Subchondral sclerosis is a condition that affects the bones in the joints of people with osteoarthritis. It causes joint pain and immobility due increased bone mass and density in a thin layer of bone beneath the cartilage of joints. Though this condition is chronic and painful, it is easily detectable by a doctor and can be treated a number of ways.
Subchondral sclerosis is a result of another medical condition know as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the umbrella term for a group of diseases that cause the joints to slowly degrade over time. As the joints degrade they can cause permanent damage to the cartilage in them and the bones around them. Osteoarthritis is a common condition, usually found in older individuals, and is the No. 1 cause of chronic disability in the United States.