This information is meant only as a guide to help you understand and your treatment options. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a specialist Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon.
We strongly recommend a thorough discussion with your surgeon about the most appropriate treatment about your shoulder arthritis.
Non-operative treatment is usually tried to begin with. They consist of:
- Activity modification – for example, wearing buttoned shirts instead of t-shirts.
- Painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication. These include aceclofenac, paracetamol and ibuprofen. Please check with your doctor about the safety of these medicines, as long term use can cause side effects.
- Physiotherapy – this is an important component of the first line of treatment of shoulder arthritis. It strengthens the muscles around your shoulder, and helps significantly in the early stages. At The Shoulder Centre, we have a team of experienced and internationally trained musculo-skeletal and sports physiotherapists to help you.
- Injections into the shoulder joint – Sometimes your surgeon might recommend steroid injection into the shoulder. Steroid helps temporarily suppress inflammation and pain arising from the shoulder. At The Shoulder Centre, we use Ultrasound guidance to increase the accuracy of these injections. (Please visit our section on injections around the shoulder for more information).
Operative treatment in the form of surgery is recommended only when other options fail to relieve your pain. Various options exist depending on the cause and stage of arthritis. At The Shoulder Centre, we pride ourself in being patient centric. Our experienced shoulder surgeons will discuss the pros and cons of each, keeping in mind your specific symptoms and requirements.
- Arthroscopic debridement – In specific patients with early stages of arthritis, a “clean-up” of the joint through key-hole surgery can improve pain and increase movement. For more information about arthroscopy, please see our page about arthroscopy.
- Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM) – suitable for arthritis occuring in younger patients.
- Shoulder Joint Replacement – Just like the hip or knee joints, the damaged ends of the shoulder bones can be replaced. It is reserved for severe arthritis in which there is significant pain and disability. There are two types of replacements – anatomical (which is done when the rotator cuff is intact), and reverse (which is done when the rotator cuff is deficient). Please speak to your shoulder surgeon about which type is best suited for you.
- Arthrodesis or joint fusion – it is more of a historical procedure in which the shoulder joint is “fused”, eliminating both pain and movement at the shoulder.
A special mention of Suprascapular nerve block and ablation is needed here. It is useful in special cases where there is severe pain in the badly damaged arthritic shoulder, and the patient is not fit for surgery due to other medical problems. The nerve which is responsible for carrying pain signals from the shoulder to the brain is “switched off”. There is improvement in pain, but there is also significant loss of power in the shoulder.
