Chondrosis: severe pain in the shoulder. Causes, symptoms and treatment of shoulder osteochondrosis

December 1, 2018
Orthopedics and traumatology
Karina Perevalova

The term “osteochondrosis” refers to a disease of the musculoskeletal system, characterized by the occurrence of degenerative changes in cartilage tissue. At the initial stage of development, the pathology is practically asymptomatic, and therefore most patients seek qualified medical help at a late stage of the disease, when the pain becomes unbearable. Pathology requires an integrated approach to treatment. If all medical recommendations are followed, the prognosis is usually favorable.

Pathogenesis

Normally, the cartilage tissue of the shoulder joint is elastic. It is so polished and smooth that it resembles a mirror surface. Under the influence of various unfavorable factors, trophism is disrupted. As a result, the cartilage tissue begins to dehydrate. Its surface dries out and cracks, and elasticity is lost. As a result, the cartilage in the shoulder joint can no longer perform a shock-absorbing function. The next stage is the development of the inflammatory process in the soft tissues in the immediate vicinity. In this case, it is customary to talk about the progression of osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint.

Other independent treatments

Therapy for osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint at home can also be carried out using the following methods:

Using an ointment based on beaver fat to relieve pain. You will need 60-65 grams of fat, 3-5 grams of propolis. Beaver fat can be replaced with melted lard.
You can also make a healing herbal cocktail by mixing carrot and apple juice in a 5:1 ratio. This drug should be consumed during meals two to three times a day.
Dandelion oil is also good for relieving pain. It should be rubbed into the neck and shoulders. At home, you can prepare a healing composition from the roots of the plant by combining it with ordinary sunflower oil during the grinding process. It is necessary to infuse the solution for seven days in a dark, cool room.
Sometimes a doctor may recommend that a patient perform therapeutic exercises in water to treat osteochondrosis of the shoulders. In this case, you should add an infusion of pine cones to the bath. It is recommended to lie in such water for 5-7 minutes before gymnastics. The infusion is prepared from 20-25 cones, which are poured with 3-4 liters of hot water, infused for 3-4 hours, and then filtered into a bath.

Treatment with leeches

Hirudotherapy - treatment of osteochondrosis with leeches - can only be prescribed by a specialist competent in this field. The doctor is based on all the features of the course of the disease and the patient’s well-being. The procedure takes from 20 to 60 minutes. During this period, the leech is attached to the body. One individual can suck about 5 ml of blood, maximum 15 ml. During the procedure, from 3 to 15 worms are usually placed, the entire course takes 6-10 sessions at intervals of at least 5 days.

The doctor determines the placement of leeches based on the selected points. In some cases, these can be biologically active points (affect the body as a whole), and sometimes painful points (the location of the pathology being cured). For osteochondrosis, both methods are usually combined to achieve the best result.

The procedure should only be carried out by an experienced specialist. If you decide to perform the operation at home, under no circumstances should you place leeches on your face or in areas of large blood vessels.

Etiology

The pathogenesis of the disease is based on a violation of trophism. This occurs under the influence of the following provoking factors:

Unbalanced diet. The diet should be enriched with foods containing vital vitamins and microelements. Otherwise, the body will not have enough “building material” for cartilage tissue.
Pathologies of the endocrine system.
Violation of metabolic processes.
Diseases of the hematopoietic system.
Anomalies in the structure of the shoulder joint that are congenital in nature.
Various types of injuries (fractures, dislocations, ligament tears, etc.).
Excess body weight.
Regular and high-intensity physical activity.
Decreased amount of collagen produced. This is typical for older people.
Infectious diseases. Often, brachial osteochondrosis is a complication of tuberculosis, chlamydia, as well as pathologies caused by streptococcus.
Poor posture.
A lifestyle that does not involve physical activity.

Doctors include arthrosis as a risk factor. This is a pathology characterized by joint deformation. As the disease progresses, the elasticity of the cartilage deteriorates.

What happens with osteochondrosis?

In old age, osteochondrosis occurs in all people, therefore it is considered one of the aging processes. Injuries, diseases, and overload of the spine contribute to its earlier occurrence.

