Degenerative Bone Disease Treatments

Degenerative bone disease describes any one of a group of diseases that cause a progressive degradation of the bones or associated cartilage. Common examples of these diseases include osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Degenerative bone disease typically affects the joints first, due to the cumulative effects of friction over time. Treatment usually involves supportive care with surgery as a last resort.

  1. Conservative Treatment

    • The primary goal of conservative treatment for degenerative bone disease is to relieve pain and reduce stress on the bones, while maintaining as much function as possible. Patients should combine light exercise like bicycling, swimming and walking with rest as needed to relieve pressure on the joints. Proper posture and a support brace also may be helpful for some cases of degenerative bone disease.

      Physical therapy can improve strength and flexibility for patients with degenerative bone disease. Additional therapeutic treatments include acupuncture to relieve pain, and massage therapy to relieve muscle tension.

    Non-surgical Treatments

    • A variety of medications are used to treat the pain caused by degenerative bone disease. These consist primarily of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Other types of medication include antidepressants, muscle relaxants and sleep aids. Severe cases of degenerative bone disease may require anesthetics or corticosteroids to be injected into the spine.

      Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an additional treatment for pain caused by degenerative bone disease. In TENS treatment, devices are used to stimulate nerves electrically in order to interrupt the pain receptors in the nerves. Ultrasound treatments also are used to treat degenerative bone disease by increasing blood flow and relieving the pain of an affected joint.

    Surgery

    • Severe cases of degenerative bone disease also can be treated with surgery, which can help limit further nerve damage or relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Surgery also can reduce a spinal deformity or stabilize an affected vertebral segment.

      There are two general types of surgical treatments for degenerative bone disease. A discectomy is the replacement of a damaged vertebral disc with bone or another material, which will fuse with the adjacent vertebrae over time. A corpectomy is the removal of a section of vertebrae to allow more room for the remaining spine. A metal plate or bone graft then is attached to stabilize the spine.