Degenerative joint disease is a progressive disorder that attacks the body’s cartilage, i.e. the hard tissue that covers up the end of bones and meets the joints, allowing bones to move. It’s the most common form of arthritis and one of the main causes of joint pain in adults. Degenerative arthritis usually affects older people and slowly gets worse as people age. The symptoms of the degenerative joint disease develop all over the human body, in any joints, neck, hips, knees, and, more specifically, hands.
The most common DJD symptoms include:
- joint pain, which can worsen at times and “come and go”
- stiffness
- trouble moving, which worsens as the disease progresses
- more pain, inflammation, and limitations as time go on
- trouble doing everyday tasks like bending over, getting dressed, walking, reaching, squatting
- a person might hear the sound of bones rubbing against each other when the disease becomes severe
- as a side effect of the ongoing pain and mobility/job limitations, depression, trouble sleeping, feeling hopeless, and weight changes can sometimes also develop
Although it’s not possible to completely cure the degenerative joint disease once it’s developed, many natural osteoarthritis treatment options are available, which can greatly impact the patient’s well-being. It includes exercising and staying active, preventing weight gain and maintaining healthy body weight, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and treating pain using physical therapy.
Whenever you or your beloved person needs professional degenerative joint disease home treatment services in the DFW area, the Aurora Home Health team is always ready to help lower the severity of symptoms and slow the progression of the disease so more cartilage is spared. The main goals of the DJD treatments are to lower inflammation/swelling, control pain, improve mobility and joint function, help maintain a healthy weight, so you put less pressure on fragile joints, and improve your mood.
