Shoulder Arthritis: Types, Symptoms & Treatment

Many people believe that shoulder has several joints, but in reality there are only two joints in the shoulder. One joint is ‘Acromioclavicular’ or AC joint, which is located where collarbone meets the tip of the shoulder bone. Another joint is the ‘Glenohumeral’ joint, which is located at the junction of the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade. Both these joints are susceptible to Shoulder Arthritis, and in order to get effective treatment, the doctor needs to determine which kind of arthritis one has.

Types

Orthopedic Treatment For Shoulder Arthritis

Following are the common types of Arthritis: 

• Osteoarthritis: This is also known as ‘wear and tear arthritis’ or ‘degenerative joint disease’. It occurs as a result of abrasion of protective surface that allows the joint to move smoothly.  Due to this, there is instability in the movement of the joint and results in pain and stiffness. 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This is a chronic disease and affects same joints on both sides of the body. A lubricating lining called ‘synovium’, which facilitates easy movement of joints, swells because of this arthritis and causes pain and stiffness.
• Posttraumatic Arthritis: This is another form of osteoarthritis and usually develops after an injury like a fracture or dislocation of the shoulder.
• Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: This type of arthritis occurs when there is some long standing rotator cuff tear. Due to damage in the surfaces of the joints, this condition can develop gradually.
• Avascular Necrosis: When the blood supply to head of humerus is disrupted, this arthritis is developed. It destroys the shoulder joints because of lack of blood and ultimately causes arthritis.

Symptoms:

• Shoulder Arthritis leads to pain in the joint, which becomes painful with any kind of activity in which the use of shoulder is there.
• The range of motion is limited and performing simple activities like combing hair, reaching out a shelf become difficult.
• It becomes difficult to sleep at night because of the pain.
• A feeling of grinding or catching is experienced within the joint.
• There is swelling and stiffness in the shoulder.
• The shoulder becomes tender.

Treatment:

Before moving on to surgical treatments for Shoulder Arthritis, all non-operative treatments must be fully exhausted. Pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicines can benefit those who are experiencing pain. For short term relief, steroid injections can be used but their use should be limited as they can further damage the joint. Ice can be rubbed on the affected shoulder to reduce the swelling. Physical therapy can be effective in reducing the pain and improving the range of motion of the shoulder. If the pain causes disability, then surgical treatments can be effective in providing relief. This treatment includes shoulder joint replacement in which damaged parts of the shoulder are removed and replaced. Anthroscopy includes use of incisions by inserting small camera into the shoulder joint.

Surgical treatments can help restore the motion of the shoulder.  Rehabilitation programs help in recovery and may take a few weeks to fully return to motion. Shoulder Arthritis is a treatable condition and one should consult a qualified doctor to begin treatment to recover from this condition.

Orthopedic Treatment For Turf Toe

Turf Toe is a condition in which pain is experienced at the base of the toe. The condition is caused due to a sprain in the big toe as a result of excessive running and jumping. Significant damage to the ligaments and the joint capsule adjacent to the toe joint causes its range of motion to be impaired. The toe becomes stiff and becomes painful due to swelling.  Commonly, this term is associated with players who play on artificial field like in football and basketball, but is also quite common in athletes involved in gymnastics, wrestling and dance. Turf Toe injury can be classified as:

Grade I: Minor swelling, some tenderness but no bruising
Grade II: Swelling ranges from mild to severe, with some bruising
Grade III: Moderate to severe bruising, with tenderness and swelling which is painful

Causes:

• The common causes of Turf Toe have been described below:
• When forefoot is fixed on the ground and heel is raised, some force pushes the toe into hyperextension.
• Artificial lawn surfaces are responsible for causing turf toe as they are hard and less shock absorbent.
• Shoes worn by athletes during sports activity provide flexibility but instability to the forefoot.
• A simple jamming or stubbing of the toe can also cause this condition
• Previous injuries to the toe and forefoot

Symptoms:

• Pain is experienced at the base of the toe
• Noticeable swelling both at the toe and the ball of the foot
• Popping sound at time of injury
• Bruising around the toe and ball of the foot
• Limited range of motion of the toe
• The toe becomes tender
• Mobility is reduced

Diagnosis:

Medical history and examinations can help orthopedic doctor determine the severity of injury to the toe. The doctor can check for signs of swelling, bruising and examine the range of motion of the joint. Imaging tests like X-Rays and MRI create clear pictures of bones and let the doctor detect the injured part. MRI creates better images of the soft tissues and help in determining the cartilage injuries.

Treatment:

Turf Toe can be treated with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) therapy when the injury is Grade I. Providing proper rest to the toe, icing several times a day, reducing the swelling with compression bandage and elevating the leg at a level higher than heart to reduce swelling can be effective in treating the injury when it occurs. Grade II injuries can be treated by prescribing a walking boot, with rest time varying from 3 to 14 days. Grade III injuries are treated by immobilizing the toe for several weeks. Walking boots or casts are used to keep the toe in a stable position. Physical therapy to help restore the strength of the toe is followed soon after. Surgery is performed in case the symptoms persist and athlete is not able to perform in sports. Grade III injuries may even require surgery if there is internal fracture and there is damage to the cartilage joint.

Turf Toe injuries heal fairly well. It may take a few weeks for pain to fully subside. It can be avoided by wearing comfortable shoes that provide support to the base of the foot. If possible, one should avoid playing on hard surfaces to prevent this condition.