Shoulder Arthritis
What is Shoulder Arthritis?
Although most people think of the shoulder as several joints, there are really two joints in the area of the shoulder. One is located where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the tip of the shoulder bone (acromion). This is called the acromioclavicular or AC joint. The junction of the upper arm bone (humerus) with the shoulder blade (scapula) is called the glenohumeral joint or scapulothoracic joint. Both joints may be affected by arthritis. To provide you with effective treatment, your physician will need to determine which joint is affected and what type of arthritis you have.
Causes of Shoulder Arthritis
Three major types of arthritis generally affect the shoulder.
Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder
Osteoarthritis, or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is a degenerative condition that destroys the smooth outer covering (articular cartilage) of bone. It usually affects people over 50 years of age and is more common in the acromioclavicular joint than in the glenohumeral shoulder joint. Treatment is focused on slowing the progression of the disease and maintaining a level of comfort for the patient that allows an active lifestyle.
Rheumatoid Arthritis effecting the Shoulder
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory condition of the joint lining, or synovium. It can affect people of any age and usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body. People with rheumatoid arthritis usually have systemic degradation of joints in their body including the fingers, wrists, elbow, shoulder, spine, SI joints, hips, knees, ankles, and toes.
Posttraumatic Arthritis effecting the Shoulder
Posttraumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that develops after an injury, such as a fracture or dislocation of the shoulder. Arthritis can also develop after a rotator cuff tear. After an injury occurs the bone can start to form bone spurs that damage cartilage and deteriorate the joint. This can take quite a while but the initial damage paved the way for the joint to deteriorate.
Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis
The most common symptom of arthritis of the shoulder is pain, which is aggravated by activity and progressively worsens. If the glenohumeral shoulder joint is affected, the pain is centered in the back of the shoulder and may intensify with changes in the weather. The pain of arthritis in the acromioclavicular joint is focused on the front of the shoulder. Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have pain in all these areas if both shoulder joints are affected. Limited motion is another symptom. It may become more difficult to lift your arm to comb your hair or reach up to a shelf. You may hear a clicking or snapping sound (crepitus) as you move your shoulder. As the disease progresses, any movement of the shoulder causes pain. Night pain is common and sleeping may be difficult.
