Here To Keep You Healthy
Have you heard? We’ve joined forces with Rothman Orthopaedics, one of the nations top orthopedic programs, to create a groundbreaking, comprehensive specialty network that is the new gold standard in quality, innovation, research and whole-person care.
This visionary partnership will expand the possibilities for world-class treatment for a variety of orthopedic services, including joint replacement, fracture care, reconstruction of the knee, shoulder, elbow and hand and treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis. Together, our leading-edge providers comprise a powerhouse of innovation focused on developing new treatments and widening accessibility to top-level care while raising the bar for orthopedic excellence.
Learn more at TransformingOrtho.com.
Caring For Your Incision
You’ll have stitches along the front of your shoulder, which are removed at your first follow-up appointment, one to two weeks after your surgery. Call your surgeon immediately if your incision swells, drains, or becomes red or painful, or if you develop a fever over 101 degrees F.
Be careful not to let the dressing or bandage covering your incision get wet or dirty moisture raises the risk of infection. Try to simply leave the dressing alone until you return for your first post-op appointment, though, if necessary, you can carefully change it yourself. After the stitches are removed, and if the doctor says it’s OK, you can take a shower, letting water run over the wound. But don’t submerge the area in a bathtub or swimming pool until the incision has completely healed. Pat the wound dry after showering.
What Types Of Shoulder Arthritis Exercises Work The Best
Doctors recommend shoulder exercises and warm-up stretches as a way to help with arthritis of this type. Why? Because it works! With that said, its important to know the proper shoulder exercises to do in order to have beneficial results and not worsen your arthritis of the shoulder or cause other medical issues from improper stretching and exercise.
Exercises For Shoulder Pain Relief & Rehab. Image By Dr. Kristina Dematas / Sportydoctor
Some of the shoulder exercises for pain can be completed in the comfort of your own home while others will require some assistance from a specialist. Shoulder arthritis exercise options and tips to relieve shoulder pain include the following:
- Rehabilitation exercises
- Yoga
Exercise for Shoulder Arthritis. Image By Dr. Kristina Dematas / Sportydoctor
Prior to completing shoulder arthritis exercises, its important to consult with a medical health professional to know which exercise is best for your particular arthritis of the shoulder.
You want to be careful not to overdo it in the exercise department as doing more than you are able or more than your shoulder can take will not help you but could hurt you. Care has to be taken as how far to push the range of motion exercises, especially if mobility is limited due to space narrowing or bone spurs.
Image By Dr. Kristina Dematas / Sportydoctor
If you know others who suffer from osteoarthritis of the shoulder, you can even share your newly-found exercises with them.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Read Also: What Helps Lower Back Arthritis
About Tristate Arthritis And Rheumatology
Tristate Arthritis and Rheumatology is first and largest Rheumatology practice in the Northern Kentucky area. Founded by Dr. Arthur Kunath in 1986, our rheumatology practice now consists of six doctors who are board certified in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and a Physician Assistant. Patients see one doctor , thereby assuring continuity of care and an individualized doctor-patient atmosphere giving the physician the ability to establish personalized and detailed relationships. Our doctors have received numerous awards, including being listed as Top Doctors in Cincinnati Magazine, receiving the Patients Choice Award, the Most Compassionate Doctor Award, and the American College of Rheumatologys My Doc Rocks award.
How Is Osteoarthritis In The Shoulder Diagnosed And When
The shoulders three bones and many tendons and muscles make the shoulder the most mobile joint in the body. But this combination of structures also makes the shoulder vulnerable to problems.
Five major types of arthritis commonly affect the shoulder: osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis , rheumatoid arthritis , avascular necrosis and rotator cuff tear arthropathy. Other common shoulder conditions include bursitis, tendonitis, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff injury.
All of these conditions can produce shoulder pain, but vary in their underlying causes. Because the conditions show similar symptoms, its difficult for a person to know what problem is causing their shoulder pain without a physicians help.
A physical exam and X-ray can help diagnose the problem.
- During the physical exam, a doctor examines the shoulder joint for range of motion, involvement of other joints and tenderness. The exam also includes questions about personal and family medical history.
- X-rays are used to look for a narrowing joint space and damage related to the bones in the shoulder joint, as well as for the formation of bone spurs, which indicate arthritis.
- Other diagnostic tests may be used to rule out causes of joint pain. Blood tests and analysis of joint fluid can rule out rheumatoid arthritis or infection.
- An MRI may also be needed to gauge the condition of the rotator cuff .
You May Like: Are Bananas Good For Rheumatoid Arthritis
What You Need To Know
- Arthritis is damage to the cartilage in joints. Shoulder arthritis occurs when the cartilage starts wearing down on the ball and/or socket sides of the shoulder joint.
- Symptoms of shoulder arthritis may include pain in the shoulder joint, stiffness and reduced range of motion.
- There are many nonoperative treatments for shoulder arthritis, including stretches, lifestyle modifications, application of ice or heat, and medication to control the pain.
