Osteoarthritis of the shoulder (also known as omarthrosis) is a disease characterized by joint damage in this area. The damaged joint is gradually destroyed, causing not only pain but also significant limitation of movement of the entire hand.
Doctors recommend treating the early stages of the disease at home, the consumption of many drugs has an adverse effect on the body, while folk remedies give great effect without causing side effects. It is about home methods to combat this disease that will be discussed further.
Cause of disease
In most cases, the elderly suffer from osteoarthritis. According to statistics, about 10% of people under 65 years old have the disease, in patients over 75 years old, the rate of joint disease is about 90%. The aspect is related to age-related changes in tissue, cartilage, wear and tear of the joints.
Doctors identify several possible causes of shoulder joint disease:
- Genetic factors. Scientists are inclined to believe that some people who have a close relative with dry shoulder disease are many times more likely to have the same condition than those who do not have such a family relationship;
- autoimmune diseases. The body's defense system is a complex system, failures in its work cause active destruction of its own cells, including joints;
- excessive physical activity. Illness is often the result of professional sports activities;
- various injuries. Even minor damage over time can lead to disastrous consequences;
- circulatory disorder. Lack of nutrients adversely affects the functioning of joints;
- advanced age. Elderly people are more likely to suffer from musculoskeletal problems than other people. It is due to the physiological aging process, the deterioration of the quality of bones and joints.
Important!Whatever the reason for the appearance of shoulder dryness, immediately address the problem. In case of negligence cannot borrow the conservative method, surgical intervention is required.
Characteristic signs and symptoms
The progression of the symptoms of the disease can take years, even decades, but eventually sclerosis of the shoulder joint leads to immobility of the arm and severe pain.
The clinical picture of dry shoulder disease gradually appears. The course of the disease is long, when it begins to develop, the patient may not feel anything, or the symptoms are successfully disguised as simple fatigue.
If you notice any of the symptoms described below, see your doctor, who will immediately address the problem.
Shoulder osteoarthritis is usually manifested by the following signs:
- pain. Usually, the pain is dull, attacks occur at night or after exertion. Sometimes the pain syndrome manifests itself when the weather conditions change drastically;
- characteristic brittleness. It is associated with the deposition of salts in diseased joints. Initially, the sound is quiet, which over time becomes pronounced, accompanied by pain;
- difficulty with motor function. The patient has difficulty coping with daily tasks, over time shoulder movement becomes more difficult;
- swelling. This is the result of the inflammatory process, the beginning of the degenerative joint process. There is also a phenomenon of stiffness, the surrounding skin is slightly red.
Home remedies
How and how to treat shoulder osteoarthritis? The early stages of the disease can be treated at home. Before that, be sure to consult an experienced specialist, following his recommendations. You can independently use special methods that are used as an adjunct to drug therapy, physiotherapy.
There are various techniques that help to quickly cope with the pain syndrome, speed up the healing process and restore mobility to the diseased joint. Mandatory home treatment is individually selected by an experienced specialist. Doctors do not recommend making such decisions on your own.
Exercise
Special exercises to train muscles, restore motor activity of the injured shoulder area. All operations are performed after consulting a doctor. To get the desired result, follow special rules:
- thrift mode is a prerequisite;
- Exercise regularly. Just spending 10 minutes a day on gymnastics pays off with interest;
- during training, relax the muscles as much as possible, this aspect will avoid injuries and micro-damage of the joints;
- low frequency of movements will bring a quick result without injury;
- oscillation amplitude - small (for safety reasons);
- gradually increase the load;
- pain is an alarming signal. It is forbidden to take painkillers for exercise. Take good care of painful joints, do not overwork;
- do all the manipulations in front of the mirror. So you can control the desired shoulder lift without exceeding the specified limit;
- Almost all exercises are performed in a sitting or lying position. An excellent option is water gymnastics, as such, the load is removed from the painful joint, the training is extremely beneficial.
All of the above recommendations help to properly perform the exercises and exercises to treat shoulder osteoarthritis and prevent recurrence of the disease area. Regular exercise will help ease movement, return to a normal lifestyle.