Shoulder osteochondrosis has four stages:

It is characterized by the initial stage of pathology in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Due to excessive load, the process of dehydration of the nucleus begins, which leads to a decrease in the height of the disc and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. There are practically no symptoms.
There is a decrease in the height of the discs, the distance between them, and sagging of the vertebral tissues. There is increased mobility of the vertebrae with affected discs, which is dangerous due to their displacement or subluxation. In addition to discomfort, some types of movements cause pain.
Prolapses and protrusions of intervertebral discs form, causing subluxations and arthrosis of bone tissue. With some types of movement, patients feel stiffness, lack of mobility, and a feeling of tingling and numbness may occur in the limbs. At this stage of osteochondrosis, pain is clearly felt in the back, neck, lumbosacral region or coccyx area, depending on the location of the affected discs.
Osteophytes (pathological growths on the surface of bone tissue) form at the points of contact of the vertebrae, which can cause pinched nerves and injure the vertebrae. Fibrous ankylosis (overgrowth of fibrous tissue) begins in the intervertebral discs, causing immobility.

Joint affected by osteochondrosis

With osteochondrosis, bone tissue grows with the formation of osteophytes (bone outgrowths on the bodies and processes of the vertebrae). They can cause compression of the spinal cord (compressive myelopathy) or cause the development of radicular syndrome.

Pain in the shoulder area is often not pathological changes in the joint itself, but indicates problems associated with inflammation of the cervical spine. Localized in the 4th and 5th vertebrae, the acute pain moves to the shoulder area. In this case, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, provoking inflammation in the intervertebral discs, is accompanied by pain in the shoulder joint. This occurs as a result of pinched nerve bundle in the shoulder, which is the main cause of shoulder osteochondrosis.

The main cause of the disease is the inflammatory process in the intervertebral discs, but there are other factors. This is physical overexertion associated with hard work or sports, untimely treatment of injuries, incorrect posture when walking, while sleeping. prolonged sitting in front of a computer, excessive stress on the muscles causing them to stretch, advanced age, arthrosis.

In addition to the listed factors, a prerequisite for the manifestation of cervicobrachial syndrome may be previous infectious diseases (streptococcal infections, candidiasis, tuberculosis). Congenital pathologies associated with compression of the nerve bundle in the shoulder area can also cause the development of pathology.

Common causes leading to shoulder osteochondrosis:

incorrect load distribution;
infectious diseases (tuberculosis, chlamydia, streptococcal infection, etc. Affect the musculoskeletal system, destroying joints);
incorrectly formed posture;
heavy physical work and carrying objects with heavy weight in one hand;
passive lifestyle;
Crick;
injuries and microtraumas.

A variety of shoulder injuries can cause the development of osteochondrosis

Clinical manifestations

The main symptom of shoulder osteochondrosis is pain. At the initial stage of development of the disease, it is so weakly expressed that the person does not attach importance to the discomfort.

As the disease progresses, severe shoulder pain appears. Chondrosis at this stage is characterized by pronounced degenerative-dystrophic changes in cartilage tissue. Every day the intensity of painful sensations increases. A person experiences them not only during the day, but also at night, due to which his sleep is disturbed and his quality of life worsens.

Other symptoms of shoulder osteochondrosis:

When performing any motor activity with the hand, a crunching sound in the joint is clearly audible. Moreover, this kind of clicking is sometimes the only clinical manifestation of the disease at an early stage of its development, and therefore it is unacceptable to ignore them.
Stiffness. With chondrosis, severe pain in the shoulder, in principle, does not allow you to actively raise or lower your arms. Stiffness in movement is also a consequence of impaired innervation, increased muscle tone, and thinning of cartilage. Already in the early stages, osteophytes (growths) begin to form on the bone tissue.
The person constantly holds his hand in a forced position. Since severe pain in the shoulder with chondrosis makes it practically impossible to carry out daily activities, the person suffering from the disease tries not to make movements that could provoke painful sensations.
Blueness of the skin over the pathology site. A change in shade indicates that the circulation of liquid connective tissue is impaired in the area of the affected joint.
Edema. With osteochondrosis of the shoulder, it appears in the morning. Then the swelling disappears on its own. This is due to the fact that during the day the body produces hormone-like substances.
The skin over the pathology site is cool and moist. This condition is characteristic of the stage at which motor function deteriorates. It occurs due to circulatory problems.
Decrease in muscle volume. Due to severe pain in the shoulder with chondrosis, a person holds his arm in a forced position. Against the background of low mobility of the joint, muscle strength decreases, and tissue volume also decreases greatly.

