Shoulder arthritis is a type of ostoearthritis, which affects the ball socket of the shoulders. It is also called tear and wear arthritis or degenerative joint disease characterized by gradual wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. As the protective healthy cartilage surface of the joint is worn away by arthritis, bare bone is exposed causing swelling and pain. However, the other form of arthritis in shoulders is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the joints. This inflammation can cause severe pain and destroy the cartilage, the joints and the bones.
Shoulder arthritis normally affects patients over 40 years of age. It is more common in patients who have a family history of the disease; meaning to say it is genetically inherited. However, it can also be acquire through injury, trauma or accidents. Another factor is due to the process of aging. When a person grows old, the natural lubricating fluid in the ball socket of the shoulder erodes causing stiffness and swelling of the joints.
The most common symptoms of arthritis in shoulders are:
- Pain with Activities – You may experience pain in your shoulder during such activities like lifting or even a normal hand movement.
- Limited motion – Shoulder arthritis affects your mobility or movement.
Treatment for this type of arthritis includes applying oral ointment to massage the affected part. Others use natural herbs as supplements. These herbs such as the black cohosh when taken as a tea along with the ointment can reduce pain and swelling of the joints. In addition here are other type of treatment that is available at present day.
- Anti-Inflammatory Medications – This medication are also known as pain killers. It can reduce the swelling and pain cause by arthritis. Consult your doctor before taking any anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Cortisone injections – This may help decrease the inflammation and reduce paint within the joints. While this condition is not curable, it may lessen the symptoms and help control the pain
Nevertheless, if painkillers, cortisone injection and other medication don’t work, then your last option will be shoulder replacement surgery. It is a procedure that replaces the damage cartilage using a metal and plastic implant. Shoulder arthritis can find relief using reverse shoulder surgery, which is a total replacement of the ball socket in the shoulder.