Treatment of tendonitis of the shoulder joint, causes, symptoms, diagnosis

As the body ages, muscles and joints wear out. With regular physical exertion, microtraumas develop in the tissues. If you give the body a rest, they are fully restored. At critical overloads muscles do not have time to adapt to them. As a result, a place is formed that degenerates after a while. There is painful discomfort, stiffness in the joints. Such symptoms indicate the development of tendonitis. This is a common disease that most often affects the shoulder joint. In the materials of the article the main symptoms of pathology, causes and methods of treatment are considered.

Tendinitis - what is it?

Tendinitis is a disease characterized by the development of the inflammatory process in the tendons and tissues. They connect the muscles with the bones. As a result, there is a severe pain in the shoulder, and movement is limited. Usually pathology is diagnosed in adulthood, especially often in women during menopause. The risk group also includes young people who regularly engage in sports. Tendonitis of the shoulder joint in the early stages is well treatable. Launched forms of the disease require surgical intervention. However, even the operation does not always allow the full restoration of the function of the hand.

The main causes of the disease

The development of tendonitis can be due to a variety of reasons. Most often the disease is preceded by prolonged physical activity. Therefore, athletes and people whose work activity is associated with a serious burden on the shoulder are at risk. Initially, the inflammation affects the musculoskeletal muscle, then gradually spreads to nearby tissues and the capsule of the joint. To provoke a tendonitis of a humeral joint the following problems and infringements can:

• Rheumatoid diseases (gout, arthritis);
• Incorrect posture;
• Injuries of the shoulder girdle ;
• Low immunity;
• Depression (when it comes to muscle spasm);
• Diseases of infectious etiology;
• Frequent hypothermia;
• Allergy to medicines;
• Failure in the endocrine system.

These are the most common causes of the disease. The pathological process is aggravated several times if it is accompanied by concomitant pathologies or the lack of timely therapy. In all these cases, adhesions form at the site of the inflammation. Over time, they lead to limited mobility of the joint, constant pain and other dangerous consequences.

Clinical manifestations

At the initial stage of the disease, the tendons thicken, which is accompanied by a pain syndrome in certain types of movements. In advanced cases, discomfort does not go away even at rest. It is this severe pain that causes patients to consult a doctor. How is tendonitis of the shoulder joint manifested?

Symptoms of the disease can be reduced to four main manifestations:

• Painful discomfort;
• Impaired mobility of the hand;
• inflammatory process;
• Destruction of joint tissues.

The pain in tendonitis can be either acute or dull. It increases during physical activity.

Limitation of mobility occurs when the next attempt to perform any movement. In a calm state, patients complain of tolerable pain. Depending on the location of the inflammation, the following symptoms occur:

• The defeat of the cuff is characterized by severe pain in the upper-outer part of the shoulder, it can radiate into the elbow;
• Inflammation of the small round muscle is accompanied by discomfort when the arm moves outward;
• The spread of the pathological process to the submapular muscle results in severe pain when the shoulder moves inward;
• Tendonitis of the tendon of the biceps muscle does not affect the mobility of the hand, but is also accompanied by discomfort.

Inflammatory reaction entails sealing the joint capsule. Its thickness can reach 2 mm. Inflammation is accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin, an increase in temperature in this area.

The pathological process, which extends to tendons, leads to the formation of adhesions. For tendinitis, calcification of tendons is typical. When listening to the joint with a phonendoscope, crepitation (crunching, creaking) is often heard. The development of degeneration gradually leads to the thinning of the tendons, the rupture of the joint capsule is not ruled out.

Types of disease

Depending on the localization of the pathological process and the causes of its appearance, there are:

• Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder joint. It develops due to the deposition of salts, wear of tendons or oxygen deficiency in tissues. Pathology is manifested by severe pain when moving the arm.
• Terrible tendonitis. The disease is preceded by injury to the muscle capsule. This form is accompanied by constant pulling pains in the shoulder.
• Inflammation of the biceps tendon . As a rule, it is diagnosed in swimmers and tennis players.
• Posttraumatic tendonitis. Develops after mechanical damage to the shoulder joint. Therefore, before full recovery, it should not be overloaded.

According to the nature of the disease, the disease is divided into two forms: acute and chronic.

Methods of diagnosis

Many patients do not even know about the diagnosis, like "tendonitis." What is it, they learn after the appearance of symptoms of the disease and a visit to the doctor. The basis for confirming the diagnosis is the patient's complaints, clinical history and physical examination. During the examination, the doctor checks the sensitivity of the muscles and the possibility of active movements.

To exclude doubts in the diagnosis, an additional examination is prescribed. It includes:

• MRI of the shoulder joint;
• Ultrasound of affected areas;
• Arthroscopy;
• Roentgenogram;
• CT arthrography.

Based on the results, the doctor confirms the diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Definition of therapeutic tactics

Treatment of tendonitis of the shoulder joint depends on the severity of the pathological process and its neglect. All therapeutic measures should be under the constant supervision of a specialist. In the initial stages of the disease, the following methods are used:

• Physiotherapy;
• Use of medicines;
• Exercise therapy;
• folk remedies.

