AC Joint Arthritis

Four joints make up the shoulder, and it’s one of the most complex areas of the body. The AC joint or acromioclavicular joint is where the clavicle and the acromion bones meet. When the AC joint becomes inflamed and degenerated, AC joint arthritis often occurs.  Once the cartilage begins to wear down, the bones will rub against each other, causing friction. This causes the AC joint to become painful and limits the range of motion.

Over time, the shoulder becomes more painful, irritated, and develops a loss of range of motion. With AC Joint arthritis, tiny bone growths (bone spurs), also known as osteophytes, can impinge the rotator cuff and cause stiffness and pain. AC Joint arthritis is progressive. It can cause anxiety due to the increasing challenge of daily activities and pain. 

Dr. Sforzo and Dr. Dillingham both provide excellent treatment options for their patients with AC joint arthritis. They are leaders in providing technically intricate procedures such as total reverse shoulder surgery.

Continue reading for an overview of Ac Joint Arthritis procedures, protocols, potential complications, and frequently asked questions.

Acromioclavicular Arthritis Symptoms 

Acromioclavicular arthritis symptoms are a pain in the shoulder, especially the top of the joint, which can radiate into the neck and back. Limitations and loss of range of motion are common, such as lifting an object, placing arms above the head, or rotating the shoulder. Snapping or popping noises and sensations are also characteristic symptoms.

AC Joint Arthritis Treatment 

Treatment depends on the severity of the shoulder’s degeneration. 

Conservative treatment is always an optimal place to start. Resting the shoulder is critical to help tamp down inflammation. Taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is often helpful, and prescription pain medications may be necessary in severe cases. 

Physical therapy is highly effective in helping to improve range of motion, strengthening the surrounding muscles, training patients to avoid reinjury, and aiding in healing. 

There are also injectables like viscosupplementation, which helps to relubricate the joint to re-establish a natural gliding sensation. Corticosteroid injections are available as well; these are anti-inflammatory injectables that tamp down swelling internally.

Regenerative medicine is a remarkable way to regenerate damaged tissues directly within the joint. This is a safe and natural alternative to surgery and has helped numerous people find relief and treat the root cause of their condition.

Arthroscopy may be performed for mild to moderate cases of AC joint arthritis. It is a minimally invasive procedure utilizing tiny instruments through small incisions that is under fluoroscopy. During arthroscopy, the surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into the shoulder joint. 

Surgery is available in late-stage situations.  If surgery is necessary, the recovery time is typically 6 to 12 weeks with physical therapy to prevent reinjury and optimal healing. If AC joint arthritis is caused by RA (rheumatoid arthritis), RA drugs can help alleviate the inflammatory response and ease the pain.

Exercises to Help Relieve Shoulder Arthritis Pain 

Exercising the shoulder is essential for function and pain management.  A few effective shoulder exercises are as follows:

  1. Pendulum

Lean over and place one arm down on top of a table or hard surface. Hold your body with your palm on the table and the other arm hanging at your side.  For counts of 10, Gently swing your arm back and forth, then side to side, then in small circles. Repeat these 3 to 5 times.

  1. Cross Arm Stretch

Standing straight up, gently stretch one arm across your chest, holding your opposite hand on your upper arm, and carefully hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side and alternate for up to 10 times.

  1. Walk-Up/Wall-Crawl

Standing slightly away from the wall, touch your fingertips to the wall out in front of you. Gently try and crawl your fingers upwards without shrugging. When you get to a tender spot, stop and breathe into the stretch as you relax your shoulder, then crawl back down to the starting position. Repeat these 3 to 5 times, but do not over-stretch the shoulder.

  1. Wall Push-Ups

Standing away from the wall, place your hands on the wall directly in front of your shoulders. Gently push towards the wall (like a push-up) and re-straighten your arms. Repeat up to 10 times.

  1. Shoulder Blade Rotations

Standing in a neutral position, gently shrug your shoulders up towards your ears and hold for 5 seconds. Return to the starting position and then press your shoulders back (squeezing upper back muscles) and hold for 5 seconds. Return to starting position and then pull the shoulder blades down, and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat this sequence 3 to 5 times.

Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine has a group of elite physical therapists on-site, making our treatment patient care and communication convenient for patients and ideal for our practitioners.

Types of Shoulder Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.  It’s caused by a mechanical degeneration of “wear and tear” of the bones and cartilage within the joint structure. When cartilage is thin, the friction on the bones becomes more pronounced, and the joint is less able to function smoothly.

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. It happens when the body mistakes healthy tissue for foreign bodies and attacks the joints.

Post-traumatic arthritis 

Post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) is osteoarthritis that directly resulted from an injury or trauma to the affected joint. It is often fluid-filled due to the inflammatory response and is extremely painful.

Rotator cuff tear arthropathy 

Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is thought to be initiated by rotator cuff tears, but it is a progressive condition with a conglomerate of shoulder issues that happen simultaneously. These often include impingement of the AC joint, rotator cuff insufficiency, glenohumeral joint problems, and humeral head erosion, to name a few. 

