Arthritis in Shoulder

Shoulder arthritis can affect the two joints that make up the shoulder area. The AC joint is the area where the collarbone and the tip of the shoulder bone meet. The glenohumeral joint is the area where the humerus and the shoulder bone meet. Millions of people seek shoulder pain treatment due to shoulder arthritis. Your doctor may be able to help you find effective shoulder pain relief.

There are three main types of shoulder arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that develops over time, mostly affecting people over the age of 50. While it can affect the shoulder’s glenohumeral joint, it is usually found in the AC joint. Osteoarthritis is often called the “wear and tear” arthritis because it destroys the smooth covering of the bone known as the articular cartilage. This is a common cause of shoulder pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joint lining that can affect the whole body. This condition can affect anyone, regardless of age, and tends to affect multiple joints. It is a painful and sometimes debilitating form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis could be the cause of your shoulder problems.

Posttraumatic arthritis is another form of osteoarthritis that develops after a shoulder injury, like a shoulder dislocation. It can also develop following a tear in the rotar cuff.

The most common symptom of shoulder arthritis is shoulder pain. This pain can be made worse with activity. Those with arthritis in the glenohumeral shoulder joint usually experience the pain in the back of the shoulder, while arthritis of the AC joint causes pain in the front of the shoulder. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience pain in both areas.

There are some home remedies for shoulder pain due to arthritis. Avoid any activity that provokes your pain and identify ways to change your movement patterns to prevent pain. You can alternate applying moist heat and ice packs to the area for 20 to 30 minutes at a time to help reduce inflammation in the area of pain. Some people find that dietary supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate help with their shoulder pain. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any supplements as they may cause an adverse reaction when mixed with other drugs.

If none of these options works for you, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy or refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for shoulder pain treatment. Surgical treatment tends to be very effective at relieving the symptoms of shoulder arthritis.