Well known to many people, especially the elderly, are joint pain. They are caused by malnutrition, physical inactivity, stress, intense physical exertion and other factors.
Quite often, osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint occurs in the elderly and a small percentage of young people, a chronic disorder that causes severe deformation of the cartilage, as well as adjacent tissues and bones. It has a progressive type and symptoms may not appear for years and then sharply worsen.
The most common symptoms are shoulder pain after a long stay in cold temperatures, as well as after lifting heavy objects.
Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.
Causes
Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint occurs due to the process of inflammation that develops in the joints of the hands. Among the main causes of the onset and development of the disease are:
- injuries (dislocations, bruises, fractures);
- excessive physical activity (tennis players, basketball players);
- malnutrition;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection in the joint cup.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is accompanied by the process of inflammation. As a result, the cartilage tissue loses its properties and becomes thinner. In addition, the disease in advanced cases contributes to the deformation and even destruction of cartilage tissue, its growth into the bone structure.
Signs of illness
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 symptoms is played by the profession to which a person belongs, what lifestyle he adheres to. Deficiency of synovial fluid is a major cause of cartilage destruction.
Symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves in several ways: usually at the beginning there is a slight discomfort or aching pain in the shoulder if it takes a certain position. The pain when assuming another position usually subsides or disappears, however, if the patient does not consult a doctor to treat the initial symptoms, the disease will progress. The nature of the pain a person experiences with osteoarthritis is painful. Sometimes they are felt in the back, elbows or along the entire arm (in the first and second degree, then intensify).
The intensity of the discomfort can be exacerbated by changing weather conditions or by the presence of constant physical exertion. The disease in the initial degree will not disturb the patient when the shoulder is at rest. Subsequently, there is a limitation in the number of movements of the joint, which the patient consciously sets. At this time, the cartilage in the joints is destroyed, bone processes (osteophytes) grow, which greatly complicates movement. In the last degree of the disease, the patient can raise the arm no more than 90 degrees, as the cartilage merges into a bone formation, making it impossible for the arm to move.
Degrees of the disease
There are 4 degrees of this disease:
- Grade 1 is characterized by mild damage to the cartilage tissue. The patient may sometimes experience unpleasant pain after holding the shoulder for a long time in one position or lifting heavy objects. At this stage, special exercises and diet can treat emerging symptoms and prevent further stages;
- Grade 2 is characterized by the presence of osteophytes and the narrowing of the joint space (viewed on an x-ray). The pains in this case are more frequent and acute;
- Grade 3 causes a decrease in the number of hand movements. The x-ray shows the minimal size of the opening between the shoulder joints. The patient constantly experiences aching pains that do not disappear at rest;
- Grade 4 occurs if the patient did not go to a specialist in time. At the same time, the fusion of the cartilage and bone processes is detected, which makes it impossible to move the hand.
Treatment
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint has several options, depending on the severity of the disease:
- prosthetic surgery;
- Pharmacological treatment;
- Physiotherapy;
- complex of medical and physical culture (LFK);
- traditional medicine;
- diet.
At an early stage of development, the disease can be successfully treated with steroid and non-steroidal drugs, as well as drugs that relieve vascular and muscle spasms. Medicines help the patient to relieve pain and also to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
If the patient goes to the doctor in time, he can prescribe him a therapeutic form of gymnastics. Helps increase joint mobility. At the initial stage, it is sometimes enough to perform the exercises prescribed by a specialist, so there is no need for surgery or taking a large amount of drugs.
The so-called methods of surgical treatment are prescribed by a doctor if conservative methods (gymnastics, medicines) did not help. The most famous method by which it is possible to treat deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is arthroplasty. At the same time, the collapsing joint will be replaced by a modern prosthesis, designed to perform all the functions of the shoulder joint. Prostheses are designed for several years of work. Surgical intervention is used in the last stage of the development of the disease, when there is no point in dealing with other methods.
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint with folk remedies, in principle, is not prohibited, but the doctor must approve it. It must also be compatible with other drugs. But don't neglect gymnastics and other exercises. Physical therapy can be performed in the phase of remission, and exacerbation excludes the possibility of any exercise. Wherever the patient finds the exercises, before proceeding with them, they must show them to their doctor, who will confirm or deny their health and treatment benefits. Contraindications for gymnastics treatment are also fever, lung disease, heart disease and other diseases.
Some of the most effective exercises are:
- in the initial position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, the left arm rises and bends at the elbow joint so that his fingers touch the left shoulder blade. The elbow of the hand should face up. The same procedure is repeated with the right hand. In total, the exercise should be repeated 4 times;
- in the initial position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, arms along the body. To begin with, the right hand is placed on the opposite shoulder and vice versa. Hence, a person hugs the shoulders. At the same time, the elbows are kept at the maximum possible height and the person's fingers should reach the shoulder blades. This exercise is performed 8 times.
Diet
Shoulder osteoarthritis treatment is quite extensive. This also includes a diet, because sometimes being overweight causes a great load on the joints. Statistics state that the diet helps to significantly alleviate the manifestations of arthrosis, as it helps to reduce the patient's weight. The diet, in addition to overcoming overweight, must also take into account the need to supply the body with the substances necessary to restore and maintain the elasticity of the cartilage.
To treat deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, experts recommend including slow carbohydrates in the diet, replacing them with fast ones. This means that flour products can be consumed, but white flour products (wheat, corn) should be abandoned in favor of products made from rye, oatmeal or buckwheat flour. On a diet, you should eat enough cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley), which will give strength and energy and nourish the cartilage and bones with essential trace elements.
As for the use of meat in a diet, chicken, rabbit and other low-calorie meats should be present in the diet. At the same time, high-calorie pork and lamb should be abandoned. Meat and vegetables should be steamed, boiled or stewed, but not fried. It is also necessary to pay attention to plants of the legume family, as a source of plant proteins. Another dietary tip would be to use unrefined oil instead of refined oil. Aspic from meat and fish will help restore cartilage and promote its development.