Arthropathy (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease of cartilage tissue in which the normal function of the joints is destroyed. In most cases, this disease is chronic. Shoulder arthropathy is characterized by pain and gradual loss of hand function. In most cases, pathology is detected in old age. The causes of osteoarthritis are aging changes in the body, shoulder injuries, birth defects and constant pressure on the shoulder straps. If a person faces shoulder strap discomfort, they need to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. With the help of complex effects, the development of degenerative changes can be prevented.
What is shoulder joint disease
Shoulder arthropathy-damage to the articular cartilage tissue, during which degenerative changes occur. The blood supply in the cartilage tissue is interrupted, so sufficient nutrients and oxygen cannot be obtained.Those who are at risk are those who are exposed to excessive pressure on their shoulders every day and have birth defects in the joint tissues.In the early stages, people will feel sore, but the normal function of the shoulders is preserved. If the predisposing factors are not eliminated, the disease will cause serious damage to health.
Diagnosis plays an important role in the treatment of arthropathy. With the help of X-rays, the cause of the disease and the degree of damage can be accurately determined.
Anatomical background
Congenital disorders of joints and connective tissue structure may be the cause of the disease. If a person's shoulder strap structure has characteristics, then even ordinary loads can cause arthropathy. To avoid problems, you need to take preventive measures and see a doctor regularly. Congenital dysplasia can be controlled by massage and exercise therapy.
Causes and risk factors
All elderly people are at risk.According to statistics from the World Health Organization, the possibility of developing arthropathy after 45 years has increased significantly.By the age of 65, more than 50% of people have this disease. The reasons for the early onset of the disease include:
- Shoulder rotator cuff injury;
- Shoulder injury;
- Constant stress related to sports or work;
- Infectious and autoimmune diseases;
- obesity;
- Abnormal metabolism.
The older a person is, the higher the risk of degenerative joint damage.
Times watched
The destruction of cartilage tissue is divided into primary and secondary. If there is no concomitant disease, it can be diagnosed as primary arthropathy. It is usually found in old age. It appears because of age-related changes. The secondary view is due to injury or occurs in the context of another disease. In addition, diseases are classified by location.Degenerative changes in the shoulder joint can occur in the shoulder joint itself or in the acromioclavicular joint area.
Stages and symptoms of development
Symptoms depend on the stage of development of shoulder arthropathy. The pathology is divided into three stages:
- first. . . Pain worsens at night, and the function of the shoulder strap is preserved.
- second. . . When you move your hand, you will hear a crunching sound, the pain persists, and the shoulder movement is limited.
- third. . . Severe pain, the arm is fixed in one position, there are protrusions in the affected area, and the joints are strongly deformed on the X-ray film.
This disease may not develop for a long time. If a person continues to bear weight on the shoulder straps, the condition will get worse.
Which doctor to contact
Arthropathy of the shoulder joint is treated by different doctors. The initial examination is performed by a therapist or rheumatologist. In addition, the following experts may be involved in the treatment:
- Surgeon
- Orthopedist;
- Neurologist.
In most cases, the treatment plan is made by a rheumatologist.If the disease requires surgical treatment or intra-articular manipulation, you need the help of a surgeon.If the nerve bundle is compressed due to disease, you need to consult a neurologist.
Only after the diagnostic examination, the therapist or rheumatologist will determine whether the help of other experts is needed.
diagnosis
Hardware and laboratory tests and manual inspections are used to make an accurate diagnosis. First, check through various tests. Is studying the history of this person. All of these help make an initial diagnosis. In addition, MRI and X-rays are used to determine the degree of narrowing of the joint space, the condition of blood vessels, synovium, and tendons.
Manual inspection
Manual inspection includes palpation of the affected area and performing diagnostic tests. Pain usually occurs when palpating the acromioclavicular joint. If a person has a problem with their hands behind their head, then this may indicate shoulder joint arthropathy. During the manual examination, the doctor will be able to detect inflammation. The information obtained during manual inspection plays an important role in diagnosis.The examination should be carried out by an experienced rheumatologist or therapist to avoid injury during testing and functional testing.
Instrument method
The tool research method allows you to determine:
- The degree of narrowing of the joint space;
- Uneven joint surface;
- Localization of joint disease.
