Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects cartilage, joints and periarticular tissues. Ostearthrosis develops due to pathological changes in the human bone skeleton. A variety of areas can be affected; one of the most common types of the disease is ostearthrosis of the shoulder joint.
Since degenerative-dystrophic changes in the tissues of the joint cause deformation of the bone endings, this disease is also called deforming osteoarthritis - osteoarthritis.
According to statistics, more than 16% of the world's population in the age group of 45 years suffers from pain in the shoulder joint. The disease is chronic and characterized by slow development, with periods of exacerbation alternating with periods of remission.
With osteoarthritis of the last degree, the patient almost never feels relief - pain and joint stiffness bother him constantly.
This happens if the treatment was carried out incorrectly or untimely.
This is due to premature wear of joint tissues and the deposition of salts in them, which contributes to the development of inflammation.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can develop for many reasons, triggered by both external and internal factors. External factors include:
The influence of internal factors is no less great:
Prerequisites for the development of joint diseases are active sports, old age, and hereditary predisposition.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint has different symptoms depending on the degree of the disease:
The almost complete absence of symptoms of first-degree osteoarthritis is explained by the fact that cartilage tissue is damaged first, and there are no blood vessels or nerve endings in them. At this stage, the disease is detected only by computed tomography, usually by chance, during the examination of other organs.
With osteoarthritis of the second degree, all the symptoms appear, but the pain is not yet very intense and most often occurs only after physical labor or when weather conditions change. The patient already understands that there is something wrong with the shoulder. But, nevertheless, he does not always go to the doctor.
Osteoarthritis of the third degree is characterized by severe pain even with complete immobility, a feeling of heaviness and stiffness in the joint, and noticeable deformation of the shoulder.
The damage also spreads to other tissues of the limb. A person can hardly control his own limb, there is involuntary trembling of the fingers, and deformation of the hand.
To make a correct diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease, you need to undergo a number of procedures:
In addition, you will need to undergo laboratory tests, a blood test is especially important if there is a suspicion of the infectious nature of the disease.
Having collected the results of all studies and tests, the doctor will assess the patient’s condition and select adequate treatment, which should be started immediately.
Like any disease, osteoarthritis is easier and faster to cure in the early stages of development, when the periarticular tissues are not yet affected, the cartilage is not destroyed and the bones are not deformed. Stage three doa develops very quickly, it is difficult to stop the progression, and it is often necessary to resort to surgery to restore the mobility of the limb.
But these are radical measures. Ostearthrosis can be successfully treated with conservative methods and with the help of alternative medicine. Whatever method is chosen, treatment is always aimed at eliminating pain and inflammation, preventing the destruction of articular tissues and their regeneration.
With conservative treatment, one cannot do without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ortofene. These drugs can be used both in the form of tablets for internal use and in the form of external ointments, gels and creams.
The basic program of drug therapy necessarily includes chondroprotectors - drugs that prevent further destruction of articular cartilage and accelerate their recovery. Sometimes micro-relaxants are needed.
Multivitamin complexes and various active dietary supplements are prescribed as auxiliary agents to help strengthen the patient’s immune system - this is especially important if shoulder osteoarthritis is of a rheumatoid nature.
If the patient comes too late, and irreversible changes have already occurred in the shoulder joint, there is only one option left - surgical treatment. The operation in this case involves endoprosthetics of the shoulder joint.
This operation is complex, even if not the entire joint is completely replaced, long-term rehabilitation is required.
Folk remedies based on medicinal plants and other substances are very popular among patients with a diagnosis such as doa. Chamomile, hawthorn, plantain, burdock, oak bark, as well as bee products - primarily propolis - help relieve symptoms of the disease and prolong the period of remission.
We must also not forget about therapeutic exercises, massage, acupuncture - these physiotherapy procedures will help cope with pain and maintain joint mobility.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease that, if left untreated, can lead to disability for the patient. The disease develops slowly, but the consequences are serious, such as degeneration of cartilage tissue and the formation of bone growths (osteophytes). How to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint to prevent irreversible changes?
The most common cause of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is wear and tear of cartilage tissue. This happens with poor nutrition and lack of elements for normal metabolism in the tissues of the joint. As a result of this, their destruction occurs.
