Shoulder arthritis

Shoulder arthritis can develop because of disease – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis – or from trauma or injuries to your shoulder. Osteoarthritis, which makes cartilage wear thin and bone rub against bone, is the most common cause of shoulder arthritis. Arthritis can run in families, affect those older than 50 or those with a pre-existing shoulder injury.

Symptoms

• 	An X-ray of an arthritic shoulder

  Limited range of movement
• Swelling and stiffness around your shoulder
• Pain during tasks that use your shoulder
• Pain at night that may affect sleep
• Tenderness near the joint
• Sensation of grinding or the joint getting briefly stuck in one position

Treatments

• Self-care. Your doctor may recommend modifying your activities, and resting and icing your shoulder to reduce pain and swelling.
• Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may be used to limit swelling and pain. Consult your Pharmacy @ Park Nicollet or other pharmacists if you have questions. Also, depending on the type of arthritis, certain medications can be prescribed to limit the disease’s effects. Ask your doctor about these options.
• Physical therapy. Certified physical therapists work closely with your doctor to create a program specific to your needs, to maximize healing and restore function, strength and mobility.
• Injections. While injections cannot cure your underlying arthritis, corticosteroid injections into the affected part of your shoulder can provide short-term pain relief and reduce inflammation in your joint, when medication is ineffective or not an option.
• Surgery. Surgical options, depending on the location and severity of your arthritis, include replacing your joint. Joint replacement, or arthroplasty, may be an option for arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint (the small joint on the cap of your shoulder). Joint replacement can be total (total shoulder arthroplasty) or partial (hemiarthroplasty).

Consult your doctor about specific treatment options. For more information, call 952-993-3230.