Your shoulder is the most movable joint in the body and one of the body parts most susceptible to injury. The shoulder contains muscles, tendons, and ligaments, so it should have a wide range of motion when working correctly. If you’re suffering from a condition like osteoarthritis of the shoulder, then you are likely experiencing pain, among other symptoms.
If you’re looking for non-surgical relief for your shoulder pain, call our team at Sarasota-Bradenton Spine & Joint today at (941) 307-7766 for a free consultation in Sarasota, FL.
Common Symptoms of Shoulder Osteoarthritis
The two parts of your shoulder joint that arthritis can affect are the acromioclavicular joint and the glenohumeral joint. Your acromioclavicular joint is more likely to receive damage through everyday wear and tear. On the other hand, your glenohumeral joint is more likely to get arthritis following injury.
If you think you might be suffering from osteoarthritis of the shoulder, here are the most common symptoms you should expect.
Shoulder Pain
The most obvious symptom of arthritis is a pain in your shoulder. If your acromioclavicular joint is affected, you will feel the pain toward the front of the shoulder, while the glenohumeral joint will leave you in pain at the back of your shoulder.
Tender to Touch
If your shoulder is tender or painful when someone touches it, it could be a sign of arthritis. The tenderness is usually due to swelling, so icing and resting your shoulder is the best course of action.
Muscle Weakness
Muscle weakness or atrophy is a common sign of osteoarthritis, mostly because people tend to avoid potentially painful movements.
Loss of Range of Motion
Much like pain and muscle weakness, decreased range of motion is a common symptom of arthritis in the shoulder.
Joint Effusion
Joint effusion is a fluid build-up within the joint space. This fluid can cause swelling and inflammation that may further irritate your shoulder.
Catching Sensation
Catching is the feeling of a movement being interrupted. With the shoulder, a pop or crunching sound usually accompanies the catching feeling.
Crepitus
Crepitus is a crunching feeling or a popping sound you may hear when rotating your shoulder. The sound is usually the result of cartilage that has worn away and no longer protects your bones from friction.
Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder
If you’ve started noticing symptoms of arthritis, then there are some things you can do to try and relieve your symptoms.
Standard treatment options include:
– Resting your shoulder
– Changing your routine, to reduce pain
– Applying heat and/or ice
– Using medications like NSAIDs or steroid injections
It would be best to aim to resolve your pain from osteoarthritis of the shoulder without resorting to surgery. However, as a last resort, a total shoulder arthroplasty can replace the glenohumeral joint. Another surgical option is hemiarthroplasty, which involves replacing the head of the humerus or upper arm bone.

Call Us to Relieve Your Shoulder Arthritis Symptoms Non-Surgically
The ball and socket joint is one of the most prone to arthritis. If you suspect that you have arthritis or have a diagnosis and are looking to prevent surgery, call our experts at Sarasota-Bradenton Spine & Joint today at (941) 307-7766 in Sarasota, FL.