Degenerative Arthritis
Degenerative arthritis is also known as Osteoarthritis, and is a form of arthritis caused by the breakdown of cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is the dense connective tissue that protects the joint between bones and serves as a cushion to keep bones from rubbing together.
Statistics show that degenerative arthritis affects nearly 20 million Americans. Experts believe these numbers will double or perhaps even triple, over the next decade due to the explosion of Baby Boomers turning to senior citizens.
Aging is the main reason for getting degenerative arthritis. As a matter of fact women above the age of 55 and men more than 45 years of age are susceptible to this kind of arthritis. Race does not have any impact on this condition but more women seem to suffer from degenerative arthritis especially in America.
Degenerative arthritis in most cases strikes the feet, spine, hands as well as huge joints like knees and hips which bear weight.
Primary and secondary are the two kinds of degenerative arthritis. When a person suffers from degenerative arthritis owing to age and deterioration of cartilage then it is termed as primary. There is pain swelling as well as inflammation in the joint due to the complete breakdown of the cartilage leading to chafing between the bones.
When the arthritis is a result of some other medical condition it is known as secondary degenerative arthritis. It is seen in individuals who are suffering from problems like diabetes, hormone unbalance and gout. Some other problems like congenital abnormalities, obesity and repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures can also be cause of degenerative arthritis.
No other organ of the body is affected by degenerative arthritis other than the joint. If there is swelling redness with pain in the joints it is an important symptom of degenerative arthritis.
Symptoms of degenerative arthritis vary greatly. Some people with degenerative arthritis are completely debilitated by their symptoms, while others have very few symptoms. Symptoms can be intermittent or occur daily.
At this time, there is no specific treatment for degenerative arthritis. Some people find relief from various modalities including rest, exercise, weight reduction, physical and occupational therapy, and certain medications. Medication may be used topically, taken orally, or injected into the joints to decrease joint inflammation and pain.
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