Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (another name - omarthrosis) is a disease characterized by damage to the joint in this area. The damaged joint is gradually destroyed, providing the patient with not only pain, but also significantly limits the movement of the hand as a whole.
Doctors recommend treating the initial stages of the disease at home, the consumption of a large amount of medicines has a detrimental effect on the body, while folk remedies show excellent results without causing side effects. It is about home methods of fighting the disease which will be discussed further.
Causes of the disease
In most cases, the elderly suffer from osteoarthritis. According to statistics, about 10% of people under 65 suffer from a disease, in patients over 75 the incidence of osteoarthritis is about 90%. Appearance is associated with age-related changes in tissues, cartilage, wear of the joints.
Doctors identify several possible causes of shoulder osteoarthritis:
- genetic factor. Scientists are inclined to believe that some people who have relatives with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joints are susceptible to a similar disorder many times more than people who do not have such family ties;
- Autoimmune Diseases. The body's defenses are a complex system, failures in its work result in the aggressive destruction of its own cells, including joints;
- excessive physical activity. The disease is often the result of professional sports activities;
- various injuries. Even small damage over time can lead to disastrous consequences;
- circulatory disorders. Lack of nutrients adversely affects the functioning of the joint;
- old age. Older people more often than others suffer from disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the physiological aging process, the exhaustion of the joints.
Important!Whatever the reason for the appearance of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, immediately cope with the problem. Neglected cases do not lend themselves to conservative methods, surgical intervention is required.
Characteristic signs and symptoms
The progression of disease symptoms can take years or even decades, but eventually osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint leads to inability to move the arm and severe pain.
The clinical picture of arthrosis of the shoulder joint appears gradually. The course of the disease is long, at the beginning of its development, the patient may feel nothing or the symptoms are successfully masked by simple fatigue.
If you notice any of the symptoms described below, visit a doctor, deal with the problem immediately.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is most often indicated by the following signs:
- ache. It is usually boring, the attacks are felt at night or after physical exertion. Sometimes the pain syndrome manifests itself during a sharp change in weather conditions;
- characteristic crunchiness. It is associated with the deposition of salts in the diseased joint. Initially, the sound is quiet, with time it becomes distinct, accompanied by pain;
- difficulty with motor function. It is difficult for patients to cope with daily duties, over time it becomes more difficult to move the shoulder;
- swelling. It is the result of the inflammatory process, the beginning of the course of arthrosis. There is also a hardening of the joint, a slight redness of the skin around it.
Home treatment methods
How and how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint? The initial stages of the disease are amenable to home therapy. First of all, be sure to consult with an experienced specialist, follow his advice. You can independently resort to special methods that are used as an auxiliary therapy for drug treatment, physiotherapy.
There are many different techniques that quickly cope with the pain syndrome, speed up the healing process and restore the mobility of the diseased joint. The required course of home therapy is selected individually by an experienced specialist. Doctors do not recommend making such decisions on your own.
Gymnastics
Special exercises are aimed at training the muscles, restoring the motor activity of the injured shoulder. All manipulations are carried out after consulting a doctor. To achieve the desired result, follow special rules:
- the savings scheme is a prerequisite;
- exercise regularly. Only 10 minutes a day dedicated to gymnastics pay off with interest;
- during exercise, relax the muscles as much as possible, this aspect will avoid injuries and micro-damage to the joints;
- the low frequency of movements will provide a quick result without injury;
- amplitude of the oscillation - small (for safety reasons);
- gradually increase the load;
- pain is an alarming sign. It is forbidden to drink painkillers for gymnastics. Take care of the sore joint, do not overload it;
- do all the manipulations in front of the mirror. Then you can control the desired shoulder lift without exceeding the specified limit;
- almost all exercises are performed in a sitting or lying position. An excellent option is water gymnastics, so the load is removed from the sore joint, training is extremely beneficial.
All of the above recommendations help to correctly perform gymnastics and exercises for the treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, preventing re-injury of the diseased area. Regular exercises will give ease of movement, return to a normal lifestyle.
