Progression of omarthrosis
In healthy shoulder joints the joint cartilage forms a smooth surface and thus protects the joint surfaces against friction. In the case of omarthrosis, however, the joint cartilage firstly loses its elasticity although the sufferer is unaware of this. The surface of the cartilage becomes rough in those areas subject to the greatest loads and, over the course of time, is completely worn away. The bony surfaces of the joint now rub against each other which can ultimately result in deformation of the humeral head and glenoid cavity.
Pain and restricted movement
If the joint surfaces rub against each other without the protective layer of cartilage, this will result in pain; the sufferer initially only notes the pain when the joint is loaded, yet over the course of time, the pain is increasingly experienced when the joint is not loaded, particularly at night. Many sufferers complain about sensitivity to cold and scraping and rubbing inside the shoulder.
In addition, the shoulder joint increasingly loses its mobility, until it stiffens completely. As a result of this, sufferers adopt a relieving posture, which in turn causes muscle tension and pain in other regions of the body such as the neck or back.
Since the shoulder joint plays a key role, particularly in day-to-day activities such as lifting and carrying, sufferers are increasingly restricted in their everyday lives and experience diminished quality of life. Even putting on and taking off a jacket, pouring a drink into a glass or brushing the teeth can become a problem.
