What is shoulder arthritis?

Shoulder arthritis is damage to the cartilage inside the shoulder joint. The shoulder has two joints. Shoulder arthritis commonly refers to the bigger ball-and-socket joint named the glenohumeral joint after the bones it connects (glenoid and humerus). The cartilage covers both the ball (the humeral head) and the socket (the glenoid).

When the cartilage in the shoulder begins to break down on the surface and eventually in the deeper layers, it’s called shoulder arthritis. The second joint in the shoulder, the acromioclavicular or AC joint, can also develop arthritis known as AC joint arthritis.

How does shoulder arthritis develop?

Shoulder arthritis usually results from gradual wear and tear of the cartilage. Cartilage is present in every joint in the body; it covers the surface of the bones inside the joints similar to Teflon on a ball bearing. Cartilage is a living tissue 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters thick — about the thickness of one or two layers of cardboard. This makes the contact between bones softer. If the cartilage is intact, it can take multiple rotations with no wear of the surface because it’s smooth.

Shoulder arthritis typically develops in stages. First the cartilage gets soft (A), then it develops cracks in the surface (B), then it begins to “fibrillate” (deteriorate and flake) (C), and finally it wears away to expose the surface of the bone (D). As a result, it loses its ability to act as a smooth, gliding surface.

The cartilage doesn’t wear away all at once over the entire surface of the bone in a joint. Instead, it wears at different rates in different parts. So if you consider the surface of a ball bearing that was covered with Teflon, this type of wear would be as if the Teflon had pits and the surface would now be irregular (see the image below).

Once the surface becomes irregular, the cartilage may undergo further damage. It may begin to thin out, eventually leading to the bones of the shoulder rubbing against each other (stage four cartilage loss). Many people think that arthritis is bone-on-bone traction in the joint, but in reality arthritis is the process that can lead to the bone-on-bone traction.

It is impossible to tell how fast shoulder arthritis will get worse. Every person’s shoulder joint has different degrees of damage to the cartilage. Typically, when certain activities produce pain, it means that the cartilage is experiencing stress. Generally, the more painful the activity, the more likely it is to damage the cartilage and the shoulder joint further.

Causes and Types of Shoulder Arthritis

There are several different forms of shoulder arthritis. Each may have different origins, and some causes of shoulder arthritis are still unknown.

Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. It is often associated with wear and tear related to aging. It can also affect other joints besides the shoulder and is the most common form of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Shoulder

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, which means your body attacks your own healthy cells, which may include the lining of the joint. This inflammatory arthritis can be present in both shoulders at the same time.

Post-Traumatic Shoulder Arthritis

If your shoulder was fractured, dislocated or otherwise injured, you may develop post-traumatic arthritis.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is a type of shoulder arthritis that can develop after a massive and prolonged rotator cuff tear. The four rotator cuff tendons in your shoulder wrap around the ball portion of the shoulder joint, holding it in place. If one or more of these tendons is heavily torn, this may cause the humeral head to rub against other bones and develop arthritis.

Shoulder Arthritis Due to Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis refers to the disrupted blood supply to an area of the body, which results in that area dying (necrosis). In the shoulder, the humeral head (the ball of the shoulder joint) may lose blood supply due to disease, traumatic injuries, and other causes. Without a blood supply, the bone will slowly collapse, becoming uneven and causing arthritis.

Shoulder Arthritis Symptoms

The amount of cartilage loss varies from person to person and so do symptoms of shoulder arthritis:

• Pain in the shoulder joint is the major sign of arthritis. It can be present in the front, side or back of the shoulder. Some people have pain even when they are not using the arm, and some have pain only when using it. Arthritis pain can occur at any time of day and can be present with or without shoulder stiffness. Often the pain is worse with lifting, carrying heavy objects or after exercising. The pain can often radiate into the arm or, if severe, can radiate down to the elbow and wrist.
• Stiffness of the joint is another sign of shoulder arthritis progression. You may experience stiffness as a loss of range of motion in the shoulder. As the motion decreases, you may find that you can do fewer things with your arm, and these activities may be limited due to pain.
• Grinding, clicking or cracking (crepitus) may be felt since the surface of the cartilage is irregular with arthritis. It may or may not be painful. Sometimes the shoulder may “lock up.” Occasionally, because the surfaces are no longer smooth, you may feel the shoulder slide in certain positions.

Shoulder Arthritis Diagnosis

To diagnose shoulder arthritis, your physician will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. The degree of arthritis and the amount of bone in the socket can be evaluated and confirmed with an X-ray or, if needed, with a CT scan.

Shoulder Arthritis Treatment

Range-of-Motion Exercises

The initial treatment for shoulder arthritis is medical (nonoperative) treatment. It often starts with range-of-motion exercises to keep the shoulder mobile. If your range of motion is not affected, then the goal is to prevent it from deteriorating. Loss of motion in the shoulder joint due to arthritis is often gradual and can be hard to notice. As the joint gets stiffer, the pain and the ability to be active may also worsen. It’s recommended to stretch for two to three minutes every day, whether you have a loss of motion or not.

Physical therapy for shoulder arthritis is typically not needed unless you are losing range of motion. Strengthening the shoulder with arthritis is usually not recommended, as in some instances it could cause more pain. However, if exercises do not bother the shoulder, then they are perfectly fine to do.

Lifestyle Modifications

The second medical treatment is to avoid, within reason, the things that make the shoulder painful. Generally, anything that causes pain should be avoided, especially if the pain interferes with your life. If shoulder pain lasts for several days and wakes you up at night, it may be reasonable to question how important that activity is to you. For example, if you have pain while playing golf, it may be necessary to cut down to once a week instead of playing daily.

Pain Control

The third medical treatment is to try to control the pain. This can be done in several ways:

• Ice is your friend. Ice packs are great for pain and can be used once or several times a day if needed. You can use a bag of ice or a cold therapy pad that can be placed in the freezer and reused. The ice pack should be placed on the front, across the top, and on the back of the shoulder. It can be used for 20-30 minutes at a time. If the pain is waking you up at night, consider icing the shoulder before bed.
• Some people feel that heat is a better treatment for shoulder arthritis pain. Heat is often good for warming up the joint before stretching, but you should use whatever strategy provides the best relief.
• Medication can also be used to control pain, but all of them have their benefits and potential complications. Discuss your medications with your primary care physician or your surgeon to make sure you don’t have any reasons to avoid certain medications.

Which medication can I use for my shoulder arthritis?

You could start with acetaminophen since it has few side effects. However, it can affect the liver if used in high doses, so consult with your physician about the best dose. The next class of medicines that help shoulder arthritis symptoms are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most NSAIDs can be taken only when pain is present, providing relief on demand. If you need more consistent pain relief, speak with your doctor. Also, NSAIDs should not be taken if you have a history of bleeding and ulcers, are on blood thinners, have kidney failure, certain heart diseases or other conditions. You should discuss these issues with your physician before taking NSAIDs.

Injections for Shoulder Arthritis

There are currently two types of injections that can provide pain relief for shoulder arthritis. The first type is cortisone shots. Typically, cortisone is mixed with a numbing agent that provides immediate pain relief and helps your doctor know if the injection is in the right place. Once the numbing medicine wears off, the joint may be sore until the cortisone kicks in. It’s important to ice the shoulder for a day or so after the shot.

Cortisone shots don’t damage the shoulder, but most surgeons limit them to no more than a few a year in most cases of arthritis. Cortisone shots may increase the risk of infection if you undergo a total shoulder replacement soon after the shot. If you are considering the surgery, consider avoiding cortisone shots a few months prior.