- Surgical options, such as shoulder replacement, are available to treat shoulder arthritis if nonoperative treatments dont offer the desired relief.
Exercises To Help Shoulders With Arthritis
The goal of exercises for arthritis is to improve your strength and range of motion. Arthritis can make many motions uncomfortable or painful if done quickly. These exercises focus on slow, deliberate motions and stretches to improve your shoulders and relieve pain and tension.
Door Lean Stretches
This is one of the easiest stretches to help reduce tension in your shoulders.
Step 1: In front of a doorway, place both hands on the doorframe just above your head.
Step 2: Lean forward, using your shoulders to maintain your balance.
Step 3: When you feel a gentle stretch in your shoulders, stop and hold your position for a count of twenty.
You can repeat this three times to get the full benefits.
Door Press
Another simple exercise that can be done anywhere, door presses can help you build shoulder strength without pain.
Step 1: In front of an open doorway, bend one elbow at a 90-degree angle. Your elbow should be at about waist height and your hand should be between the door frames, with your thumb facing the ceiling.
Step 2: Press the back of your wrist against the doorframe and hold for a count of ten.
Step 3: Do the same thing with the palm of the same hand, on the other side of the doorframe.
You can repeat this ten times for both arms, three times a day.
Pendulum Swings
The goal of pendulum swings is to help relax your shoulder muscles and relieve pain. Do the following motions gently, so they feel relaxing instead of out of control.
Crossover Arm Stretches
You May Like: Are Bananas Bad For Arthritis
Shoulder Outward Rotation Stretch
This exercise also requires a broom handle or walking stick. It improves the flexibility in the shoulder joints. Follow the steps below:
Surgery To Repair Or Replace The Shoulder Joint
For those with shoulder arthritis that does not respond to other treatments, a physician may recommend surgery to repair or replace the shoulder joint. There are a number of surgical options for treating shoulder arthritis.
- Arthroscopy: Milder cases can be treated with shoulder arthroscopy, in which the surgeon uses small instruments to clean out the inside of the joint.
- Arthroplasty: More severe cases may need to be treated with shoulder joint replacement, or arthroplasty. In arthroplasty, part or all of the shoulder joint bones are removed and replaced with a prosthetic joint. After surgery, your physician will usually recommend a period of physical therapy to help in the recovery of function.
You May Like: Tomatoes Bad For Arthritis
Physical Therapy Guide To Osteoarthritis Of The Shoulder
Read Time:
Shoulder osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs when the cartilage that lines the sides of the shoulder joint is worn or torn away. It may be caused by injury or dislocation of the shoulder, or “wear and tear” of the shoulder over time. Shoulder OA develops most often in people in their 50s and beyond. As people misuse or overuse their joints over time, more cases are seen with each advancing decade of life. However, shoulder OA can also develop in younger people after trauma or surgery to a joint. The condition occurs more frequently in women than men. Physical therapists treat shoulder OA with hands-on therapy and individualized exercise programs.
Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. You can contact a physical therapist directly for an evaluation. To find a physical therapist in your area, visit Find a PT.
Shoulder Arthritis Due To Avascular Necrosis
Avascular necrosis refers to the disrupted blood supply to an area of the body, which results in that area dying . In the shoulder, the humeral head may lose blood supply due to disease, traumatic injuries, and other causes. Without a blood supply, the bone will slowly collapse, becoming uneven and causing arthritis.
Recommended Reading: Is Banana Good For Rheumatoid Arthritis
What To Do If Your Shoulder Hurts
If you do experience shoulder pain, it’s not always possible to figure out the cause. Sometimes problems in other parts of the body are actually the source of the pain, which then radiates to your shoulder. This can happen with certain neck problems, including arthritis and disc herniations, says Dr. Arun Ramappa, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School.
In general, if you are experiencing a lot of pain or know you injured yourself, it’s best to see a doctor right away to have your shoulder condition diagnosed.
But if you have general, mild shoulder pain, try adjusting your activities, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and performing mild stretches to see if the pain improves on its own. However, if the pain doesn’t go away after a few weeks, you should consult your doctor.
Injections For Shoulder Arthritis
There are currently two types of injections that can provide pain relief for shoulder arthritis. The first type is cortisone shots. Typically, cortisone is mixed with a numbing agent that provides immediate pain relief and helps your doctor know if the injection is in the right place. Once the numbing medicine wears off, the joint may be sore until the cortisone kicks in. Its important to ice the shoulder for a day or so after the shot.
Cortisone shots dont damage the shoulder, but most surgeons limit them to no more than a few a year in most cases of arthritis. Cortisone shots may increase the risk of infection if you undergo a total shoulder replacement soon after the shot. If you are considering the surgery, consider avoiding cortisone shots a few months prior.
The other medicine that can help with shoulder arthritis is synthetically manufactured hyaluronic acid. Its a naturally occurring lubricant in the human body. This liquid substance has been injected into arthritic knees for many years. This injection sometimes helps with the pain for up to two years, but it is unusual for it to take all the pain away for an extended period of time.
