Problems of the shoulder joint are not as common as the hip or knee joint, but they do exist. Among them, it is worth highlighting the arthropathy of the shoulder joint, its symptoms and treatment are different. In most cases, a rheumatologist handles these issues. In general, arthropathy of the shoulder joint has its own specific symptoms, which are not only characterized by a process of degeneration of the cartilage itself. Many times, joint capsules, ligamentous organs, and joint pockets are affected, and there are many of them.
Because of everything that happened, the joint deformed and the range of motion was limited. In addition to this occurrence, arthropathy is accompanied by pain. The reasons for this can be various and we will try to understand them in detail.
what made this happen
Inflammatory processes lead to the consequences of shoulder arthropathy. It develops due to a variety of factors, some combated by a rheumatologist and some requiring the help of a traumatologist.
The most common cause of osteoarthritis is trauma. This has been observed in athletes due to microtrauma, during habitual dislocations, or after fractures. Then arthropathy is post-traumatic and requires its own treatment.
With vascular lesions, tissue hypoxia, tissue malnutrition occurs. As a result, arthropathy developed in both the left and right shoulder joints. This can usually be observed through excessive physical exertion.
The cause is usually a hormonal disturbance or autoimmune damage to the cartilage. In the latter case, rheumatologists deal with this arthropathy of the shoulder joint. For example, psoriasis and gout can cause joint disease.
To be sure, the cause may be hidden in genetics, especially if a parent has the disorder. In addition, people with congenital shoulder defects can also develop arthropathy.
Symptoms may also appear with age as the cartilage wears away. People over 50 are at risk.
symptom
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint develops over a long period of time and its symptoms do not surface. In this regard, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the shoulder joint and seek immediate medical attention if mild symptoms occur.
It all starts with pain, which first manifests as arthropathy. Joint pain, especially in the morning or when the weather changes. This symptom can also make one feel active when lifting weights, often not even touching the shoulder area. Arthropathy can develop even at rest as symptoms progress. In addition to joint pain, symptoms may be in the back, forearm, or elbow.
Symptoms are supplemented by limitation of movement, the main cause of which is pain. A person is often unable to perform simple movements, such as combing or brushing teeth.
The scratch simulation test allows you to find out if arthropathy is present.
It's also hard to take your hand back. Contractures cannot be avoided if medication and gymnastics are not prescribed on time.
Supplements may present crunching symptoms at any level. It occurs due to the growth of bone tissue, and in the early days, only the person himself can feel it, and then it can be heard even from great distances. Puffiness not only connects the joints, but also the shoulders, forearms, and skin may become red. All of these indicate the presence of an inflammatory process.
Later in the disease, abduction of the arm to one side becomes a problem. This is due to the massive growth that covers the joint area. There is some specificity depending on the degree - at each stage, the disease can manifest in different ways.
depending on the degree
In the first stage of the disease, pain appears only in the morning and evening. It may take time for a person to get rid of "stiffness". Vigorous exercise is accompanied by a slight crunch, which is not the cause of the pain.
At rest, this level of pain is as painless as there is no change on the X-ray. It all starts at level two, when performance becomes more apparent.
Stage 2 symptoms are accompanied by more pronounced tightening and pain. It is no longer possible to move the arm completely, however, the mobility of the joint is preserved. At this stage, cartilage is destroyed and deformed, and X-ray films have characteristic manifestations.
In the third degree, the process can be considered to be running, and drug treatment has had little success. In this case, only a slight rocking motion is possible, and the sharp pain becomes a constant companion. The joint area becomes very inflamed, deformed, painful connections in the shoulder and forearm area. Therefore, post-traumatic arthropathy is most commonly manifested and can be in the area of the right or left shoulder joint.
Muscles atrophy without special exercise. In this case, only surgical treatment can help. However, it rarely reaches this stage, only under constant overload.
For the fourth degree, there is no need to talk about the joint because it simply doesn't exist. Post-traumatic arthropathy can cause this, especially if the injury is severe. Medicines, even strong ones, cannot deal with pain. You can experience this stage in older adults and older adults. The pain often radiates to the forearm and only proper treatment can help.
treat
There are special drugs that can stop the disease. The most important thing is to treat them early, even if the arthropathy is post-traumatic.
drug
The first is NSAIDs. There are so many of them that only a doctor can choose the right one. In addition to reducing pain, it also eliminates the inflammatory process. Treatment with these drugs is carried out in sessions, otherwise the effect on the cartilage may be negative.
In addition, the drug has a negative effect on the gastric mucosa. Discreetly, they are assigned to those who have problems with the institution. Long-term use may cause ulcers.
topical treatment
During intense inflammation, hormone-based drugs are injected into the joints. The drug has a local anti-inflammatory effect, but is not safe for the joint itself, as this can damage the cartilage. Topical ointment is reasonable and can also be effective for pain relief.
The program is supplemented by drugs called chondroprotectants. Treating the disease with these drugs takes a long time, but they help restore the normal function of cartilage tissue and joints. The composition includes glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. The effects last long even after the drug is stopped.
Physical Therapy and Gymnastics
There are many techniques that don't actually use drugs, but can give you excellent results. For this disease, treatment is carried out with the help of:
- magnetic therapy;
- therapeutic bath;
- laser;
- Ultrasound;
- dirt.
At the same time, perform special exercises to increase the range of motion of the joints. Gymnastics has many techniques prescribed according to the degree and stage of the disease.
It is best to exercise under the supervision of an experienced doctor who will choose the best.
Operation
Surgery is necessary when gymnastics and medication do not help. Shoulder endoprostheses can solve this problem. They completely replace everything old and worn and the prosthesis itself is made of metal or ceramic. The lifespan of this implant is about 15 to 25 years.
Treating this disease is very difficult and not always possible. There is only one integrative approach to success, in which treatment consists of drugs supplemented with gymnastics or special exercises, physical therapy. I am especially concerned about the disease of the right shoulder, as this is the working hand.
It is best to treat early and not go to extremes. Many negative consequences can be avoided if arthropathy is treated in the first stage. But it is not recommended to treat the disease yourself.