What is Shoulder osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder (known as the gleno-humeral joint) causes pain and restriction in movement of the shoulder. It is often worse in the mornings and improves with gentle activity and exercise. It can cause you to wake up at night with pain.

Who are we?

Complete Injections is a highly specialised ultrasound guided injection service providing fast access to pain relieving injections. Book a consultation with us today by clicking the below.

What is shoulder osteoarthritis (OA)?

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder (known as the gleno-humeral joint) causes pain and restriction in movement of the shoulder. It is often worse in the mornings and improves with gentle activity and exercise. It can cause you to wake up at night with pain. Pain is aggravated by moving your arm out to the side and above your head. Shoulder osteoarthritis predominantly effects those over 50 years of age, women more commonly than men and those with a familial history. It is diagnosed using a series of clinical tests and imaging. Osteoarthritis is best managed with physiotherapy, however if the pain is too severe to carry out exercise-based treatment and/or is waking you at night then an ultrasound-guided injection is a very effective treatment option for rapid pain relief.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder?

The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder are:

• Pain and stiffness of the shoulder- often quite diffuse, achy pain deep in the joint
• Intermittent sharp pan with overhead movements and associated grinding and audible cracking/clicking in the joint
• Pain is worse in the morning and eases with gently movement

If this sounds like your pain, read on…

What other conditions can mimic osteoarthritis of the shoulder?

If this does not sound like your pain there are other conditions that can mimic the pain of osteoarthritis of the shoulder such as:

1. acromioclavicular (AC) joint osteoarthritis
2. frozen shoulder
3. shoulder impingement
4. rotator cuff pain
5. sub-acromial bursitis

Shoulder joint osteoarthritis (OA) versus frozen shoulder?

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is more common in those over 50 or 60 years old, whereas frozen shoulder effects those between 40-60 years old. Frozen shoulder is very rare over the age of 60, unless it has developed after surgery or a fall. Both conditions present with a similar restriction in movement and are often worse at night and in the mornings. An X-ray is essentially normal with a frozen shoulder, whereas osteoarthritis is clearly demonstrated on an X-ray.