Arthritis of the Shoulder
Shoulder arthritis is basically a degeneration of the joint. It can be caused from by known causes of joint degeneration from use, trauma and even inflammatory type processes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis in the shoulder is not as prevalent as it is in the hip or knee joint, only because humans walk and weight bear on their feet and their legs rather than their arms. It’s most common in people over the age of 60, although it’s found in younger patients who do extreme sports.
Types & Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis
The five most common types of arthritis to affect the shoulder are:
- Osteoarthritis. Also referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis, it destroys the articular cartilage of bone.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. This common, chronic disease attacks multiple joints throughout the body.
- Avascular necrosis. This painful condition occurs when the blood supply to the head of the humerus is cut off.
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy. This can occur if you have an ongoing rotator cuff tendon tear.
- Posttraumatic arthritis. Patients can develop this type of arthritis after an injury to the shoulder.
Both the acromioclavicular (AC) joint (where the clavicle meets the tip of the shoulder blade) and the glenohumeral joint (where the head of the humerus fits into the scapula) can be affected by arthritis. Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. To make a diagnosis, your physician will probably recommend an x-ray.
Treatment of Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis can often be treated non-surgically. Non-surgical shoulder arthritis treatments include:
- Rest
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Physiotherapy to improve range of motion
- Corticosteroid injections
- Heat and cold therapy
- Disease-modifying drugs
If your arthritis pain doesn’t respond to non-surgical options, your physician or orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. Milder cases of shoulder arthritis may be treated with arthroscopy, which involves the surgeon inserting a small camera into the shoulder joint to display pictures on a TV screen. The surgeon is able to use tiny surgical instruments to repair the joint, making shoulder arthroscopy a minimally-invasive procedure. If your shoulder arthritis is more severe, you may require a shoulder joint replacement, during which the surgeon removes damaged parts of the shoulder and replaces them with an artificial prosthesis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
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The five most common types of arthritis to affect the shoulder are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy and posttraumatic arthritis.
-
Both the acromioclavicular (AC) joint (where the clavicle meets the tip of the shoulder blade) and the glenohumeral joint (where the head of the humerus fits into the scapula) can be affected by arthritis
-
Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. To make a diagnosis, your physician will probably recommend an x-ray.
-
Non-surgical shoulder arthritis treatments include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, heat and cold therapy and disease-modifying drugs.
-
If your arthritis pain doesn’t respond to non-surgical options, your physician or orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. Milder cases of shoulder arthritis may be treated with arthroscopy, while more severe cases may require a shoulder joint replacement.
Diseases
Medications
Additional Care
Arthritis of the Shoulder
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Information - Arthritis of the Shoulder
Shoulder arthritis is basically a degeneration of the joint. It can be caused from by known causes of joint degeneration from use, trauma and even inflammatory type processes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis in the shoulder is not as prevalent as it is in the hip or knee joint, only because humans walk and weight bear on their feet and their legs rather than their arms. It’s most common in people over the age of 60, although it’s found in younger patients who do extreme sports.
Types & Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis
The five most common types of arthritis to affect the shoulder are:
- Osteoarthritis. Also referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis, it destroys the articular cartilage of bone.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. This common, chronic disease attacks multiple joints throughout the body.
- Avascular necrosis. This painful condition occurs when the blood supply to the head of the humerus is cut off.
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy. This can occur if you have an ongoing rotator cuff tendon tear.
- Posttraumatic arthritis. Patients can develop this type of arthritis after an injury to the shoulder.
Both the acromioclavicular (AC) joint (where the clavicle meets the tip of the shoulder blade) and the glenohumeral joint (where the head of the humerus fits into the scapula) can be affected by arthritis. Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. To make a diagnosis, your physician will probably recommend an x-ray.
Treatment of Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis can often be treated non-surgically. Non-surgical shoulder arthritis treatments include:
- Rest
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Physiotherapy to improve range of motion
- Corticosteroid injections
- Heat and cold therapy
- Disease-modifying drugs
If your arthritis pain doesn’t respond to non-surgical options, your physician or orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. Milder cases of shoulder arthritis may be treated with arthroscopy, which involves the surgeon inserting a small camera into the shoulder joint to display pictures on a TV screen. The surgeon is able to use tiny surgical instruments to repair the joint, making shoulder arthroscopy a minimally-invasive procedure. If your shoulder arthritis is more severe, you may require a shoulder joint replacement, during which the surgeon removes damaged parts of the shoulder and replaces them with an artificial prosthesis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
-
The five most common types of arthritis to affect the shoulder are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy and posttraumatic arthritis.
-
Both the acromioclavicular (AC) joint (where the clavicle meets the tip of the shoulder blade) and the glenohumeral joint (where the head of the humerus fits into the scapula) can be affected by arthritis
-
Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. To make a diagnosis, your physician will probably recommend an x-ray.
-
Non-surgical shoulder arthritis treatments include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, heat and cold therapy and disease-modifying drugs.
-
If your arthritis pain doesn’t respond to non-surgical options, your physician or orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. Milder cases of shoulder arthritis may be treated with arthroscopy, while more severe cases may require a shoulder joint replacement.