With osteochondrosis of the left or right shoulder, nonspecific symptoms may appear. These include: frequent episodes of dizziness, migraines, high blood pressure, impaired coordination of movements, increased fatigue. In rare cases, there is a feeling of numbness in the fingers, as well as paresthesia. Sometimes with osteochondrosis, both the shoulder and arm hurt. Discomfort may also radiate to the neck and upper chest.

Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, treatment of osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint should not be delayed. Ignoring the pathology leads to deformation of the cervical spine, deterioration of hearing and vision, constant dizziness, surges in blood pressure, tooth loss and a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin.

How to diagnose the disease in the early stages

Even a one-time manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervico-brachial area should cause an urgent visit to a medical institution and subsequent examination in order to make a diagnosis. It should be borne in mind that the signs of the disease manifest themselves only during the period of exacerbation, which means that the doctor in most cases will only be able to make a preliminary conclusion based on a conversation with the patient.

The main research method today is ultrasound or x-ray. This kind of examination will make it possible to determine the presence of inflammation in the cartilage tissue, which is characteristic of osteochondrosis, which will become the basis for confirming the preliminary diagnosis.

You can’t delay contacting a doctor, as you can worsen the condition, and this can lead to complete deformation of the joints and tissue damage. It is much easier to stop pathology in the early stages than to deal with it in advanced stages.

Only timely diagnosis will make it possible to select the correct treatment method for the disease. Often during the examination, the doctor identifies other diseases, the symptoms of which are similar to osteochondrosis and can provoke shoulder pain.

Basic diagnostic procedures used in most cases:

Radiography – both frontal and lateral projections are performed to obtain more detailed information.
Nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostics.

As a result of examining the patient, the doctor will be able to determine the specific causes of the pathology and prescribe adequate treatment.

Severity

The disease goes through several stages of development. Doctors distinguish 3 degrees of severity of osteochondrosis:

The first one. Mild pain may only bother you after physical activity. Sometimes a crunching sound is heard in the joint. X-ray images clearly show small areas of cartilage damage and small single osteophytes.
Second. Characterized by increased pain. The tissues swell, hand movements become constrained. X-ray images show changes in the contours of the joint space. In addition, a large number of osteophytes are visualized.
Third. When forced into a forced position, the pain subsides somewhat. This stage is characterized by stiffness. The patient is unable to perform even simple housework.

Regardless of the presence of certain symptoms, treatment of osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint also depends on the form of the disease. The pathology is characterized by frequent alternation of periods of exacerbation and remission. In the first case, immediate medical intervention is required to stop the attack. During remission, it is necessary to carry out measures aimed at increasing the duration of this stage.

Traditional medicine recipes

Traditional methods of therapy are aimed at improving blood flow in a joint affected by osteochondrosis, and thereby stopping the destruction of the latter. Typically, in such cases, compresses with a warming effect are used, but sometimes they also resort to internal formulations.

External preparations

Recipe 1

A horseradish-based compress helps relieve pain and restore joint mobility of the shoulder. You need to grate the root on a fine grater, then wrap the resulting mass in two layers of gauze and apply it to the affected area of the body. Cover the top of the compress with polyethylene or cling film and secure with an elastic bandage. Additionally, insulate with a woolen scarf and leave for 8 hours (can be overnight).

If horseradish provokes too strong a burning sensation, which is almost impossible to tolerate, you need to stop the session ahead of time, otherwise you can cause a burn to the skin. In this case, further treatment of the shoulder with external methods will be impossible until it is completely healed.

