In osteoarthritis, the smooth cartilage that lines and coats the ends of the bones gets worn away, causing the bone ends to rub against each other.This wearing away leads to irregular motion within the joint and the development of bone spurs, which are bony growths formed as the bone tries to heal itself. Irregular motion and bone spurs can result in pain and loss of motion in the shoulder.
The main joint that provides most of the shoulder motion is called the glenohumeral (G-H) joint, which is where the humerus or arm bone meets the scapula or shoulder blade. The other smaller joint in the shoulder that does not provide much motion is the acromioclavicular (A-C), which is the joint that connects the collarbone and the scapula.
SYMPTOMS
- Pain
- Crepitus
- Restricted range of motion
DIAGNOSIS
A good quality X ray is usually sufficient for diagnosis.MRI may be needed to study the integrity of the rotator cuff muscles as it is important in decision for a routine or reverse shoulder replacement.
TREATMENT
- Rest, activity modifications.
- Exercises that may be directed by a physical therapist and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
- Local injections – PRP/steroid
- Shoulder replacement