Destruction of cartilage tissue, joint deformation, the appearance of osteophytes in osteoarthritis
Other reasons include:
As a result of such reasons, the cartilage receives an insufficient amount of nutrients and gradually atrophies.
The inflammatory process also causes a malnutrition of the cartilage, as a result of which it becomes deformed. And when osteophytes appear, the joint begins to be injured even more, which leads to the progression of the disease.
Important! An advanced form of arthritis can lead to osteoarthritis of the right or left shoulder joint.
There are several stages of the disease, each of which has its own manifestations. Treatment of grade 1 osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is always more effective than therapy at the last stage, when the disease is almost impossible to cure .
Remember! Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint progresses quickly, develops persistently, and is difficult to treat.
Severe pain may be a sign of the last stage of the disease
Most often, in the third stage, a person seeks help when severe pain appears.
Signs of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint appear at an early stage, but not all patients attach importance to the first symptoms, because the pain is moderate in severity.
Note. The disease develops very slowly, but there is no need to delay treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
In the morning, to restore joint mobility, you need to exercise your arm
Pain during movement is the main symptom of the disease. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint has other symptoms:
At the initial stage, all symptoms will appear barely noticeable.
Read also on the topic of treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint in addition to the current article.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is necessary in order to correctly determine the stage of development of the disease and prescribe treatment. Initially, clinical manifestations are studied, which include the nature of the pain. The patient must answer the following questions:
After a visual inspection, they resort to computer and laboratory examination methods:
MRI provides the most complete picture of disease progression
After a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is made, treatment is immediately prescribed taking into account the stage of the disease.
Treatment is aimed at:
For osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, it is necessary to undergo complex treatment using medications, gymnastics, massage and physiotherapy. They often resort to traditional medicine.
Remember! Correctly selected treatment for shoulder osteoarthritis in accordance with the stage will help stop the progression of the disease.
Let us consider the main areas of therapy in more detail.
The following medications are used to treat osteoarthritis:
Treatment drugs are injected or taken orally.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used externally and internally (in tablet form).
The injection method of administering the drug is the most effective
Additionally, folk remedies can be used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint. To prepare ointments, propolis, pork fat, and honey are used. Infusions for rubbing are prepared based on hellebore root, wild rosemary flowers, sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort.
Exercise therapy for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint helps improve blood flow and strengthen muscles, as a result of which more vitamins are supplied to the joint and it recovers faster.
Note. Osteoarthritis requires moderate physical activity; its complete absence is harmful for this type of disease.
All exercises must be performed either sitting on a chair or standing.
It is advisable to perform the exercises under the guidance of an experienced trainer.
The set of exercises is as follows:
Remember! Exercises must be performed slowly. If pain occurs, stop immediately.
Treatment should begin when mild aching pain appears. During periods of exacerbation, physiotherapy is required. These include therapeutic baths, magnetic therapy, ultrasound and infrared radiation.
Co-author of the material: Dmitry Ulyanov is an orthopedist-rheumatologist with 22 years of experience, a doctor of the first category. Engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all diseases of the joints and connective tissue. He has a diploma in Rheumatology and studied at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease based on degenerative changes in hyaline cartilage. As the pathology progresses, the cartilaginous surfaces crack and become thinner, which leads to exposure of the ends of the bones involved in the formation of the shoulder joint. As a result, bone outgrowths are formed - osteophytes, which deform the joint.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a slowly progressive disease characterized by short periods of exacerbation and long remissions.
Clinical signs of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint are pain that intensifies with movement. When osteophytes form in the shoulder joint, a characteristic click may occur during movement, making it difficult to move the arm. Over time, the motor function of the shoulder joint is significantly impaired, up to the formation of a persistent contracture.
Like any other chronic disease of the articular system, deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is most easily treated in the early stages of development. For newly developed pain in the shoulder joint, which is not of pronounced intensity, regular use of bioactive supplements with collagen, chondroprotectors, as well as systematic exercises in corrective gymnastics can significantly slow down, and in some cases even completely stop, the processes of degeneration of hyaline cartilage.