After using the instrument diagnosis method, select the necessary treatment method. For diagnosis, use radiography, CT, or MRI. These methods provide the necessary information. The instrument check can be repeated during treatment.
laboratory
Laboratory tests allow you to assess the condition of your entire body and rule out inflammatory arthritis. First, blood is collected for analysis. For arthropathy, all signs of clinical and biochemical blood tests are within the normal range. For arthritis, the red blood cell sedimentation rate, immunoglobulin, and the amount of other markers of the inflammatory process in the body are significantly increased. Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis and chooses an effective treatment plan.
In order to get accurate results, please donate blood on an empty stomach in the morning.
treatment
The treatment method is complicated. Use drugs, physical therapy, physical therapy exercises. If the disease progresses or does not respond to treatment, surgery is used. The basic principles of treatment:
- relief the pain;
- Stop the development of the disease;
- Start the cartilage tissue repair mechanism.
In the initial stage, the result is achieved through the use of drugs.It is important to exclude predisposing factors. Stable relief is achieved through physical therapy and exercise therapy.
drug
The following groups of drugs can be used for treatment:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Chondroprotective agent;
- Corticosteroids;
- Vasodilators.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are used to relieve pain. They apply within a limited time. Cartilage protective agents can accelerate the recovery of cartilage tissue. Vasodilators help improve blood flow and relieve spasms of small blood vessels.
Before prescribing this or that remedy, it is necessary to carefully study the contraindications. Only a doctor can correctly combine all medicines.
surgical
When an irreversible degenerative process occurs, surgical intervention is only performed as a last resort. The reason for the operation is:
- Lack of the effect of conservative treatment;
- The occurrence of complications;
- Serious degenerative changes have occurred.
If the joint loses its original appearance, joint replacement is performed.Diseased joints are replaced by artificial joints. The operation is difficult, and the quality of the surgeon is very demanding. Punctures and arthroscopy can also be performed to treat arthropathy.
prick
If a large amount of fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, perform a puncture. In addition, the procedure is performed for infectious inflammation to determine the type of infection. Draining excess fluid helps reduce the pressure on the shoulder joint and increase its mobility. The procedure is minimally invasive, so resume as soon as possible after completion. There are indications and contraindications for puncture. It is only used in cases of fluid accumulation in the joint capsule or suspected complications of joint disease infection.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that removes damaged shoulder cartilage. The operation is performed using endoscopic equipment and a miniature camera. The advantage of this treatment is fast recovery. Removal of damaged cartilage can relieve stress and restore joint mobility. The disadvantage of this program is that access to the affected area is somewhat restricted.
Endoprosthesis
The endoprosthesis is to completely replace the damaged joint with a biocompatible analogue.Titanium structure is commonly used. This surgery can even get you out of stage 3 arthropathy. Long-term rehabilitation is performed after implantation of the prosthesis. In this way, the affected area and chronic pain can be completely dealt with, and the mobility of the shoulder strap can be restored.
This operation is not always feasible. In the elderly, the recovery period is much more difficult. Use other treatment options before booking joint replacement surgery.
physiotherapy
Physical therapy procedures play an important role in getting rid of shoulder girdle arthropathy. With their help, normal joint mobility can be restored and the severity of pain can be reduced. Perform the following procedures:
- Electrophoresis
- Local cryotherapy;
- Magnetic therapy.
If there are no acute manifestations of the disease (severe pain, restricted mobility), physical therapy can be used. Regular contact will completely eliminate the discomfort. Any procedures must be performed by qualified technicians.Before going to the physiotherapy room, you need to consult your doctor.
Exercise therapy
Exercise therapy refers to the use of active and passive methods to restore shoulder function. If the illness is mild, then the person can start using active methods of recovery through exercise. Passive methods include external beam irradiation through massage or mechanical therapy. Exercise therapy helps to quickly get rid of the manifestations of shoulder joint arthropathy.
The method of passive recovery through mechanical therapy is suitable for people of any age.
Exercise therapy
Physical therapy exercises allow you to put load on the muscles and restore the mobility of the shoulder joints. Mainly use static exercises. The dynamic load for active shoulder rotation is undesirable. You can do the following exercises:
- Swaying shoulders-You need to take a starting position, sitting in a chair with your hands on your knees. Relax your shoulders, and then start to swing your elbows. At the same time, put your hands on your knees.
- Slow rotation-You need to sit on a chair, place your hands on your knees, and slowly start rotating your shoulders in a short pause. Make a circular motion back and forth.
