What Is Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is the most common form of joint disorder. It can occur in any joint, but usually it affects hands, knees, hips or spine.

How common is it? 
According to the World Health Organization, degenerative joint disease is one of the ten most disabling diseases in developed countries. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans are affected. 

What does degenerative joint disease entail?
Degenerative joint disease mainly affects the cartilage. This is the slippery, connective tissue that covers the bones in a joint. A protein substance, cartilage protects bones by absorbing the shock of everyday movement. 

If cartilage breaks down, or degenerates, the bones lose their cushioning and the exposed bone surfaces can rub together. The joint area can become in turn become inflamed and painful, resulting in reduced motion in the joints. In addition, bone spurs, or extra bone, may form around the afflicted joint, and the ligaments, or fibrous connective tissue, and the muscles around the joint may then become both weaker and stiffer. 

What causes degenerative joint disease?
The primary cause of degenerative joint disease is simply the aging process.  What people often refer to as a “stiffening of the joints” occurs in almost everyone by age 70, although the symptoms may be minor. However, osteoarthritis symptoms typically begin to occur in middle age, with symptoms more common in women than in men after the age 55.  

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, other risk factors that contribute to degenerative joint diseases are

• excessive weight gain
• joint injury, such as a meniscal tear, a rupture in the rubbery, C-shaped disc that protects your knee
• joints that are not properly formed
• stress on the joints from certain jobs and playing sports
• and, less commonly, genetic defects in joint cartilage.

The role of injury as a contributing factor should not be underestimated. For instance, about 95,000 people a year experience injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the tough band of tissue that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone.

What are some common symptoms of degenerative joint disease?
Indications of possible degenerative joint disease include

• joint stiffness when standing up from a seated position or getting out of bed
• swelling in one or more joints

• a feeling, or even sounds, of bones “crunching” or rubbing together
• difficulty sleeping
• limping while walking, a common symptom of hip arthritis
• 
  

How harmful is degenerative joint disease?
Over time, osteoarthritis can permanently damage the joint. That’s why it is important to consult with your physician, who can make a diagnosis through a physical exam and x-rays, as well as by reviewing your medical history, such as for prior injuries.   

What should I do if I have degenerative joint disease?

An orthopaedic specialist can help you determine the treatment that is right for you. Early treatments may include exercise, weight loss, rest, pain medication, and -- If joint disease worsens – surgery, such as knee replacement or lower back surgery. Among the most common and effective orthopaedic surgeries are hip and knee replacement. 

What’s new in the treatment of degenerative joint disease?
A recent innovation in joint treatment is minimally invasive surgery. For example, in minimally invasive spinal surgery, surgeons use smaller incisions than in traditional surgery to treat spinal conditions. By minimizing damage to the muscles and other soft tissues, minimally invasive surgery promotes a faster recovery period.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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