IS SHOULDER OSTEOARTHRITIS IRREVERSIBLE?

Constant achiness, chronic shoulder pain, and an unnerving discomfort during overhead movements, these are just a few symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis. If you are concerned with the use of the word arthritis, there is no need to be alarmed. Courtesy of modern technology and developments in medicine, there are several effective, non-invasive treatment options that can help you get rid of that discomfort you have been experiencing. In fact, there are many people who are living a comfortable life even with active osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of The Shoulder

Osteoarthritis is found in joints, and it is one of the most common forms of arthritis affecting the lives of millions of people all over the world. The condition is caused due to the inflammation or degeneration of the cartilage within the joints. The cartilage serves as a cushion for the joint to ensure smooth and pain-free movement. However, when the cartilage wears off, there is increased friction between the joints due to bone-to-bone interaction.

Is Shoulder Osteoarthritis Irreversible?

There is generally nothing good about the word arthritis, rather it’s a painful living experience with highly restricted body movement. More commonly, arthritis takes place due to advanced aging, and people often wonder if the condition is reversible. Unfortunately, shoulder osteoarthritis cannot be totally reversed or stopped. However, the cartilage has no nerves or blood vessels; therefore, regeneration is difficult to attain in damaged cartilage. Once the cartilage degenerates, it can never regenerate to reverse the effects of the injury. However, individuals experiencing shoulder osteoarthritis can opt for non-invasive treatments such as stem cell therapy that can help lower the progression of this disease. Keep in mind that risks of osteoarthritis generally increase with age. Therefore, it is imperative that the right stem cell approach is chosen in achieving optimal results in regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy promotes the repair of dysfunctional, diseased, or injured tissue.

References

Han, Y.H., Kim, K.H., Abdi, S. and Kim, T.K., 2019. Stem cell therapy in pain medicine. The Korean journal of pain, 32(4), p.248.

Kenihan, L., McTier, L., & Phillips, N. M. (2020). Patients’ expectations and experiences of stem cell therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Health Expectations, 23(5), 1300-1309.

Takagi, T., Kabata, T., Hayashi, K., Fang, X., Kajino, Y., Inoue, D., Ohmori, T., Ueno, T., Yoshitani, J., Ueoka, K. and Yamamuro, Y., 2020. Periodic injections of adipose-derived stem cell sheets attenuate osteoarthritis progression in an experimental rabbit model. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21(1), pp.1-11.