Physiotherapy can only be used during remission, when the pain and limitation of movement have almost completely disappeared.
massage
Massage the affected area can get the following effects:
- Improve tissue nutrition;
- Relieve swelling;
- Adjust muscles
- Remove the pain.
It is recommended that all operations be performed by qualified experts.When performing self-massage, avoid excessive force and sudden movements.The massage effect will be obvious within a few weeks after regular use.
Massage should be accompanied by other activities. If a person exercises in the exercise therapy complex and visits a massage room, he will achieve good results.
Mechanical therapy
Mechanical therapy refers to a set of exercises performed on a specific mechanism. This method allows you to recover in the shortest time. Mechanical therapy is ideal for rehabilitation after surgery. A special mechanism allows you to adjust the load to restore muscles and ligaments faster. All actions are performed under static conditions. Courses on rehabilitation mechanisms should be guided by lecturers. He will correctly select the load and the necessary simulator.
Joint traction
Use special equipment to stretch the joints. Through this process, the following effects can be achieved:
- Improve blood circulation;
- Expand joint space;
- Relieve the tension of ligaments.
Narrowing of the joint space is one of the main manifestations of arthropathy. Through this process, you can improve the situation. The load level is individually selected. Initially, towing is carried out with minimal weight.
Before prescribing joint traction, it is necessary to check for possible contraindications.
Folk method
Traditional methods can free you from pain and speed up the process of cartilage repair. The following remedies can be applied:
- Burdock Leaf-Crush fresh burdock leaves until soft and apply to the affected area for 30-60 minutes. Secure with gauze.
- Salt compression-Dissolve 50 grams of salt in 450 milliliters of water, then put the gauze into the liquid. Remove the gauze, heat and apply it to your shoulders for 45 minutes.
- gelatin-2 teaspoons of gelatin needs to be diluted in 100 ml of warm water, and then the liquid is heated to a boil. Oral gelatin once a day before meals. It promotes the recovery of cartilage tissue.
Traditional methods will help achieve good treatment results. It is recommended to use them during remission.
Arthropathy diet
For any type of joint disease (shoulder joint, wrist joint, ankle joint), you need to provide your body with all the nutrients to quickly restore cartilage tissue. You need to add the following foods to your diet:
- nut;
- bran;
- Gelatinous jelly;
- Buckwheat porridge
- Egg.
Nutrition should be balanced. Vitamin supplements can be taken to obtain essential vitamins and minerals. It is advisable to eat 4-5 times a day. During the treatment of joint disease, alcoholic beverages and sweets are excluded. If a person wants lasting relief, then he needs to continue to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition.
Complications and prognosis
The prognosis depends on the person's age, the degree of injury, and the individual characteristics of the organism. At a young age, it is possible to achieve complete recovery of cartilage tissue and joint function. When you are old, you need to follow certain rules to get lasting improvement. Shoulder arthropathy responds better to treatment than foot arthropathy because the shoulder straps are easily isolated from pressure. This allows for more effective conservative treatment.
The difference between shoulder joint disease and arthritis
Arthropathy and arthritis have the same manifestations, but the clinical manifestations are different. The main difference is that arthropathy is a non-inflammatory disease.In the early stages, joint pain only worries a person after exercise, while in arthritis it is persistent.Arthritis is an inflammatory degenerative disease. Its treatment is somewhat different from arthropathy.
In order not to confuse these diseases, differential diagnosis methods are used. Laboratory and instrumental research will help accurately determine the presence or absence of inflammation.
prevention
Preventing joint disease includes eliminating predisposing factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You need to do the following:
- Engage in moderate physical activity;
- Avoid hypothermia;
- Use chondroprotective agents;
- Avoid heavy physical labor;
- Reduce weight to normal.
Preventive measures will help maintain joint health until old age. Those over 45 years of age or those who actively participate in sports should pay special attention to prevention.
in conclusion
- Shoulder arthropathy is a degenerative disease in which the articular cartilage tissue is gradually destroyed.As a result, the person feels pain and is restricted in movement.
- Treatment of the disease includesUse drugs, perform physical therapy, and perform comprehensive physical therapy exercises.
- Early in the course of the disease, the prognosis of a complete recovery is favorable.
- Prevention can significantly reduce the possibility of shoulder joint arthropathy.