 A
common cause of shoulder pain is arthritis. The most common type of arthritis
is osteoarthritis (OA) — sometimes called degenerative arthritis because
it is a “wearing out” condition involving the breakdown of cartilage
in the joints. When cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, causing
pain and stiffness. OA usually occurs in people aged 50 years and older, and frequently
in individuals with a family history of osteoarthritis.
The most common cause of shoulder replacement, OA can occur without a shoulder
injury. However, this seldom happens since the shoulder is not a weight-bearing
joint like the knee or hip. Instead, shoulder OA commonly occurs many years following
a shoulder injury, such as a dislocation, that has led to joint instability and
repeated shoulder dislocations — damaging the shoulder joint so that OA
develops.
Your Treatment Options for Shoulder Pain
Following an orthopaedic evaluation of your shoulder, your doctor will review
and discuss the results with you. Based on his or her diagnosis, your treatment
options may include:
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Shoulder joint fluid supplements (injections that provide temporary pain relief)
- Total shoulder joint replacement
When joint pain and stiffness become severe enough to affect your daily life
and comfort, and when that pain is not relieved by other treatment options, shoulder
replacement may be recommended.
Severe arthritis may lead to Shoulder Replacement Surgery.
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Shoulder Evaluation