What is cartilage erosion? What are the types of cartilage erosion and how is it treated? If you have come to this article, you are probably afraid that you are suffering from cartilage erosion. Here is all the information you need on the subject – types of pain, types of joints and methods of treatment.
What is cartilage erosion?
Cartilage erosion is a degenerative process that occurs in the various joints in the body, but is most common in the knee and hip joints due to the heavy weight they carry, or in the joints that are used a lot, such as the palms of the hands. This is a common phenomenon among older people and causes pain, decreased range of motion and impaired quality of life.
How is the joint built and what is cartilage?
The joint is actually a point of connection between bone and bone that allows us the ability to move, and this is what allows us flexibility. The ends of the bones are lined with cartilage – a soft and flexible tissue whose function is to isolate the bones from each other. The cartilage is made up of cells with a special intercellular substance rich in proteoglycan – a type of protein. When pressing on the joint area, such as during physical activity or carrying heavy weights, the cartilage compresses and releases water, and when relaxed, it absorbs it back.
What are the causes of cartilage erosion?
Cartilage erosion is a degenerative process that occurs naturally as a result of the aging process. This phenomenon can also occur when a lot of pressure is applied to the area, as in the case of Cartilage erosion in the knee or cartilage erosion in the thigh, which carries the weight of the body. As the years go by, the rate of cartilage rebuilding decreases and the cartilage does not catch up with the rate of erosion. When the cartilage wears out, the two bones in the joint begin to rub against each other, causing inflammation and pain.
Symptoms of cartilage erosion in the joint
- Pain – Pain that appears after performing physical activity, or after prolonged immobility, such as sitting, or while carrying weight on the wrist – walking. When it comes to cartilage erosion in the knee, the pain will be felt during the transition from sitting to standing. In the absence of treatment, the pain can intensify and become chronic pain.
- Joint stiffness – A phenomenon that occurs following a prolonged period of inactivity, such as sleeping at night, for example. The joint stiffens and creates a restriction of movement and pain.
- Swelling and tenderness – The area becomes swollen and sensitive when touched or performed.
- Squeaks – Noise created as a result of the friction of the bones with each other.
- Inflammation – It is also formed as a result of the friction of the bones with each other.
Treatment Methods for Cartilage Erosion
- Physiotherapy treatments – The role of physiotherapy treatments is to diagnose the source of the pain and identify the source of the restriction in movement. The goal of physiotherapy treatments is to reduce the pain caused by cartilage erosion, increase the range of motion and strengthen the muscles.
- Drug treatments – Anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medications, ointments and supplements such as glucosamine.
- Cortisone injections – Cortisone injections help reduce pain immediately and can only be performed on the recommendation of the treating doctor.
- Injections of hyaluronic acid – Hyaluronic acid increases the viscosity of the joint fluid, thus improving the lubrication in the joint and reducing the level of friction between the bones.
- Surgical Procedures – Performing a surgical procedure is performed only when there is no improvement in the patient's condition.
Joint Replacement – A procedure that is performed only when there is no improvement in the condition and a reduction in pain following the treatments mentioned above. The most common joint replacement surgeries are knee replacements that are caused by knee wear or hip replacement. In this type of surgery, components from the damaged joint are replaced with artificial components in order to restore the patient's quality of life and the ability to move freely. Knee replacement surgery, for example, is considered a complex surgery with a critical level of accuracy, and therefore this type of surgery is performed using a computer and a robot in order to reach the highest level of accuracy, and the recovery process is relatively fast. For more information regarding knee or hip replacement surgery, click here – https://profherman.com/ .