One of the most prevalent forms of arthritis is known as degenerative arthritis. Also known as osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis is a slowly progressive arthritis of unknown cause which affects several joints, and tends to occur in elderly people.
Aging is the number one contributor to the development of this disease. Other factors include: previous joint injuries, overuse of a joint, weight issues, and family history since degenerative arthritis can be genetic in nature (inherited from your relatives).
The most commonly reported symptom of degenerative arthritis is pain in the affected joints after repetitive use. It is important to realize that unlike other certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis, that this form does not affect any other organs of the body.
Swelling, warmth, and a creaking of the bones and joints are all common symptoms as well, and in more severe cases, complete loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between bones, and results in causing pain with limited motion.
The symptoms will vary from one person to another, as some people while experience intense pain while others notice nothing at all. Symptoms can also be intermittent, being that they go into remission for a while and then reappear some time afterwards. It is especially not unusual for patients with degenerative arthritis to have pain-free intervals between symptoms.
Over time, this form of arthritis will result in causing the formation of hard bony enlargements of the small joints of the fingers, and this bone deformity is a result of the bone spurs from the degenerative arthritis in that joint. If you ever experience any of the symptoms mentioned here, then it is crucial that you get in to see your doctor as soon as possible so that a proper diagnosis can be made.
Once you have been diagnosed, if it is determined that you do in fact have degenerative arthritis, now is the time that treatment will be decided.
Treatment
There is as of yet no specific treatment available for degenerative arthritis, but the goal of overall arthritis pain relief treatment at this point is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function, and this can be done best with arthritis creams and gels, as well as arthritis medication.
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