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.

Orthopedic Treatment For Intoeing

Intoeing is an unusual problem that is found in infants and young children. Intoeing or pigeon-toed refers to the condition when the feet turn inward while running or walking, rather than pointing straight. Often the problem eventually corrects itself as the child grows but in certain cases orthopedic treatment is required to rectify it.
 

Causes:
 

There can be skeletal and neurological causes of Intoeing. Skeletal reasons include Metatarsus Adductus, Tibia Torsion, and Femoral Anteversion. However the neurological reasons can be due to premature labor and the intoeing due to neurological reasons should be taken seriously as the situation may actually worsen with age.
 

If the child’s feet are curved inward from the middle of the toes, the condition is referred to as Metatarsus Adductus. This usually occurs before birth and it is understood that the feet eventually straighten as the child grows up.  Another cause is Tibia Torsion, which is a twist in the tibia, a bone between the ankle and the knee. The problem comes to notice when the child starts walking. Usually the twist straightens out itself; however, in some cases the twist does not straighten out sufficiently to make the feet straight and the child suffers from Intoeing.  An inward twist in the femur (thighbone) leads to Femoral Anteversion.
 

Usually children are born with somewhat twist in the thighbone but the cause of intoeing becomes clear when the child starts walking. As these problems occur from genetic and development reasons it is almost impossible to prevent them.
 

Symptoms:

•  Infant’s feet point inwards
• Outer sides of the child’s foot is curved
• clumsiness
• Stumbling
• Tripping while walking

 Treatment:

 
Whether the problem is neurological or skeletal, the condition can be clear only after proper foot examination. The parents must consult a specialist to know the exact cause of the problem and whether treatment is required or not, and if required, then what should be the line of treatment. Metatarsus Adductus can be treated by serial casting, which involves applying casts to foot and leg for gently straightening it. This can be done to younger children as it is not suitable for elders. For older children, orthopedic surgeons recommend corrective devices such as special shoes and splints. This helps in modifying the position of joints. Sometimes surgery may be required to reset the bones, if the problem does not resolve on its own. An orthopedic surgeon will suggest the correct line of treatment after proper diagnosis.

Hammer Toes: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment And Prevention

Hammer toes is a condition affecting the feet, in which one of the toes points outwards or curls instead of buckling. The condition is more likely to affect women than men, owing to the type of shoes they wear. People with diabetes or circulatory disorders should see their orthopedic doctor at the first sign of the development of hammer toes, since the disorder can take a serious shape in these patients. Hammer toes can be flexible or rigid. The former indicate that the disorder is in its initial stage and can respond to various stages, while in the latter, the toe can no longer move, and usually needs surgery. 

Causes:

Hammer toes are caused by an imbalance in the toe muscles, which in turn, can be caused by:

• Toe injury- This commonly occurs due to ill-fitting shoes that are too tight, too pointy, or high-heeled. 
• Genetic- People with flat feet usually have a tendency to develop hammer toes, even though those with high-arched feet can also get the condition. 
• Arthritis

Symptoms:

• A toe that assumes an upside-down “V” shape usually indicates a hammer toe
• Pain, at the top of the toe and the heel of the foot, especially when wearing shoes
• Corns at the top of the affected toe joint
• Redness and inflammation 
• Difficulty in moving the toe joint- at later stages it might become impossible to move the joint 

Treatment:

The treatment begins with a thorough medical examination to determine if you really have a hammer toe. This includes an X-ray to determine the extent of the condition. The treatment options that are offered include:

• Medication to relieve pain and swelling 
• Podiatrist-recommended footwear and padded inserts
• Foot exercises to restore muscle balance
• Splinting the toe- this can help at early stages of the disorder
• Surgical procedures might be needed in certain cases of hammer toe. Our orthopedic surgeons are well experienced in performing these procedures, ensuring speedy recovery and minimal side effects. 

Prevention:

Hammer toes can be prevented by taking the following simple precautions:

• Check your feet regularly and see your doctor immediately if you notice any abnormality. An early diagnosis goes a long way in ensuring quick recovery in case of foot disorders. 
• Improve circulation to your feet through a foot massage, a warm foot bath, or simply putting your feet up while sitting. 
• Most importantly, wear well-fitted shoes. If one of your feet is bigger than the other, make sure that you fit your shoes to the bigger foot. 
• Do not buy tight shoes hoping they will get loose through wearing. Ideally, there should be at least 1.5 cm between your longest toe and the front of the shoe. 

Allen Sports And Spine: Tips for Young Athletes

Being an athlete means you are prone to a lot of injuries associated with the bones and especially spine. The doctors advise physical therapy in order to completely recover from sports injuries. However, there are certain tips that you can follow in order to keep yourself safe while getting involved in your sport.

• It is important for young athletes to undergo a physical exam before the commencement of the sports season. This is especially significant for kids who play any kind of sport because continuous exertion can bring up a previously undetected problem. For instance, blood pressure or heart-related difficulties can arise during practice sessions. The Orthopedic doctors in Allen TX must be given all the details about your child’s medical history. Also make sure that your child’s joints and muscles are in the best of condition.
• Secondly, you must motivate your kids to adopt the practice of cross-training. Continuous stress on one body part does not give it the time to heal itself. So, even if your child is focused on a single sport, make sure he also gets involved in an activity that makes him use different muscles. For instance, running and swimming can be incorporated in your child’s sports regimen.
• AEDs (automated external defibrillators) are life-saving devices as they are helpful in case a young student suffers cardiac arrest. These instruments administer a shock to the child and that eventually starts the normal heartbeat again. So, enquire from your child’s sports instructor whether he has these devices or not.
• Exhaustion caused by heat can be easily resolved by drinking water or sports drinks. It is important to drink at least 7 to 10 ounces of liquid before exercising. Thereafter, your child can keep on consuming liquid sip by sip during the practice sessions.
• A large number of cases of cardiac arrest occur in young athletes when they are hit hard in the chest. This leads to a disruption in the heartbeat and eventually takes away someone’s life. Therefore, you must talk to the coach and ask him to use safety baseballs because they are softer than the usual balls. You must also check out RIF (Reduced Injury Factor) baseballs at stores that stock sports goods.
• You must also make it a point to get your child’s heart screened i.e., get an EKG (electrocardiogram) done in order to test the electrical activity of the heart. However, there is not much assurance of the results of EKG since a cardiac arrest can occur even if the results are normal. But that does not mean an EKG is completely useless since results vary from individual to individual.