Orthopedic Shoulder Arthritis Specialist in Northern Indiana

What is Shoulder Arthritis?

Have a bad shoulder from playing sports as a kid? Or maybe sitting at your desk all day makes it twinge? Or you slept wrong and your shoulder is stiff and you feel like your range of motion is limited? It could be shoulder arthritis; inflammation of the shoulder joint that affects millions of people daily. Arthritis develops in the shoulder when the cartilage that cushions the end of the upper arm bone or humerus and socket of the shoulder blade begins to deteriorate, causing it to become inflamed, causing pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.

What are the Symptoms of Shoulder Arthritis?

Shoulder arthritis is common, but you should tell your doctor if it’s impacting your daily activities, or interrupting your sleep. Common symptoms are:

Persistent pain deep in the shoulder that worsens with movement
Stiffness in the joint, impeding daily activities
Limited range of motion and inability to perform tasks that need a full range of shoulder motion
Grinding or clicking in the shoulder joint
Muscle weakness

What Causes Shoulder Arthritis?

Potential causes of Shoulder Arthritis include:

A History of Shoulder Injuries: If you have an old sports injury or a history of shoulder injuries, that can accelerate the development of arthritis as the traumatic joint injury impacts the structure of the joint, speeding up wear and tear and causing arthritis.
Repetitive Motion Injury: Overuse and repetitive motion injury can cause shoulder arthritis as seen by some athletes and people with manual labor jobs.
Age: Aging is the leading factor and cause of arthritis in any joint. As we age the cartilage in the shoulder joining begins to wear down, increasing inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
Inflammatory Conditions: Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to shoulder arthritis.

What are the Treatments for Shoulder Arthritis?

The goal of treating shoulder arthritis is to improve daily functions, increase range of motion, and decrease pain. Treating shoulder arthritis depends on the patient’s needs and how severe the arthritis has become. Common treatment options include:

Physical therapy to increase range of motion, strengthen surrounding muscles, and take stress off the shoulder joint
Over-the-counter NSAID medications along with rest and the application of a heating pad
Steroid injections into the joint give temporary relief, reduce swelling, and improve daily function
Surgical interventions such as arthroscopy, joint resurfacing, or a total shoulder replacement may restore shoulder function and decrease pain

Shoulder Arthritis Care in Michiana

OSMC is your trusted orthopedic destination for shoulder arthritis in Michiana. Our skilled orthopedic specialists are here to provide expert evaluation and diagnosis for shoulder arthritis and provide a personalized treatment plan that helps you regain your quality of life.

For more information, give us a call or schedule an appointment online with one of our neck and spine specialists. Our orthopedic clinic has multiple locations. We serve patients in Elkhart, IN, Goshen, IN, Granger, IN, Middlebury, IN, and Nappanee, IN. We also have two walk-in orthopedic clinics.