The current recommendation is not to have shoulder replacement surgery within three months of having a cortisone shot in the shoulder. If you are considering surgery, it is best to avoid cortisone shots until you have discussed it with your doctor.
Read Also: Are Eggs Bad For Psoriatic Arthritis
The Normal Unaffected Shoulder
The shoulder is made up of a number or interconnected bones. The upper end of the humerus is a ball, called the humeral head, which rests against the socket, a part of the scapula called the glenoid. Unlike the hip, also a ball-socket joint but one with a deep socket made for stability, the shoulder is made not for stability but motion – and has the most motion of any joint in the body. The ball of the shoulder joint moves against the socket, but because it rests against the socket, rather than being well contained in it, it is reliant on the soft tissues for both its stability and motion. It is stabilized by both ligaments and tendons . The tendons of the shoulder rotate the ball in the socket, and are called the rotator cuff. The four rotator cuff tendons thus supply movement to the shoulder and stability, and can themselves be subject to injury, wear and tear, and degeneration .
What Is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis — also known as degenerative joint disease — occurs when the cartilage that covers the tops of bones, known as articular cartilage, degenerates or wears down. This causes swelling, pain, and sometimes the development of osteophytes — bone spurs — when the ends of the two bones rub together.
Read Also: Is Tomatoes Bad For Arthritis
What Is Shoulder Pain
The pain of shoulder can happen at any of those tendons, ligaments or muscles located in the shoulder area. However, there is one thing for sure, that is when your shoulder begins to hurt it will be so difficult to focus on other tasks.
Shoulder pain does not exclude anyone at any age. People who often stay in front of laptops, smartphones or tablets for prolonged periods are the most vulnerable targets to this condition.
Do I Have Shoulder Bursitis
Shoulder bursitis symptoms are typically worse at night after a long day of activity, or in the morning when the shoulder has been still for a long period of time. The most common area for shoulder bursitis is the subacromial bursa. Inflammation in this area causes pain when the arms lift overhead.
Other shoulder bursitis symptoms include:
- Range of motion that is restricted by pain
- Swelling and redness in and around the shoulder joint
- Pain at the tip of the shoulder
- Pain upon contact
In severe cases, pain may be accompanied by fever, which may indicate an infection of the bursa. Infection can become serious and should be treated urgently.
Your doctor will start your shoulder bursitis diagnosis by asking about your medical history and conducting a physical exam. Your doctor will test your range of motion and feel for swelling or warmth that indicates inflammation in the joint.
If, other than pain, there are no other physical symptoms, your doctor may recommend imaging to rule out other causes. X-rays cannot detect inflamed bursa but can verify that there is no damage in the bones. MRIs can see soft and connective tissue and may be able to help with a diagnosis.
In cases where they suspect an infection, your doctor may order blood tests to look for elevated white blood cells that indicate an immune response to infection. If there is fluid on the shoulder, this fluid can also be analyzed to confirm a diagnosis .
Recommended Reading: Bananas And Arthritis
Causes Of Shoulder Oa
- Primary OA has no specific cause, but is related to age, genes and sex. Primary OA is usually seen in people over the age of 50, and women are affected more often than men.
- Secondary OA has a known cause or influencing factor, such as previous injury, history of shoulder dislocations, infection, or rotator cuff tears. Having certain occupations such as heavy construction or participating in sports can also put you at higher risk of developing shoulder OA.
How Exercise Helps Shoulder Arthritis
Your shoulder is made to move in fact, it has the most motion of any joint in the body. Whats common to all types of shoulder arthritis is the potential of losing range of motion, says Nancy Yen Shipley, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Portland, Oregon.
And that is reason number one to exercise. The shoulder joint can get stiff and weak. If you keep it still, it stiffens more, she explains. Gentle stretching exercises can help maintain range of motion in your shoulder.
Strengthening exercises are important as well: Keeping the muscles in and around the shoulder strong can give the joint more stability, adds Dr. Yen Shipley, who is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Recommended Reading: What Helps Lower Back Arthritis
What Is Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis is damage to the cartilage inside the shoulder joint. The shoulder has two joints. Shoulder arthritis commonly refers to the bigger ball-and-socket joint named the glenohumeral joint after the bones it connects . The cartilage covers both the ball and the socket .
When the cartilage in the shoulder begins to break down on the surface and eventually in the deeper layers, its called shoulder arthritis. The second joint in the shoulder, the acromioclavicular or AC joint, can also develop arthritis known as AC joint arthritis.
Symptoms Of Shoulder Oa
Pain
- If the glenohumeral shoulder joint is affected, the pain will be felt at the back of the shoulder and may feel like a deep ache.
- If the AC joint is affected, pain will be focused on the top of the shoulder. This pain may radiate up the side of the neck.
- Limited motion and stiffness: You may lose range of motion and feel stiffness that makes it difficult to do everyday tasks, such as lifting your arm to wash your hair or getting something down from a shelf.
- Crepitus: Hearing and feeling grinding and clicking noises as you move your shoulder.
You May Like: What Helps Lower Back Arthritis