Osteochondritis Dissecans Causes Joint Pain, Joint Lock Symptoms

Osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondritis for short, is a joint condition caused by bone tip blood loss. Under stress, part of the stricken bone, or its cartilage covering, can break off and wind up in the nearby joint space.

When a loose piece of bone or cartilage falls into a joint space, this can cause:

  • joint pain
  • joint lock
  • joint instability
  • joint giving way

The knee joint is most often affected, followed by elbow, ankle and hip joints.

Osteochondritis is normally seen in athletic adolescents and young adults. Participation in active sports involving forceful repetitive movements, like jumping, cutting, pivoting and throwing, are believed to put you at a greater risk for osteochondritis dissecans.

Osteochondritis primal symptom is Joint pain. This pain is usually triggered by physical activity, for instance knee pain felt with walking up stairs or climbing an incline.

Other symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans include:

  • limping
  • joint lock
  • joint stick
  • joint weakening
  • joint clicking sound
  • post resting stiffness
  • joint swelling, tenderness
  • decreased joint movement

Early treatment of osteochondritis elevates your chances of returning to your previous activity, albeit some repetitive motion adjustments may need to be considered.

Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans is geared toward restoring joint function, relieve pain and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.  Initial treatment measures for this joint lock pain injury encompass:

Resting and limiting joint jarring activity helps most with symptom improvement.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive option when joint locking problems persist for several months. So if you are experiencing persistent joint pain and locking pay a visit to a joint health professional.

The health of your joints can be preserved by learning proper mechanics and techniques of your sport, as well as strength and stability training.  Dwindle your chances for osteochondritis dissecans, or any other joint injury, via mastering you sport’s fundamentals.

Bone Health Blurbs:

« »