Shoulder conditions
Arthritis
Gradual wear of the smooth cartilage that cushions the shoulder joint, leading to stiffness, deep pain, and a slow loss of motion.
Joint cartilage wear
Builds gradually
Highly treatable
What is shoulder arthritis?
Arthritis is the breakdown of the smooth cartilage that lets the ball and socket glide painlessly. As that surface wears away, bone rubs on bone, producing pain, stiffness, and grinding.
The most common form is osteoarthritis from years of use, but arthritis can also follow an old injury (post-traumatic), a large rotator cuff tear (cuff tear arthropathy), or inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis.
Overview
At a glance
A measured approach
Most patients are managed for years with simple, non-surgical care. When the joint is truly worn out, modern shoulder replacement is one of the most reliable operations in orthopedics.
Symptoms & signs
How shoulder arthritis feels
Symptoms usually come on slowly and worsen over months to years.
A deep, aching pain in the shoulder, often worse with activity
Stiffness and a gradual loss of reach, especially overhead and behind the back
A grinding, clicking, or catching sensation with movement
Pain that increasingly disturbs sleep
Weakness from guarding the painful joint
Causes & risk factors
What causes it
Several different processes can wear out the shoulder joint.
Age-related wear
Decades of use gradually thin the cartilage, the most common cause.
Prior injury
An old fracture or dislocation can lead to post-traumatic arthritis years later.
Inflammatory disease
Rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis attack the joint lining.
Cuff tear arthropathy
A large, long-standing rotator cuff tear can let the joint wear unevenly.
Treatment options
How shoulder arthritis is treated
Care begins conservatively and escalates only when pain and stiffness limit your life.
- Activity modification and anti-inflammatory medication
- Physical therapy to preserve motion and strength
- Corticosteroid or lubricating injections
- Heat, ice, and home exercise programs
- Worn surfaces are replaced with smooth implants
- Anatomic replacement when the rotator cuff is intact
- Reverse replacement when the cuff is also torn
- Reliable, lasting pain relief and restored motion
Related procedure
When the joint is worn out, Dr. Cohn may recommend an anatomic or reverse shoulder replacement.
Recovery
Recovery after replacement
If replacement is needed, recovery is steady and well-tolerated.
Protect & rest
A sling supports the shoulder while early gentle motion begins.
Begin motion
Therapy restores range of motion as the soft tissues heal.
Active use
You regain active motion and function for daily tasks.
Strength & endurance
Strength continues to build toward your best result.
FAQ
Common questions
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No. Many patients do well for years with therapy, medication, and injections. Surgery is reserved for when pain and stiffness limit your daily life.
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It depends on whether your rotator cuff is intact. Dr. Cohn chooses between an anatomic and a reverse replacement based on your imaging and exam.
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Shoulder replacement is very effective at relieving arthritis pain, and most patients are highly satisfied with their comfort and motion afterward.
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