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Degenerative Knee Cartilage - The Unforgiving Pain - Understanding the Onset, Treatment & Prognosis

By Daniel Sims

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 03May2009 Word count: 521 Viewed: 2217 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Is your knee giving you problems?

When it comes to our knees, even a little problem can be concerning.

Debilitating pain combined with a progressively limited range of motion is symptomatic of degenerative knee cartilage. Also called osteoarthritis, this condition is indicated by the wearing away of the cartilage in the knee, which could be caused by old age, excessive repetitive movements, or excessive pressure.

What is cartilage?

What role does it play?

Cartilage is an elastic substance that covers the ends of the leg bones where they meet at the knee joint. The cartilage is smooth and slippery, allowing for proper movement within the knee, which enables a person to flex their leg without feeling pain. The elasticity allows of the cartilage to act as a shock absorber, preventing severe damage if and when there is any impact to the knees.

When this knee cartilage breaks down the cushioning effect is lost. When this happens the bones in the joint can grate against each other during any movement, causing excruciating pain.

Cartilage typically undergoes a natural rate of degeneration as the individual gets older. In effect, after a certain age, every person will experience some degree of degenerative knee cartilage; the only difference being in the severity of the condition and the impact it has on the individual's mobility.

What are the Treatment Options for Degenerative Knee Cartilage

Although typically osteoarthritis takes time to build up, it can eventually lead to the breakdown of all the cartilage in the knee. At its most severe, the only solution to the problem is surgery and radical reconstruction. This is only done when there is no other choice, however. The procedure is not risk-free and the patient may not regain anything close to the full range of motion the used to have at the joint.

For mild to moderate cases, however, there are several forms of less-invasive treatment that have proven effective for many individuals. Drug therapy using anti-inflammatory drugs have proven to be quite effective at reducing pain levels. Glucosamine and chondroitin have also proven to be quite effective at promoting regeneration of knee cartilage to some extent. (When using these treatment options you should always speak with your physician.)

The symptoms of degenerative cartilage can be very effectively managed using knee braces as a physical form of treatment. A brace is a device that is designed to wrap snugly around the knee which can provide meaningful support that can really help reduce knee pain and help maintain proper alignment.

What is the Prognosis for Degenerative Cartilage?

While degenerative knee cartilage is a progressive and incurable condition to have, the good news is it can be managed. If it is detected early enough, effective measures can be taken to prevent the condition from deteriorating even further and out of control. A brace worn over the knee will do much to hold the knee in place preventing inadvertent movement, which could cause further pain. In addition to being easily available and relatively inexpensive, knee supports are a great way to take your stability to the next level and to treat your symptoms conservatively.

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