Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the joints are pathological processes leading to structural changes and destruction of the joints. Without timely treatment of degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the joints, ligaments, cartilages, bone elements of the joint begin to gradually collapse.

Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the joints and spine include:

• degenerative osteoarthrosis;
• osteochondrosis;
• Osgood-Schlatter disease;
• allergic arthritis;
• infectious arthritis;
• Reiter’s disease;
• ankylosing spondylitis.

Degenerative osteoarthrosis

Deforming type osteoarthrosis is a joint disease characterized by a gradual change in the structure of intraarticular cartilaginous tissue, its deformation and further destruction. This is a disease due to excessive physical exertion on the joints. Factors provoking the disease:

• age 50 years and above;
• overweight;
• professional activities related to the lifting of heavy loads;
• professional sport;
• malnutrition and bad habits;
• joint injuries.

Degenerative osteoarthritis occurs in large articulations of the shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and hip joints. Symptoms – joint pain, crunching during movement, limitation of mobility, joint deformation.

Osteochondrosis

Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of joints often occur against the background of degenerative processes developed in the spinal column. Osteochondrosis is a joint disease that occurs mainly in the cervical region, as this part of the spine is the most mobile and is subject to constant stress.

The disease manifests itself in back pain, which in the early stages of development has a weak intensity, and further amplifies.

Osgood–Schlatter disease

This joint disease occurs between the ages of 13 and 16, at the peak of active growth, when not all joints have time to adjust to growing bone tissue. This pathology occurs mainly in boys who are actively involved in sports. The main symptom is the formation of tubercle under knee joint, which periodically hurts. Treatment in the early stages is conservative, with aggravation, surgery is appointed.

Arthritis

The most commonly diagnosed degenerative joint and spinal disease is arthritis. It arises as a result of trauma and as a result of autoimmune diseases – lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, Sharp syndrome, dermatomyositis. Symptoms of arthritis – swelling of soft tissues, redness of skin at the location of the damaged joint, pain during movement, locally increased body temperature.

Arthritis of allergic and infectious type is caused by the penetration of a pathogenic organism – Escherichia coli, Chlamydia, Streptococcus, fungi, viruses into the joint cavity. Treatment is conservative, with the use of antibiotics. In case of pus accumulation in the joint cavity, a puncture is performed.

Reiter’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis

Reiter’s disease is a pathology that affects the joints and urethra. The cause of its occurrence is the ingestion of mycoplasma, chlamydia, ureaplasma. This degenerative joint disease occurs only in patients who carry the HLA-B27 gene.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a genetic pathology, occurs mainly in men. It affects the joints of the spinal column. Symptoms are back pain, ossification of joints, which leads to an inability to make any movements with back.

All of the above degenerative joint diseases are successfully treated in early stages of development, so it is very important to conduct an early diagnosis if even a minor back pain is detected.