example, pain when trying to bring a spoon to the mouth. The symptoms intensify, and then the mobility of the affected hand is severely or completely limited. The quality of life of a person decreases, sleep worsens, because it is almost impossible to choose a position in which pain is eliminated.
There are two main manifestations of the disease. The first is pain (first occurs during movement, later - at rest). Another manifestation is muscle restriction (contracture). For example, the patient cannot raise his arms or put them back.
Cartilage problems occur in many people. According to statistics, arthrosis is diagnosed in 7% of the population. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is less dangerous than, for example, osteoarthritis of the hip joint, but the consequences are still frightening. It is a matter of complete immobility of the hand, which is a catastrophic inconvenience in everyday life, and unsuitability for most jobs.
The danger of the disease lies in the fact that the damage it has managed to cause cannot be remedied. It is important to identify osteoarthritis in the early stages of development, so if the slightest discomfort occurs, start monitoring your shoulder carefully.
For the first time, the pain that has appeared can be tried to be relieved with medication. Pain can be caused, for example, by awkward movements, lifting heavy loads or sports. If the pain does not go away after 3-4 days, see a doctor. You can test the mobility of the joints first: make a movement that mimics wearing an apron (put your hands behind your back). If you feel pain at the same time, you should never delay going to the doctor. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is an "insidious" disease and only your vigilance will help to stop it in time.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
- Natural cartilage wear. The risk group consists of people older than 50, but it is worth paying special attention to the condition of the joints after 40. At this age, it is desirable to reduce the load on them.
- Injuries. The process of decomposition of cartilage and bone tissue can cause mechanical damage. It can be not only one serious injury, but also several microtraumas, which, for example, occur in athletes.
- Doing sports that puts a lot of stress on the shoulder joint. We are talking about tennis, rowing, swimming, handball, volleyball.
- Circulatory disorders in the shoulder area. It can be caused by disease, genetic factors or trauma.
- Work associated with weight transfer. Osteoarthritis develops due to constant tension in the muscles of the shoulder joint.
- Rheumatoid polyarthritis, although rare, nevertheless leads to the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
- autoimmune disorders.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Some metabolic diseases, gout, etc.
- genetic predisposition. If there are cases of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint in the family, the person should limit the load on the joint and undergo examinations by a specialist.
Stages of development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint
- The first phase. The wrist may crack occasionally. Pain occurs in the morning and evening. Pain can occur during bad weather. There is discomfort during the movement, but after the "development" of the hand, everything returns to normal.
- Second phase. The motor skills of the hand are significantly impaired. At this stage, the person begins to "adjust" his movements to the existing inconveniences: for example, when wearing a jacket, you should avoid throwing a strong hand behind your back when wearing a jacket. The symptoms of the first phase intensify.
- The third phase. The joint is completely immobilized. The amplitude of hand movements is limited to a few degrees. The pain is felt constantly. Due to the immobility of the joint, the muscles of the shoulder girdle begin to atrophy.
- Fourth phase. The arm is completely immobilized. The joint hardens and the bones grow together because there is no cartilage between them. The pain is strong. It is not always removed with painkillers.
Already in the second stage, the symptoms of the disease are clearly visible, and therefore the disease rarely reaches the third and fourth stages. This happens if the patient completely ignores the problem or tries to solve it by self-medication. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a complex disease that only a doctor can eliminate.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder
- Pain at rest or while moving.
- Discomfort during changing weather conditions.
- Pain after prolonged exercise lasting a day or longer.
- crunching.
- Stiffness of movement due to pain.
- Swelling of the joint area.
- Feeling of fever in this area (a sign of an inflammatory process).
- Sleep problems due to the impossibility of lying on the side of the pain for a long time.
Symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient. Much depends on the cause of the disease and its course. We talked about the main signs that should initially encourage you to go to the doctor: these are pain and stiffness. If you find these symptoms, you should definitely visit a specialist. The intervention of a doctor with such serious symptoms is needed, even if it is not arthrosis, but something else.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Diagnosis begins with collecting a medical history. The patient tells the specialist about the symptoms and when the signs of the disease first appeared. The patient should remember whether this discomfort was preceded by injuries, bruises, dislocations.
Then, the doctor performs a visual examination of the affected area. At this stage, swelling and other visible manifestations of arthrosis of the shoulder joint can be determined. To assess joint mobility, the doctor asks the patient to undergo primitive tests. For example, pull your arms up to the lock behind your back. With a high degree of probability, the disease will "manifest" already at this stage.
Specialists use hardware diagnostic methods.
- Radiography. Confirms or denies the diagnosis. It allows you to determine the location of the lesion, the inflammatory process. It gives information about the distance between the bones: if they are too close to each other, the cartilage has started to wear out.
- MRI. Provides information on the condition of tendons and cartilage.
- CT scanner. It provides a 3D X-ray of the area being examined, allowing you to assess the overall image.
Modern diagnostic methods not only enable the recognition of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, but also provide information about the stage of the disease and its course. This allows doctors to accurately design therapies.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
The main task is to stop the development of the disease, improve the mobility of the joints, alleviate the pain and improve the quality of life of the patient. Consider the methods doctors use to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
- Medications. Painkillers are used to relieve pain. Drugs that improve blood circulation are also used (if necessary).
- Gentle driving mode.
- Diet.
- Massage. Metameric (point) massage is especially effective.
- metamerical method. Designed by Vladimir Andreevich Bersenev. It involves acting on the affected neurometers and, ultimately, on the affected joints. The main procedure is metameric injections that are injected into the affected area. They stop the process of degradation and destruction, improve the mobility of the joints.
As in the case of osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, treatment works only when the therapy is adapted to individual characteristics, symptoms and stage of the disease. There is no template that is effective in all cases.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a complex disease, but with a timely visit to the doctor, the prognosis is positive. If you experience the above symptoms, do not delay a visit to a specialist for later. Every day of delay complicates the treatment procedure and worsens the prognosis. Contact a specialized medical center where your doctor will develop an individual treatment regimen that will help overcome this disease.