What is Shoulder (Glenohumeral Joint) Arthritis?
Arthritis is a common diagnosis that affects millions every year. Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints which causes the erosion or loss of normal joint architecture. In the shoulder, this means development of bone spurs, loss of joint space, rubbing of bone on bone within the ball and socket joint.
Mechanism Injury
Shoulder arthritis is commonly a chronic degenerative process which means that it happens over a long period of time. This can be due to hereditary factors, traumatic injuries, inflammatory conditions or most commonly overuse after many years. Weight lifters can develop osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint over many years of excessive weight lifting while bench pressing or doing military press. Some people do not have any preceding event or injury, but develop pain and stiffness gradually as they get into their later years of life.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Shoulder arthritis commonly presents with diffuse shoulder pain, grinding (crepitance) in the ball and socket joint, pain at night, pain sleeping on the shoulder, and stiffness. The severity of shoulder arthritis can be evaluated with x-rays of the shoulder which will directly visualize the bone structure of the ball and socket joint. Advanced imaging (CT, MRI) may be required to evaluate the full extent of the arthritis and commonly are ordered in preparation for surgery.
Treatment of Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis is not curable and initial treatments aim at decreasing the discomfort through non-operative therapies. These modalities can include ice/heat, anti-inflammatories, cortisone injections, and physical therapy. If the pain is not relieved by simple treatments, then a shoulder replacement is usually the recommended surgical procedure. This does not recreate a new normal shoulder, but there is great success in improving the quality of life and decreasing the pain with this type of surgery. This surgery is usually reserved for the elderly patients that do not participate in heavy lifting but can be done in those younger as well.
For more information, please consider the following link that was produced by the AAOS.
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/arthritis-of-the-shoulder
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/shoulder-joint-replacement