Shoulder osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis of the shoulder)
What is shoulder osteoarthritis?
Shoulder osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis of the shoulder) The most common disease in our joints is osteoarthritis. In everyday language, this is also called wear and tear. The disease is chronic. In all joints in our body there is cartilage, which, among other things, functions as a sliding surface in the joint and facilitates movement. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage gradually breaks down. Some joints are affected more often than others and the most common areas to be affected are the hip, knee and fingers. It is not known for sure why you get this disease. Heredity plays a role, so if your mother or father has osteoarthritis, you run an increased risk of being affected. One-sided strain in, for example, work or strenuous exercise is also a risk factor. Previous fracture or other joint injury such as a dislocated shoulder can increase the risk of developing wear and tear. As you age, it becomes more common to suffer from osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis
-Common symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis are morning stiffness and stiffness upon starting, as well as pain that often decreases once you start moving.
-General stiffness when moving the arm and often pain when straining, especially in the extreme positions. Pain at rest is common.
-In some cases, crepitus occurs in the joint, it "creaks" when you move it.
If you have osteoarthritis, the symptoms can come and go. A period where you are relatively symptom-free can be followed by a period of increased symptoms, which is called a flare-up. How these flare-ups come and how long they last is unpredictable. Sometimes they come for no apparent reason, sometimes they are triggered by putting too much strain on the affected joint.
The story of the experienced discomfort in combination with examination often leads to a relatively certain diagnosis. A regular plain X-ray often shows in these cases lowered articular cartilage and bone deposits in connection with the articular cartilage. Nearby ligaments and muscles can also be affected. However, an X-ray is not necessary to make the diagnosis.
For most people, the problems remain at a manageable level if they take care of their shoulder, preferably with a physiotherapist and doctor as a sounding board. For a smaller number, the problems become too serious and for these there is the option of surgically inserting a prosthesis into the shoulder joint. This is something that is discussed with an orthopedist.
Treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint
Training is the single most important part of the treatment. This is to optimize mobility and load tolerance in the joint. It is important to individually adapt the training so that it does not provoke the joint. We want to challenge the joint but not provoke it. Some pain during ongoing training is okay, as long as it does not lead to increased pain after training is completed. The training can be performed at a training facility or in a home environment.
Manual therapy helps to increase mobility and reduce pain. We often try this initially, in combination with starting exercise.
If the patient is in a lot of pain, the doctor can try treating with anti-inflammatory drugs, which can calm the joint, resulting in reduced pain and improved mobility. Which in turn makes it easier to start exercise rehabilitation.
Prognosis for shoulder osteoarthritis
For most people, the problems remain at a manageable level if they take care of their shoulder, preferably with a physiotherapist and doctor as a sounding board. For a smaller proportion, 15-20 percent of all those affected by osteoarthritis, the problems become too severe and reduce their quality of life, despite exercise and treatment. For these people, there is the option of having a prosthesis surgically inserted into the shoulder joint. This is something that is discussed with an orthopedist. The results after surgery show good pain relief and increased mobility in the shoulder.