Prevention of the development of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is especially important for individuals who have an increased risk of developing this disease. They are recommended to take chondroprotectors (Glucosamine, Structum, etc.), which improve metabolic processes in articular cartilage, increase the production of synovial fluid, and have a beneficial effect on the structure of the damaged joint.
Treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint can be conservative or surgical.
Conservative treatment of the disease consists of prescribing drug therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures and regular exercise therapy. For the treatment of shoulder deforming osteoarthritis, the following groups of drugs are mainly used:
1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which help reduce the severity of pain and also stop the activity of aseptic inflammation in the shoulder joint.
2. Chondroprotectors - affect the condition of the articular cartilage, improve its structure, allow not only to slow down the further progression of the disease, but also to a certain extent restore damaged hyaline cartilage.
3. Centrally acting muscle relaxants, which eliminate spasm of the shoulder muscles and improve the motor function of the shoulder joint.
4. Means that improve blood supply to the affected joint
Physiotherapy plays a major role in the complex conservative treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint; laser therapy, cryotherapy and massage of the shoulder girdle are especially effective.
Surgical treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is used in cases where long-term conservative therapy does not alleviate the patient’s condition, does not reduce the severity of pain, does not improve mobility, or in cases where the patient seeks medical help late and his shoulder joint by this time is practically completely destroyed. Surgical treatment consists of replacing the affected shoulder joint with an endoprosthesis. Endoprosthetics of the shoulder joint can be partial (only some components of the joint are replaced, for example, the head of the humerus) or total (complete replacement of all components of the joint with artificial parts).
In recent years, traditional treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is often supplemented by traditional medicine methods:
• Mix 3.0 g of bee propolis with 50.0 g of rendered pork fat and rub the resulting ointment daily into the shoulder joint area, preferably at the end of a physical therapy session.
• For local treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, you can use a decoction of hay dust, which is moistened with linen cloth and then applied as a compress to the affected joint.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease , which is based on degeneration of hyaline cartilage. The longer the disease progresses, the more changes occur in the cartilage surfaces. The cartilage cracks and becomes thinner. This causes the ends of the bones to become exposed. As a result, osteophytes are formed - bone outgrowths. This disease is characterized by short periods of exacerbation.
The main symptom is pain, which worsens during movement. If osteophytes form, a clicking sound occurs when the arm moves. With further progression of the disease, mobility in the joint is impaired.
This disease is easy to recognize already in the last stages, when it is accompanied by severe pain. It is possible to detect the disease in time only with careful attention to your health.
The first stages are characterized by the following symptoms:
Osteoarthritis deformans, like all chronic diseases, is best treated in the early stages. If pain in the joint is detected with pronounced intensity, you should consult a doctor.
With the systematic use of chondroprotectors, dietary supplements with collagen and regular corrective exercises, the processes of joint degeneration can be slowed down or stopped altogether.
To correctly diagnose osteoarthritis, it is necessary to undergo a number of procedures, both clinical and instrumental. The clinical criteria for this disease are as follows:
diagnostic device
X-ray studies provide sufficient information about whether there are degenerative changes. Based on the diagnostic results, the following stages are distinguished:
0 – healthy joint without any signs of disease,
1 – cystic change in bone tissue,
2 – the presence of osteophytes and the appearance of signs of narrowing of the joint space,
3 – more pronounced syndromes of the 2nd stage,
4 – the joint space is not visible, there is compaction and deformation of the epiphyses.
There are two treatment options for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint: conservative (medication) and surgical (operating room). Conservative treatment includes physiotherapeutic procedures, drug therapy and systematic exercise therapy.
In the case of treatment of this disease, it is most often customary to use the following drugs:
In the complex conservative treatment of this shoulder disease, the role of physiotherapy is invaluable. Cryotherapy, massage of the entire shoulder girdle and laser therapy help well.
Surgical intervention is necessary in cases where conservative medicine used over a long period of time has not produced any results, as well as in cases where the patient consulted a doctor too late (the joint is already completely destroyed).