If the body is characterized by increased sensitivity, it is recommended to apply vegetable oil or a very rich cream to the skin before the compress. This way you can prevent possible irritation or burns.

The duration of therapy through the use of traditional methods depends on the speed of improvement in the patient’s well-being.

Recipe 2

A compress based on black radish has a milder effect. It warms up the shoulder area well, but does not cause skin irritation. You should grate one large root vegetable on a fine grater, and place the finished mass in cheesecloth. Cover the product with another layer and lay it towards the shoulder. Such a compress should be covered with parchment; polyethylene will not work in this case. Everything is secured on top with a bandage.

There is no need to insulate the shoulder in any way. It is better to use such a compress for the first time in the daytime to observe the body’s reaction. If there are no side effects, then next time it is permissible to leave the product for five to seven hours. The third time and further - for the whole night.

Recipe 3

Onion-garlic compress has a beneficial effect on the condition of the sore shoulder joint. You need to peel a large onion, chop it with a meat grinder and combine it with three cloves of grated garlic. Place the finished mass directly on the skin in the area of the joint affected by osteochondrosis and cover it with a gauze bandage and parchment. Fix it all, insulate it with a scarf and leave it for 10 hours. The course of treatment can last up to 2 weeks.

Preparations for oral administration

Alternative medicine also offers folk recipes for potions that need to be taken orally. To prepare anti-inflammatory compositions, you can use chamomile, kalanchoe, eucalyptus, oregano and nettle. You should drink half a glass of this decoction before meals three times a day.

Before treating osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint using traditional methods, you should definitely consult with your doctor.

You can also prepare a lemon-based tincture. To do this, you need to take one fruit, wash it well and grind it to a mushy state along with the peel. Add one finely grated head of garlic to the mixture and stir. Pour half a liter of boiling water over the mixture and let it brew until it cools completely. Strain the product and take 50 ml before meals. Such a drug will make it possible to cleanse the blood vessels, make them more elastic, thereby increasing blood flow to the affected area.

Diagnostics

When the first alarming signs occur, you should contact a rheumatologist. It is this specialist who treats osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint.

During the appointment, the doctor performs a primary diagnosis, which includes:

Survey. The specialist must provide information regarding all existing symptoms and their severity. In addition, it is important to remember whether there has been any trauma in the recent past.
Physical examination. The doctor palpates the painful area, assesses the degree of mobility of the limb and the condition of the skin over the source of pathology.

To confirm the diagnosis, the rheumatologist issues a referral for examination. It includes:

X-ray. Currently, this study is the most informative. With its help, the doctor is able to identify changes in cartilage tissue and bone structures.
CT, MRI. During these studies, degenerative changes in soft tissues (ligaments, muscle fibers, tendons) are revealed.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe an arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive technique that allows you to examine the joint cavity from the inside.

The clinical manifestations of periarthritis, arthritis and arthrosis are very similar to the symptoms of shoulder osteochondrosis. Treatment in this regard is prescribed only after differential diagnosis.

Where can you get treatment for shoulder osteochondrosis?

You can undergo treatment for osteochondrosis in medical centers, hospitals, and clinics in Moscow that treat neurological diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In severe cases, you may need the help of a surgeon, a hospital and a rehabilitation center. The Yusupov Hospital consists of several clinics in different areas, a diagnostic center, a laboratory, a hospital, and a rehabilitation center. The patient can not only undergo diagnostic tests, but also hospital treatment and rehabilitation.

Therapy

Currently, there is no method that can rid a person of the disease once and for all. Treatment of shoulder osteochondrosis is aimed at relieving discomfort and inflammation, as well as improving tissue trophism.

