Degenerative Arthritis: What Is It?

There are actually over 100 different types of arthritis that a person can develop, but one of the worst and most difficult to deal with is degenerative arthritis. Also known as degenerative osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, this is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage or one or more joints.The feet, hands, and spine are the parts of the body that are most commonly affected by degenerative arthritis. The majority of degenerative arthritis cases do not have a known cause and are termed as primary osteoarthritis, which is frequently abbreviated as OA.SymptomsDegenerative arthritis has its own set of symptoms that are related to this illness, much like other forms of arthritis have their own specific symptoms. Knowing which symptoms are related to degenerative arthritis will let you know if you are beginning to exhibit signs of this disease. That will allow you to speak with your doctor as soon as possible if you fear you are developing this problem.Since osteoarthritis affects the joints directly, the grand majority of the symptoms related to this disease are seen in the joints and adjoining areas. The most frequently observed symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the joints that are used repetitively. Swelling in the joints and a feeling of warmth are two additional symptoms. All of these symptoms become worse as the disease progresses.TreatmentObviously if you have been diagnosed with arthritis, you are going to need to work towards finding a proper treatment plan that is going to offer you the relief you are looking for and help you get back to living as normal a life as possible.Even though there is not yet any cure for degenerative arthritis, several effective treatments are available to people who suffer from this disease. You need to figure out which treatment will be best in your case.There is a wide variety of prescription medicines available that have been designed to help patients deal with the symptoms of degenerative arthritis. Before you start taking any such medication, however, it would be in your best interests to find out more details about the medication, such as side effects that you may experience. When you talk to your doctor about a medication you are interested in, you should discuss dosage instructions for that medicine.It is dangerous to presume that simply taking more of a medication will get rid of your symptoms faster. Instead of doing that, it could in fact worsen your situation altogether.
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