Shoulder Arthritis
Orthopaedic Faculty with this Specialization
Robert T. Burks, M.D.
Patrick Greis, MD
Robert Tashjian, MD
University Orthopaedic Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q) What is shoulder of glenohumeral arthritis?
A) Basically this is loss of cartilage which normally covers the bone in the joint and allows the joint to move smoothly and without pain. The cartilage can be absent because of osteoarthritis which is frequent as people get older, rheumatoid arthritis, after injury such as with a fracture, and for many other reasons. When the cartilage is missing the joint begins to be more painful, feels rougher, and the patient typically has decreased range of motion.
Q) How is the diagnosis made?
A) The diagnosis of shoulder arthritis cuff disease is made by taking a history from the patient and doing a physical examination. After this, radiographs (x-rays) are obtained. Occasionally an MRI is used to augment the information of the status of the rotator cuff problem.
Q) What conservative treatment is there?
A) Patients frequently are encouraged to exercise their joint in spite of the arthritis and in particular work on maintaining or improving the range of motion of the shoulder without doing significant resistive work on the shoulder such as weight lifting. Patients would be encouraged to continue cardiovascular workouts such as riding an exercise bike or doing an elliptical type machine as many times just increased blood flow will make the shoulder feel better. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be taken such as Ibuprofen, but there are many other medications in this regard and should be discussed with a physician. Many patients get some symptomatic relief by taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin sulfate and the side effects are minimal so it is a consideration. Occasionally, in the right patient, a steroid injection might be considered. Visco supplementation (Synvisc for example) can be considered, although it is much more commonly used in knee joints.
Q) What about operative treatment?
A) The general operative treatment for patients who fail conservative management for their shoulder arthritis is to do a replacement. Sometimes this is a replacement that is done by only replacing the humeral side ("the ball side"). Most of the time it is done by replacing both the humeral and the glenoid ("socket") side. A typical patient should be older, although occasionally, due to unique problems, consideration has to be given to much younger patients than would be ideal. Indications for surgery would be significant pain and range of motion loss enough to justify going through the operative procedure.
The information provided may be useful for patients to become more knowledgeable about their specific injury, surgery or condition. It is provided for informational purposes only, and does not replace the advice of a physician.
