What Is Shoulder Osteoarthritis?

Shoulder osteoarthritis affects the glenohumeral joint — the ball-and-socket joint between the upper arm and shoulder blade.

It can cause deep shoulder pain, stiffness and progressive loss of movement, particularly when reaching overhead, behind the back or away from the body.

Everyday activities such as dressing, washing your hair, reaching into a cupboard or lying on the affected side can become uncomfortable. Some people are particularly troubled by night pain and disturbed sleep.

Symptoms and X-ray findings do not always match closely, so treatment is guided by how the shoulder is affecting your movement, function and quality of life as well as any imaging findings.

Want to Learn More About Shoulder Osteoarthritis?

Read more about shoulder osteoarthritis, flare-ups, rehabilitation and the wider treatment options available.

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When Can an Injection Help?

Injection therapy can be helpful when shoulder osteoarthritis is causing pain and stiffness that are affecting sleep, movement or everyday activity.

It may also be useful when pain is making it difficult to progress strengthening and rehabilitation or when symptoms are significantly limiting normal shoulder use.

Depending on your presentation, corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection may be considered. Mike will assess your movement, symptoms, previous treatment and goals before discussing which option is likely to be most appropriate.

Which Injection Options Are Available?

Corticosteroid injection is an anti-inflammatory treatment that can help reduce pain and irritation within the shoulder joint. For some people, this makes movement and sleep more comfortable and provides an opportunity to progress mobility and strengthening.

 Learn About Corticosteroid Injections→

For some people with shoulder osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid injection may also be considered as a non-steroid option.

Learn About Hyaluronic Acid Injections →

Injection Therapy as Part of Your Treatment

Treatment for shoulder osteoarthritis is based on how much pain and stiffness are affecting you and what you would like to be able to do.

Rehabilitation can help maintain or improve movement, strengthen the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles and build tolerance for everyday activities, work and exercise.

Pain relief, activity modification and strategies for managing flare-ups can also be useful. Injection therapy may form part of this wider plan where reducing pain would help you move more comfortably or progress rehabilitation.

If symptoms remain significantly limiting despite appropriate treatment, your specialist can also advise whether an orthopaedic shoulder opinion may be helpful.

Do I Need an X-ray Before an Injection?

Not everyone needs new imaging before treatment.

Shoulder osteoarthritis can often be suspected from your symptoms and clinical examination. An X-ray can be helpful to confirm the diagnosis, understand the degree of joint change or guide decisions about further treatment.

If you already have imaging, your specialist can review this alongside your symptoms and examination findings.

Further imaging can be arranged when it would help clarify the diagnosis or influence your treatment plan.

Specialist Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injections in Fareham and Gosport

Assessment and injection therapy for shoulder osteoarthritis are provided at our Fareham and Gosport injection clinics by Mike Gillingham, Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist.

Mike will assess how osteoarthritis is affecting your shoulder and discuss whether corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection, rehabilitation, imaging or onward referral would be the most useful next step.

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