Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (other name: omarthrosis) is a disease characterized by damage to the joint in this area. The damaged joint is gradually destroyed, giving the patient not only pain, but also significantly restricting the movement of the hand as a whole.
Doctors recommend treating the initial stages of the disease at home, the consumption of a large number of drugs has a detrimental effect on the body, while folk remedies show excellent results without causing side effects. These are the home methods to combat the disease that will be discussed further.
Causes of the disease
In most cases, the elderly suffer from osteoarthritis. According to statistics, around 10% of people under 65 years of age suffer from an ailment; in patients older than 75 years, the incidence of osteoarthritis is approximately 90%. The appearance is associated with age-related changes in tissues, cartilage, wear and tear of the joints.
Doctors identify several possible causes of osteoarthritis of the shoulder:
- genetic factor. Scientists tend to believe that some people who have relatives with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joints are susceptible to a similar ailment many times more than people who do not have such family ties;
- Autoimmune diseases. The body's defenses are a complex system, failures in their work provoke an aggressive destruction of their own cells, including the joints;
- excessive physical activityThe disease is usually the result of professional sports activities;
- various injuries. Even small damages over time can have disastrous consequences;
- circulatory disorders. Lack of nutrients negatively affects the functioning of the joint;
- advanced age. Older people suffer more often than other ailments of the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the physiological aging process, the exhaustion of the joints.
Important!Whatever the reason for the development of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, address the problem immediately. 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 ultimately osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint leads to the inability to move the arm and severe pain.
The clinical picture of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint appears gradually. The course of the disease is long, at the beginning of its development, the patient may not feel anything, or the symptoms are successfully disguised as simple fatigue.
If you notice any of the symptoms described below, visit a doctor and address the problem immediately.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is usually indicated by the following signs:
- pain. It is usually deaf, the attacks are felt at night or after physical exertion. Sometimes the pain syndrome manifests itself during a sharp change in weather conditions;
- characteristic crunch. It is associated with the deposition of salts in the diseased joint. Initially, the sound is silent, with time it becomes different, accompanied by pain;
- difficulties with motor function. It is difficult for patients to cope with daily tasks, 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 osteoarthritis. There is also a stiffening of the joint, a slight reddening 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. In advance, be sure to consult with an experienced specialist, follow his recommendations. You can independently resort to special methods that are used as auxiliary therapy for drug treatment, physiotherapy.
There are many different techniques that quickly cope with pain syndrome, speed up the healing process, and restore mobility to the diseased joint. The required course of home therapy is individually selected by an experienced specialist. Doctors do not recommend making these decisions yourself.
Gymnastics
Special exercises are aimed at training the muscles, restoring the motor activity of the injured shoulder. All manipulations are carried out after consultation with a doctor. To get the desired result, follow special rules:
- the conservative regime is a prerequisite;
- exercising regularly. Just 10 minutes a day dedicated to gymnastics will pay off with interest;
- during exercise relax the muscles to the maximum, this aspect will avoid injuries and micro-damage of the joints;
- the low frequency of movements will provide a fast result without injuries;
- amplitude of oscillation - small (for safety reasons);
- gradually increase the load;
- pain is an alarming sign. It is forbidden to drink pain relievers for gymnastics. Take good care of the sore joint, do not overload it;
- do all the manipulations in front of the mirror. So that you can control the desired shoulder lift without exceeding the specified limit;
- Almost all exercises are done in a sitting or lying position. An excellent option is water gymnastics, therefore, the load is removed from the sore joint, training is extremely beneficial.
All the above recommendations help to correctly perform gymnastics and exercises for the treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint and prevent re-injury of the diseased area. Regular exercises will give you ease of movement and you will return to a normal lifestyle.
Rough training scheme (you should discuss specific exercises with your doctor):
- Sit on the sofa, gradually lower and raise your shoulders, the breadth should not exceed 2 centimeters. Do not try to move only the sore shoulder, there is a high probability that it will be damaged, do all the exercises symmetrically;
- Sit on a flat surface, rest your palms lightly on your knees, slowly begin to rock your shoulders back and forth. Make sure the work is done with the shoulder blades and shoulder joint, it is not recommended to move your hands too much;
- slowly turn your shoulders clockwise and counter-clockwise for two minutes, the range of motion should not exceed two centimeters;
- Sit on a chair, place your palms on your knees. Begin to move backwards, gradually bending your elbows, while you should not remove your palms from your knees. Repeat the exercise 20 times, start with 10 repetitions;
- place your palms on the back of your head, cross your arms. Bring and gently extend the elbows, do the manipulations until bearable pain, it is strictly forbidden to try too hard;
- Spread 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 will suffice). Lean forward slightly, begin to balance the weight with your hand, if the sensations are acceptable, then do 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 brings excruciating pain, give up gymnastics, visit a doctor, perhaps the situation is so neglected that conservative methods do not have the desired effect.
Recipes and folk remedies
Traditional remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, which healers have used for a long time, can still be used today, but only as an adjunct to the treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Natural remedies sometimes provide better pain relieving 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 using folk remedies.
A wide selection of recipes will allow you to choose the ideal medicine for you for the treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies:
- Propolis-based ointment shows high efficacy. Take 50 grams of pork fat, add three grams of propolis. Mix the finished mass well, use it for treatment and prevention (immediately after severe physical exertion);
- the presence of an allergy to bee products forces patients with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint to use an ointment based on medicinal herbs, for example, sweet clover, St. John's wort. Take 50 grams of Vaseline as a base, add 10 grams of each herbal component. Lubricate the affected area with the medicine received daily before bedtime, the duration of the course of therapy is determined by the attending physician;
- oat compress. It has long been used to treat joint diseases of varying severity. Boil 30 grams of flakes in 400 ml of water, distribute the cooled mass evenly over the sore, first placing it on a 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 rubbing with alcohol tinctures. Take 50 grams of dried helenium roots, pour 125 ml of vodka. Rub the resulting tincture on the 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 proper level, which starts the regeneration processes in the joint;
- cabbage juice. Cabbage has long been dealing with joint pain, put a leaf of vegetable on the sore joint, first beat it a little with a kitchen hammer until the healing juice is released. A useful compress is carried out in the evening, regular procedures cope with even severe pain and relieve the condition in advanced cases.
Masotherapy
Self-massage improves blood flow and restores motor function in the affected shoulder. Gentle stroking, kneading and shaking is allowed. Strong movements are excluded, feel on your own the line between a useful massage and harm to health. The best option is preliminary training with an experienced specialist. In advanced stages, this technique is prohibited, the wrong movement can cause irreparable damage to the health of the patient.
Special nutritional and dietary rules
Nutrition plays an important role in strengthening the joints, initiating the regeneration of cartilaginous tissues. Lean on fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, legumes, fish. Eliminate the intake of fatty, salty foods, fast food and carbonated drinks in the body. Abandon semi-finished products, these products contain a lot of fats that negatively affect the general condition of a person.
Eating a proper diet helps reduce weight, which reduces the load on the musculoskeletal system. The use of fermented dairy products plays an important role, the active substances 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 very 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 injury, exercise gently, control your feelings. Any unpleasant symptoms are a signal to go to the doctor. A timely detected ailment 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.