Famous for many people, mostly the elderly, is osteoarthritis pain. They are caused by malnutrition, lack of physical activity, stress, heavy exertion and other factors.
Usually, in the elderly and a small percentage of young people, osteoarthritis of the shoulder occurs - a chronic disease that causes severe deformation of the cartilage, as well as adjacent tissues and bones. It is a progressive type and symptoms may not appear for years, then worsen.
The most common symptoms are shoulder pain after a long period of time in low temperatures, as well as after heavy lifting.
Do not self-medicate. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Reason
Shoulder deformity occurs due to an inflammatory process that develops in the joints of the hand. Among the main causes of the onset and development of the disease are:
- trauma (dislocation, bruise, fracture);
- excessive physical activity (tennis players, basketball players);
- Malnutrition;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection in the joint cup.
Shoulder osteoarthritis is accompanied by an inflammatory process. As a result, the cartilage tissue loses its properties and becomes thinner. In addition, the disease in severe cases contributes to deformation and even destruction of cartilage tissue, its penetration into the bone structure.
Signs of illness
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder usually begins to appear in people over 45 years of age, as this is related to age-related body changes. An important role in symptoms is played by what occupation a person belongs to, the lifestyle to which he adheres. Lack of joint fluid is one of the main causes of cartilage destruction.
Symptoms of the disease can manifest in many different ways: at first there is often a slight discomfort or pain in the neck and shoulders if a certain position is lost. Pain when sitting in a different position usually subsides or disappears, however, if the patient does not consult a doctor to treat the initial symptoms, the disease will progress. The nature of the pain that a person with joint disease feels is aching. They are sometimes palpable in the back, elbow, or all over the arm (in the first and second degrees, then they gradually increase).
The intensity of the discomfort may be aggravated by changing weather conditions or constant exertion. Initial grade disease will not bother the patient when the shoulder is at rest. Thereafter, the amount of joint movement is restricted which the patient self-consciously imposes. At this time, articular cartilage is destroyed, bone-forming (bone-building) processes develop, greatly complicating the movement process. At the end of the disease, the patient can raise the arm no more than 90 degrees because the cartilage combines to form bone, making the arm immobile.
Degree of disease
There are 4 degrees of this disease:
- Grade 1 is characterized by minor damage to the cartilage tissue. Patients can sometimes experience discomfort after holding the shoulder for a long time in one position or lifting heavy objects. At this stage, special exercises and diets can treat new symptoms and prevent further episodes;
- Grade 2 is characterized by the appearance of osteoblasts, as well as narrowing of the joint space (shown on x-rays). Pain in this case is more frequent and acute;
- Grade 3 reduces the number of hand movements. An X-ray shows the minimal size of the gap between the shoulder joints. The patient constantly feels pain that does not go away with rest;
- Grade 4 occurs if the patient does not see a specialist in time. At the same time, the fusion of cartilage and bone is detected, rendering the hand immobile.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder has several options, depending on the extent of the disease:
- reconstructive surgery;
- drug treatment;
- physical therapy;
- physical and medical culture complex (LFK);
- traditional medicine;
- diet.
In its early stages, the disease can be successfully treated with steroid and non-steroidal drugs, as well as drugs that reduce blood vessel and muscle constriction. Medicines help patients relieve pain, and at the same time restore damaged cartilage tissue.
If the patient gets to the doctor in time, the doctor can prescribe him a form of exercise therapy. It helps to increase joint mobility. In the early stages, sometimes just performing the exercises prescribed by a specialist is enough, then surgery or taking large amounts of medication is not required.
Treatments called surgery are prescribed by the doctor if conservative methods (exercise, drugs) do not work. The most well-known method by which a shoulder deformity can be cured is an arthroscopy. At the same time, the collapsed joint will be replaced by a modern prosthetic, to perform all the functions of the shoulder joint. Prosthetics are designed for years of work. Surgical intervention is used at the end of the development of the disease, when it makes no sense to treat with other methods.
Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis with folk remedies is not prohibited in principle but must be approved by a doctor. It must also be compatible with other drugs. But do not neglect gymnastics and other exercises. Exercise therapy can be performed during periods of remission, and exacerbations rule out any exercise at all. Wherever the patient finds exercises, before proceeding, he must show them to his doctor, who will confirm or deny their health benefits and treatments. Also contraindications to treatment with gymnastics are fever, lung disease, heart disease and other diseases.
Some of the most effective exercises are:
- In the initial position, the patient's feet are shoulder-width apart, the left arm is raised and flexed at the elbow joint so that the 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 should be repeated 4 times;
- In the initial position, the patient's feet are shoulder-width apart and the arms are along the body. To start, the right hand should rest on the opposite shoulder and vice versa. So a person hugs himself in the shoulder. At the same time, the elbows are kept as high as possible, and the fingers of the person should reach the shoulder blades. This exercise is done 8 times.
Diet
Treatment of the shoulder joint is quite extensive. This also includes diet, since sometimes being overweight puts a great load on the joints. Statistics show that this diet helps to significantly reduce the manifestations of joint disease, as it helps reduce the patient's weight. In addition to overcoming overweight, the diet also needs to pay attention to providing the body with the necessary substances to restore and maintain the elasticity of cartilage.
Experts, to treat degenerative shoulder joint disease, recommend adding slow carbohydrates in your diet, replacing them with fast types. This means that flour products can be eaten, but white flour products (wheat, corn) should be phased out in favor of products made with rye, oatmeal orgrits. In the diet, you should eat enough cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley), which will provide strength and energy, and will nourish cartilage and bones with the necessary trace elements. set.
As for the use of meat in the diet, chicken, rabbit and other low-calorie meats should be included in the diet. Also, avoid high-calorie pork and lamb. Meat and vegetables should be steamed, boiled or stewed, but not fried. You also need to pay attention to legumes, which are a good source of plant protein. Another dietary tip is to use unrefined oil instead of refined oil. Aspic from meat and fish will help restore cartilage and promote their growth.