Avascular necrosis 

Avascular necrosis happens when there is blood loss and causes the bone tissue to die. In the case of AC joints avascular necrosis, as the bone begins to disintegrate, the entire AC joint will be affected and may collapse. This is often caused by injury but can also be attributed to taking certain medications, steroids and having health conditions.

FAQ's

How is AC joint arthritis treated?

As with most disorders, treatment will depend on the cause, severity, progression, and the patient’s overall health. When diagnosed with AC joint arthritis, keeping activity levels low and resting your shoulder is critical. However, performing physician recommended exercises and stretching is essential for optimal healing. 

Hot and cold therapy might be recommended to increase blood flow and decrease inflammation.  Physical therapy is helpful to maintain the shoulder’s range of motion and increase muscle strength and stability.

There are also anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications, injectables, and regenerative medicine therapeutics. With regenerative medicine, biologic therapeutics are injected into the joint under guided ultrasound. These regenerative therapies help to increase tissue growth on a cellular level and improve functionality naturally. Dr. Sforzo and Dillingham provide excellent regenerative medicine options.

Surgery is often recommended when conservative approaches are not enough, or the AC joint is severely affected. Sometimes, this will include resection of the distal clavicle, which removes a small portion of the clavicle to ease any friction. Dr. Sforzo and Dillingham specialize in arthroscopic, minimally invasive techniques. The scar tissue will act as the bridge that allows for a fuller range of motion and a more effortless gliding motion of the joint.

How is AC joint arthritis diagnosed?

A physical examination often reveals key indicators of AC joint arthritis. A common symptom is discomfort at the top of the shoulder. The surgeon may also inject a numbing anesthetic directly into the joint. 

If the pain subsides, it is often arthritic related. If the pain persists, it may be another issue, such as a tear or dislocation. 

The next step is diagnostic imaging. 

An X-ray can reveal a narrowing of the bones within the joint, which indicates loss of cartilage. It can also show bone degeneration. MRI will give an even more in-depth look at the AC Joint.

MRI helps physicians see soft tissue, bone, and any fluid accumulated via detailed imaging.

What does AC joint pain feel like?

Many patients show no signs of pain. This is mostly thought to be related to the fact that cartilage has no blood vessels, so it does not cause the pain associated with AC joint arthritis.  For those who do have pain, it’s associated with bone misalignment, the breakdown of surrounding tissue, nerve impingement, and wear and tear. The top of the shoulder is usually the most painful with AC joint arthritis.

What is the best treatment for arthritis in the shoulder?

If the patients’ symptoms are mild to moderate, there is a good chance that conservative treatment options will be enough to relieve pain and improve functionality. Consequently, surgery may be necessary if the disorder is advanced or involves or exacerbates other shoulder conditions.

Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine put their patient’s needs first above all else. Isn’t it time you placed your health in the hands of the experts?

Focusing On You

As healthcare is ever changing, Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, is doing things differently…

  • Christopher R. Sforzo, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery. He provides expert care in the treatment of problems involving the shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. He performs many procedures using minimally invasive techniques includi
  • Christopher L. Dillingham, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained in hand, shoulder, and arm surgery. He specializes in the treatment of problems with rotator cuff disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve injury, joint replacement, arthritis surgery, fracture repair, foot and ankle
  • Charles E. Stewart M.D. is a board certified, Johns Hopkins fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult complex reconstruction of the lower extremity. His specialties include, lower extremity sports injuries, meniscal injuries, partial knee replacement, total hip and knee arthroplasty (replacement), as
  • Philip A. Meinhardt, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained spine surgeon. He specializes in adult spinal surgeries including reconstruction of spinal deformities, minimally invasive/microscopic spinal procedures, decompression, spinal instrumentation, fusion procedures and microscopic cer

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Patient-stories

After tearing my rotator cuff, not only was I experiencing pain but my quality of life was diminished. Playing golf and working out were painful rather than enjoyable. Graci and I sought out Fellowship trained Dr. Christopher Sforzo and the team at Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine. I was treated non-surgically and am now pain free, mobile and enjoying everything I did before.

- Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy
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As avid golfers and tennis enthusiasts, our rotator cuff injuries left us in pain, and unable to enjoy our sport. In researching for the most qualified surgeons, we found that Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine not only had the highest level of training and experience, but they were also highly recommended by friends and associates who had excellent results. We, too, had outstanding…

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I was visiting the area looking at property and considering a full time re-location from Minnesota when I was in a traffic accident. The result was a very painful shoulder injury that would ultimately require bilateral RTC repairs. I was unable to undertake regular day-to-day activities or participate in my favorite sport – tennis. It was essential that I choose a shoulder specialist that could quickly set…

- Pat Cooper
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Over the years we had seen several orthopedists in town but were never impressed. They seemed to lack knowledge or compassion or both. Then when Liza was in high school, she went to Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine for a minor sports injury. They not only diagnosed her somewhat obscure problem, but explained things in a way that she understood without being patronizing…

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As a very busy business owner in Sarasota, having not one, but two, massive rotator cuff tears had a debilitating effect on both my personal and professional life. From my first consultation with Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, I knew I was in good hands. The surgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained, which gave me the confidence in achieving a successful outcome. More importantly,…

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