What Is Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis is a disease commonly seen among the elderly especially over 65 years of age. Risk factors include previous joint injury, genes and obesity. A normal joint is made up the ends of two bones and a cartilage in between enclosed by a sac called a synovium filled with synovial fluid. Each of these parts play an individual role in maintaining the integrity and proper functioning of the joint. The cartilage is a hard but slippery tissue which not only allows easy gliding of one bone with the other but also absorbs energy from shock of physical movement.

With increasing age, the cartilage wears off and as a result the two bony surfaces glide over each other and this is called osteoarthritis. The patient may complain of symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling of the joint and with time there will be deformities and restricted movement. It can affect almost all joints of the body but most commonly knee, hip, neck, lower back and joints of the hand.

Once a diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made, the first step of management is not a hip replacement or other type of prostheses. It usually starts conservatively with exercise, weight control and pain management. Exercises like resistance training which strengthen the muscles around the joint can reduce the stress on them. If the patient is overweight, there is more stress on the joints and weight loss may reduce that stress thus leading to less pain. Link here http://www.dranilgoudar.com.au/conditions/hips/total-hip-replacement/ provide a high standard of hip replacement service that will satisfied your needs.

Modalities of pain management vary from massaging to pain killers to intra-articular injections or alternative methods like acupuncture. Some may need the help of assistive devices such as walkers or canes for extra support. In elderly patients who are unfit for surgery, this is the main mode of treatment. However, if the patient is fit for surgery and the disease have severely progressed, where there is significant restriction of movement and pain, surgical management is the preferred choice.

A knee arthritis surgery can give back the patient full function of the joint and restore their independence which lead to better quality of life. Knee arthritis is a disease that can affect physical, mental and social aspects of life. Physically it leads to disability. Disability can cause loss of independence and depression and cost of treatment and inability to work, will lead to financial problems. Prevention is better than cure, thus being made aware of the disease and following steps to prevent early onset of the disease such as staying active, avoiding excess weight gain and leading a healthy lifestyle may be beneficial.