It’s an all-too-familiar pattern for shoulder pain sufferers. What begins as discomfort that flares up with activity advances into persistent pain that often remains even with rest. That progression of symptoms is textbook for people with shoulder osteoarthritis (OA).
If you have shoulder OA, you’re far from alone. The condition is common, especially as we age, affecting an estimated one in three people over the age of 60.
“While it can feel daunting and discouraging to live with shoulder arthritis, we offer a range of treatments that can help you find relief,” says Dr. Eric Erickson, a Shoulder, Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgeon with ThedaCare Orthopedic Care.
Shoulder OA, Explained
Shoulder OA is inflammation in your shoulder joint. This happens at the cellular level as you age. Over time, arthritis leads to the loss of cartilage, the tissue that helps bone surfaces glide within joints and cushions them against impact.
“It’s like the rubber tread on a tire,” Dr. Erickson says. “At first, your tire tread wears thin, and eventually, you’re down to the steel belts. That’s when you have bone-on-bone arthritis, what we call osteoarthritis.”
Risk Factors
Certain factors can put you at higher risk for developing shoulder OA. These include:
- Age: Risk increases after the age of 50.
- Gender: The condition is more common in women.
- Genetics: If you have a family history of shoulder OA, you may be more likely to develop it.
- Jobs that involve overhead work: Laborers such as plumbers, electricians, drywallers and plasterers are at higher risk.
- Obesity: Carrying extra weight can lead to joint pain.
- Repetitive weight-bearing: This could include people who use wheelchairs.
- Trauma to the shoulder: Injuries such as dislocation, fracture or severe impact can up the risk.
Symptoms
Pain is the most common shoulder OA symptom, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Early on, activity will aggravate the condition. As the disease progresses, people often experience pain even at rest.
Many of Dr. Erickson’s patients come to him because they can’t sleep due to shoulder pain.
“Sleep deprivation starts to affect their work and family relationships,” he says. “Life gets difficult — a little ornery — and they ask for our help.”
Shoulder OA can affect two main joints: the acromioclavicular (AC) and glenohumeral.
Arthritis affecting the AC joint is more common. Here, pain will be focused on the top of the shoulder and may radiate up the side of the neck.
If you have arthritis in the glenohumeral shoulder joint, you may feel a deep, achy pain at the back of the shoulder.
Other common symptoms shoulder OA symptoms include grinding, clicking, limited range of motion and stiffness. The last two can lead to difficulty doing everyday tasks, such as lifting your arm to wash your hair or getting something down from a shelf.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing shoulder OA begins with questions about your symptoms and medical history. You’ll also undergo an exam that may include evaluation for muscle strength, tenderness to the touch, mobility, pain in certain positions, and swelling or joint involvement.
Your doctor or advanced practice provider also will likely order an X-ray. This imaging can show joint-space narrowing, changes in the bone and formation of bone spurs. An MRI is rarely needed to diagnose shoulder OA, Dr. Erickson says.
Treatment
There’s no way to stop the progression of shoulder OA. However, many treatments can help you manage your symptoms, Dr. Erickson says. Each person’s case and treatment path are unique.
“We’ve found that two people may have similar X-rays, but experience widely different levels of shoulder pain,” Dr. Erickson says. “It’s important to get to know each person’s individual experience and create a treatment plan from there.”
Non-operative treatments can include:
- Adopting lifestyle modifications, including reducing or avoiding activities that cause shoulder pain
- Applying ice or moist heat to reduce inflammation and pain
- Seeing a physical therapist to learn shoulder exercises to improve range of motion
- Taking prescribed medications or over-the-counter pain drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Getting corticosteroid injections to put medicine into the joint space in the shoulder
- Exploring pain management procedures such as radiofrequency ablation
Should Replacement Surgery
In the advanced stages of shoulder OA, the bones in your shoulder joints rub directly against each other. Bone spurs can form, which block normal motion and can break off and become loose bodies within your joint.
At this point, an orthopedic surgeon may recommend shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure uses plastic and metal to replace the diseased sections of bones in your shoulder joint.
Full recovery from should replacement surgery typically takes at least six months and up to a year. Physical therapy and home exercises help with the recovery process.
Don’t Shoulder It Alone
Above all, remember you don’t have to simply live with shoulder pain.
“Our teams can recommend treatments tailored to your specific symptoms and treatment preferences,” Dr. Erickson says.
Connect to expert shoulder care.
To make an appointment, call 920-831-5050 or schedule online.