During surgical treatment, the affected joint is replaced with an endoprosthesis. Prosthetics in this case can be partial or total. With partial arthroplasty, surgeons replace some components of the joint. In the case of total arthroplasty, it is necessary to remove the remains of the affected joint and completely replace it with artificial parts.
Modern medicine cannot always help. But, in most cases, well-chosen drugs help stop the development and relieve the painful symptoms of the disease. This helps improve the motor function of the affected shoulder joint and avoid disability.
Each medicine is selected depending on the intensity of manifestation of a particular symptom of the disease.
In the shoulder joint, the disease is always accompanied by acute pain. To relieve this symptom in the early stages of the disease, paracetamol is sufficient. If the pain is persistent, this medicine may not be effective. In such a situation, NSAIDs are prescribed. Most often these are diclofenac, nimesulide, naproxen, aceclofenac and other painkillers.
These medications should be prescribed by a doctor and taken only in courses, as they can negatively affect the metabolic processes occurring in cartilage tissue. This means that incorrect use of these drugs can lead to serious deterioration in the affected joint.
NSAIDs also have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. They can lead to exacerbations of chronic diseases in this area or provoke the appearance of ulcers.
Osteoarthritis is always accompanied by inflammatory processes as a result of large accumulation of fluid. Therefore, it is advisable to use medications that will relieve inflammation and remove excess fluid from the joint.
In case of very severe inflammation, it is necessary to carry out intra-articular blockade therapy of the shoulder joint. Corticosteroids (hormonal agents) are injected into the joint. The most common are Kenalog and hydrocortisone. These drugs are not used in tablet form because they harm all body systems and have many side effects.
Hormonal drugs have a good effect on the joint and do not harm the body if used topically.
An alternative to such treatment is the use of non-invasive drugs. The use of ointments and gels eliminates the need to disrupt the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes. These external agents are both hormonal and non-hormonal. The most common gels and ointments are: Butadione, Deep-Relief, Diclofenac ointment, Fastum-gel, Bystrum-gel and others.
Often, in order to improve the results of traditional treatment, it is supplemented with the methods of traditional healers and healers.
folk traditional treatment
The most common and effective traditional medicine recipes are as follows:
Prevention is especially important for people who are at increased risk of developing this disease. For such people, it would be advisable to take chondroprotectors. They will improve metabolic processes in the cartilage of the joint, increase the production of synovial fluid, and have a positive effect on the structure of the shoulder joint.
The most common chondroprotectors include: chondroitin, glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and sulfate. These substances help restore cartilage tissue.
Cartilage consists of specific cells (chondrocytes) and a jelly-like intercellular substance (cartilage matrix), as well as various inclusions such as collagen. Based on this, chondroprotectors are substances that improve the rate of cartilage restoration due to their components - chondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.
The main thing is not to forget that a doctor should prescribe these drugs. In addition, it makes sense to take them only during the first and second stages, when the cartilage has not yet been destroyed.
The following categories of people are most often affected by this disease:
For the purpose of prevention, you need to consume foods rich in calcium and meat broths.
Physiotherapy plays an important role in shoulder joint disease. It can slow the progression of the disease, as well as partially relieve inflammation and pain in the affected joint.
If osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is diagnosed, it is advisable to use a course of physiotherapy in parallel with conservative treatment (not during an exacerbation). This can be therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, magnetic therapy, mud therapy, ultrasound treatment or spa treatment.
The latter is considered the most effective method, since it combines rest and therapeutic procedures (sodium or chloride waters).
With arthrosis of the shoulder joint, there is one paradoxical point: high load on the joint is contraindicated, but lack of load is also harmful. In such a situation, only a doctor can choose the right course of therapeutic exercises so that these loads are beneficial.
training and therapeutic exercises for arthrosis
Exercising helps stimulate muscles and improve blood flow. This helps to saturate the joint with vitamins, during which it begins to gradually recover and at the same time develop.
Correctly selected treatment in accordance with the stage of development of the disease will stop the progression of the disease.
Deforming osteoarthritis is a serious disease. The main reason for its occurrence is weakening of the cartilage under the influence of heavy load on the joint. By performing gymnastics, you can develop and strengthen the shoulder joint, making it more resistant to mechanical work.
