Having degenerative joint disease means that your joints are not moving the way they should be. This condition can cause pain and discomfort, but there are ways to help prevent the disease from affecting your life.
Symptoms
Symptoms of degenerative joint disease can include pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor for a proper diagnosis. The doctor can help you relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Degenerative joint disease is caused by the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage is a shock-absorbing coating that protects bones and serves as a cushion for them to slide smoothly against one another. When it is broken down, the bones rub against one another and cause inflammation. This results in pain, swelling, and redness.
A physical exam can help your doctor determine the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor will check for tenderness, joint range of motion, and strength of the muscles associated with the joint. He may also perform X-rays or other diagnostic tests to check for inflammation.
Your doctor may recommend a range of treatments to help relieve your symptoms. Your treatment plan may include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, orthopaedic devices, or pain relief medications.
Causes
Often called osteoarthritis, the degenerative joint disease causes significant pain and disability. This disease can affect just one joint or multiple joints. It is a progressive disorder that can occur in both men and women of any age.
Although there is no cure, treatments can help ease symptoms and prevent degeneration. Medications and physical therapy can help maintain a normal range of movement. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Degenerative joint disease is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, a layer of tissue that covers the ends of bones. The deterioration of cartilage can lead to pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints. As the cartilage breaks down, the bones rub against each other. This friction causes inflammation and pain.
Degenerative joint disease may also be caused by injury, overuse, and genetics. In addition, certain occupations, such as those that involve repetitive motion, can cause the disease.
Symptoms include pain and swelling, stiffness, and reduced flexibility. If you have osteoarthritis, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Treatments
Symptoms of degenerative joint disease vary, and treatment options can include both surgical and non-surgical methods. For instance, joint replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces damaged joints. Similarly, there are non-surgical treatments that can help relieve pain and improve the flexibility of the joint.
The first step in treatment is to identify the type of arthritis. The doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical examination, and use X-rays to diagnose the condition.
If your doctor diagnoses you with degenerative joint disease, the next step is to take steps to prevent it from progressing. You can do this by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excessive strain on the joints, and staying active. You may also choose to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Depending on your symptoms, you may also want to try alternative treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy.
Physical therapy is also helpful for people with degenerative joint disease. A physical therapist can provide a variety of treatment options, including exercises that will strengthen the muscles around the affected joint and help reduce pain.
Prevention
Several treatments are available to prevent degenerative joint disease. These include a healthy diet, a regular exercise routine, and good health habits. Good health habits include keeping your body weight at a healthy level. These factors may help decrease the risk of developing OA.
Osteoarthritis, or OA, is a disease that affects many joints in the body. It is the most common type of arthritis and occurs most often in the hips and knees. It is caused by damage to the joint cartilage, causing it to break down. This leads to stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility.
Treatments are often effective. Nonoperative therapies include activity modification and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The use of glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate, a supplement often prescribed by doctors, may help reduce pain and symptoms of OA. Surgery may be appropriate for patients with advanced OA or severe osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints. Surgical procedures include joint replacement, joint osteotomy, and realignment of the joint surface. Surgical treatments may be combined with nonoperative treatments to restore normal alignment.