Shoulder Joint Replacement
Shoulder Pain: Causes and Treatments
 What Causes Shoulder Joint Pain?
One of the most common causes of joint
pain is arthritis. The most common types
of arthritis are:
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.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Produces
chemical changes in the joint space that
cause it to become thickened and inflamed.
In turn, the synovial fluid destroys cartilage.
The end result is cartilage loss, pain, and
stiffness. RA affects women about 3 times
more often than men, and may affect
other organs of the body.
Post-traumatic Arthritis
May develop
after an injury to the joint in which the
bone and cartilage do not heal properly.
The joint is no longer smooth, and these irregularities lead to more wear on the
joint surfaces.
Other causes of joint pain include avascular
necrosis, which can result when bone is
deprived of its normal blood supply (for
example, after organ transplantation or
long-term cortisone treatment), and
deformity or direct injury to the joint.
Having an Orthopaedic Evaluation
While every orthopaedic evaluation is
different, there are many commonly used
tests that an orthopaedic specialist may
consider in evaluating a patient’s condition.
The orthopaedic evaluation usually
consists of:
- A thorough review of your medical history
- A physical examination
- X-rays
- Additional tests as needed. These may
include laboratory testing of blood, urine,
or joint fluid and/or a bone scan of the
joint and surrounding soft tissue.
 Treatment Options
Following an orthopaedic evaluation, the
orthopaedic specialist will review and
discuss the results with you. Based on his
or her diagnosis, your treatment options
may include:
- Medications, which may include cortisone
injections for temporary pain relief
- Physical therapy
- Shoulder joint fluid supplements
(injections that provide temporary
pain relief)
- Shoulder joint replacement
If you and your orthopaedic specialist
decide that shoulder joint replacement
surgery is an option to relieve your pain,
the orthopaedic specialist will provide the
details of which type of artificial joint he
or she will use, what you need to know to
prepare for the surgery, how the surgery
will be performed, and what results you
can expect after the surgery.
|
