Shoulder Arthritis
August 31, 2008 · Print This Article
There are two joints in the area of the shoulder. One is located where the collarbone meets the tip of the shoulder bone and is called the acromioclavicular or AC joint. The junction of the upper arm bone with the shoulder blade is called the glenohumeral joint.
To provide good and effective treatment, your physician will need to find out which joint is affected and what type of arthritis you have. Three types of arthritis generally affect the shoulder.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that destroys the smooth outer covering of bone. It normally affects people over fifty years of age and is more common in the AC joint than in the glenohumeral shoulder joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory condition of the joint lining. It can affect people of all ages and usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body.
Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that develops after an injury such as a dislocation or fracture of the shoulder. Arthritis can also develop after a rotator cuff tear.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of arthritis of the shoulder is pain, which is heightened by activity and worsens progressively. If the glenohumeral shoulder joint is affected, the pain is situated in the back of the shoulder and may intensify with changes in the weather. The pain of arthritis of the shoulder in the AC joint is focused on the front of the shoulder. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may have pain in all these areas if both shoulder joints are affected.
Limited motion of the shoulder joints is another symptom. You may hear a clicking or snapping sound (crepitus) as you move your shoulder. It may become more difficult to comb your hair, to lift your arm or reach up to a shelf. As the disease furthers, any movement of the shoulder causes pain. Night pain is common and sleeping may be difficult.
Diagnosis
A physical examination and X-rays are needed to properly diagnose arthritis of the shoulder. During the physical examination, your physician will look for:
• Weakness in the muscles
• Tenderness and sensitivity to touch
• Extent of assisted and self-directed range of motion
• Any signs of injury to the tendons, muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint
• Involvement of other joints
• Creaking with movement
• Pain occurring when pressure is placed on the joint
Arthritis of the shoulder can be confirmed if X-rays of an arthritic shoulder show a narrowing of the joint space, changes in the bone and the formation of bone spurs. If an injection of a local anaesthetic into the joint relieves the pain temporarily, the diagnosis can be confirmed.
Treatment
As with other arthritic conditions, initial treatment of arthritis of the shoulder is quite conservative: Rest or change of activities is suggested to avoid provoking pain - you may need to alter the way you move your arm to do things with your hand.
Taking of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce inflammation is recommended.
Apply ice on the shoulder for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day to reduce inflammation and ease pain. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may recommend a series of corticosteroid injections or prescribe a disease-modifying drug such as methotrexate. The taking of dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may also be helpful.
