Degenerative Joint Disease

Symptoms/Descriptions

Degenerative Joint Disease and Degenerative Disc Disease is caused by the repetitive wear and tear in the spine, extremities, joints, and spinal discs. It is followed by loss of motion, breakdown of joint cartilage and, in severe cases, permanent fusion of a joint. The symptoms include stiffness, weakness, pain, “clicking” or “popping” of joints and a loss of function. These symptoms could be continual or constant and ranges from mild to debilitating. The conditions could be dormant for long periods before the symptoms begin to appear. Apart from being hereditary and age-related, degenerative diseases are a combination of:

• Large amounts of stress
• How the body copes with the stress.

Treatment

While prevention is the best treatment, chiropractors rely on treating the symptoms through:

• Evaluation and X-rays of affected joints
• Chiropractic manipulation to restore posture and reduce stress on joints
• Ergonomic training to reduce stress in your environment
• Stretching and other exercises to improve joint strength and range of motion
• Nutritional supplements that make the joint tissues healthy. (Dr. Moffatt uses and recommends ArthriSea.)