Approximate training program (specific exercises should be discussed with your doctor):
- Sitting on the sofa, gradually lower and raise the shoulders, the amplitude is not more than 2 inches. Do not try to move only the part of the shoulder that hurts, there is a high chance of injury, perform all exercises symmetrically;
- Sit on a flat surface, place your palms lightly on your knees, and begin to slowly swing your shoulders back and forth. Make sure the work is done with the shoulder blades and shoulder joints, do not move the hands too much;
- slowly rotate the shoulder clockwise and counterclockwise for two minutes, the range of motion should be no more than two centimeters;
- Sit in a chair, place your palms on your knees. Start moving backwards, gradually bending your elbows, while you should not take your palms away from your knees. Repeat the exercise 20 times, starting with 10 repetitions;
- Place your palms behind your head, cross your arms. Gently extend and spread the elbow, perform the movements until the pain is tolerable, it is strictly forbidden to over-exercise;
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, hold a small weight in your hand with joint pain (a water bottle or 0. 5 kg dumbbell will do). Bend forward slightly, start swinging the dumbbells with your hands, if the feeling is tolerable, then perform a circular motion, developing painful joints.
The above exercises are very simple, do not require special physical training, patients of all ages can do them. If any manipulation brings unbearable pain, give up gymnastics, see a doctor, perhaps the situation has been too neglected to make conservative methods ineffective such asdesire.
Folk methods and recipes
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis of the shoulder have been used by healers for a long time, and can still be used today, but only as a supportive treatment method prescribed by a doctor.
Natural remedies sometimes provide better pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects than conventional medications.
But it is impossible to completely refuse to take the drug, the chiropractor will tell you the basic rules for using folk remedies.
A wide selection of formulations will allow you to choose the ideal product for you to treat joint diseases with folk remedies:
- high efficiency is demonstrated by ointments based on propolis. Take 50 grams of lard, add three grams of propolis. Mix the finished mass well, use as a treatment and prevention (immediately after heavy physical exertion);
- The presence of an allergy to bee products forces patients with shoulder osteoarthritis to use ointments based on medicinal herbs, for example, sweet clover, St. John's wort. Take 50 grams of kerosene as base, add 10 grams of herbal ingredients each. Lubricate the affected area with the received drug daily at bedtime, the duration of which is determined by the attending physician;
- compressed oats. It has long been used to treat joint diseases of varying severity. Boil 30 grams of asparagus powder in 400 ml of water, spread the cooled mass evenly on the painful area, first put it on clean gauze. The procedure takes 40 minutes, then remove the compression bandage, wash the shoulder with warm water;
- Excellent results are shown by rubbing with rubbing alcohol. Take 50 grams of dried primrose root, pour 125 ml of vodka. Rub the resulting tincture into the damaged areas of the shoulder up to five times a day. In addition to pain relief, the remedy also improves blood circulation, restores the supply of nutrients at an appropriate level, kickstarts the regeneration process in the joints;
- cabbage juice. Cabbage has been used to treat joint pain for a long time. Take the leaves of the rhubarb and apply it to the pain. Use a kitchen hammer to beat a little until the juice is secreted. A useful method of application at night, routine procedures can cure even severe pain, reducing the condition in severe cases.
Massotherapy
Self-massage helps to increase blood flow, restore motor function of the damaged shoulder area. Allows gentle stroking, kneading, shaking. Vigorous movements are excluded, feel the line between beneficial and harmful massage for your health. The best option is preliminary training with an experienced specialist. In advanced stages, such a technique is prohibited, incorrect movements can cause irreparable damage to the patient's health.
Special diets and nutritional rules
Nutrition plays an important role in strengthening joints, starting the process of regeneration of cartilage tissue. Eat fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, legumes, fish. Eliminate the intake of greasy foods, salty foods, fast foods and carbonated drinks into the body. Give up semi-finished products, these products contain a lot of fat that negatively affects the general condition of a person.
Eating the right diet helps to lose weight and reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system. An important role is played by the use of fermented dairy products, the active ingredients of which saturate the bones with minerals and vitamins, strengthening the patient's joints. Proper nutrition has a beneficial effect on the work of all human organs and systems.
Osteoarthritis most commonly occurs against the background of age-related changes in the shoulder joint. It is not possible to stop the aging process, but it is possible to slow it down. Moderate physical activity, proper nutrition, regular visits to a specialist or chiropractor will reduce the risk of joint disease or delay its appearance for a while.
Avoid injury, exercise gently, monitor your emotions. Any unpleasant symptoms are a signal to seek medical attention. If the disease is detected in time, and responds well to treatment, it is possible to preserve the joint, helping to move the shoulder without pain. Health care, musculoskeletal care.