Your Orthopaedic Connection: Arthritis of the Shoulder

Arthritis of the Shoulder

Although most people think of the shoulder as several joints, there are really two joints in the area of the shoulder.

One is located where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the tip of the shoulder bone (acromion). This is called the acromioclavicular or AC joint.

The junction of the upper arm bone (humerus) with the shoulder blade (scapula) is called the glenohumeral joint or scapulothoracic joint. Both joints may be affected by arthritis.

To provide you with effective treatment, your physician will need to determine which joint is affected and what type of arthritis you have.

Cause

Three major types of arthritis generally affect the shoulder.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, or "wear-and-tear" arthritis, is a degenerative condition that destroys the smooth outer covering (articular cartilage) of bone. It usually affects people over 50 years of age and is more common in the acromioclavicular joint than in the glenohumeral shoulder joint.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory condition of the joint lining, or synovium. It can affect people of any age and usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body.

Posttraumatic Arthritis

Posttraumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that develops after an injury, such as a fracture or dislocation of the shoulder. Arthritis can also develop after a rotator cuff tear.

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Symptoms

The most common symptom of arthritis of the shoulder is pain, which is aggravated by activity and progressively worsens.

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If the glenohumeral shoulder joint is affected, the pain is centered in the back of the shoulder and may intensify with changes in the weather.

The pain of arthritis in the acromioclavicular joint is focused on the front of the shoulder.

Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have pain in all these areas if both shoulder joints are affected.

Limited motion is another symptom. It may become more difficult to lift your arm to comb your hair or reach up to a shelf. You may hear a clicking or snapping sound (crepitus) as you move your shoulder.

As the disease progresses, any movement of the shoulder causes pain. Night pain is common and sleeping may be difficult.

Diagnosis

A physical examination and X-rays are needed to properly diagnose arthritis of the shoulder.

During the physical examination, your physician will look for:

Weakness (atrophy) in the muscles
Tenderness to touch
Extent of passive (assisted) and active (self-directed) range of motion
Any signs of injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the joint
Signs of previous injuries
Involvement of other joints (an indication of rheumatoid arthritis)
Crepitus (a grating sensation inside the joint) with movement
Pain when pressure is placed on the joint
X-rays of an arthritic shoulder will show a narrowing of the joint space, changes in the bone, and the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes).

If an injection of a local anesthetic into the joint temporarily relieves the pain, the diagnosis is supported.

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Treatment

Nonsurgical Treatment

As with other arthritic conditions, initial treatment of arthritis of the shoulder is nonsurgical and may involve physical therapy. In addition, some therapies you may try include:

Rest or change activities to avoid provoking pain. You may need to modify the way you move your arm to do things.
Physical therapy
Moist heat
Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to reduce inflammation
Ice the shoulder for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day to reduce inflammation and ease pain
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may prescribe a disease-modifying drug, such as methotrexate, or recommend a series of corticosteroid injections.
Dietary supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements. These compounds may cause negative interactions with other medications. Always consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements)

Surgical Treatment

If nonsurgical treatment does not reduce pain, there are surgical options. As with all surgeries, there are some risks and possible complications. Your orthopaedic surgeon will do all that is possible to minimize these risks.

Arthritis of the glenohumeral joint can be treated by replacing the entire shoulder joint with a prosthesis (total shoulder arthroplasty) or by replacing the head of the upper arm bone (hemiarthroplasty).

The most common surgical procedure used to treat arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint is a resection arthroplasty. In this procedure, a small piece of bone from the end of the collarbone is removed, leaving a space that later fills with scar tissue.

Surgical treatment of arthritis of the shoulder is generally very effective in reducing pain and restoring motion.

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Last reviewed and updated: July 2007

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