What is Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wear down over time. Although it can damage any joint, degenerative joint disease most commonly affects the joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. The damage to joints due to degenerative joint disease can’t be reversed, but symptoms can be managed.

Causes of Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones degenerate over time. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone will rub on bone. As it degenerates, there will be changes in the bone and deterioration of the connective tissues that hold the joints together and attach muscle that cause inflammation of the joint lining.

Factors that can increase your risk of degenerative joint disease include:

• Older age
• Being a woman.
• Obesity
• Joint injuries
• Repeated stress on the joint.
• Genetics
• Bone deformities

Symptoms of Degenerative Joint Disease

Symptoms of degenerative joint disease typically develop slowly and worsen over time. The most common symptoms include:

• Pain – affected joints may hurt during or after movement. 
• Stiffness – joint stiffness upon waking up or being inactive for a long period of time.
• Tenderness – joints that feel tender when applying light pressure.
• Loss of flexibility – joints that are unable to move full range of motion.
• Grating sensation – you may experience a grating sensation or hear sounds of popping or crackling.
• Bone spurs – extra bits of bone can form around the affected joint.
• Swelling – caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Degenerative Joint Disease

Your provider will review your medical history and perform a physical examination, including checking your affected joint for tenderness, swelling, redness and flexibility. Other tests that may be needed include:

• X-rays – can reveal potential cartilage loss and bone spurs that have formed around a joint.
• MRI – shows detailed images of bones and soft tissues, including cartilage.
• Blood tests – can help to rule out other causes of joint pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Joint fluid analysis – to test for inflammation to determine whether your pain is caused by gout or an infection. 

Your provider may recommend nonsurgical treatments that can help to reduce pain and help control symptoms of degenerative joint disease, including:

• Medications – help to relieve symptoms, primarily pain.
• Physical therapy – helps to strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase flexibility and reduce pain.
• Occupational therapy – helps to show alternative methods of daily living that doesn’t put extra stress on the affected joint.

If nonsurgical treatments don’t help to relieve pain, your provider may recommend treatments such as:

• Cortisone injections – may help to relieve pain for a few weeks. 
• Lubrication injections – injections of lubrication may help to relieve pain by providing some cushioning in your joints. 
• Joint replacement – in this surgery, your surgeon removes your damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal parts. 

Pain management is an integrated approach to making pain tolerable by learning physical, emotional, intellectual, and social skills. This may include exercise, physical therapy, medication, holistic therapies, and counseling. With these methods, we can help you stay in control of your health.

Although you cannot reverse damage done by degenerative joint disease, there are things you can do to manage your symptoms, including:

• Low-impact exercise.
• Losing weight.
• Movement therapies, including yoga.
• Heat and ice.