SHOULDER ARTHRITIS
Shoulder
Osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is the gradual loss of cartilage within the shoulder joint. As the cartilage wears away, bone begins to rub against bone, leading to pain, stiffness, loss of motion, and difficulty performing everyday activities. Fortunately, many patients improve with nonsurgical treatment, while others achieve excellent results with modern shoulder replacement surgery.
Cartilage Wear
Pain & Stiffness
Individualized
Restore Function
What Is Shoulder Osteoarthritis?
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint lined with smooth cartilage that allows painless movement. Osteoarthritis develops when this cartilage gradually wears away. As the cartilage becomes thinner, the joint becomes inflamed, bone spurs may develop, and movement becomes increasingly painful and stiff.
Unlike arthritis in the hip or knee, shoulder arthritis often causes significant stiffness in addition to pain.
Dr. Streit's Clinical Perspective
Many patients believe arthritis means they need a shoulder replacement immediately. That is rarely true. My goal is to understand how much arthritis is present, how much it affects your daily life, and whether nonsurgical treatment or shoulder replacement offers the best opportunity to restore long-term function.
Common Symptoms
Deep Shoulder Pain
Pain is usually felt deep within the shoulder joint and gradually worsens over time.
Loss Of Motion
Patients often notice increasing difficulty reaching overhead or behind their back.
Night Pain
Sleep frequently becomes disrupted as arthritis progresses.
Grinding Or Clicking
Loss of cartilage may create grinding sensations during shoulder movement.
Weakness
Weakness often develops because pain limits shoulder use.
Difficulty With Daily Activities
Dressing, reaching overhead, golfing, lifting luggage, and other activities become progressively more difficult.
How Is Shoulder Arthritis Diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with a careful history and physical examination. Standard X-rays usually provide the most important information by showing joint-space narrowing, bone spurs, and overall joint alignment. CT scans or MRI studies are sometimes obtained when additional information is needed for surgical planning.
What I Tell My Patients
"I don't treat an X-ray. I treat the patient sitting in front of me. Some patients with severe arthritis function surprisingly well, while others with less dramatic imaging have significant pain and stiffness."
Treatment Without Surgery
Activity Modification
Avoiding repetitive painful activities often reduces symptoms.
Physical Therapy
Maintaining shoulder motion and strengthening surrounding muscles may improve comfort and function.
Anti-inflammatory Medication
NSAIDs may reduce inflammation and pain when medically appropriate.
Corticosteroid Injections
Selected patients experience meaningful temporary pain relief from an intra-articular corticosteroid injection.
Observation
Many patients successfully manage arthritis for years before surgery becomes necessary.
Lifestyle Modification
Adjusting activities while maintaining overall shoulder function often allows patients to delay surgery.
When Is Shoulder Replacement Considered?
Shoulder replacement is considered when arthritis causes persistent pain and loss of function despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment. The decision depends on your symptoms, examination, imaging, activity level, overall health, and personal goals.
Persistent Pain
Night Pain
Progressive Loss Of Motion
Difficulty With Daily Activities
Failure Of Conservative Treatment
Loss Of Quality Of Life
Related Resources
Living With Shoulder Arthritis?
A comprehensive shoulder evaluation can determine the severity of your arthritis and help you decide whether continued nonsurgical treatment or shoulder replacement is the best option for restoring comfort and function.
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