DJD is caused by the breakdown of articular cartilage mainly in the weight bearing joints, which leads to sub-chondral bony thickening and bony overgrowths. The cause for DJD is unknown, but most likely related to metabolic and bio-chemical alterations.
DJD mostly occurs in men in midlife, somewhat later in women. This frequency increases with age to about 80%. The relationship between age and previous injury is responsible for the genesis of this disease in majority of cases.Usually knees and hands are more commonly affected in women and hips in men.
Mostly DJD is asymptomatic. Generally the symptoms are morning stiffness of the affected joints, restricted movements, small effusions and crackling sound in the affected joints ( crepitus), reduction in mobility and increasing pain with joint motion.
Generally these types of patients are managed with kneecaps, painkillers and steroids. These may be helpful to certain extend. But in long run, these medicines are less effective and the pain increases again.
When the conservative treatments fail, these patients are advised for KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT.
As per modern vision this disease can just controlled but can never be cured completely.
In SIDDHA literature it is termed as AZHAL KEEL VAYU. The causes written by SIDDHARS for azhal keel vayu are dryness of the joints which decreases the synovial fluid causing damage to the articular cartilage. Due to this, pain is felt in the joints.
The symptoms of this disease are pain in the joints, pain increases while walking, crepitation felt during movements, if left untreated the function of the joint is completely lost and the joint gets jammed. Mainly the knee joint is affected as per SIDDHA principle.
In my clinical practice i have treated a number of DJD with a high success rate with specially made SIDDHA medicines prepared as per SIDDHA literature. The medicine has two separate courses of each 60 days. Immediately after the first course, a pause of 7 days is maintained. Our medicines have no side effects when properly managed. It must be taken under the proper guidance of a well trained SIDDHA physician.