Cartilage problems are a diverse group of conditions. Various factors are important to consider when treating each situation. Factors that are important to consider include: Your symptoms, age, and weight, which joint is involved, the characteristics of the cartilage damage, any prior interventions, other associated injuries, and your overall health.
To evaluate the bones for fracture or arthritis, your physician will often obtain X-rays. An X-ray can sometimes tell your physician if there has been long-standing wear of your joint’s cartilage. If your X-ray does not show any significant change, an MRI may be helpful in evaluating your cartilage.
Conservative treatments will usually be recommended before cartilage surgery is considered. These non-surgical treatments include physical therapy, activity modification, bracing, NSAIDs, and injections (viscosupplementation, platelet-rich plasma).