Degenerative Arthritis Is Osteoarthritis
It can be confusing even for a professional medical worker to keep up with all of the jargon surrounding arthritis. But if you hear about osteoarthritis, it is a condition with TWO names; osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis. Doctors and the media tend to use those two names interchangeably. No matter what you call it, you don't want it. However, since degenerative arthritis is the most common form of arthritis, the odds of you getting it are pretty high.
What Are The Causes?
Degenerative arthritis is not just a human condition; most animals get it, too. It is most commonly associated with the natural aging process, although genetics is thought to play a role in developing osteoarthritis. When referring to the body's joints, I mean the bendable parts of the body like the wrists, ankles, neck, knees and hips. The cartilage that helps make up your body's joints gets thinner (along with your hair).
Sometimes it starts breaking down or degenerating (which is where the name degenerative arthritis comes from). Normally, the cartilage keeps the joints working smoothly and painlessly. But when the cartilage has problems, things in your joints that don't normally rub up against each other suddenly do. This often leads to painful swelling and stiffness.
Lowering The Intensity
You can help slow down the speed at which degenerative arthritis develops, or even cut back on the intensity of the pain without relying on heavy painkillers which may cause bad side effects. But please don't use this article as a substitute for a qualified physician's advice. If you have trouble moving any part of your body, please see your doctor as soon as you can.
First off, try to keep a normal body weight for your height and sex. Being overweight puts an undue stress on all parts of your body, making your joints' cartilage degenerate faster. Being overweight can also predisposed you to developing diabetes. This condition will greatly aggravate osteoarthritis.
Another thing you can do is to exercise regularly. This not only helps keep down your body weight, but also helps keep your muscles and joints supple. Your whole body moves more efficiently instead of straining at its utmost to perform even simple tasks. Exercising regularly will also help a lot of other body parts as well as having the side benefit of reducing the pain of degenerative arthritis. Swimming, gardening and even baking bread are considered great exercises for arthritic hands. Gentle massage can help keep your circulation going.
