Information on Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis characterized by the deterioration of cartilage tissue that forms in the joints between bones.

Causes

• The causes of OA vary and may include hereditary or inherited factors. Most instances of the disease have developed as a direct result of injury or repeated stress to the affected joint areas. While all ages may be affected, symptoms worsen over time as the disease advances.

Disease Development

• OA develops as the cartilage tissue that allows joint movement wears away, and bones at opposite ends of the joint begin to rub together, limiting their movement and deforming the joint structure. As this happens, osteophytes, or bone growths, appear which causes the joints to swell and further hinders their function. As the disease progresses, the same joint problems arise along the spine and later in support joints such as those of the hips and knees.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of early OA include frequent joint stiffness and pain upon movement. As the disease progresses, pain becomes worse, and joint movement may become severely limited. Other symptoms include joint cracking and snapping.

Basic Treatment

• Many doctors say that the best way to combat OA, provided that OA is not so advanced as to be debilitating, is a moderate routine of exercise combined with a healthy diet in order to keep joints strong. For pain relief, over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol are effective and have little side effects.

Advanced Treatment

• As the disease worsens, patients may consider stronger medications such as glucose-chondroitin sulfate, which relieves pain and promotes cartilage health. As a last resort, replacement surgeries are possible, and may be very effective depending on the patient and the affected area.