When the listed variants of therapy prove to be ineffective, one must resort to surgical intervention - arthroscopy or a cavitary operation. Next, consider each treatment option in more detail.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of tendonitis of the shoulder joint begins with immobilization of the hand. To limit its mobility, use a special bandage or bandage. When the inflammation subsides, physiotherapy is especially effective. Most often, doctors prescribe laser therapy, ultraviolet, applications with paraffin and mud, electrophoresis with the addition of "Lidazy." These procedures are aimed at improving blood circulation in the lesion, the removal of muscle spasm and swelling.

Medication

To reduce pain and swelling in the affected area, anti-inflammatory drugs are used. However, one should not resort to their help in the first 48 hours after the onset of discomfort. When the pain does not have the strength to endure, you can drink a pill "Paracetamol". If after 72 hours the discomfort does not subside, it is necessary to start therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Naise, Ketorol, Nurofen). The course of treatment is usually five days. Drugs should be taken after meals.

Internal therapy should be supplemented with a local one. What does the acute tendonitis of the shoulder joint involve? Ointment or special gels should be chosen with capsaicin ("Ibuprofen", "Voltaren"). They are used to normalize the blood flow in the joint bag.

In the second stage of the disease, therapy is also supplemented by injections that are made directly into the joint cavity. To do this, use "Lidocaine" or "Bupivacaine." Injections help to reduce the production of collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the tendons. Therefore, hormone therapy is prescribed only with exacerbation. If the patient is diagnosed with tendonitis of the tendon, such treatment is not recommended.

Physiotherapy

In 90% of cases, exercise therapy helps restore the mobility of the hand. Exercise should be selected by a specialist taking into account the form of the disease. It is important not to overload the damaged joint, but gradually develop it, increasing the amplitude of movements.

• Exercise 1. You will need a gymnastic stick. Put it at arm's length. While holding the projectile in an upright position, try to describe the circle in the air with a sick limb. This exercise doctors recommend for the diagnosis of "tendonitis of the supraspinous muscle of the shoulder joint". Treatment in this way gives positive results in a few days.
• Exercise 2. Put your hands in front of you. Raise the hands folded in the lock up. The maximum load is necessary for a healthy hand. She must "drag" after herself a sick limb.
• Exercise 2. Lean forward at the back of the chair. A healthy hand needs to lean against the surface. The patient remains in an arbitrary position. Then begin to swing from side to side with a damaged hand, increasing the amplitude gradually.

Performing such exercises daily allows you to reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms in inflammation of the tendons.

Recipes of folk healers and tendinitis of the shoulder joint

Treatment with medications of this disease usually shows good results. To achieve a better medicinal effect, doctors recommend supplementing conservative therapy with prescriptions of folk healers. Below are the most popular of them:

• Decoction of bird cherry has an anti-inflammatory effect. To make it, you need to pour three tablespoons of dried berries with a glass of boiling water, put it on a water bath. To enhance the effect, the medicine can be used not only orally, but also applied to the affected area moistened with gauze.
• Infusion from the shepherd's bag inside do not take, but it turns out an excellent compress. For cooking, you can use the same principles as in the previous recipe.
• Equal portions of sassaparilla and ginger roots are poured with boiling water. The resulting broth during the day is consumed as tea.

To take a great interest in national recipes it is not necessary, and to replace them with conservative treatment is completely forbidden. Neglect of the doctor's recommendations may adversely affect your health, and the disease will continue to progress.

Surgical intervention

The main indication for the operation is the insufficient effectiveness of conservative therapy. In tendonitis, the following surgical options are used:

1. Redress under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor "tears" the capsule of the joint to restore its mobility.
2. Arthroscopy. First, the surgeon makes small incisions on the skin. Through them, then introduces the apparatus for manipulation, the main one of which is the arthroscope. During the procedure, the specialist excludes the damaged parts of the capsule. Treatment of tendinitis of the shoulder joint by this method is characterized by a rapid recovery period and minor traumatism. Therefore, surgeons resort to his help most often.
3. Removal of salts. With calcifying tendinitis this variant of operative intervention is shown. During the procedure, the specialist inserts two needles into the joint, through which the salt deposits are washed out.

After surgery, patients need rehabilitation for several months, during which the procedures of exercise therapy are used.

Preventive actions

Treatment of tendonitis of the shoulder joint is a long process. Therefore, it is easier to prevent the development of the disease, rather than taking medicine and injections. What do doctors say about prevention?

Experts recommend that before any, even not too intense exercise, do an easy warm-up. Sports should be chosen in accordance with the individual capabilities of the body. The intensity of the load should be increased gradually, giving the muscles the ability to adapt. If, after physical activity, there is pain in the shoulder, you need to seek help from a doctor. Early diagnosis of tendonitis and competent treatment can avoid the development of complications. Among them, bursitis is the most common. And tendonitis of the shoulder joint, and many other diseases of a similar etiology is easier to treat at the initial stage.

Conclusion

During the therapy of tendonitis, follow the doctor's instructions. A mandatory requirement is the cessation of all work associated with excessive stress on the joint. Neglecting the recommendations of a specialist can cause an increase in symptoms, as a consequence, a complete immobilization of the hand.