It occurs because of excessive use, damage, and aging factors. Chondrosis occurs when soft connective tissues break down in your joints. Typically, it affects the knees, hands, hips, neck, and lower backbone. This condition is called stiffness and constant joint pain if you suffer from it. This condition is incurable, although the ideal treatment will help slow down the development of the illness, provide comfort, and allow for re-establishing mobility. Additionally, excessive body weight may put pressure on your knees.
What is Chondrosis?
Chondrosis is the term used for cartilage breakdown. The deterioration and shredding of cartilage in the hand, hips, neck, and lower back joints depends on several factors, including age, specific injuries, and overuse.
Stages of Chondrosis
Chondrosis is classified into different stages depending on the condition and severity of damage. For this purpose, a specific system of grading known as the modified Outerbridge grading system is followed. So, based on magnetic resonance imaging, chondroitin is divided into 4 grades.
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First grade determines the integrity of articular cartilage.
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The second stage determines the fissuring and fragmentation of the articular surface.
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The third stage identifies thickness loss and fibrillation of cartilage.
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The fourth stage shows the presence of exposed subchondral bone in cartilage deterioration.
Who is an Easy Target for Chondrosis?
As each portion of extra weight puts four pounds of pressure on the knees, every movement of high insurance causes increased chances of chondrosis. Moreover, obese individuals with sedentary lifestyles are at greater risk of getting affected by the ailment.
Athletes who practice sudden and quick movements while playing football and volleyball and running long distances are tough on their knees.
Those having shallow hip sockets by birth show chondrosis in many cases, which identifies the impact of genetics on the risk rate of chondrosis.
Specific incidents of mismanagement during surgical treatments also developed chondrosis in the later stages of life.
Types of Chondrosis
Chondrosis may develop in any joint of the body. The most prominent of these joints are present at the following locations
● Hand Joints
Hand joints show inflammation and tenderness due to the development of bone spurs. Most patients complain about pain at the base of the thumb. Overall performance of hands is affected, showing impaired motor skills, resulting in difficulty performing activities like tying shoe laces, holding utensils, typing, writing, and buttoning clothes.
● Neck
Inflammation of cartilage in the neck area is termed cervical spondylosis. The breakdown of the cushioning layer around vertebrae leads to pain and swelling while performing daily activities.
● Lower Back
Most of the acute back pain issues get eliminated on their own. However, some pain conditions arising from bone spurs require complete diagnosis and healthcare experts’ help. These painful bony spurs in the lower back also compress the nerves that radiate to limbs and shoulders.
● Hips Joints
A protective cartilage covers the ball and socket joint of the hips. This cartilage layer decreases the friction between joints while moving. Any tear in these layers leads to difficulty in walking, sitting and standing
● Knee Joints
Cartilage breakdown in the knee area is known as chondromalacia or patellofemoral chondrosis. Most runners and obese individuals show this type of chondrosis.
Can Chondrosis be Treated?
Although chondrosis is a challenging condition to treat. However, several treatments can be adopted to manage and stop the condition from progression
Conventional treatments
The conventional treatments include the following option:
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Weight reduction
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Physical therapies
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Occupational therapies
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Orthotics and braces
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Exercise
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Maintaining blood sugar levels
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Lifestyle modifications
However, the medication and supplementations used to treat chondroitin are as follows:
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including acetaminophen
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Capsaicin
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Tramadol, Duloxetine
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Corticosteroid Injections
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Supplements including vitamin K, calcium, glucosamine, chondroitin
Do You Need Surgery for Chondrosis?
When medications and non-surgical treatments are not improving the patient’s condition, experts at the pain relief clinic Fort Worth recommend arthritic surgeries. These surgeries remove the swollen parts of tissues, followed by cartilage replacement.
As high doses of painkillers are not beneficial for patients’ overall health, surgical treatments are the best option to manage chondroitin, according to healthcare providers at Pain and Spine Clinic.
Summary
Maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce this pressure. To lose weight, you should reduce your sugar and fat intake, consume a lot of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. When significant cartilage lesions arise in the patellofemoral joint, they often respond well to simple debridement combined with addressing the primary etiology when present if the lesions cause symptoms. You should avoid performing major cartilage restoration procedures as a primary procedure unless the lesion is extensive, has total thickness, or is associated with bone loss or if it is deemed.