If you have degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, natural therapies can be effective and safe. Herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis especially has been proven highly effective in relieving pain and inflammation.

Degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, is a very common condition that affects the joints. Degenerative arthritis, often described as "wear and tear" arthritis, can range from very mild to very severe.

Degenerative arthritis is characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement. Degenerative arthritis commonly affects the hands and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, feet and the back.

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Most of the time people with this condition do not have inflamed joints, though the joints can be painful and, to some extent, deformed. Degenerative arthritis is not usually a progressive and crippling arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis can be. Degenerative arthritis, in contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, is limited to the joints and does not affect internal organs.

Degenerative arthritis is the most common arthritis form. Degenerative arthritis can occur in young people due to injury of the joint but it usually occurs in older adults. It is the one of the top causes of disability in older adults. About 50 percent of adults over age 65 have osteoarthritis in at least one joint. Degenerative arthritis currently affects over 20 million people in the United States.

By the year 2030, 20 % of the population of the United States is expected to be over age 65 and, therefore, at risk for degenerative arthritis. In adults over age 45, degenerative arthritis affects women more than men. Before age 45, it affects more men than women. Overweight people are more likely to develop degenerative arthritis of the knees. Furthermore, people who have injured their joint due to sports ore accidents are more likely to develop degenerative arthritis.

Along with aging, obesity, and injuries, degenerative arthritis may have a genetic cause as well. There may be a gene for defective cartilage or defects in the way joints fit together which may cause the deterioration of the cartilage as a person ages.

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The most common joint affected by osteoarthritis are the joints of the hips, knees, lower spine, neck, thumbs and the ends of the fingers. Degenerative arthritis may cause depression, anxiety, employment limitations, and limitations of daily activities. Degenerative arthritis starts slowly and the first signs may be aches and pains in joints after exercising.

The warning signs of degenerative arthritis are:
-Joint pain that is steady or intermittent
-Stiff joints when you wake up or sit for a long time
-Tender, swollen joints
-A grinding sound as the bones rub against one another

Only about one third of patients with degenerative arthritis experiences pain in the joints. If joints are red, hot and tender, you probably do not have osteoarthritis but another form of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis of degenerative arthritis includes a physical exam and a complete medical history. If osteoarthritis is suspected, X-rays will be taken to confirm the diagnosis. Osteoarthritis is not difficult to diagnose, however, the doctor will want to rule out other diseases and possible causes of the osteoarthritis symptoms.

Treatment for degenerative arthritis can help people affected by the disease lead more active lives. Medications that are used to treat the pain of degenerative arthritis are corticosteroids, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids injected into inflamed joints, and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Other treatments include heat and cold therapy, exercise (to improve joint flexibility and strengthen muscles), rest, self-care education, support groups, weight control (to reduce stress on weight-bearing joints) and having a healthy attitude.

Steps can be taken to help prevent the development of degenerative arthritis or to help prevent the progression of this disease. Maintaining a healthy and appropriate weight can be the single most important degenerative arthritis prevention measure. Being overweight puts extra strain on the joints, particularly the large weight-bearing joints such as the knees, the hips, and the balls of the feet. Extra weight may also alter the normal structure of the joint and increase the risk for osteoarthritis.

Protecting the joints from serious injury or repeated minor injuries can decrease your risk of damaging cartilage, as can maintaining a regular exercise regime. Light and moderate-intensity physical activity can prevent osteoarthritis and can even restore healthy joint function. If you do have degenerative arthritis, you can rest assured that with proper treatment and lifestyle modifications, you have a good chance of leading a normal, healthy and active life.
 

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