Shoulder Arthritis
The two most common types of shoulder arthritis are Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms The most common signs of shoulder arthritis are a stiffness of the shoulder, limited range of motion of the shoulder joint, swelling around the joint area, and pain on moving the shoulder. There may also be a grinding feeling within the joint, or a feeling that something’s ‘catching’. These symptoms can vary in severity and tend to progress as the arthritis become worse. Interestingly though, the symptoms of shoulder arthritis do not always follow a logical progression; they can come and go from one month to another and often appear to be influenced by weather cycles.
Shoulder arthritis tends to be more prevalent in people of middle age, or in those who may have suffered a shoulder injury in the past. It has also been proven that there is a genetic link to arthritis of the shoulder. If you suspect that you may have shoulder arthritis your doctor should send you for an x-ray to confirm this and determine how advanced the disease is.
Treatment
There are various types of treatment for shoulder arthritis, depending on the nature and severity of the condition;
Certain shoulder exercises to strengthen the joint and surrounding areas may prove beneficial. This will also increase muscular strength and maintain the functional use of the joint. You may need to limit some activities that exacerbate the symptoms.
Supplements such as Glucosamine have been known to reduce inflammation and resultant joint pain.
Pain killers such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin may reduce pain and inflammation. You may also be prescribed Anti-Inflammatory Pain Medication (NSAIDS) such as Cox-2 Inhibitors.
Cortisone injections into the affected joint can diminish the symptoms of arthritis, although they are not a cure for the condition.
In certain cases, surgery may be an option. The main types of surgery which may be offered are;
Shoulder Arthroscopy, where the surgeon can look inside the shoulder joint and perform minor corrections.
Shoulder replacement surgery, where the damaged joint is removed and a metal and plastic ball and socket joint is inserted; the ball is placed at the top of the arm bone and the socket in the shoulder blade.
There is another type of shoulder replacement operation known as a Reverse Shoulder Replacement. In this procedure, the insertion of the false ball and socket joint is reversed; the ball is placed upon the shoulder blade and the socket at the top of the arm bone. This gives a greater chance of success if the rotator cuff muscles have been affected by the condition.
Tags: Arthritis in Shoulder, Arthritis Symptoms, Arthritis Treament, Glucosamine, Shoulder Arthritis, Shoulder Pain, Types Of Arthritis