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Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic pathology caused by dystrophic changes in hyaline cartilage. The progressive stage of the disease is characterized by thinning of the cartilage surface, the occurrence of cracks and destruction in it. The articular surfaces of the bones become unprotected, and abnormal growths—osteophytes—develop. The impact of these formations on soft tissue leads to inflammation and pain.
Pain is the first manifestation of osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint
Treatment of the disease is a long-term complex process, the success of which depends on the active participation of the patient in therapy. Deforming shoulder osteoarthritis in an advanced stage can lead to complete loss of limb function and disability.
Everyone experiences joint pain at some stage in their lives. Degenerative processes in bone joints are promoted by excess loads and lack of movement, infectious agents, poor nutrition, environmental factors, and stress. Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is not the most common, but quite common disease of the musculoskeletal system.
The main problem is that modern medicine is not able to completely restore the previous condition to a joint that has undergone a deforming transformation: it is impossible to cure advanced osteoarthritis.
Therapy involves temporarily stopping processes that destroy the joint and partially restoring their functionality.
Competent treatment should be carried out under strict medical supervision. The most appropriate option is treatment in a specialized institution or in a sanatorium.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is classified according to the degree of development of degenerative processes:
There are primary (idiopathic) and secondary osteoarthritis. In the first case, the cause often remains unknown; in the second, the disease is usually preceded by injuries or constant stress on the limb.
The underlying causes of degenerative processes may be associated with constant microtrauma of the joint and metabolic disorders. Among the possible causes of shoulder arthrosis, the following deserve special attention:
Damage to the shoulder joint is often caused by previous injuries
In a number of clinical situations, arthrosis is a consequence of anatomical abnormalities of the shoulder - congenital dysplasia of the joints, excessive mobility of the ligaments.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint begins with long-term internal processes that precede pronounced external manifestations. Often the process starts as a consequence of minor injuries or infections. Often, disruption of metabolic processes leads to a deterioration in the nutrition of cartilage tissue, as a result of which it begins to thin out, crack and lose its physiological properties.
At this stage, painful manifestations are observed during exertion and intense movement. Obvious symptoms occur when the patient tries to move his arm back or make rotational movements with it. Subsequently, the bone tissue is deformed, which leads to more pronounced painful processes in the joint.
Main symptoms of the disease:
Deforming osteoarthritis develops quite slowly; at an early stage, symptoms of the disease are minor or absent altogether. Gradually, all components of the joint are involved in pathological processes: the membrane, synovial capsule, cartilage and bone tissue, muscles and ligaments. For this reason, it is necessary to take the appearance of initial symptoms very seriously, since as the disease progresses, it is almost impossible to cure it.
Therapeutic exercises under the supervision of a specialist are an excellent way to restore joint mobility.
Often, arthrosis is a consequence of a broken limb suffered in childhood and adolescence. Insufficient or inadequate treatment leads to improper fusion of bones, which causes uneven distribution of load on the cartilage. As a result, points appear where the cartilage is destroyed especially intensively. This leads to the formation of osteophytes and impairs joint mobility.
A complete and timely diagnosis of osteoarthritis is the basis for successful treatment. To identify the disease, it is necessary to undergo a number of instrumental and laboratory procedures:
It is important to diagnose not only the pathology itself, but also the degree of degenerative changes in the joints. This determines which therapeutic methods will be preferred.
Treatment usually begins with symptomatic relief of pain. Non-narcotic analgesics are prescribed, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Naproxen, Nimesulide, Diclofenac). The products are taken orally and applied to problem areas in the form of ointments and creams. Chondroprotectors and drugs to stimulate blood circulation are also used.
To directly deliver the drug to the affected area, injections into the joint are used.
Patients should understand that drug therapy does not affect the causes of the disease, but only eliminates its manifestations. Medicines are prescribed in short courses, since long-term use can negatively affect the metabolism in cartilage tissue. In more severe situations, intra-articular injections of anti-inflammatory solutions are prescribed. It is possible to use hormonal drugs.
Progressive deforming osteoarthritis requires long-term, sometimes many years, treatment.
Physiotherapeutic methods are crucial to restore joint functionality.
The choice of procedures depends on the availability of appropriate equipment and the level of the clinic.
