The degeneration of connective tissue and cartilage ultimately leads to the development of a chronic disease characterized by an undulating process known as arthropathy. It turns out that shoulder joint arthropathy is a disease of the shoulder joint pocket tissue. A distinguishing feature of the disease is thought to be extremely slow progression. Therefore, the patient does not notice the development of the pathological process. The shoulder joint is one of the most flexible joints with a great range of motion. But this makes it one of the most traumatic joints along with the forearm joint. Even minor mechanical damage can lead to the development of the disease.
Causes of joint disease
The cause of the development of the disease is the natural wear and tear of connective tissue, inflammation and salt deposition of various etiologies. In addition, there are many factors that can also contribute to the development of a pathological process in which cartilage tissue thins and loses its smoothness.
Classification of joint diseases
The disease has a conditional classification - it is primary and secondary arthropathy.
Primary arthropathy develops over time in the course of natural changes in the joints without any apparent cause. Minor - the result of a limb injury. Type II arthropathy is more common in middle-aged and young adults. In older adults, mixed disease is most commonly identified. The development of a primary disease may lead to:
- A genetic disorder that causes premature destruction of connective tissue and the development of disease at a young age. Mostly, shoulder osteoarthritis occurs in women with genetic dysfunction.
- Congenital defects of the joints, leading to increased trauma to them.
The underlying causes of the development of the second group of diseases include the following reasons.
- Mechanical damage and herbs for the hand. These include dislocations, broken bones, and severe bruising. Sprains can also trigger the disease.
- Osteoarthritis can be called an occupational disease of construction workers and all those with a major workload.
- The etiology of arthropathy is thought to be advanced rheumatoid arthritis.
- Mechanical injury invariably affects nerve fibers and blood supply, resulting in decreased proper nutrition of the tissues, resulting in post-traumatic arthropathy.
- Violation of the endocrine system, metabolic processes. The unstable work of the endocrine system leads to a decrease in the supply of essential nutrients to organs and tissues, which in turn negatively affects joint mobility and leads to its deformation.
- During menopause, cartilage tissue begins to gradually break down due to a decrease in female hormones. Autoimmune diseases such as gout or psoriasis are also thought to be catalysts for the development of joint disease.
- Diseases of the heart and vascular system of the body largely affect the active destruction of the shoulder joint pocket. For example, varicose veins can cause slowed blood flow through the blood vessels, which can significantly affect the nutrition of the tissues, which can lead to joint degeneration.
Traumatologists always warn that if the dislocation is not timely or lacks proper treatment in the future, it will inevitably lead to the development of arthropathy. This is because the bones grow together and the joints lose mobility.
course of disease
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder begins with gradual changes in the cartilage tissue. Due to injury or other reasons, the blood supply to the connective tissue is reduced, resulting in thinning of the cartilage, changes to its exterior, reduction of the synovium, and the appearance of salt deposits. This results in a reduced range of motion and discomfort in the area.
symptoms of disease
The clinical manifestations of arthropathy manifest gradually, and as a result, many people fail to notice the initial stages of the disease and miss the opportunity for rapid remission of the disease.
Symptoms of arthritis include:
- Shoulder, collarbone, and shoulder blade pain. Pain can manifest during rest and activity load.
- First, a quieter one, then the crackle of the joints.
- Decreased motor activity of the limbs.
- Painful response of joints to changing weather conditions.
- Small swelling may occur in the affected joint area.
- Complete loss of mobility due to joint ossification, a symptom observed in the most severe stages of the disease.
Degree of arthropathy of the shoulder joint
The stages of development of the disease are clearly classified. Four stages of arthropathy progression have been identified.
1st degree arthropathy
The onset of pathological development is characterized by mild pain in the shoulder morning and evening. There is a decrease in exercise activity in the morning, which disappears after a while. There is a slight stiffness of movement. Shooting pain may occur after prolonged active weight-bearing rest. A barely audible crunch can be noticed without pain as the hand works on the shoulder joint. Persistent pain occurs only during physical exertion and disappears with rest. The onset of the disease is not always diagnosed with the aid of X-rays, as the images show only the appearance of small salt deposits and a slight narrowing of the synovium.
Arthropathy 2 degrees
At this stage of disease development, motor activity is significantly reduced. Joint tightening becomes apparent during exercise, and pain symptoms are acute and permanent. The joints can still move, but the mechanism of movement has changed significantly. During exercise, the pain becomes more severe and persistent. During the development of 2nd degree arthropathy, the patient will not be left with a persistent feeling of fatigue. Pain in the shoulder is associated with significant changes in the thickness of the interosseous membrane. X-ray images show that the synovial space is several times thinner than normal. In addition, the joints are significantly deformed, making it impossible to perform strenuous physical work. The area of salt mines is getting bigger and bigger.
