| Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis is | | | | weak joint which is under continuous pressure. |
| the most common form of arthritis affecting around | | | | With osteoarthritis, the more the joints are used, the |
| twenty million people alone in the U.S. and millions | | | | more they can become inflamed. Inflammation leads |
| more world wide. Not surprisingly, countries differ | | | | to swelling and causes a lot of pain. In fact, in its |
| widely with their exposure to osteoarthritis with | | | | severest form there can be a total loss of cartilage |
| Japan having the highest rate and South Africa | | | | between the joints as the cartilage eventually starts |
| having one of the lowest rates. It effects men more | | | | eroding. With no cushion between the joints, severe |
| than women up to the age of 45 but from age 55 | | | | pain is experienced and there will be a loss of mobility |
| onwards, women are more frequently diagnosed with | | | | in the joint affected. In fact bone spurs can also |
| this disease. | | | | develop and this again leads to even more pain. |
| So why is this called degenerative arthritis. You would | | | | Pain though is a very individual thing. Some people are |
| be correct to assume this has to do with aging and | | | | very sensitive and experience a lot of pain, whereas |
| how it affects our joints. This form of arthritis is due | | | | another person with similar symptoms may |
| to the breakdown in the cartilage which 'cushions' the | | | | experience far less pain. |
| joints. When you can imagine this 'cushion' wearing | | | | At the present time there is no known cure for |
| down, it's no wonder that this is a very painful | | | | arthritis and medication helps bring pain relief and can |
| condition. In fact this form of arthritis is usually | | | | sometimes slow down the rate at which the arthritis |
| caused by an increase of the amount of water in the | | | | develops. There are many natural remedies too which |
| cartilage between the joints. The excess water | | | | are helpful - honey and vinegar, for example, has |
| causes the protein in the cartilage to break down. | | | | helped many people with pain relief. |
| sometimes it is caused by an old injury or having a | | | | |