At different stages of arthrosis and in different medical institutions, various physiotherapeutic techniques are used:
At the recovery stage, gymnastics, professional massage and manual therapy are useful.
Full rehabilitation is impossible without physical therapy. It’s great if a set of gymnastic exercises is developed by an experienced instructor under the guidance of an equally qualified orthopedic specialist. The main conditions for successful treatment with exercise therapy are the regularity and duration of the exercises. Pronounced results can be achieved only after several months of full-time training.
Regular and proper physical exercise under the supervision of an instructor will help reduce pain and speed up recovery.
It is important to remember that the load on all joints increases with excess weight. Experts recommend that patients follow a low-calorie diet to control body weight.
Radical surgical therapy is prescribed in situations where conservative methods do not provide a healing effect. Both minor surgical interventions and full-fledged operations are performed.
The most effective method of radical treatment is endoprosthetics, in which a joint that has lost its anatomical functions is replaced with an artificial implant. Such prostheses are made of high-tech materials and last for decades. The disadvantage of the operation is its high cost.
Deforming osteoarthritis (DOA) of the shoulder joint is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the spherical joint caused by damage to cartilage tissue. During the development of the disease, the metabolism of chondrocytes is disrupted. Over time, the thickness of the vitreous cartilage decreases, it softens, exfoliates and exposes the bone tissue of the joint. As a result, the motor activity of the joints drops sharply, and osteophytes form.
DOA is a serious disease that primarily affects tissues deficient in microelements. According to statistics, older people most often suffer from this pathology. The prevalence of shoulder osteoarthritis increases with age. Peak detection of the disease occurs at 60-65 years of age. Women during menopause are most susceptible to DOA.
Pathology develops slowly. The initial stage of shoulder osteoarthritis is asymptomatic. More than one year passes before the first signs of damage appear. The developed pain syndrome indicates the transition of the disease to an acute form.
Further formation of the pathology is accompanied by degenerative changes in cartilage tissue, salt deposition and inflammatory processes. The situation is aggravated by a decrease in the production of synovial fluid. As the cartilage deteriorates, the formation of osteophytes increases, which leads to compression of the nerve endings and severe pain.
It is impossible to achieve a complete cure for DOA. In the absence of specific therapy, the disease gradually becomes chronic, significantly worsening the patient’s quality of life.
Doctors distinguish between primary (idiopathic) and secondary DOA.
Osteoarthritis is considered idiopathic if there is no obvious reason for its occurrence. It is not possible to discover the immediate cause of its development. Presumably the primary pathology is a consequence of genetic disorders and abnormalities in the structure of the joint.
Secondary DOA is formed against the background of various diseases of infectious etiology, injuries and disorders in the structure of the musculoskeletal system. In this case, large joints are usually affected.
The following reasons can provoke the development of the disease:
The risk zone includes people over 45–50 years of age who lead a passive lifestyle or have a genetic predisposition to the disease. In addition, the development of DOA is facilitated by excessive physical activity, injuries and prolonged monotonous and monotonous movements of the hands.
In medicine, there is such a thing as endemic osteoarthritis. The disease is caused by insufficient levels of trace elements and minerals in water and food in some regions of the world.
Patients often have several causes for the formation of pathology. It is possible to combine primary and secondary DOA simultaneously.
At the very beginning of the pathological process, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. The patient may occasionally experience morning stiffness in the shoulder, which quickly passes. There is no pain at this stage.
With further progression of deforming osteoarthritis, pronounced pain appears in the evening and at night and during movements. The flexibility of the joints decreases; when you try to raise your arm up or to the side, you hear crunching and clicking.
DOA is best treated at the very beginning of the disease. If the first symptoms of the disease are detected, you must visit a doctor to determine the extent of the damage and prescribe specific therapy.
During this period, pathology can only be detected by accident, during the diagnosis of other diseases, or during a routine medical examination. There is no pronounced discomfort, only morning stiffness and swelling of the joints are observed.
Occasional pain is mild or moderate in nature and goes away after a short rest.
