![]() Objective medical imaging establishing osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease. ![]() Generally, to establish Degenerative Joint Disease as a medically determinable severe impairment, you must show: If you are not engaging in gainful activity due to OA or DJD, the Social Security Administration must determine if you have an impairment that is “severe.” This is step 2 of the sequential evaluation process. Social Security Disability benefits may be available to you if you are diagnosed with OA/DJD. Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease can cause pain and other symptoms that can impact your ability to work. OA is the most common cause of a joint effusion of the knee.ĬAN I RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS/DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE? ![]() Some people notice these physical changes before they experience any pain. OA at the toes leads to the formation of bunions, rendering them red or swollen. In smaller joints, such as at the fingers, hard bony enlargements, called Heberden’s nodes (on the distal interphalangeal joints) and/or Bouchard’s nodes (on the proximal interphalangeal joints), may form, and though they are not necessarily painful, they do limit the movement of the fingers significantly. As OA progresses, the affected joints appear larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel better with gentle use but worse with excessive or prolonged use, as distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis. OA/DJD commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and the large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees, although, in theory, any joint in the body can be affected. ![]() Some people report increased pain associated with cold temperature, high humidity, and/or a drop in barometric pressure. Occasionally, the joints may also be filled with fluid. OA can cause a crackling noise (called “crepitus”) when the affected joint is moved or touched and people may experience muscle spasms and contractions in the tendons. “Pain” is generally described as a sharp ache or a burning sensation in the associated muscles and tendons. The main symptom is pain, causing loss of ability and often stiffness. OA/DJD symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion. These bone changes, together with the inflammation, can be both painful and debilitating. New bone outgrowths, called “spurs” or osteophytes, can form on the margins of the joints, possibly in an attempt to improve the congruence of the articular cartilage surfaces. This can happen as breakdown products from the cartilage are released into the synovial space, and the cells lining the joint attempt to remove them. Inflammation of the surrounding joint capsule can also occur, though often mild (compared to what occurs in rheumatoid arthritis). Without the protective effects of the proteoglycans, the collagen fibers of the cartilage can become susceptible to degradation and thus exacerbate the degeneration. This increase occurs because while there is an overall loss of proteoglycans, it is outweighed by a loss of collagen. However, during the onset of OA, there is an increase in cartilage water content. Collagen fibers exert the compressive force, whereas the Gibbs-Donnan effect & cartilage proteoglycans create osmotic pressure which tends to draw water in. The water content of healthy cartilage is finely balanced by compressive force driving water out & swelling pressure drawing water in. As a person ages, the water content of the cartilage decreases as a result of a reduced proteoglycan content, thus causing the cartilage to be less resilient. Primary OA is a chronic degenerative disorder related to but not caused by aging. Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) OR DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE (DJD)?
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