SHOULDER ARTHRITIS
Relieve Pain.
Restore Motion.
Shoulder arthritis occurs when the cartilage lining the shoulder joint wears away, leading to pain, stiffness, loss of motion, and progressive limitation of daily activities.
Daily Shoulder Pain
Loss Of Mobility
Night Pain
Difficulty With Activities
What Is Shoulder Arthritis?
Shoulder arthritis develops when the smooth cartilage covering the shoulder joint wears away. Without normal cartilage, the bones no longer glide smoothly, resulting in pain, stiffness, grinding, and loss of function.
Arthritis may progress gradually over many years or develop after trauma, fractures, instability, or previous surgery.
Common Symptoms
- Shoulder pain
- Night pain
- Loss of motion
- Difficulty reaching overhead
- Pain with lifting
- Grinding or catching sensations
Common Types Of Arthritis
- Primary osteoarthritis
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Avascular necrosis
- Arthritis after instability or fracture
When Should I Seek Evaluation?
Patients should consider evaluation when shoulder pain begins interfering with sleep, exercise, work, golf, tennis, weight training, or other activities they enjoy.
Many patients tolerate symptoms for years before realizing how much arthritis is limiting their quality of life.
Sleep
Pain at night is one of the most common signs of advanced arthritis.
Motion
Progressive stiffness often makes dressing, grooming, and reaching difficult.
Function
Patients frequently notice declining ability to perform activities they once enjoyed.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on arthritis severity, rotator cuff integrity, patient goals, activity level, and overall health.
Nonsurgical Treatment
- Activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Corticosteroid injections
- Home exercise programs
- Pain management strategies
Surgical Treatment
- Total shoulder replacement
- Reverse shoulder replacement
- Revision shoulder replacement
- Fracture reconstruction when appropriate
Reverse Versus Total Shoulder Replacement
One of the most important decisions in shoulder arthritis treatment is determining whether an anatomic total shoulder replacement or reverse shoulder replacement is most appropriate.
Total Shoulder Replacement
Typically used when arthritis is present but the rotator cuff remains functional.
Learn More →Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Often preferred when severe rotator cuff damage accompanies arthritis.
Learn More →What This Means For Patients
Shoulder arthritis is highly treatable. The goal is not simply pain relief—it is restoration of comfortable function, improved sleep, improved motion, and return to meaningful activities.
Modern shoulder replacement surgery has become one of the most successful reconstructive procedures in orthopaedic surgery for appropriately selected patients.