Shoulder Arthritis Treatment Specialist in Frisco and Fort Worth TX

Shoulder arthritis is inflammation that occurs in the joint of the shoulder due to the wearing down of the cartilage onto the socket and ball of the joint, leading to pain and limited range of motion. Arthritis leads to the gradual loss of cartilage, which is an essential tissue in cushioning the conjoining bones from impact and allows the bones to glide comfortably within the joint. It is considered to be a “wear and tear” condition that is often prevalent in athletes or those who work occupations that require frequent use of a specific body part, in this case, the shoulder. There are two major joints in your shoulder that can develop arthritis, the main “ball and socket” joint that connects the upper arm to the scapula (edge of the shoulder blade), also known as the glenohumeral joint, and the joint where the collarbone connects with the acromioclavicular joint.

One of the most common causes of shoulder arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is an age-related, “wear and tear” disease causing the cartilage in joints to deteriorate. Other conditions that lead to shoulder arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues including joints and joint lining, avascular necrosis where the blood flow to the joint is effectively cut off due to disease or trauma, and rotator cuff arthropathy, which affects the surrounding tendons that keep your shoulder within the joint, leading to cartilage damage with time. It is also possible to develop shoulder arthritis just due to an injury or trauma to the shoulder including fractures, severe impact, dislocation, or any other injury or damage to the bone that can cause damage to the cartilage as well.

The most common symptom of arthritis in the shoulder is pain within the shoulder joint, often starting as mild pain while the joint is being used and developing into ongoing pain even when the joint is not in motion. In severe cases, the pain can extend down the arm to the elbow and wrist as the condition develops. It is also fairly common to lose mobility of the joint, partially due to the pain associated with movement, but with increasing stiffness developing that makes performing everyday tasks such as getting dressed or washing your hair increasingly difficult. Many patients with shoulder arthritis will also experience various noises when moving the joint that can occur with or even without associated pain such as popping, clicking, grinding, or cracking within the shoulder joint due to the unsmooth surface left behind from the loss of cartilage. Lastly, another commonly experienced symptom of shoulder arthritis is having difficulty sleeping due to the inability to find a comfortable sleeping position. When arthritis develops, any movement of the joint can be quite painful, making movement that occurs during sleep often leads to the patient awakening. One way to help with this is to find a position that provides more support for the shoulder joint, such as using a pillow under the elbow while sleeping on your back or even sleeping in a recliner to keep you from turning onto your side.

Treatment of shoulder arthritis will include pain management and keeping the joint mobile as much as possible, often through prescription anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. Specific exercises and stretches provided by a specialist will become essential in preventing the condition from worsening and allowing patients to continue using their shoulders as effectively as possible. It is very likely that patients with shoulder arthritis need to make adjustments to their lifestyles, determining what kinds of activities are more likely to lead to worsened pain to avoid those while still ensuring that they can remain active. Cold and warm compresses will also be essential in reducing inflammation, particularly on days when the more immobilizing activities cannot be avoided. There are also surgical options including shoulder replacement surgery, arthroscopic shoulder debridement, and resection arthroplasty, but these invasive options will be avoided whenever possible.

Living with shoulder arthritis might be difficult. Patients suffering from shoulder arthritis may experience relief at Pain Specialists of Frisco. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Fort Worth TX, Prosper TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, Haltom City TX, Benbrook TX, North Richland Hills TX, and surrounding areas.