Shoulder arthritis results from a gradual tear and wear to the cartilage in your shoulder joints over time. You may experience intense shoulder pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. The degree of pain varies according to the cartilage loss, which varies from person to person. The risk of cartilage damage increases due to ageing. But young people, especially overhead athletes, may suffer from shoulder arthritis because of shoulder fractures, dislocations, or otherwise injuries.
What Can Be the Probable Causes of Shoulder Arthritis?
Some common causes of the disease shoulder arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease that causes wear and tear in joints)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease that makes the body’s immune system attack the joint and joint lining
- Rotator cuff tear (due to overstretching and repeated overhead activities, the tendons pull away from their tight space)
- Traumatic injury (shoulder dislocation and fracture)
- Avascular necrosis ( injury or disease cuts blood flow to the shoulder)
Watch Out for the Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis
Look at the following symptoms to identify the disease:
- Severe pain while doing day-to-day activities
- Stiffness in shoulders
- Clicking or crackling noises in the shoulder joint
- Trouble in sleeping
The doctors might suggest continuing the non-surgical treatment for three to six months.
What is the Course of Treatment for Shoulder Arthritis?
The treatment suggested by the healthcare professional for shoulder arthritis includes home treatment, medications, or surgery as per the severity of the disease.
Home Treatment
Shoulder arthritis treatment’s first step begins with home-based treatment options. Most of these are 100% safe and non-operative methods that help in coping with the symptoms of the disease. Check out the following home care options:
- Stretch your shoulders to restore motion and efficiency in your shoulders
- Reduce the movements of the shoulder joint. Find alternatives to complete day-to-day activities
- Apply cold or hot pack to reduce inflammation
- Don’t lift heavy objects. If your job demands such tasks, taking a few days off is better.
Medications
Medications that healthcare providers often recommend to the affected patients are:
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation
- Injection- Corticosteroids, PRP and other orthobiologics might be helpful, but in the early stages only
Surgical treatment
If the methods mentioned earlier don’t reduce the pain of shoulder arthritis and the situation becomes worse with intense pain, surgery may be the way forward. Common surgical treatments include:
- Arthroscopy and joint lavage can be done to remove the loose pieces of bones and take out the synovium or the extra tissue overgrown, might give temporary relief
- Joint replacement surgery – total shoulder replacement where the plastic and metal implants replace the damaged or diseased parts in the shoulder joint
- Reverse total shoulder replacement surgery– reverses the position of the humerus ball and the socket wherein the socket is replaced with the metal ball and the native degenerated/ damaged ball is replaced with the socket. It is done for elderly patients with arthritis and patients with non-functioning rotator cuff muscles with arthritis.
Dr Banarji’s Expertise In Helping Patients with Shoulder Arthritis
Dr Banarji BH is a leading orthopaedic surgeon in Bangalore, renowned for his expertise in treating shoulder arthritis. With extensive training and specialisation in shoulder joint replacement surgeries, he consistently delivers top-tier care. Dr Banarji employs innovative techniques and evidence-based practices to manage shoulder arthritis, ensuring optimal patient outcomes. His commitment to excellence and patient-centred approach have established him as a trusted authority in the field, helping patients with shoulder arthritis, from across India and abroad, in regaining mobility and leading a pain-free life.
