Inflammation of the shoulder joint

Inflammation in the shoulder joint or arthritis leads to a change in ligaments, as well as thinning of the capsule and articular cartilage. In more severe cases, the joint may become deformed. Some believe that the shoulder consists of a large number of joints, but in fact there are only two. One is in the place where the axis of the scapula and clavicle joins - the acromioclavicular joint, the other joint connects the scapula and the humerus - the scapula-thoracic joint. Both these joints are prone to inflammation. The inflammation of the joint can be caused by an infectious agent( microbial flora), and it also arises from autoimmune diseases.

Causes of inflammation of the shoulder joint

Inflammation of the joint is divided into three main forms. This osteoarthritis - inflammation of the joint is caused by wear and aging of tissues, denotes a degenerative process, the consequence of which is the destruction of the smooth outer surface of the bone. Most people with osteoarthritis are over 50 years old.

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The second form of inflammation of the shoulder joint is rheumatoid arthritis. It is an inflammatory systemic process that affects the synovial membrane. It develops at different ages and represents a defeat, and symmetrical, of different joints.

The third form of joint inflammation is post-traumatic arthritis. This type of arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis, developing after an injury, for example, after a shift or a crack.

Symptoms of inflammation of the shoulder joint

The most typical symptom of joint inflammation is pain, which increases during activity and gradually deepens. With lesion of the scapular-thoracic joint, the pain is localized in the back of the shoulder, and is intensified, as a rule, during the period of weather changes. In inflammation of the acromioclavicular joint pain is localized in the anterior region of the shoulder.

In inflammation of the joint, there is a restriction of mobility, or rather, the difficulty of raising the hand, for example, reaching the upper shelves or hoping. During movements with the shoulder, you can hear a click or feel a crushing in the joint. With the progression of the disease, any movement is accompanied by severe pain. Sleep disturbance and discomfort of the patient feels at night.

Treatment of inflammation of the shoulder joint

In inflammation, the main diagnostic examinations are radiography, laboratory blood tests are generally general and biochemical. You can see on the X-ray an enlargement of the joint between the joints, which is explained by the presence of a large amount of fluid. During inflammation in the joints develops synovitis - the synovial membrane gives off too much fluid, and it starts the joint "bursting" from the inside.

In this situation, the synovial fluid is removed and, if suspected of having an infectious agent, the liquid is examined for microbial flora. This makes it possible to select the necessary antibiotic therapy, which will act on the detected infectious agent.

You can not start the inflammatory process, because the inflammation that occurs for a long time, destroys the cartilage, and this will lead to the development of arthrosis.

Treatment of arthritis of the shoulder joint begins with the use of medications. Special drugs reduce pain, increase physical activity, and prevent subsequent damage to the joints due to the inflammatory process. First of all, the therapy is aimed at restoring the cartilage of the metabolism and preserving the functions of the joint.

Treatment of joint inflammation includes complex therapy, which involves the elimination of symptoms( this is pain and inflammation), as well as the eradication of the cause of the disease. This is a long enough and systematic treatment, it is necessary to start it at the very first symptoms of inflammation.

In case of advanced stages of the disease, surgical intervention is recommended. Osteotomy is one of the main ways of surgical treatment. This is an operation in which the bone is moved in the joint zone to correct the deformity. This operation helps slow the damage to the cartilage.

If the inflammation of the joint is too neglected, then an endoprosthesis is recommended, when the affected joint is replaced with an artificial one. But, as a rule, this method of treatment is used only in the most extreme cases.