Well known to many people, particularly the elderly, are joint pain. They are caused by malnutrition, physical inactivity, stress, heavy physical exertion and other factors.
Often, in the elderly and a small percentage of young people, osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint occurs - a chronic disease that causes severe deformation of cartilage, as well as the tissues adjacent to it and bones. It has a progressive type, and symptoms may not appear for years and then get markedly worse.
The most common symptoms are pain in the shoulders after a long stay in cold temperatures, as well as after lifting heavy objects.
Don't self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, see a doctor.
Causes
Deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint occurs due to the inflammation process that develops in the joints of the hands. Among the main causes of the onset and development of the disease are:
- injuries (dislocations, bruises, fractures);
- excessive physical activity (tennis players, basketball players);
- malnutrition;
- the presence of bad habits;
- joint cup infection.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is accompanied by the process of inflammation. As a result, cartilaginous tissue loses its properties and becomes thinner. In addition, the disease in advanced cases contributes to the deformation and even the destruction of cartilaginous tissue, its growth in the bone structure.
signs of illness
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint usually starts to appear in people over the age of 45 as it is associated with age-related changes in the body. An important role in symptoms is played by what profession a person belongs to, what lifestyle he adheres to. Synovial fluid deficiency is one of the main causes of cartilage destruction.
The symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves in different ways: usually at the beginning there is a slight discomfort or pain in the shoulder if it takes a certain position. The pain when taking another position usually subsides or disappears, however, if the patient does not see a doctor to treat the initial symptoms, the disease will progress. The nature of the pain a person experiences with osteoarthritis is painful. Sometimes they are felt in the back, elbows or all over the arm (in the first and second degree, then they intensify).
The intensity of discomfort can be exacerbated by changing weather conditions or the presence of constant physical exertion. The disease in the initial degree will not bother the patient when the shoulder is at rest. Later, there is a limitation on the number of joint movements, which the patient consciously defines. At this time, the cartilage of the joints is destroyed, bone processes (osteophytes) grow, which greatly complicates movement. In the last stage of the disease, the patient can lift the arm no more than 90 degrees, as the cartilage fuses into a bone formation, making it impossible to move the arm.
degrees of disease
There are 4 degrees of this disease:
- Grade 1 is characterized by minor damage to cartilage tissue. The patient can sometimes experience unpleasant pain after holding the shoulder for a long time in one position or lifting heavy objects. At this stage, special exercises and diet can treat emerging symptoms and prevent further stages;
- Grade 2 is characterized by the occurrence of osteophytes as well as narrowing of the joint space (shown on an x-ray). The pain in this case is more frequent and sharp;
- Grade 3 causes a decrease in the number of hand movements. The radiograph shows the minimum size of the opening between the shoulder joints. The patient constantly experiences aching pains that do not go away at rest;
- Grade 4 occurs if the patient does not seek a specialist in time. At the same time, the fusion of cartilaginous and bone processes is detected, which makes hand movement impossible.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint has several options, depending on the severity of the condition:
- prosthetic surgery;
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- medical and physical culture complex (LFK);
- Traditional medicine;
- diet.
At an early stage of development, the disease can be successfully treated with steroidal and non-steroidal drugs, as well as drugs that relieve vascular and muscle spasms. Medications help the patient relieve pain and also restore damaged cartilage tissue.
If the patient goes to the doctor in time, he can prescribe a therapeutic form of gymnastics. Helps increase joint mobility. In the initial phase, sometimes it is enough to perform the exercises prescribed by a specialist, and then there is no need for surgery or taking a large amount of medication.
So-called surgical treatment methods are prescribed by a doctor if conservative methods (gymnastics, medication) have not helped. The most famous method by which deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint can be cured is arthroplasty. At the same time, the collapsed joint will be replaced by a modern prosthesis, designed to perform all the functions of the shoulder joint. The prostheses are designed for several years of work. Surgical intervention is used at the last stage of the development of the disease, when it makes no sense to treat by other methods.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with folk remedies, in principle, is not prohibited, but your doctor must approve it. It must also be compatible with other medications. But do not neglect gymnastics and other exercises. Exercise therapy can be performed in the remission phase, and exacerbation precludes any exercise. Wherever the patient finds the exercises, before proceeding with them, he should show them to his doctor, who will either confirm or deny their benefits to health and treatment. Also contraindications to treatment with gymnastics are fever, lung diseases, heart disease and other diseases.
Some of the most effective exercises are:
- In the starting position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, the left arm comes up and bends at the elbow joint so that your fingers touch the left shoulder blade. The elbow of the hand should look up. The same procedure is repeated with the right hand. In total, the exercise must be repeated 4 times;
- in the starting position, the patient's legs are shoulder-width apart, arms along the body. To begin with, the right hand is placed on the opposite shoulder and vice versa. Thus, a person hugs himself on the shoulders. At the same time, the elbows are kept as high as possible and the person's fingers should reach the shoulder blades. This exercise is performed 8 times.
Diet
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder is quite extensive. This also includes a diet, because sometimes being overweight puts a great strain on the joints. Statistics say that the diet significantly helps to relieve the manifestations of arthrosis, as it helps to reduce the patient's weight. In addition to overcoming excess weight, the diet must also take into account the need to provide the body with the substances necessary to restore and maintain cartilage elasticity.
Experts, to cure deforming osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, recommend including slow carbohydrates in the diet, replacing them with fast ones. This means that flour products can be consumed, but products made from white flour (wheat, corn) should be abandoned in favor of products made from rye, oats or buckwheat flour. In a diet, you should eat enough cereals (oats, buckwheat, pearl barley), which will give strength and energy and nourish cartilage and bones with essential trace elements.
As for the use of meat in the diet, chicken, rabbit and other low-calorie meats must be present in the diet. At the same time, high-calorie pork and lamb should be abandoned. Meat and vegetables should be steamed, boiled or boiled, but not fried. You also need to pay attention to plants in the legume family as a source of vegetable protein. Another diet tip would be to use unrefined oil instead of refined oil. Aspic from meat and fish will help restore cartilage and promote its development.