When you think osteoarthritis, you may think of knees and hips. But an estimated 17 percent of the population may tell you to think higher — to your shoulder. Shoulder osteoarthritis can be a painful and debilitating disorder. Treatments range from conservative to surgery.

Keep reading to find out more about osteoarthritis in your shoulder.

To understand how osteoarthritis happens, take a look at how your shoulder joint works.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage inside your glenohumeral joint starts to wear down. As a result, the bones that make up your joint start to rub together, which is painful.

Aging is the most common cause of shoulder osteoarthritis. Wear and tear on your cartilage occurs over time and affects an estimated one third of people ages 60 years and older.

Other factors that may influence the development of shoulder osteoarthritis include:

A combination of these factors can lead to osteoarthritis in your shoulder. It’s also possible that your can have osteoarthritis for no known reason.

Osteoarthritis in your shoulder can cause the following symptoms:

These symptoms are usually worse at night and with any activity that requires you to lift your arms over your head.

Diagnosing osteoarthritis in your shoulder can be tricky, often due to your shoulder joint’s complexity. As you read in your shoulder joint anatomy description, there are lots of tendons, muscles, bursae, and more that are a part of your shoulder joint. Doctors have to narrow down the source of your pain, and that can be challenging.

Some of the diagnostic methods include:

A doctor may also try to rule out other possible causes. For example, if your pain shoots down your arm into your hand or goes up to your neck, it’s possible what feels like shoulder pain actually comes from a neck problem.

A healthcare professional will usually recommend conservative (noninvasive) treatments at first to address your shoulder osteoarthritis.

Doctors may recommend over-the-counter medications to treat your shoulder osteoarthritis. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen sodium.

A doctor may also prescribe oral steroids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, to treat inflammation. But this is sometimes controversial, as research on oral and injection-based steroids has been mixed. If you have concerns about steroid use in your treatment plan, be sure to discuss that with a doctor.

Doctors may prescribe physical therapy along with conservative measures, such as taking NSAIDs, to improve your range of motion and lower the pain in your shoulder. A physical therapist will likely provide:

But if your pain is significant, you may not be able to participate in physical therapy until your symptoms improve.

It’s a good idea to talk with a physical therapist or doctor before performing at-home shoulder exercises to ensure you’re practicing good form and not putting extra stress on your joints. But examples of some exercises that can help you when you have shoulder osteoarthritis include:

Injections into your shoulder joint are a less invasive approach when compared with surgery (although you may need surgery at a later time). Examples of injections include:

A doctor will also consider your overall pain and movement capabilities. If you have severe pain or severely restricted movement, injections may not be enough.

If your shoulder osteoarthritis pain progresses to be severe and you lose significant use of your shoulder, a doctor may recommend surgical treatment.

Different shoulder surgery approaches exist if you have shoulder osteoarthritis. These include:

The surgical approach depends upon your age, symptoms, and the health of your ligaments and tissues surrounding your shoulder joint. A doctor and surgical team will be able to discuss the options with you and inform you as to which approach is best suited to your condition.

Shoulder arthritis can significantly affect your quality of life. Getting support from family, friends, and others who are also dealing with pain like yours can help. Some groups and organizations that can help you get the support you need include:

The following are some frequently asked questions regarding shoulder osteoarthritis.

Like in some people, the osteoarthritis in your shoulder may follow an expected pattern. This includes:

This process can happen at different paces. But the more you use your shoulder joint, the faster your cartilage is likely to wear away.

This answer depends upon the position you prefer to sleep in.

Shoulder osteoarthritis is known to often be worse at night, with many people reporting they can’t fall or stay asleep because of the pain. This is possibly due to the shift in your positioning before you fall asleep, as lying down can put more stress on your shoulder joint, especially if you sleep on your side.

The Social Security Administration does consider shoulder osteoarthritis a disability in qualifying individuals. You’d have to experience significant functional challenges that keep you from performing your work to qualify.

Ask a doctor if they think you’d be a likely candidate for disability due to the state of your shoulder arthritis.

There’s no cure for osteoarthritis or treatment that can stop or reverse the degenerative process. Instead, treatments are aimed at reducing discomfort and keeping your shoulder moving as it should.

The shoulder joint is the third most common joint in your body that osteoarthritis affects, and there’s a wide network of support groups for those living with this disorder.

Treatments range from noninvasive injections to surgery and are aimed at lowering pain and improving your range of motion. If you have shoulder pain that’s impacting your quality of life, talk with a doctor to determine if shoulder osteoarthritis could be the cause.

Last medically reviewed on May 27, 2022

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