Approximate training scheme (specific exercises should be discussed with the doctor):
- sit on the sofa, gradually lower and shrug your shoulders, the width should not exceed 2 centimeters. Do not try to move only the sore shoulder, there is a high probability of damage to it, do all exercises symmetrically;
- sit on a flat surface, lightly rest your palms on your knees, begin to slowly swing your shoulders back and forth. Make sure that the work is done with the shoulder blades and shoulder joint, it is not recommended to move your hands too much;
- slowly rotate the shoulders clockwise and against for two minutes, the range of motion should not exceed two centimeters;
- sit on a chair, put your palms on your knees. Start moving back, gradually bending your elbows, while you shouldn't take your palms off your knees. Repeat the exercise 20 times, start with 10 repetitions;
- place your palms on the back of your head, cross your arms. Gently bring and spread your elbows, do manipulations to a bearable pain, it is strictly forbidden to exert yourself excessively;
- put your feet shoulder-width apart, take a small weight in your hand with a sore joint (a bottle of water or a dumbbell weighing 0. 5 kg is fine). Lean forward slightly, start swinging the weight with your hand, if the sensations are acceptable, then make circular movements, developing the sore joint.
The above exercises are simple, do not require special physical training and can be performed by patients of any age. If any manipulation leads to unbearable pain, give up gymnastics, visit a doctor, perhaps the situation is so neglected that conservative methods do not have the desired effect.
Folk remedies and recipes
Traditional remedies for the treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint, which have long been used by healers, can still be used today, but only in addition to the treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Natural remedies sometimes provide better analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects than conventional medications.
But it is impossible to completely refuse the taking of drugs, the orthopedist will tell you the basic rules for the use of folk remedies.
A large selection of recipes will allow you to choose the ideal medicine for yourself for the treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies:
- high efficiency is shown by ointment based on propolis. Take 50 grams of pork fat, add three grams of propolis. Mix the finished mass well, use it as a treatment and prevention (immediately after serious physical exertion);
- the presence of an allergy to bee products forces patients with arthrosis of the shoulder joint to use an ointment based on medicinal herbs, for example, sweet clover, St. John's wort. Take 50 grams of petroleum jelly as a base, add 10 grams of each herbal component. Lubricate the affected area with the drug received every day before bedtime, the duration of the course of therapy is determined by the attending physician;
- oat pack. It has long been used to treat joint diseases of varying severity. Boil 30 grams of flakes in 400 ml of water, evenly distribute the cooled mass on the sore spot, first resting it on clean gauze. The duration of the procedure is 40 minutes, then the compress is removed, the shoulder is washed with warm water;
- excellent results are shown by rubbing with alcoholic tinctures. Take 50 grams of dried elecampane roots, pour 125 ml of vodka. Rub the resulting dye into damaged areas of the shoulder up to five times a day. In addition to the analgesic effect, the remedy improves blood circulation, restores the supply of nutrients to the correct level, which starts the regenerative processes in the joint;
- cabbage juice. Cabbage has long coped with pain in the joints, attach a vegetable leaf to the sore joint, first lightly beat it with a kitchen hammer until the healing juice is released. A useful compress is performed at night, regular procedures cope even with severe pain, relieve the condition in advanced cases.
Massage therapy
Self-massage improves blood flow, restores the motor function of the affected shoulder. Light stroking, kneading, shaking are allowed. Strong movements are excluded, feel for yourself the boundary between a useful massage and harm to health. The best option is preliminary training with an experienced specialist. In advanced stages, such a technique is prohibited, incorrect movement can cause irreparable harm to the patient's health.
Special diet and nutritional rules
Nutrition plays an important role in strengthening the joints, initiating the regeneration of cartilage tissues. Lean on fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meats, legumes, fish. Eliminate the intake of fatty foods, salty foods, fast foods and carbonated drinks in the body. Give up semi-finished products, these products contain a lot of fats that adversely affect the general condition of a person.
Eating the right diet helps to reduce weight, which reduces the load on the musculoskeletal system. An important role is played by the use of fermented milk products, the active ingredients contained in them saturate the bones with minerals and vitamins, strengthening the patient's joints. Proper nutrition has a beneficial effect on the work of all human organs and systems.
Osteoarthritis most often occurs against the background of age-related changes in the shoulder joint. It is impossible to stop the aging process, but it is possible to slow it down. Moderate physical activity, proper nutrition, regular examination by a therapist or orthopedist will reduce the chances of osteoarthritis or delay its onset for some time.
Avoid injuries, practice softly, control your feelings. Any unpleasant symptoms are a signal to go to the doctor. A disorder detected in a timely manner responds well to treatment, it is possible to preserve the joint, which provides painless movement of the shoulder. Take care of your health, take care of the musculoskeletal system.