Everything You Need to Know About Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative Joint Disease is also known as joint degradation or osteoarthritis. As the name suggests, this condition affects joints in our body. When it comes to why this condition occurs, then there is no single cause. Aging is one of the common causes of this condition, and the chances become high due to repetitive stress on a particular joint. Non-operative treatment procedures are found to be most commonly effective for the treatment of this condition, especially when diagnosed early. Surgery is often recommended in severe cases or when other procedures fail to provide relief. Surgery may also require use of Ortho Surgical Implants.

How Degenerative Joint Disease Occurs or Osteoarthritis?

With age, wear & tear occurs in our body, and this is normal. After a certain age, bones, joints, muscles, cartilages, and tendons start to wear down. Though the process is slow, it causes serious harm with time. The rate at which the body starts to wear is not the same at all, as there are certain factors that play a key role. People suffering from any other health condition may experience quick wear & tear when compared to healthy individuals. This condition can be seen in any joint, while the neck, hips, and knee joints are the most commonly affected ones.

Which Factors Could Increase the Risk of Developing Osteoarthritis?

Though aging is the main cause of osteoarthritis, yet there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of developing the degenerative joint disease:

• Obesity
• Hormonal disorders
• Overuse of joints
• Joint disorders
• A history of any joint disease
• Bone disorders
• Sickle cell disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Muscular dystrophy

What Are the Symptoms Associated with Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degenerative joint disease is a progressive condition that starts from stage 0 and develops to stage 4. The fourth stage is the last and most severe one in which the complete joint gets affected. When it comes to the symptoms associated with the condition, then pain, tenderness, and swelling are the most common ones. Along with these, the range of motion of the affected joint also becomes limited, and this depends upon the severity of the condition. Inflammation of the affected joint may also be commonly noticed around the diseased joint.

During the initial stages of the condition, mild symptoms are noticed, but as the condition progresses, symptoms also become severe, or we must say unbearable. If the symptoms are severe, they require immediate medical attention.

It is always a good idea to seek medical help when you start experiencing early symptoms like loss of flexibility, pain in joints, or limited range of motion. This will prevent you from facing a serious condition.

How is Degenerative Joint Disease Diagnosed?

It is true that this condition is hard to detect in the early stages due to its slow progression. On the other hand, if a serious injury or accident has occurred, imaging tests like x-ray or MRI could diagnose it early. This condition cannot be cured or reversed, but medical help could relieve the symptoms and reduce its progression.

To diagnose the condition, the doctor will want to know the medical history of the patient along with the symptoms he/she is facing. Besides this, the doctor will perform a physical examination to see the range of motion of the affected joint along with the movements that cause pain. Certain imaging tests are also required to examine the severity of the disease, and they include X-ray, MRI, or joint aspiration. To rule out the chances of infection or other conditions, blood tests are also performed.

What is the Treatment of Degenerative Joint Disease?

The treatment of degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis is aimed at relieving the symptoms as there is no cure for the condition. Non-operative treatment is always the choice, and it is effective as well. It includes medications that involve analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to provide relief from pain and inflammation. Physical therapy is also known to play an important role in improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis. People suffering from stage 4 osteoarthritis may require surgical intervention. Surgery is also required when all the other treatment procedures fail to provide relief.

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