It is a joint pain that many people, especially the elderly, are aware of. These are caused by nutrition, physical inactivity, stress, heavy physical load and other factors.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint often occurs in the elderly and a small proportion of young people - a chronic disease that causes severe deformation of cartilage, as well as adjacent tissues and bones. It has a progressive type and the symptoms may not appear for years, then worsen sharply.
The most common symptoms are pain in the shoulders after prolonged exposure to low temperatures, as well as after lifting heavy objects.
Do not self-medicate. See a doctor at the first sign of illness.
Reasons
Deformative arthrosis of the shoulder joint is caused by an inflammatory process that develops in the joints of the hands. Among the main causes of the onset and development of the disease:
- injuries (cuts, bruises, fractures);
- excessive physical activity (tennis players, basketball players);
- malnutrition;
- having bad habits;
- infection in the joint cup.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is accompanied by an inflammatory process. As a result, the cartilage tissue loses its properties and becomes thinner. Also, in advanced cases, the disease contributes to the deformation and even destruction of cartilage tissue, entering the bone structure.
Symptoms of the disease
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint usually begins to appear in people over the age of 45, as it is associated with age-related changes in the body. An important role in the symptoms is played by what profession a person belongs to and what lifestyle he follows. Lack of synovial fluid is one of the main causes of cartilage destruction.
Symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves in different ways: usually there is a slight discomfort or a sharp pain in the shoulder when initially holding a certain position. The pain usually decreases or disappears when holding another position, but if the patient does not consult a doctor to treat the initial symptoms, the disease progresses. The nature of the pain that a person feels with osteoarthritis is pain. Sometimes it is felt on the back, elbows or the whole arm (first and second degree, then intensifies).
The intensity of the anxiety may be exacerbated by changing weather conditions or constant physical exertion. Primary disease will not bother the patient while the shoulder is resting. Then, there is a limit to the number of joint movements that the patient consciously determines. In this case, the cartilage of the joints is destroyed, bone processes (osteophytes) grow, which greatly complicates the movement. In the final stages of the disease, the patient cannot raise the arm above 90 degrees, because the cartilage joins to form a bone, making it impossible to move the arm.
Degrees of the disease
There are 4 degrees of this disease:
- Grade 1 is characterized by minor damage to cartilage tissue. The patient may sometimes feel unpleasant pain after keeping the shoulder in one position for a long time or lifting heavy objects. At this stage, special exercises and diet can treat the symptoms that arise and prevent the later stages;
- Grade 2 is characterized by the formation of osteophytes, as well as narrowing of the joint space (shown on x-ray). In this condition the pain becomes more frequent and sharp;
- Grade 3 causes a decrease in the number of hand movements. X-ray shows the minimum size of the opening between the shoulder joints. The patient constantly feels excruciating pain that does not pass at rest;
- Grade 4 occurs when the patient does not consult a specialist in time. At the same time, a combination of cartilage and bone processes is found, which makes it impossible to move the hand.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint has several options, depending on the severity of the disease:
- prosthetic surgery;
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- medical and physical education complex (LFK);
- traditional medicine;
- diet.
In the early stages of development, the disease can be successfully treated with steroids and non-steroidal drugs, as well as drugs that relieve vascular and muscle spasms. Medications help the patient relieve pain, as well as repair damaged cartilage tissue.
If the patient consults a doctor in time, he can prescribe a form of therapeutic gymnastics. This helps increase joint mobility. At the initial stage, it is sometimes enough to perform the exercises prescribed by a specialist, and then there is no need for surgery or taking large amounts of medication.
When conservative methods (gymnastics, medication) do not help, surgical treatment is prescribed by a doctor. The most popular method of treating deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint is arthroplasty. At the same time, the collapsed joint will be replaced by a modern prosthesis designed to perform all the functions of the shoulder joint. The prostheses are designed to work for several years. Surgery is used in the later stages of the disease, when other methods of treatment are meaningless.
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint are not prohibited in principle, but your doctor must confirm it. It should also be compatible with other medications. But do not neglect gymnastics and other exercises. Exercise therapy can be performed in the remission phase, and exacerbation excludes the possibility of any exercise. Wherever the patient finds exercises, he should show them to his doctor before continuing them, who will confirm or deny their health benefits and treatment. Contraindications to the treatment of gymnastics are fever, lung disease, heart disease and other diseases.
Here are some of the most effective exercises:
- In the initial position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, the left arm is raised at the elbow joint and bent so that the fingers touch the left shoulder blade. The elbow should look up. The same procedure is repeated with the right hand. In general, the exercise should be repeated 4 times;
- In the initial position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, arms along the body. To start, the right hand is placed on the opposite shoulder and vice versa. Thus, a person embraces himself on his shoulders. At the same time, the elbows are kept at the highest possible height and the person's fingers should reach the shoulder blades. This exercise is performed 8 times.
Diet
The treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis is very extensive. This includes diet, because sometimes excess weight puts a heavy burden on the joints. According to statistics, the diet helps to significantly alleviate the manifestations of osteoarthritis, as it helps to reduce the patient's weight. In addition to losing weight, the diet should take into account the need to provide the body with the necessary substances to restore and maintain cartilage elasticity.
Experts recommend adding slow carbs to your diet to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, replacing them with fast ones. This means that flour products can be eaten, but products made from white flour (wheat, corn) should be discarded in favor of products made from rye, oats or buckwheat flour. You should eat enough grains (oatmeal, buckwheat, barley) in the diet, which will give strength and energy, nourish the cartilage and bones with important trace elements.
When it comes to the use of meat in the diet, the diet should include chicken, rabbit and other low-calorie meats. At the same time, high-calorie pork and lamb should be avoided. Meat and vegetables should be steamed, boiled or steamed, but not fried. As a source of vegetable protein, it is necessary to pay attention to the plants of the legume family. Another dietary advice would be to use unrefined oil instead of refined fat. Aspic, made from meat and fish, will help restore cartilage and promote their development.