Degenerative Joint Disease

If you've felt stiffness or pain in your knees, hips, or hands, especially as you age, you might be dealing with degenerative joint disease (DJD). Ariel Curtis, FNP-C, at Joint Health Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina, can develop a treatment plan that helps prevent worsening DJD, which is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting joints. Schedule a visit for advanced, innovative care that takes a whole-patient approach to joint health. Call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is degenerative joint disease?

Degenerative joint disease causes the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones to wear away. Without care, this can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and sometimes loss of movement in the joint.

DJD can affect any joint, but it's most common in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. Over time, the joint may also lose its normal shape, and bone spurs (bony growths) may form.

Unlike inflammatory joint diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, DJD is primarily a wear-and-tear condition, though it can be worsened by injury or overuse.

Who does it affect?

DJD can affect anyone, but it’s most common in adults over 50. As you age, the cartilage in your joints naturally wears down, increasing the likelihood of developing DJD.

Other risk factors include:

• A family history of arthritis
• Excess weight, which stresses your weight-bearing joints
• Overuse or repetitive motion injuries related to sports, occupation, or hobbies
• Previous joint injury or surgery

Aging is certainly a factor, but even if you are younger, you can develop degenerative joint disease if you have a combination of these risk factors.

How do you treat degenerative joint disease?

At Joint Health Solutions, treatment goals for DJD include managing your current symptoms while preventing future joint damage through:

Exercise

Low-impact activities like swimming, biking, and walking help keep joints flexible and muscles strong.

Weight management

Reducing excess weight can significantly ease joint stress and improve your overall health.

Medications

Over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs can help.

Injection-based therapies

Ariel Curtis, FNP-C, specializes in joint injection therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Guided physical therapy

Strengthening and flexibility exercises with the guidance of a therapist can help improve joint function.

Early diagnosis and treatment

For most individuals, early DJD symptoms are subtle. You may initially notice mild early morning aching or stiffness that decreases as you get moving. But as the condition progresses, the pain and stiffness increase and become more persistent, eventually affecting you throughout the day.

Rather than waiting until the pain worsens, the team at Joint Health Solutions recommends scheduling a visit when the symptoms start. This gives you ample opportunity to proactively focus on keeping your joints healthy.

If you have DJD and need treatment, call Joint Health Solutions or request an appointment online today.