What Causes Degenerative Cartilage?

If you’re struggling with persistent joint pain and stiffness, it can seriously affect your mobility and quality of life. Several conditions can lead to joint problems, but did you know that cartilage degeneration could be the culprit? At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our expert orthopedist in Roslyn, NY can help determine if you are dealing with degenerative cartilage and employ effective treatment options to help you reclaim an active lifestyle. Continue reading to discover what causes degenerative cartilage. 

What Causes Degenerative Cartilage?

Cartilage is the critical tissue that covers the ends of the bones where they meet in your joint and allows the bones to glide over each other smoothly. If the cartilage has begun to wear away, your bones can’t move as smoothly and, in severe cases, cause friction, pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joint. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that wears down the cartilage cushioning your joints. This condition can affect cartilage anywhere in the body but most often impacts the knees, hips, spine, or fingers. While osteoarthritis is a common result of aging and genetics, degenerative arthritis is often a result of a secondary issue. Some other causes of degenerative arthritis may include:

• Joint injury. 
• A disease that causes joint tissue damage. 
• Obesity. 
• Neurologic disorders. 
• Loss of muscle strength. 

Osteoarthritis pain can be triggered by inflammation and mechanical forces. Fortunately, our orthopedist in Roslyn, NY provides compassionate care to help relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

Treatment for Degenerative Cartilage

Since there is no cure for degenerative arthritis, treatment from our orthopedist in Roslyn, NY aims to manage symptoms, restore function, and slow the progression of the disease. Seeking treatment in the early stages of this condition allows us to approach treatment conservatively before progressing to invasive interventions. Some of the ways we can help manage osteoarthritis can include:

• Lifestyle changes. 
• Pain medications. 
• Corticosteroid joint injections. 
• In severe cases, surgery. 

Contact Us

As the cartilage degeneration caused by osteoarthritis does not reverse, it’s crucial to slow the progression as much as possible through proper management of symptoms. Degenerative arthritis can be a distressing condition, but you are not alone. At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our dedicated staff will provide expert care to help you better control your symptoms and quality of life. Be sure to contact our orthopedist in Roslyn, NY today to schedule an appointment! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]