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
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| Orthopedic Treatment For Shoulder 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.
