Recovery from degenerative arthritis

The human limbs play a vital role in the normal life activities of the human body, and the joints are like the connection points of a machine. If the joints are not good, the limbs machine will not be able to work normally. Joints are both strong and fragile. When joints are injured, they are prone to fractures and dislocations. On the other hand, living in wetlands for a long time can easily cause arthritis. Joints also degenerate with age.

Degenerative osteoarthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, senile arthritis, and hypertrophic arthritis, is a degenerative disease caused by many factors such as aging, obesity, strain, trauma, congenital abnormalities of joints, and joint deformities, resulting in degenerative damage to articular cartilage and reactive hyperplasia of the joint margins and subchondral bone. This disease is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, and is prone to occur in weight-bearing joints and joints with high activity (such as cervical vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, knee joints, hip joints, etc.). Excessive weight bearing or use of these joints can promote degenerative changes. The clinical manifestations include slowly developing joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, joint swelling, limited movement and joint deformity.

Clinical manifestations

The main symptom is joint pain, which is often pain at rest. The pain occurs after rest and is relieved by a short movement. However, the pain worsens after excessive activity. Another symptom is joint stiffness, which often occurs when you wake up in the morning or after the joints have been in a certain position for a long time during the day. Examination of the affected joints may reveal joint swelling and tenderness, and a friction or "clicking" sound during movement. In severe cases, muscle atrophy and joint deformities may occur.

Degenerative osteoarthritis examination

1. Imaging examination

① X-rays show unequal or narrowed joint spaces, osteoporosis in the joints, bone hyperplasia or joint enlargement, and even joint deformation, subchondral bone sclerosis, and osteophyte formation. ②CT can clearly show different degrees of joint bone hyperplasia, calcification and loose bodies within the joint, and sometimes can also show the condition of the meniscus.

2. Laboratory examination

There were no abnormal changes in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood picture, and the thermal agglutination test was positive. The joint fluid is usually clear, slightly yellow and highly viscous, and the white blood cell count is usually within 1.0×109/L, mainly monocytes. The mucin clots are firm.

Degenerative osteoarthritis diagnosis

Based on relevant medical history, clinical manifestations and X-ray findings, the diagnosis of this disease is not difficult. Synovial fluid examination can be performed if necessary.

Degenerative osteoarthritis treatment

The main treatment for this disease is to reduce the weight on the joints and excessive large-scale activities to delay the progression of the disease. Obese patients should lose weight to reduce the load on their joints. When there are lesions in the lower limb joints, crutches or a cane can be used to reduce the burden on the joints. Physical therapy and appropriate exercise can maintain the range of motion of the joints. When necessary, splints, braces, and canes can be used to help control acute symptoms. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs can alleviate or control symptoms, but they should be used with caution after assessing the patient's risk factors and should not be taken for a long time. Chondroprotective agents such as glucosamine sulfate have the effect of relieving symptoms and improving function, and long-term use can delay the structural progression of the disease. For advanced cases, if the patient's general condition can tolerate the surgery, artificial joint replacement is currently recognized as an effective method to eliminate pain, correct deformities, and improve function, which can greatly improve the patient's quality of life.