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Degenerative arthritis is only one of the major types of arthritis. For some the disease may sound too frightening. Since this is a common type of arthritis, you should try to find the truth about it.

Cartilage and Osteoarthritis

This condition is actually also popularly known as osteoarthritis. The disease is related to the condition of one’s cartilage. The cartilage is a soft section that is located in between the ball and socket of a joint. A joint’s cartilage is important because it guards the bones from pressure during movement. It is the cartilage that ensures you do not feel pain when you move your joints.

A number of circumstances cause the cartilage to deplete and even go away. Without the cartilage, joint bones come into direct contact. This results in harm to the bones and soreness during both movement and inactivity. The joints are affected one at a time. Not all joints are also affected by the condition. The joints that typically suffer from it are those on which weight and pressure are often put. These are the joints in the hips, knees and spine. The fingers are an exemption. They may all suffer as a group.

Symptoms

You would want to get yourself treated if you have degenerative arthritis. One way to find out if you might have it is to watch out for the symptoms. The symptoms may be similar to the typical symptoms of other arthritis conditions. You could suffer from pain, stiffness and difficulty of movement. One tell-tale sign is when you notice some mild bone grating when you move your joints. These symptoms can get worse through time which is why osteoarthritis is considered a degenerative disease.

Causes and Risk Factors

Researchers are still trying to find out the actual causes of osteoarthritis. There are however, some factors that could contribute to a person’s chances of developing the condition. The disease may run in your family. Aging is also a possible risk factor for the disease. Aside from these uncontrollable factors, there are also controllable ones. It is generally believed that your weight and you use of your joints contribute to the progress of the disease. Overweight people, those who frequently stress their joints and those who suffer from joint injuries may develop osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis cannot be thoroughly treated. You will have the condition for life. This doesn’t mean though that you have to live through years of pain and restricted movement. There are treatment options that can help put your symptoms in check. The kind and intensity of treatment will depend on the degree of osteoarthritis that you suffer from. Patients who are already at an advanced stage may have to be treated with a combination of strong medicines and surgery. These options though will only be considered when basic remedies have already been exhausted.

Some people respond well to non surgical treatment. This may include taking various pain killers and applying compresses. Other patients may be advised to lose weight and perform appropriate weight reduction and joint exercises. Exercises for those with osteoarthritis are specifically made by specialists in the area to prevent patient injury.

The thought of degenerative arthritis may get you down. It is something though that you can deal with. As long as you follow your doctor’s orders, there is no need to despair.

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Tags: Health