. Shoulder osteoarthritis-Symptoms
Shoulder osteoarthritis-Symptoms
Arthritic degeneration of the shoulder joint may begin months or years before symptoms appear. Many people initially attribute their occasional shoulder osteoarthritis pain and stiffness to lack of exercise or getting older.
Recognizing of the signs of shoulder osteoarthritis can lead to treatment, which can slow down the disease’s progression.
Pain. The most common symptom of arthritis of the shoulder is pain. This pain is aggravated by activity and progressively gets worse over time. The location of the pain will vary, depending on which shoulder joint is affected:
Pain is typically felt during the middle-range of motion rather than at the extremes of flexibility. Moderate to severe shoulder arthritis may cause a dull aching or intermittent flare-ups of pain at night, making it difficult to sleep.
If the glenohumeral shoulder joint is affected, the pain is centered in the side or back of the shoulder and may intensify with changes in the weather. Patients complain of an ache deep in the joint.
The pain of arthritis in the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is focused on the top of the shoulder. This pain can sometimes radiate or travel to the side of the neck.
Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have pain throughout the shoulder if both the glenohumeral and AC joints are affected.
As th disease progresses, any movement of the shoulder causes pain.
Other symptoms may include:
Limited range of motion. Limited motion is another common symptom. It may become more difficult to lift your arm to comb your hair or reach up to a shelf.
Crepitus. You may hear a grinding, clicking, or snapping sound (crepitus) as you move your shoulder. Crepitus is sometimes painful and can be loud enough for other people to hear,
Catching. When the shoulder “catches” an otherwise fluid movement is unintentionally interrupted. Catching is often associated with popping or crunching sound.
Weakness and muscle atrophy. Many people with shoulder arthritis avoid painful movements and lifting objects, which can in turn lead to muscle atrophy and weakness.
Inactivity makes it worse. The shoulder can become stiff after a long period of inactivity (e.g. sleeping at night) and feel better after a short bout of easy or moderate activity. Shoulder pain that is worse after repetitive activity may be a symptom of shoulder bursitis.
Swelling. When arthritis causes friction between bones, the surrounding soft tissues can become irritated and swell. Swelling can occur in shoulder arthritis, though it is typically less pronounced than in other types of arthritis, such as knee or hand arthritis.
In most but not all cases, the symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis come and go, becoming worse and more frequent over months or years. Shoulder osteoarthritis pain may flare up after high intensity activities, such as tennis or golf.
If shoulder pain comes on suddenly, it is more likely to be caused by trauma or another condition, not by shoulder osteoarthritis. If the shoulder feels hot or the skin around the joint turns red, then osteoarthritis is probably not the culprit. An infection, rheumatoid arthritis, or another condition may be the cause