The classic treatment regimen for the disease includes the following points:

Wearing an orthosis. This is an orthopedic product that provides reliable fixation to the joint. Orthoses can be rigid or semi-rigid. The degree of fixation should be determined by a doctor. The need to wear an orthosis is due to the fact that the joint must be at rest during treatment. During the period of remission, it is enough to use an elastic bandage.
Physiotherapy. The most effective methods are: UHF, laser and magnetic therapy. After the course of treatment, tissue trophism improves and blood circulation normalizes.
Treatment with topical preparations. In most cases, doctors prescribe medications related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples of drugs: Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen.
Drug blockades. They are carried out only if NSAIDs are ineffective. Blockades involve the introduction of glucocorticosteroids into the joint cavity. Examples of medications: Diprospan, Dexamethasone, Triamcinolone.
Hirudotherapy. The doctor places up to 5 medicinal leeches on the area of the affected shoulder. The saliva of these annelids contains a large number of biologically active substances that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-exudative effects.
Physiotherapy.

To increase the effectiveness of therapy, manual therapy, massage of the collar area, and acupuncture can be prescribed.

Treatment of pain in arms and legs

It is worth understanding that this disease is very specific, and there is no single method that would forever save you from the unpleasant manifestations of the disease. If pain radiates to the arm muscles with cervical osteochondrosis, and you experience other inconveniences, treatment should be comprehensive and include:

taking medications;
applying ointments;
physiotherapeutic procedures;
massages;
exercises to strengthen muscles.

Only by treating the disease comprehensively will you be able to get rid of its manifestations and regain comfort in everyday life.

Drug therapy

Taking medications for cervical osteochondrosis, when pain in the arms may appear, is intended to solve a lot of problems. Namely:

improve blood circulation;
slow down degenerative processes in cartilage;
numb the affected area;
ensure the supply of all necessary substances to the tissues.

The doctor may prescribe you pills, ointments or even injections, depending on the extent of the disease and the intensity of its manifestations. Analgin, Nise, Ketanol, etc. are often prescribed as pain relievers. Injections are usually prescribed to relieve an acute condition and improve a person’s well-being as quickly as possible. This can be “Analgin” in the form of injections for pain relief, “Ortofen” as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, “Ketanol”, which is used only for severe conditions, as well as B vitamins, which are designed to protect nerve processes from damage. If your left arm hurts due to cervical osteochondrosis, topical medications are often prescribed - painkillers, anti-inflammatory, chondroprotectors and even irritating compounds. The latter improve blood circulation in the affected area quite well, and the drugs themselves, when applied to the skin, cause a burning sensation, tingling sensation, etc.

Physiotherapy

You may also be prescribed physical therapy. Often, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis and arm pain involves the patient undergoing:

electrotherapy;
magnetic therapy;
laser therapy;
shock wave procedures;
balneotherapy, etc.

The complex effect together with taking medications brings tangible results.

Gymnastics

When cervical osteochondrosis occurs, the patient’s attitude to treatment is also of great importance. If a person approaches this process responsibly, he must devote the proper amount of time to daily gymnastics and performing therapeutic exercises. These methods are designed to strengthen muscles, improve blood circulation and stabilize the vertebrae. As a rule, gymnastics and exercises are prescribed when severe pain subsides and a person can move his head normally, and the former mobility of his arms and legs returns. It is recommended to perform exercises regularly and constantly, which will avoid recurrence of the disease.

Physiotherapy

Regular exercise helps strengthen muscle tissue. In addition, blood circulation is significantly improved, thanks to which the joint structures receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutritional components.

Set of exercises:

Take a sitting or standing position. Raise both arms up. The essence of the exercise is to alternately stretch the upper limbs. This should be done slowly. Number of repetitions - 15 (for each hand).
Raise your upper limbs and fix them at chest level. Spread your arms to the sides. First you need to turn your head and torso to the right. Fix your gaze on your palm. Turn your head and torso in the opposite direction and look at your left hand. Perform the exercise 1 time.
Take a standing position. Spread your arms to the sides. Keep your muscles tense. Stretch your hands up without changing the position of your hands. Make 5 circular movements back, then the same amount forward.
Stay in the same starting position. Stretch your arms to the side and lower them just below shoulder level. Pull them slightly behind your back. Clench and unclench your fists until your arms get tired. Then make 5 circular movements forward and backward with them.
The starting position is the same. Raise your hands up. Use your palms to grab the elbow of the opposite limb. Slowly move your arms back. The lower back should remain straight. Number of repetitions - 5.

