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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Is degenerative joint disease more similar to arthritis or cancer in that it will take over the body?

    What is degenerative joint disease? Is it like arthritis? Or is it more like a disease that will take over the body like a cancer?
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  • Dr Ryan Hislop

    Chiropractor

    Ryan Hislop is the Clinical Director at the Orange Chiropractic Health and Wellness Centre. As an experienced and evidence-based diagnostician, Ryan works largely by medical … View Profile

    No, it does not spread like cancer and is limited to joints. Although it may be present in multiple joints, it is not a cancer like disease and will not spread throughout the body.

    Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is a progressive, noninflammatory disease characterised by degenerative pathologic changes in articular cartilage and its related components. 

    There is no exact cause of DJD, although there is a well documented sequence of events once the degeneration is set up. 

    Degenerative joint disease does not have a clear correlation with clinical findings. This meaning, that someone may have very little DJD but alot of pain.. and another person may have alot of DJD and no pain at all. However, function of the spinal joints may be deminished. 

    DJD is often found on Xray or radiographic examination. Radiologic features include:
    - articular deformity
    - subchondral sclerosis
    - subchondral bone cysts
    - osteophytes
    - intra-articular loose bodies
    - joint subluxation (less than total dislocation)

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