What Is Degenerative Arthropathy?

Degenerative arthropathy causes pain and inflammation and prevents normal daily movement.

Degenerative arthropathy encompasses a collection of disorders affecting the hyaline cartilage and the subchondral bone. There is hypertrophic growth of all the tissues present in or surrounding the affected joints.

Degenerative arthropathy causes pain, inflammation, and prevents normal daily movement. Cartilage is the tissue responsible for covering the ends of these bones and is essential for the proper functioning of the joint.

Osteoarthritis causes the deterioration of joint cartilage, which leads to bone wear and pain. When the cartilage disappears, the bone reacts and expands to the sides, causing the joint to deform.

Causes of degenerative arthropathy

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease more common in women than in men.

The increase in life expectancy and the aging of the population will make degenerative arthropathy the fourth leading cause of disability in 2020. The exact causes of osteoarthritis are not known, but there are some associated risk factors. when it appears:

• Age : it increases exponentially from the age of 50
• Gender : it mainly affects women over 50-55 years old
• Genetics : it can also be an inherited disease. Specifically, the genetic inheritance in the development of osteoarthritis can reach 65%
• Professional activity : repeated joint movements can lead to joint overload in the long term
• High physical activity : elite athletes are more at risk of developing the disease
• Menopause : The decrease in estrogen levels that occurs at the onset of menopause is one of the risk factors for its development
• Obesity : it does not seem to participate in the development of osteoarthritis, but can worsen it in certain joints such as the knees
• Trauma : fractures and injuries can be a trigger

Symptoms

Degenerative arthropathy begins gradually. It affects one or more joints and then progresses to morning stiffness, usually brief, improving with movement.

As the disease progresses, the mobility of the affected joint decreases. For this reason, flexion contractures, painful sensitivity to pressure and a “crunching” sensation in the joint appear.

Mechanical blockages can sometimes occur due to the presence of osteophytes or free bodies inside the joint.

Joint pain and inflammation can also occur after long periods of physical inactivity throughout the day. The growth of the bony ends that form the joint can lead to its deformation.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are very varied and progressive. However, the most common are joint pain, limited movement, crunches and sometimes joint effusion.

The symptom that worries people with degenerative arthritis the most is pain. This pain usually stops with rest. Subsequently, the worsening of degenerative arthropathy will cause the appearance of pain both when moving and at rest.

Treatment of degenerative arthropathy

The main goal of treatment for degenerative arthropathy is to relieve pain and functional disability without causing side effects.

To achieve this, the first step specialists must take is teaching patients to avoid anything that contributes to joint damage. It is also advisable for each person to have a personalized and adapted exercise table.

In the most acute phase, the pain increases due to the inflammation of the affected area. When this occurs, it may be necessary to prescribe anti-inflammatory and / or pain relievers to reduce the swelling in the area and relieve pain.

Chondroprotective drugs

These are the only specific drugs to treat degenerative arthritis. This is because they act directly on the affected joint.

Not only do they relieve pain and improve mobility, they also have the ability to attack disease at the root. These include drugs like chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.