Degenerative Bone Disease

Degenerative bone disease is commonly known as degenerative osteoarthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritic conditions, of which osteoarthritis is the most common disorder. More than 20 million Americans are affected by degenerative bone disorder.

What is Degenerative Disease?
Degenerative bone disease or degenerative arthritis is caused by inflammation, breakdown and loss of the cartilage of the joints. It affects the hands, feet, spine, hips and knees. The cartilage helps the bones glide over one another and acts as a shock absorber. With the wear and tear of the cartilage over the years, the bones begin to rub each other under the cartilage. This leads to pain, swelling and loss of joint movement.

Causes of Degenerative Bone Disease
Most of the degenerative disorders do not have any known cause. The main factors causing degenerative arthritis are:

• Age - Degenerative bone disease affects people over the age of 45 years. There are exceptions where younger people or even children are affected by this disease.
• Sex - The degenerative joint disease is seen more commonly in women than men.
• Hereditary Factors - Certain pre-existing conditions like defective cartilage and joint deformity can lead to degenerative disorder.
• Fractures - Accidental injuries or fractures of the joints may weaken the bones and lead to degenerative bone disorders.
• Other Diseases - Rheumatoid arthritis, hemochromatosis, Paget's disease and gout may affect the structure and functioning of the cartilage leading to degenerative arthritis.
• Vitamin D deficiency, parathyroid disease, chronic kidney disease and senile osteoporosis may also cause degenerative bone disease.

Commonly Occurring Degenerative Joint Disease
Degenerative disorder may affect any joint in the body. The most commonly occurring degenerative arthritis are:

Degenerative Arthritis: Spine: The spinal components deteriorates over time leading to degenerative spinal arthritis. The facet joints of the spinal cord are affected in degenerative arthritis. The bones rub each other and cause a painful friction. The bones become weak and break down, affecting the nerves present in the area. The symptoms include:

• Back pain
• Stiffness of the spine, especially in the morning
• Tenderness in the shoulder, hips and heel pain
• Numbness in the arms or legs due to pressure on the nerves
• Difficulty in bending and walking
• Deformity of the spine

Degenerative Arthritis: Neck: This condition is also known as cervical spondylosis, cervical osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease of the neck. The seven vertebrae of the spine present in the neck are affected. This condition is very painful and mainly associated with muscle sprain, dislocation of the flexible disks or damage to the spinal cord. The symptoms of degenerative joint disorder include:

• Severe neck pain
• Headaches mainly in the back of the head, shoulder pain
• Stiffness of the neck and difficulty in turning or bending the neck side-to-side
• Pain, numbness in the arm. The hands may become clumsy.
• Numbness in the legs and unsteadiness while walking. This is generally seen in elderly people.
• Coughing, sneezing or any sudden activity may lead to increase in pain of the arms and shoulders.

Degenerative Arthritis: Hands and Feet: When the condition affects the hands and feet, it becomes very painful to use the fingers as well as toes. In fingers, the Herberden's nodes and Bouchard's nodes may be formed. These are hard bony enlargements that may or may not be painful. However, there is limitation in movement of fingers. Toes form bunions that makes the swollen as well as red. These signs like swelling, stiffness, limitation of movement, pain are initial tell-tale signs of arthritis.

Degenerative Arthritis: Hip: Degenerative hip arthritis commonly affects people over the age of 50 years. It is seen in obese people and is also a hereditary degenerative disorder. The common symptoms of degenerative joint disease of the hip are:

• Hip pain during physical activity
• The range of motion becomes limited
• Stiffness of the hip
• Limping when walking

Degenerative Arthritis: Knees: This is one of the most common degenerative arthritis disorders. Chances of degenerative knee arthritis increase due to ligament damage, knee fractures or trauma to the knee. The symptoms of degenerative bone disorder of the knee include:

• Pain during physical activities
• Range of motion is limited
• Stiffness and swelling of the knee joint
• Deformity of the knee, like knock knees or bow legs

Treatment of Degenerative Bone Disease
Medical science has not yet come up with a concrete cure for treatment of degenerative bone disorder. The treatments for degenerative arthritis mainly include the following:

• Medication for Degenerative Joint Disease:
  Corticosteroids, non-steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed to bring some relief to the pain in the joints. Glucocorticoids is an injection that may be recommended for inflamed joints. Acetaminophen and aspirin are prescribed for mild pain without inflammation.
• Non-Drug Treatments:
  Acupuncture, hot water therapy, ice packs, acupuncture and herbal remedies may be recommended for temporary relief from degenerative bone pain.
• Weight Management:
  Obesity is the main cause that leads to degenerative arthritis. Losing weight and maintaining the correct height-weight ratio may help reduce the symptoms of degenerative bone disorder.
• Exercise:
  Exercises and physical therapy help maintain flexibility and decrease pain.
• Surgery:
  In extreme cases, the doctor may carry out spinal surgery to relieve chronic pain in the damaged joints.

The best way to lower the symptoms of degenerative bone disease is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet. Quit smoking and consumption of alcohol and other abusive substances to increase the body's power to carry out the natural healing process. Visit your doctor for advice and develop exercise programs to help you lead a better life. Maintain a positive attitude and take good care of your joints.