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, 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, consumption of a large amount of medication has a detrimental effect on the body, while folk remedies show excellent results without causing side effects. These are home remedies for the disease that 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 an illness; in patients over 75 years of age, the incidence of osteoarthritis is about 90%. The aspect relates to age-related changes in tissues, cartilage, joint wear.
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 disease 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 provoke aggressive destruction of its cells, including joints;
- excessive physical activity. The disease is often the result of professional sports activities;
- various injuries. Even minor damage over time can lead to catastrophic consequences;
- circulatory disorders. Lack of nutrients negatively affects the functioning of the node;
- advanced age. Older people more often than others suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the physiological process of aging, depletion of joints.
Important!Whatever the reason for the onset of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, treat the problem immediately. Neglected cases do not lend to conservative methods, surgical intervention is required.
Characteristic signs and symptoms
The progression of the symptoms of the disease 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 osteoarthritis 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 disguised as simple fatigue.
If you notice any of the symptoms described below, visit a doctor, address the problem immediately.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is most often indicated by the following signs:
- pain. It is usually dull, the attacks are felt at night or after exercise. Sometimes pain syndrome appears during a sharp change in weather conditions;
- characteristic chewing. It is associated with the deposition of salts in the diseased joint. Initially, the sound is quiet, over time it becomes distinct, accompanied by pain;
- difficulty in motor functioning. Patiently 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 hardening of the joint, 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 suitable for home therapy. In advance, be sure to consult an experienced specialist, follow his recommendations. You can independently turn to special methods used as adjunctive therapy to drug treatment, physiotherapy.
There are many different techniques that quickly deal with pain syndrome, speed up the healing process, and restore mobility to the diseased joint. The required course of home therapy is selected individually by an experienced specialist. Doctors do not recommend making such decisions yourself.
Gymnastics
Special exercises are aimed at training the muscles, restoring the motor activity of the injured shoulder. All manipulations are performed after consulting a doctor. To get the desired result, follow special rules:
- austerity regime is a prerequisite;
- exercise regularly. Only 10 minutes a day spent on gymnastics will be paid with interest;
- during exercise, relax the muscles as much as possible, this aspect will avoid damage and micro-damage to the joints;
- low frequency of movements will ensure a quick result without injuries;
- oscillation amplitude - small (for safety reasons);
- gradually increase the load;
- pain is an alarming signal. It is forbidden to take painkillers for gymnastics. Take good care of the injured joint, do not overload it;
- do all the manipulations in front of the mirror. So 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 injured joint, exercise is extremely beneficial.
All of the above recommendations help in the correct performance of gymnastics and exercises for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, preventing re-injury of the diseased area. Regular exercise will give ease of movement, return to a normal lifestyle.
Approximate training scheme (specific exercises should be discussed with your doctor):
- sit on the sofa, gradually lower and raise your shoulders, the amplitude should not exceed 2 centimeters. Do not try to move only the injured shoulder, there is a high probability of its injury, do all the exercises symmetrically;
- sit on a flat surface, rest your palms lightly on your knees, start moving your shoulders slowly back and forth. Make sure the work is done with the shoulders and the shoulder joint, it is not recommended to move the hands too much;
- slowly rotate the shoulders clockwise and counterclockwise for two minutes, the range of motion should not exceed two centimeters;
- sit in a chair, place your palms on your knees. Start moving backwards, gradually bending your elbows, while not having to remove your palms from your knees. Repeat the exercise 20 times, starting with 10 repetitions;
- place the palms on the back of the head, cross the arms. Bring and spread the elbows smoothly, do the manipulations up to patient pain, it is strictly forbidden to train too much;
- place the feet shoulder-width apart, take a small weight in hand with a sore joint (a bottle of water or a dumbbell weighing 0. 5 kg will do). Lean forward slightly, start rolling the weight with your hand, if the sensations are acceptable, then make circular motions, developing the injured 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 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 prescriptions
Traditional remedies for treating osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, which have long been used by healers, can still be used today, but only as an adjunct to the treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Natural remedies sometimes offer better analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects than conventional medicines.
But it is impossible to completely refuse to take medication, the orthopedist will show you the basic rules for using folk remedies.
A wide selection of recipes will allow you to choose the ideal medicinal product for yourself for the treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies:
- high efficiency is indicated by propolis based oil. Take 50 grams of lard, add three grams of propolis. Mix the finished mass well, use it as a treatment and prevention (immediately after a serious physical exertion);
- the presence of an allergy to bee products forces patients with osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint to use an oil 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 ingredient. Lubricate the affected area with the medication taken 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 on the sore spot, placing it first 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 alcohol tinctures. Take 50 grams of dried elecampane roots, pour 125 ml of vodka. Rub the resulting solution on the damaged areas of the shoulder up to five times a day. In addition to the analgesic effect, the drug improves blood circulation, restores the supply of nutrients to the proper level, which initiates regenerative processes in the joints;
- cabbage juice. Cabbage has long been facing joint pain, attach a vegetable leaf to the sore joint, first beat lightly with a kitchen hammer until the healing fluid is released. A useful compress is performed at night, regular procedures also cope with severe pain, alleviate the condition in advanced cases.
Masotherapy
Self-massage increases blood flow, restores motor function of the affected shoulder. Light strokes, mixing, shaking are allowed. Strong movements are excluded, feel for yourself the line between a useful massage and damage to health. The best option is pre-training with an experienced specialist. In the advanced stages, such a technique is prohibited, incorrect movement can cause irreparable damage to the patient's health.
Special diet and nutritional rules
Nutrition plays an important role in strengthening the joints, starting the regeneration of cartilage tissue. Rely on fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, legumes, fish. Eliminate fatty foods, salty foods, fast foods and fizzy drinks in the body. Avoid semi-finished products, these products contain a lot of fats that negatively affect the overall condition of a person.
Proper 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 substances in them saturate the bones with minerals and vitamins, strengthening the patient's joints. Proper nutrition has a beneficial effect on the functioning of all human organs and systems.
Osteoarthritis occurs most often against the background of age-related changes in the shoulder joint. It is impossible to stop the aging process, but it is quite 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, exercise gently, monitor your feelings. Any unpleasant symptoms is a signal to go to the doctor. A disease detected in time responds well to treatment, it is possible to preserve the joint, which provides painless movement of the shoulders. Take care of your health, take care of the musculoskeletal system.