Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. However, this one symptom is used to describe more than 100 different types of arthritis. One of the more common types is osteoarthritis. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 9% of men and 18% of women suffer from osteoarthritis across the globe. Osteoarthritis is highly prevalent and mostly affects the shoulder joint. Several men and women, worldwide, are living with the symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis.
In this article, Dr Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay, a leading orthopaedic doctor at the CK Birla Hospital, explores what is osteoarthritis of the shoulder?
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Your shoulder is made up of three bones – upper arm bone, shoulder blade and collarbone. These bones make up two joints inside your shoulder:
The ends of your shoulder bones are protected by a smooth white tissue known as articular cartilage.
Osteoarthritis is the degenerative wear and tear of the articular cartilage. Over several years of use, the smooth protective tissue between the bones decreases. As a result, the bones of a joint rub against each other causing pain and swelling.
As the name suggests, osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint is a degenerative joint disease of the shoulder. When this ailment affects the glenohumeral joint, it is known as glenohumeral osteoarthritis shoulder.
Glenohumeral osteoarthritis shoulder is more common and prevalent than arthritis in the acromioclavicular joint.
The primary symptom of osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint is pain. However, shoulder osteoarthritis symptoms are characterised by pain that occurs while moving the shoulder or after you have moved the shoulder.
Other common symptoms of shoulder arthritis include limited or restricted range of motion, a clicking noise while moving the shoulder joint and an increase in pain while sleeping.
As mentioned above, shoulder osteoarthritis is a condition that is caused by the wear and tear of the shoulder joint. Over a span of several years, shoulder arthritis occurs due to overuse or aging. Primarily, osteoarthritis of left shoulder or even the right shoulder happens when the cartilage (soft tissue) in between the bones of the joints begin to break down.
Shoulder arthritis is highly common in people over the age of 50 years. However, it can also affect younger people. Mostly, in young people, this ailment is a result of injury or trauma, for example, shoulder dislocation or fracture.
It is evident that no person is exempt from developing osteoarthritis. However, the risk for osteoarthritis of right shoulder or left increases due to:
Your orthopaedic doctor will conduct a few tests to diagnose osteoarthritis of left shoulder or osteoarthritis of right shoulder. Before a shoulder osteoarthritis treatment is offered, it is important to draw a thorough diagnosis. Here is what the diagnosis protocol entails:
After the diagnosis is complete, your doctor offers the right shoulder osteoarthritis treatment depending on your overall wellbeing, age and health.
Shoulder osteoarthritis treatment is unique for every patient. Several factors such as your overall general health, age, past medical records, the severity of symptoms and more determine which treatment is ideal for you.
Here are some common methods of shoulder osteoarthritis treatment:
Osteoarthritis shoulder replacement is also known as shoulder arthroplasty. It is a partial or total invasive procedure and is often recommended as a last resort for advanced arthritis. Osteoarthritis shoulder surgery recovery time is nearly 3-6 weeks.
Another treatment procedure is stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis of the shoulder. It is a fairly new method that involves the use of stem cells (building blocks of human tissue) for the treatment of arthritis.
As mentioned above, the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in human body. Due to its excessive use over the years, nearly everyone is at a risk of developing an arthritic condition concerning the shoulder.
Shoulder osteoarthritis is a common ailment that affects several people in India. Despite its rising figures, the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder is accessible.
Book an appointment with Dr Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay, a leading orthopaedic doctor at the CK Birla Hospital to learn more about treatment methods for shoulder conditions.
Ques: Is osteoarthritis of the shoulder common?
Ans: Yes, osteoarthritis of the shoulder is the most common form of arthritis affecting the shoulder.
Ques: What does osteoarthritis of the shoulder feel like?
Ans: Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is characterised by pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced range of motion of the shoulder.
Ques: Can shoulder osteoarthritis be cured?
Ans: No, there is no cure for shoulder osteoarthritis. However, this ailment can be treated effectively to relieve symptoms and improve strength.
Ques: What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?
Ans: There are several treatment methods for osteoarthritis. The best treatment for each patient is distinct and depends upon their health, symptoms and age.
Also, read: What is frozen shoulder? Causes, prevention and treatment
