Dr. Szerlip has joined forces with Austin Orthopedic Institute
Located at: 11675 Jollyville Road Suite 207, Austin, TX 78759
and 1410 Blue Ridge Dr. Ste 100, Georgetown, TX 78626
Call 512-856-1000 to request an appointment.
Shoulder arthritis is a painful condition that causes swelling in your shoulder joint. Read on to learn the common types of arthritis that can affect the shoulder, how the condition is diagnosed, and how it can be treated.
If you are experiencing shoulder pain and inflammation, contact Dr. Benjamin W. Szerlip, DO, in Austin or Georgetown, Texas. He is a fellowship-trained shoulder and sports medicine surgeon offering expert orthopedic diagnoses and treatment for several shoulder conditions.
“I was very pleased with my experience of my shoulder surgery. My pain was easily managed and I’m looking forward to getting back on the golf course. Dr. Szerlip was easy going and you can tell he loves his job and cares about you!” — Melody G.
Shoulder arthritis commonly refers to arthritis in the ball-and-socket joint (glenohumeral) of the shoulder. It is caused by the breakdown or damage of cartilage between the bone surfaces. This causes inflammation in your shoulder, leading to shoulder pain and stiffness that can make lifting your arm difficult.
The other joint in the shoulder is the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. When arthritis affects this joint, it is commonly called AC joint arthritis.
5 different types of shoulder arthritis can cause pain and discomfort in your shoulder.
Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease. Over time, the smooth joint surfaces (called articular cartilage) wear away, exposing the bone of the joint. As the bone surfaces come in contact with each other, causing pain during shoulder movement.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body’s cells. This type of arthritis affects the lubricating lining of the joint called the synovium. It causes the lining to swell, causing pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis will usually affect both sides of your body at the same time.
Post-traumatic arthritis develops after an injury, such as a shoulder dislocation or fracture of the shoulder. The injury speeds up the breakdown of cartilage, similar to osteoarthritis.
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is type of arthritis can develop if you have a long-standing rotator cuff tendon tear. The rotator cuff tendons hold the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket on the shoulder blade. If the rotator cuff tendons tear, the upper arm bone can move upward during shoulder movement and rub against the acromion. The friction can lead to painful arthritis along with weakness in shoulder movements.
This condition occurs when the blood supply to the head of the upper arm is disrupted. The bone cells can eventually die, leading to a damaged shoulder joint and arthritis.
The symptoms of shoulder arthritis include the following:
This is the most common symptom of shoulder arthritis. The pain usually gets worse with movement. The location of arthritis will depend on which shoulder joint is being affected. Arthritis in the glenohumeral shoulder joint can cause pain in the front, side, or back of the shoulder.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience pain in both of these joints.
A decrease in your range of motion is another common symptom of shoulder arthritis. As the disease progresses, you may find it difficult to perform tasks that involve lifting your arm.
Crepitus is a grinding, clicking, or snapping sound within your shoulder joint during movement.
Your orthopedic surgeon may use several diagnostic methods to determine the type of arthritis you have.
Your doctor will first consider your medical history and the symptoms of your shoulder pain. Then he will perform a physical examination. During the physical exam, he will identify where the pain is felt, examine your range of motion, and look for any signs of injury.
Your doctor may also request an X-ray. A narrow joint space and bone spurs may show up in an arthritic shoulder.
There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for shoulder arthritis.
Initial treatment for shoulder arthritis pain will include non-surgical treatments. These may include the following:
Shoulder surgery may be recommended if the arthritis is non-surgical treatments do not relieve pain. Surgery to treat shoulder arthritis may include the following:
If you are living with pain due to arthritis of the shoulder, seek expert orthopedic treatment today. Dr. Benjamin Szerlip, in Austin and Georgetown, Texas, provides various treatment options to relieve pain and inflammation. Book your appointment today to see how he can help you.
Shoulder arthritis develops when the cartilage that cushions the shoulder joint wears away or becomes damaged. Causes can include age-related wear and tear, autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, previous shoulder injuries, rotator cuff tears, or reduced blood supply to the bone.
The most common symptoms include shoulder pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and grinding, clicking, or snapping sensations during movement. Symptoms often worsen with activity and may make everyday tasks more difficult.
Diagnosis typically begins with a review of your medical history and symptoms, followed by a physical examination. Your orthopedic specialist may also order X-rays to look for joint space narrowing, bone spurs, and other signs of arthritis.
Yes. Many patients find relief through non-surgical treatments such as activity modification, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, and the use of heat or ice therapy.
Surgery may be considered when pain and limited mobility persist despite conservative treatment. Depending on the type and severity of arthritis, options may include shoulder arthroscopy or shoulder replacement surgery.
Dr. Szerlip has joined forces with Austin Orthopedic Institute
Located at: 11675 Jollyville Road Suite 207, Austin, TX 78759
and 1410 Blue Ridge Dr. Ste 100, Georgetown, TX 78626
Call 512-856-1000 to request an appointment.