Many people, especially young adults, experience shoulder inflammation or pain for multiple reasons. In medical terms, it is called shoulder arthritis, a painful condition that hinders the regular functioning of the shoulder. Knowing shoulder arthritis symptoms is essential to getting the proper treatment for long-term benefits.  So, let’s examine arthritis treatment, symptoms, and types to understand them better. This information can help you potentially screen the condition early and treat the symptoms with lifestyle modifications and medical management.

What is Shoulder Arthritis?

Shoulder arthritis is damage to the cartilage within the shoulder joint. Every human being has two joints in the shoulder. The larger ball-and-socket joint known as the glenohumeral joint—named after the two bones it links, the glenoid and humerus—is often associated with shoulder arthritis. Both the ball and the socket are covered in cartilage. Shoulder arthritis arises from the surface, and deeper layers of the shoulder cartilage break down. Another type of arthritis, AC joint arthritis, can affect the acromioclavicular, or AC, joint, which is the second joint in the shoulder.

How Does Shoulder Arthritis Develop?

Most cases of shoulder arthritis are caused by the cartilage gradually deteriorating. Every joint in the body has cartilage, which functions as Teflon covering the surface of the underlying bones. Cartilage is a living tissue between two and three millimetres thick. It results in gentler bone-to-bone contact. Due to the cartilage wearing down over time, the patient may feel pain during everyday activities such as while lifting large objects, playing sports, or engaging in other activities. Now that you know how this condition develops, let’s review the various symptoms of shoulder arthritis.

What are the Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis?

Different people may face various types of shoulder arthritis symptoms. This includes-

• Feeling Pain in the Shoulder Joint: This is the most typical symptom. Initially, shoulder pain could be limited to activities. As it progresses, you will feel the pain with or without arm movement at any time of day. When you lift any heavy goods or after working out, your pain could get worse. If your arthritis is severe, the discomfort could radiate down your arm and possibly to your wrist or elbow.
   
• Loss of Range of Motion and Stiffness: You can have both of these symptoms in your shoulder. Due to these symptoms, daily activities, including getting dressed, taking a shower, driving, or performing chores, may become challenging.
   
• Grinding and Cracking: Your shoulder joint may grind or crack due to cartilage loss, leaving an uneven surface. This can lead to pain and the sound of cracking when you move your arms. You must get medical checkups if you are experiencing this symptom.
   
• Sleep Deprivation: Though it is not directly related, sleep deprivation is caused by the pain and discomfort patients experience due to shoulder arthritis. In such situations, finding a comfortable sleeping posture can be challenging. To aid the sleep problems due to shoulder arthritis, doctors can recommend you to sleep on a recliner.

Different Types of Arthritis in Shoulder

There are different types of arthritis in shoulder a person may face. Here’s a detailed look at the various important shoulder arthritis types.

Osteoarthritis

One of the most prevalent forms of arthritis affecting the shoulder is osteoarthritis. This kind of arthritis is sometimes called "wear-and-tear" because it frequently develops with ageing and results in gradual wear of the protective cartilage. The cushion that kept the joints from rubbing against one another is gone as the cartilage disappears, leading to the bones grinding against one another and bone loss.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It falls under the autoimmune disease category, where the body's defence mechanism attacks healthy tissues. When you have rheumatoid arthritis in your shoulder, your immune system targets the joint and its lining, which causes the lining to expand. The cartilage gradually suffers damage from the illness, leading to cartilage and bone loss.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

The rotator cuff is a collection of four tendons surrounding your shoulder joint that help stabilise the joint. Rotator cuff rips, or tearing of these tendons, typically manifest as gradual wearing and fraying over time. In some instances, these tears may gradually enlarge to the point where the humeral head moves out of alignment and grinds on other shoulder bones, causing arthritis and cartilage degradation.

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis results in the loss of a portion of the shoulder's "ball." Disease or trauma stops the blood supply to the bone. Without bone support, the cartilage deteriorates, and the shoulder joint finally disintegrates. This is a rare condition that requires emergency medical treatment.

Trauma in the shoulder

Any kind of trauma to the shoulder's bones, such as a dislocation, fracture, or decisive blow, might harm the cartilage surface. If not treated in a timely manner, this can lead to shoulder arthritis in the future.

Different Types of Shoulder Arthritis Treatment

Once the surgeon diagnoses your condition as shoulder arthritis, you have various choices in terms of treatment options. Here are some of the shoulder arthritis treatment options commonly offered at MASSH.

Performing Exercises

Non-operative/therapeutic treatment is the first line of treatment for shoulder arthritis. The surgeon would recommend you visit a therapist, who will explain specific shoulder exercises. The aim is to stop the pain from worsening if your range of motion is not compromised. Arthritis-related shoulder joint mobility loss is gradual and might be challenging to detect. The discomfort and the joint's ability to move freely may worsen as it becomes more rigid. The best treatment is to stretch for two to three minutes each day.

Change in your Lifestyle!

The best treatment is to avoid lifting heavy items that cause shoulder pain within limits. You should avoid anything that hurts significantly, even if it interferes with your life. If your shoulder pain keeps you awake at night and lasts for several days, you should check with your doctor and find creative solutions to continue working on that activity while undergoing treatment.

Shoulder Replacement

If the shoulder pain doesn't subside, the surgeon will recommend shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure is comparable to a hip or knee replacement. Surgeons use plastic and metal implants to create joint surfaces during this process. When significant cartilage degradation has harmed the ball or socket surfaces, a modified total shoulder replacement is used. This treatment is also known as hemiarthroplasty. In total shoulder replacements, the surgical team removes the patient's arthritic shoulder ball and replaces it with a metal prosthetic ball through an incision along the shoulder's surface. This is one of the most effective treatment options for all types of shoulder arthritis.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the various shoulder arthritis treatment options make sure you discuss them with your doctors, and based on the disease progression, choose the option that suits you most. For more information about shoulder arthritis and its treatment options, please visit MASSH. We offer world-class, minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat shoulder arthritis. The surgeries are highly effective at MASSH, focusing on keeping them affordable and risk-free for patients. Check out our website to learn more about shoulder arthritis treatment at MASSH, or visit us today to consult with our specialists.