3rd degree arthropathy
This stage of the disease is characterized by a marked loss of motor activity, up to small-amplitude oscillatory movements. The pain becomes constant and its characteristics change from painful to sharp. This is due to spasms of the muscles around the joints. The bones of the joints become inflamed and sensitive to changing weather conditions. The hallmark of this degree of arthropathy is a creaking noise that can be heard by others on the slightest movement of the hand. On X-ray, the interosseous membrane had almost completely disappeared, with obvious salt deposits along the edges. The deformation of the tissue was so great that it caused great difficulty in moving until it disappeared completely. Third degree arthropathy is the cause of disability due to loss of limb ability.
4 stages of development of joint disease
At this stage of the disease, movement is completely lost and joints are completely deformed. It is accompanied by constant excruciating pain that cannot be suppressed by the medication. On an x-ray, fusion of the joint bones - the appearance of ankylosis or pseudoarthrosis - a new joint is noted. This form of disease always results in disability. The only treatment is to replace the joint with an artificial one through surgery.
Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Arthropathy
The initial diagnosis is based on joint range of motion tests and the description of symptoms in the patient's speech. For damage or rebuttal, X-ray inspection is prescribed. At the initial stage, slight salt deposition was noticed, and the deformation of the joint was not fixed. In the complex stages of the disease, the X-ray images adequately reflect the degree of connective tissue destruction and the affected joint area.
To make an accurate diagnosis in the initial stages, doctors may prescribe additional tests, such as a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging with or without contrast.
Be sure to do a biochemical blood test to determine the level of urate.
Treatment of Shoulder Osteoarthritis
The golden rule that prevention is easier than cure also applies in this case. But if the disease has already begun to progress, it is mainly complex treatments that are started on time. The nature of the disease is incurable, but the risk of its development can be significantly reduced.
early treatment
In the first stages of the development of the disease, chondroprotective agents are prescribed, which accelerate the process of regeneration of cartilage tissue and vitamin-mineral complexes, which increase the amount of essential trace elements in the tissues around the joints.
To relieve symptoms, the patients were put on a diet, and it was strictly forbidden to eat salty, pickled foods, various canned foods and bacon. It is recommended to eat as many vegetables and fruits as possible.
Doctors must prescribe creams and gels that not only relieve pain but also help restore the connective tissue of the joint.
Physiotherapy exercises are very important in the treatment of 1st degree arthropathy. A medical patch is recommended to be applied to the affected joint.
Treatment of Stage 2 Arthropathy
At this stage, pain syndrome needs to be relieved, complete or partial ridding of inflammatory lesions. In such cases, nonsteroidal drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation.
As in the first case, chondroprotective agents are mandatory. Hyaluronic acid is part of these drugs, which speed up the tissue repair process. A strict diet is mandatory, excluding all foods that contribute to the development of the disease.
In addition to medication, regular physical education is also necessary. Physical therapy is an invaluable aid in the treatment of joint disease. The simplest but most effective treatments are prescribed, such as ultrasound therapy of the affected joint, electrophoresis, point laser impact on the bones of the shoulder joint.
In addition, mud baths, massages and traditional medicines are recommended to activate the recovery process. These measures can significantly slow the progression of the disease.
Treatment of Stage 3 Disease
Treatment at this stage is a set of pain relief measures, for which they inject corticosteroids into the joints. The number of blockades per year should not exceed 4.
Therapeutic measures aim to activate the tissue repair process and slow down the destruction process. For this purpose, chondroprotective agents and drugs to improve blood circulation are prescribed.
Physical therapy and physical therapy exercises are also recommended. Requires a strict diet that does not include food or high-acid foods.
Treatment of 4th degree arthropathy
The disease can only be treated by surgical methods, replacing the joints with artificial joints. The most common are ceramic, titanium and plastic prostheses. Medical methods, as well as physical therapy, do not bring any results.
Healing with folk methods
Active use of traditional medical methods in the initial stages of the disease. Herbal tinctures, various compresses, rubs, homemade ointments are widely used.
Folk remedies provide only additional pain relief, no healing effects have been observed. Treatment measures are prescribed only by a specialist, who also controls their implementation.
Compresses made from oatmeal, cabbage juice or honey are widely available. Alcoholic tinctures are prepared on the rhizomes of Inula and Golden Beard, Lilac and Angelica.
A herbal bath is recommended as a warming program. For this, take hay meal, mint, burdock root, mustard seed.
The ointment is made with vanilla sweet clover, hops, St. John's wort based on cosmetic petrolatum.
which doctor treats arthritis
Orthopedic surgeons deal with joint disease, but additional tests may be performed by trauma surgeons when determining the underlying cause of disease development. Because it is the clarification of the cause of the disease that allows us to prescribe the most correct treatment.