All About Cartilage and Joints

Cartilage is vital to proper joint function. When people experience joint pain, they often visualize the pain being located in the bone itself. However, cartilage and bone together with ligaments create a joint. When one of these becomes damaged, the entire joint suffers.

Cartilage appears throughout our bodies. One type of cartilage, which is gel-like and contains high water content, cushions our joints. Another type of cartilage is firmer; it makes up parts of our nose and ears.

It's the cartilage that cushions the joints that tend to create problems for some people as it breaks down. A gel-like padding between joints, cartilage not only cushions the joints, but it also cuts down on friction between the bones.

In order to move effectively, a joint has to have a cushion of cartilage. This substance acts as a "shock absorber" during joint movement. Over time, however, cartilage can break down.

Problems with Cartilage

Signs that joint cartilage might be wearing down include stiff joints, reduced range of motion and swelling of joints. A reduction in cartilage can cause damage to the bones, creating issues such as bone spurs. When these symptoms appear, contact your local orthopedic doctor in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Cartilage can wear down due to age, misalignment of the joints, too much use through sports, or carrying too much weight. Severe damage to the bones-- such as that experienced in a car accident-- can also affect the thickness and amount of cartilage in some joints. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to cartilage loss as well.

Treatment for Lost Cartilage

Though research is in the works for building up cartilage, right now there is little that can be done to increase the thickness of this padding if it declines. Because cartilage that cushions joints does not have blood vessels, it cannot regrow like hair and skin.

Even though lost cartilage will not regrow on its own, a number of procedures are available to address the loss of cartilage. These include:

• Transplanting cartilage from other joints
• Repairing damaged cartilage
• Stimulating bone tissue and fibrocartilage growth
• Using platelets to encourage tissue growth

In addition to these procedures, which are commonly done in the United States, stem cells are being used to regenerate cartilage in Europe.

If you're suffering from symptoms of cartilage loss, contact an orthopedic doctor in Jacksonville, Florida. They will help you choose the right treatment for bringing pain-free mobility back into your life.