What it is
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder affects the ball-and-socket (glenohumeral) joint. It causes a deep ache and stiffness that build with movement and can disturb sleep, and reaching overhead or behind the back becomes harder.
Common symptoms
- A deep ache in the shoulder, worse with movement
- Stiffness and a smaller range of movement, for example reaching overhead or behind the back
- Pain that can disturb sleep
- Grinding or catching with movement
What can help
- Exercise to keep the shoulder moving and the muscles around it strong
- Pain relief and topical anti-inflammatories
- Adjusting how you sleep and reach
- Physiotherapy for range of movement and strength
Where an injection fits
A corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint can settle pain for a flare and help you take part in rehabilitation. Relief is usually short-term. Because repeated steroid can weaken the rotator-cuff tendons and affect cartilage, we space injections out and pair them with exercise. For advanced disease, a shoulder replacement is an option.
Home exercise program after your injection
!When to seek urgent care. See a doctor promptly if you notice a sudden inability to lift or move the arm, or new marked weakness, which can signal a rotator-cuff tear; fever with a hot, painful shoulder; numbness or tingling down the arm.
This is general information, not medical advice. Your assessment and plan depend on your own situation, and your clinician will guide you.
