Degenerative joint disease, better known as osteoarthritis, is a condition in which the cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing friction, inflammation and pain. Cartilage is a smooth, hard substance between the bones that keeps them from grating against one another. When cartilage is lost or damaged, the bones grind against one another causing pain, stiffness and limited motion within the affected joints. The American College of Rheumatology states more than 70 percent of Americans older than age 70 have degenerative joint disease.
Aching Joint Pain and Tenderness
Brigham and Women's Hospital reports that joint pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis. Use of the affected joints provokes pain, and rest provides relief in many instances. Pain may be constant with long-standing, severe degenerative joint disease. The pain is typically described as a deep ache that is often aggravated by humid weather. The American College of Rheumatology notes the hips, knees, spine and hands are most frequently affected. The joints involved in osteoarthritis are usually tender to when pressed upon.
Joint Swelling and Deformity
The joints affected by osteoarthritis commonly swell due to chronic inflammation and irritation, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Notably, the joints are not red or hot to the touch. Bony lumps called Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes frequently develop in the finger joints, causing deformities. The fingers affected by these nodes appear crooked at the joints.
Joint Stiffness
Morning joint stiffness is a common symptom of degenerative joint disease, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital. Joint stiffness also commonly occurs after a period of inactivity. Regular exercise as advised by your doctor may reduce this symptom of osteoarthritis.
Grinding Sensations
The loss of cartilage associated with degenerative joint disease leads to bone-on-bone friction, which may cause a grinding sensation when the joint is used, according to The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. This is particularly common with the knees and hips.
Limited Range of Motion
The American College of Rheumatology explains that loss of joint cartilage and the associated pain often reduce normal range of motion. This means the affected joints do not have the flexibility they once did. Exercise and physical therapy as prescribed by your doctor may reverse or limit progression of this symptom of degenerative joint disease.
Muscle Weakness
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that muscle weakness can develop around joints affected by osteoarthritis. Because movement causes pain, people with osteoarthritis often become increasingly immobile, which leads to muscle weakness over time. Joint replacement surgery may be an option for people with severe degenerative joint disease of the hips or knees that significantly impairs the ability to perform everyday functions, according to the American College of Rheumatology.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Osteoarthritis
- American College of Rheumatology: Osteoarthritis
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Osteoarthritis, Signs and Symptoms
- Brigham and Women's Hospital: Osteoarthritis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteoarthritis Symptoms