You cannot rest between exercises. You need to complete the entire complex in one breath. It is necessary to exercise daily until the clinical manifestations of the disease completely disappear.

We treat shoulder osteochondrosis with traditional methods

In order to relieve pain and inflammation, it is permissible to resort to alternative medicine methods.

The most effective recipes:

Grind the horseradish using a grater. Lightly heat the resulting pulp in the microwave and wrap it in gauze. Apply a compress to the sore shoulder. Secure with plastic wrap and a warm scarf. After half an hour, rinse off the product with warm water.
Take 50 g of calendula flowers. Place them in a 0.5 liter jar. Pour the raw material with vodka without additives. The container must be completely filled. Place the jar in a dark place. After 2 weeks, you can rub the affected area with the resulting calendula tincture.
Wash freshly picked burdock leaves thoroughly. Place the plant on your shoulder. Secure with plastic wrap and a warm scarf. Leaves need to be changed as they dry out.
Take dandelion root, mint leaves, coriander and birch buds in equal proportions. Grind the raw materials. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Take 1 tbsp. l. the resulting raw material and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Let it brew for 1 hour. Strain the liquid. Rub the resulting infusion three times a day on the affected shoulder.
Rinse fresh cabbage leaves with hot water. Crumple it a little or make several cuts with a knife. Place the sheet on your shoulder and secure with a scarf. Change the compress as the raw materials dry out.

It is important to remember that the use of alternative treatment methods does not eliminate the need to seek qualified medical help. Only an integrated approach will help avoid serious complications.

Disease prevention

One of the factors in the development of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, so therapeutic exercises and moderate exercise will be a useful preventive measure. To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to take a break of 8-10 minutes to warm up every 40-50 minutes of sedentary work. You can also use strength exercises (with permission and under the supervision of a specialist) to develop the shoulder girdle and strengthen the muscular frame of the spine.

Cervico-brachial syndrome (shoulder osteochondrosis) is a dangerous and rather unpleasant disease, the risk of occurrence and development of which increases with age. To avoid pathology and feel good, it is recommended to take your health as seriously as possible - both in terms of lifestyle and in terms of preventive measures. If pain or characteristic symptoms occur, it is better to consult a doctor.

Doctors' recommendations

To reduce the likelihood of developing the disease or prolong the period of remission, you must follow some rules:

Regularly expose the body to moderate physical activity.
Women are not recommended to wear high heels. This is due to the fact that while walking there is a load on the joints and spine, in addition, it is distributed incorrectly.
Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
Control body weight.
If your daily activity involves working on a computer, you should take a break every 2 hours and do some light physical exercise.
Adjust your diet. The menu must include products containing large amounts of vitamins, micro- and macroelements. It is also recommended to avoid eating fatty and fried foods.

Following the above recommendations significantly reduces the likelihood of developing pathology.

Humeroscapular periarthritis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can manifest itself as a neurological complication, in which the leading symptom is glenohumeral periarthritis (inflammation of the periarticular tissues and joints). Causes may include: trauma, physical activity, hypothermia, inflammation, disruption of the innervation of the shoulder caused by damage to nerve fibers and changes in the discs.

Symptoms of glenohumeral periarthritis: pain in the joint, mainly at night. They radiate to the neck and arm, intensify with movement, increase in intensity, and stiffness of the joint occurs when raising the arm above the horizontal level is problematic.

The muscles surrounding the joint become smaller and atrophy may occur. The volume of the muscles surrounding the joint decreases, they can atrophy, the hand becomes bluish and swells. Humeral periarthritis has symptoms similar to those of cervical osteochondrosis. The neck, shoulder girdle, shoulder, shoulder blade hurt. Tapping on the shoulder blade, shoulder or collarbone is painful. When palpating, it can be difficult to determine the exact location of the pain. More often it is expressed in the joint space.

In the subacute stage of the disease, pain usually intensifies with changes in posture. Subsequently, atrophy (thinning) of the muscles of the shoulder girdle may develop.