Prophylaxis

Since one does not know exactly why a calcified shoulder develops, it is also difficult to prevent it. Since it is assumed that it often occurs in connection with mechanical overloading of the shoulder joint (especially during overhead activities), this type of stress should be kept as low as possible. Otherwise, unfortunately, not much can be done to protect against this disease.

Although the calcified shoulder (tendinosis calcarea) is a calcification of the tissue, it is not a disease of the shoulder joint. However, these are probably not directly caused by increased calcium consumption. Nutrition does not seem to have any influence on the development of the disease.

Nevertheless, inflammation-related symptoms can be alleviated by a healthy, balanced diet. For example, it is suspected, at least in the case of shoulder arthrosis, that a healthy low-meat (especially pork) diet improves the inflammatory state. Large amounts of eggs, butter, alcohol and coffee should also be avoided. Certain vegetables and fruits as well as some herbs (aniseed, fennel, turmeric…) can have an anti-inflammatory effect. These recommendations are considered to be helpful in the case of shoulder arthrosis, but since inflammatory conditions also occur in the joint during tendinosis calcarea, symptoms can also be improved by a conscious diet.

Prognosis

The prognosis of a calcified shoulder can be classified as relatively good. In many patients, the calcium deposits dissolve on their own without any treatment. For those in whom this does not happen, the disease can then usually be brought under control by one of the various treatment options or a combination of these.

If a calcified shoulder has remained untreated for a long time, there is a risk that the tendon and thus the affected muscle will remain weakened permanently, which can sometimes lead to arthrosis in the further course of the disease. For this reason, one should not wait too long with a therapy, even if spontaneous healing is not unlikely. The calcified shoulder dissolves on its own in many cases.

First the lime crystals are resorbed by the body and then the tissue is regenerated. In rare cases, a calcified shoulder remains so long that it must be surgically treated. The course of the calcific shoulder varies individually, the disease is divided into 4 stages.

A painless initial stage, during which changes in the joint occur, the phase of calcification, in which movement-dependent pain occurs, the phase of resorption, in which the pain is often the most severe. This is followed by the phase of repair, in which the calcium deposits have already disappeared and the body tries to restore the tissue. Not all patients go through all phases. Usually, however, the calcified shoulder heals on its own after a few weeks or months. After an operation, about 3-4 weeks of rest can be expected.