4 Common Types of Arthritis that Affect Shoulders

Shoulders take a lot brunt everyday that causes wear and tear as they are the most mobile joints in the body. Excess strain makes shoulders vulnerable to unstable, which may lead to arthritis. Shoulder arthritis is a painful condition that not only damages muscles and tendons, it may also affects joints and ligaments. Shoulder problem often results in the limited range of rotation, causing a painful situation for the patient. As there is no comprehensive cure for arthritis, the doctor is likely to prescribe shoulder pain treatments and diagnosis, based on the type of arthritis affecting the shoulders. We list the four types of arthritis that affect the shoulder.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is associated with wear and tear that affects shoulders and other joints including hips, hands, and knees. People over the age bracket of 50 are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. This is a more common type of arthritis, and the symptoms include tenderness and stiffness of shoulders along with joint pain. The symptoms may get aggravated among the patients, who are overweight.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune condition, rheumatoid arthritis affects the joint lining and can cause erosion of shoulder bone. The problem may also lead to deformity of shoulder joints over the time. The affected patients feel pain in both the shoulders and experience following symptoms:

• Warmth and tenderness in joints
• Stiffness in shoulders, especially in the morning
• Weight loss, fever, and fatigue
• Bumps under skin of arms or shoulders (also called ‘Rheumatoid Nodules’)

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular Necrosis is a condition that destroys joint tissues in the shoulder could lead to arthritis. When the blood doesn’t reach humerus bone (long bone of the upper arm), this can cause cells in the shoulder bone to die and result in avascular necrosis. Bone fracture and joint dislocation are two common reasons that lead to this condition. Avascular Necrosis is a progressive disease and usually proliferates from an asymptomatic disease to mild pain, creating a severely painful situation for the patient.

Post-traumatic Arthritis

A shoulder injury can make a patient susceptible to post-traumatic arthritis. The most common shoulder injuries that lead to the problem include shoulder joint instability, shoulder dislocation, and the shoulder fracture. Individuals, who suffered sporting or accidental injuries can also develop post-traumatic arthritis. The problem may also cause the buildup of fluid in shoulder joints leading to pain and swelling.

Last Few Words

Arthritis has no single cure as each type of disease got a different course of treatment. The doctors mostly prescribe pain relief medicines to patients and recommend living a healthy lifestyle. If exercise and medication fail to provide relief from pain and improve mobility, surgery could be the last option for the patient. The doctors in most of the cases would start with medication before advising the patient to undergo a surgical procedure after detecting shoulder arthritis symptoms.

5 Effective Joint Replacement Surgery Options For You

Severe knee pain or swelling makes it difficult to move, stand or exercise. Ignoring severe knee pain may irreparably damage your knee. Additionally, with the modern day advancements in joint surgeries, patients with chronic damage to their knee can get relief with the help of a joint surgery. The blog post discusses five of the most effective joint replacement surgeries of the knee joint.

1. Joint Resurfacing

There are three compartments in the knee- the medial (inside), lateral (outside) and patellofemoral (front). Joint resurfacing, also known as the unicompartmental or partial knee replacement, alleviates all knee pain symptoms, by replacing any of the three components of the knee with a metallic surgical implant. Post surgery, patients get significant relief from knee pain. In some cases, patients can also participate in high-impact sports such as martial arts and football. The surgery, however, is not recommendable for patients suffering from knee problems such as osteoporosis, or those having diabetes.

2. Arthroscopy

The surgical technique involves making small incisions and using specialized instruments along with a small camera to view and fix soft tissues tears around the knee, repair damaged cartilage and remove broken, unhinged cartilage pieces. The surgical procedure is favorable for patients younger than 40 years. The surgical procedure also alleviates the problems of swelling and difficulty in movement.

3. Osteotomy

Osteotomy involves cutting and removing or addition of a bone wedge near the damaged knee joint. Subsequently, surgeons change the knee anatomy so that the body weight shifts to an area that has not been affected by arthritis. Surgeons recommend this procedure for patients younger than 30 years, or those who cannot bear the complex ordeal of undergoing a total joint replacement. Post surgery, patients get immediate relief from knee damage due to injuries.

4. Synovectomy

Synovectomy is one of the most suitable procedures to alleviate the signs and symptoms of knee pain in patients suffering from inflammatory arthritis. Synovium is the lining of the joints in the knee, and inflammation in this lining of joints may damage the adjacent joints and cartilage. In synovectomy, most of the inflamed synovium is removed, either through open surgery or by arthroscopy. Doctors recommend synovectomy to patients with limited cartilage damage. Synovectomy relieves knee pain and also helps patients reduce their intake of anti-inflammatory drugs.

5. Joint Revision

The surgery is recommended for patients who have already undergone a knee replacement surgery and have a damaged, failed or worn-out artificial joint implant. Patients who have been living with an artificial knee implant for long time period often require this surgery procedure. The surgery provides improved strength and coordination of the knee joint, alleviating any knee pain symptoms. In this surgery, surgeons take a bone graft from another body area and place it in the affected component of the knee, adding to the complexity of the procedure.

Wrapping up

The knee is one of the most important and critical joints of the body. The knee supports the entire upper torso weight and helps us to move. Injuries, medical conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and old age may have an impact on its functioning. If you are suffering from continuous knee pain, you need to visit an experienced surgeon who diagnoses and determines your the condition of the knee joint. Depending on the condition of the knee joint, a doctor may recommend medication or surgery to provide relief from the problem.