Shoulder arthritis is an inflammation of the cartilage within the joint. There are five types of arthritis in the shoulder
- Osteoarthritis which is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint caused by wear-and-tear or degenerative joint disease.
- The other common shoulder arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic condition that causes an inflammation of the lining of a joint. This inflammation can, over time, invade and destroy the cartilage and bone.
- Post-traumatic Arthritis can develop from injuries such as fractures or dislocations of the shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
- Avascular Necrosis
When should I seek further care?
Further care should be sought if pain is aggravated by activity and progressively worsens. If it becomes difficult to lift your arm and do daily activities such as combing your hair or reaching up at a shelf.
Signs & Symptoms
Pain: Most common and likely aggravated by activity and will progressively worsen.
- Pain may be centered in the back of the shoulder.
- Intensifies in pain with changes in the weather
- Ache deep in the joint
- Pain at the top of the shoulder that may radiate or travel to the side of the neck
- General pain throughout the entire shoulder
Limited Range of Motion
- Trouble lifting arm such as to comb your hair or reach up to a shelf
- Grinding, clicking, or snapping sound
- Night Pain and sleeping may be difficult
Diagnosis
Physical Exam will be done as well as gathering a thorough medical history. Your doctor will look for any tenderness or signs of injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the joint. They will also test your strength as well as active and passive range of motion.
An X-ray will be taken to help determine which arthritis you may be suffering from. This will help show your physician if the joint space is narrowing, any changes in the bone, and if there are any formation of bone spurs.
Treatment
Non-operative Shoulder Arthritis Treatment
Surgical
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement Surgery