If it is possible to promptly identify grade 1 osteoarthritis of the right or left shoulder joint, then you can completely do without drug therapy. It is enough to change your lifestyle, reduce body weight, reduce physical activity, regularly perform therapeutic exercises and visit the pool.
Therapy for the second stage of the disease is based on drug treatment. During this period, the pain intensifies and is constant, the mobility of the joints is limited. When you try to raise your hand, you hear crunching and clicking sounds. Discomfort increases with physical activity, during the cold season and in humid weather.
Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree requires an urgent visit to the doctor, otherwise the pathology will move into the next, more serious and difficult to treat phase.
The third stage of the disease is characterized by significant changes in bone tissue, severe pain and immobility of the limb. Fragile osteophytes often break during sudden movements of the hand, which leads to the development of inflammation and unbearable pain.
A joint affected by grade 3 osteoarthritis cannot be treated conservatively. The only possible method of therapy is endoprosthetics.
Patients with a history of second or third degree pathology of the shoulder joint must undergo radiography every 6–8 months. This is a mandatory procedure for correcting the therapy used.
Experts strongly recommend starting the fight against DOA at an early stage, before the disease becomes chronic. The more severely the joint is affected, the more difficult the treatment and the longer the recovery process. If the cartilage tissue is very damaged and the joint is completely immobilized, the only option is surgery.
To prevent complete destruction of the cartilage, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time. The doctor will prescribe complex therapy, including medications, massage, physiotherapy and traditional medicine recipes.
It must be remembered that the development of the disease can be stopped. The remission period is quite long. If you carefully follow all the prescriptions and recommendations of your doctor, you can maintain physical activity for a long time and reduce the risk of serious complications.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder of the second degree requires the prescription of medications. The treatment regimen includes the following groups of drugs:
The selection of the necessary medication should only be carried out by a specialist based on the diagnosis.
Treatment with NSAIDs should not be continued for more than two weeks. After a break, the duration of which is determined by the doctor depending on the patient’s condition, the course can be repeated. Analgesics and muscle relaxants are taken when pain intensifies. Chondroprotectors are taken for a long time, but only as prescribed by a doctor.
Physiotherapy significantly alleviates the patient’s condition, reduces pain and severity of symptoms. If the right or left joint is affected, the doctor may prescribe laser therapy, electrophoresis, ozokerite or paraffin applications, and cryotherapy.
Manual therapy keeps the muscles surrounding the joint toned and improves blood circulation. To avoid further damage to cartilage tissue, massage should be performed by a licensed professional with extensive experience.
During an exacerbation of the disease, physical activity is recommended to be significantly limited. During the period of remission, you can and should perform an individually selected set of exercises.
If pain or discomfort occurs during exercise therapy, gymnastics must be stopped and the physical training complex must be adjusted in consultation with a specialist.
Classes must be regular. The first few sessions must be completed in a physical therapy room under the guidance of a trainer.
If therapy with conservative methods does not bring relief and the destruction of cartilage tissue continues, surgery is necessary. Athroscopy is most often prescribed. This low-traumatic procedure is performed under local anesthesia and lasts 2-3 hours. Complications after such an intervention are minimal.
Deep destruction and immobility of joints requires the use of endoprosthetics. During the operation, the damaged joint is replaced with a titanium prosthesis. The procedure helps even those patients who have suffered for many years due to mobility limitations to find the joy of movement.
Alternative medicine recipes are widely used in the complex therapy of DOA. Proven methods of traditional healers are aimed at improving blood circulation, reducing pain and inflammation in the joints.
Propolis mixed with fresh pork fat is often used to treat shoulder osteoarthritis. The product is rubbed into the affected joint daily.
A compress made from cabbage leaves smeared with honey has proven itself well in the treatment of DOA. It is better to do this procedure before going to bed, covering the sore spot with a woolen cloth.
Rubbing elecampane with alcohol is very good for aching joints. To prepare the drug, take 100 grams of plant root, pour a glass of vodka and leave for 14 days. The drug must be used daily, gently rubbing it into the shoulder area in a circular motion.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a serious condition that can be disabling if left untreated. Only timely and complex therapy can stop the development of pathology and reduce the risk of complications. Those who have so far successfully avoided the disease can be advised to pay due attention to its prevention.