Shoulder Joint Arthrosis symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods

Shoulder joint arthrosis is a disease characterized by degradation, aging, cartilage destruction, and adjoint bone tissues. The disease is also called adhesive capsulitis, scapulohumeral polyarthrosis or frozen shoulder.

This disease falls into the category of inveterate and progredient ones. At first, the disease develops, as a rule, unbeknownst to the patient. At this time it can be detected by x-ray only. Then the first minor symptoms appear: for example, pain when attempting to bring a spoon to your mouth. Symptoms increase, and subsequently the mobility of the affected arm is seriously or completely limited. The quality of life decreases, sleep worsens, since it is almost impossible to choose a position in which the pain is eliminated.

There are two main manifestations of. The first one is pain (first observed when moving, later – at rest). The second manifestation is muscle limitation (contracture). For example, a patient cannot raise his/her arms or take them back.

Cartilage problems are found among many people. According to the statistics, arthrosis is diagnosed across 7% of the population. Shoulder joint arthrosis is not that dangerous than, for example, hip joint arthrosis, but the consequences are still fearful. We are talking about the complete immobility of the hand, and this is the disastrous discomfort in everyday life, and unsuitability for the majority activities.

The danger of this condition is that the harm that it managed to cause cannot be fixed. It is important to identify arthrosis in the early stages of development, and therefore, if you experience the slightest discomfort, heed your shoulder carefully. 

The pain that first appears can be tried to eliminate with medication. Awkward movements, work with weights or physical activity may cause pain, for example. If the pain cannot be removed after 3-4 days, go to the doctor.

You can preliminarily conduct a test for joint mobility: make a movement simulating putting on an apron (bring your hands behind your back). If pain is felt, then your visit to the doctor should not be postponed. Shoulder joint arthrosis is a “subtle” disease, and only your attentive behavior will stop it on time.

Causes of shoulder joint arthrosis 

• Natural cartilage aging. The risk group consists of people 50 years of age or older, but you should watch out for the joint condition after 40. At this age it is advisable to reduce the load on them.
• Injuries. The process of cartilage and bone tissue degradation can run mechanical injury. It can be not just one serious injury, but also several microtraumas, which, for example, occur among athletes.
• Sports activities, which involve a heavy load on the shoulder joint. We are talking about tennis, rowing, swimming, handball, volleyball.
• Circulatory disturbance in the shoulder area may be caused by disease, genetic factor or trauma.
• Work related to load shifting. Arthrosis develops due to the constant tension of shoulder joint muscles.
• Rheumatic arthritis, although infrequently, but still leads to the shoulder joint arthrosis development.
• Autoimmune disorders.
• Endocrine system disorders.
• Some metabolic diseases, gout, etc.
• Genetic susceptibility. If the family members have cases of shoulder joint arthrosis, a person needs to limit the load on the joint and have regular medical examinations with a specialist.

Stages of shoulder joint arthrosis development 

• The first stage. The joint may crunch periodically. Pain occurs in the morning and evening. Pain sense arises in bad weather. Discomfort during movements exists, but after hand “practicing” everything comes back to normal.
• The second stage. The dexterity impairment is significantly aggravated. At this stage, a person begins to “adapt” his movements to the inconvenience: for example, when putting a jacket on, a person has to avoid throwing a bad arm behind his back.  The first stage symptoms strengthen.
• The third stage. The joint is completely immobilized. The range of hand movements is limited to a few degrees. The pain is felt permanently. Due to the immobility of the joint, the muscles of the shoulder girdle begin to atrophy.
• The fourth stage. The arm is completely immobilized. The joint hardens, and the bones are fused, since there is no cartilage tissue between them. The pain is severe and is not always removed with painkillers.

Already on the second stage, the symptoms 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 get rid of it with self-medication. Shoulder joint arthrosis is a complex disease that can be eliminated by a doctor only.

Symptoms of shoulder joint arthrosis

• Pain at rest or while moving.
• Discomfort during weather conditions change.
• Pain after sustained load that lasts one day or longer.
• Crunching.
• Constrained movements because of pain.
• Swelling of the joint area.
• Sensation of hyperthermia in this area (an inflammation process sign).
• Trouble sleeping due to the inability to lie on the side of pain for a long time.

Symptoms among different patients can vary greatly. Much depends on the cause of disease and its course. At the beginning we spoke about the main signs that should prompt the idea of ​​visiting a doctor: it is pain and stiffness. If you experience these symptoms, you should definitely visit a doctor. The intervention of a doctor with such serious symptoms is required, even if it is not arthrosis, but something else.

Diagnosis of shoulder joint arthrosis

Diagnosis begins with a medical history. The patient tells doctor about the symptoms and period the disease signs first appeared. The patient needs to remember whether injuries, bruises or dislocations preceded this discomfort.

Next, the doctor conducts a visual examination of the affected area. At this stage swelling and other visible manifestations of the shoulder joint arthrosis can be determined. In order to assess joint mobility, the doctor asks patient to undergo primitive tests. For example, lock his fingers together behind back. Very likely the disease will “manifest” itself at this stage.

Specialists use hardware diagnostic methods.

• X-ray method confirms or refutes the diagnosis, allows establishing the localization of lesion and inflammatory process. It gives information about the distance between the bones: if they are too close to each other, it means that the cartilage tissue began to wear off.
• MRI method provides information on the tendons and cartilage condition.
• Computed tomography method provides a three-dimensional x-ray picture of the study area, which allows evaluating the overall picture.

Modern diagnostic methods reveal not only shoulder joint arthrosis, but also provide information about the disease stage and its course. This enables doctors to accurately work the treatment out.

Treatment of shoulder joint arthrosis

The main task is to stop the disease development, improve joint mobility, relieve pain and improve the quality of life for the patient. Consider the methods that doctors use to treat shoulder arthrosis.

Modern diagnostic methods not only reveal the arthrosis of the shoulder joint, but also provide information about the stage of the disease and its course. This enables doctors to accurately develop therapy.

Treatment of shoulder arthrosis

The main task is to stop the development of the disease, improve joint mobility, remove pain and enhance the patient’s quality of life. Let’s consider the methods that doctors use to treat shoulder joint arthrosis.

• Medicines. To eliminate the pain syndrome painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Medications that improve blood circulation are also used (if necessary).
• Gentle motion.
• Diet.
• Massage. Metamer (acupressure) massage is especially effective.
• Metameric treatment method which was designed by Doctor Bersenev implies effecting the affected neurometamers and joints. The main procedure is metameric injection, which introduced into the affected area. They stop degradation and destruction processes and make joint mobility better.

As in the case of knee joint or hip joint arthrosis, the therapy gives result only when designed with individual characteristics of the patient, symptoms and disease stage in mind. There is no template that is effective in all cases.

Conclusion

Shoulder joint arthrosis is a complex disease, but with a timely reference to the doctor the prognosis is favorable. If you find the above listed symptoms, do not hesitate with your visit to the doctor for future. Each day of procrastination complicates the treatment process and worsens the prognosis. Contact the Bersenev’s Medical Center. Your physician will develop an individual treatment program that will help overcome this health problem.