Degenerative Arthritis

Degenerative arthritis is another term for osteoarthritis and refers to a type of arthritis that most commonly affects those that are older. For the most part, degenerative arthritis is simply a progressive wearing away of the protective lining found within joints.

Over time, the cartilage and other lining components are worn down. When this occurs, the joints are not lubricated or move easily. This causes pain. When the bone or cartilage within joints rubs against itself, this can cause extremely intense pain, as well as stiffness and decreased mobility.

Degenerative arthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly twenty-one million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis is responsible for roughly twenty-five percent of the primary care physician visits in the United States. The statistics see to be about the same for Canada and most of Western Europe.

Is has been estimated that about eighty percent of the population will have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis by the time they reach the age of sixty-five. This certainly explains why we tend to think of elderly people as necessarily having some type of arthritis. Though only about sixty percent of these patients will be symptomatic, this certainly is a rather large number of people.

It is estimated that twenty-five percent of visits to primary care physicians, and about half of all non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions are caused by those seeking relief from their osteoarthritis. Now that's a lot of doctor visits.

The primary symptom of degenerative arthritis is chronic pain which itself causes loss of mobility and very often includes stiffness. The pain involved with osteoarthritis is generally described as a burning sensation or a sharp ache found in the associate tendons and muscles near the affected joint.

Degenerative arthritis is usually treated with some type of anti-inflammatory, either prescription or over the counter. Over the counter medications to help relieve the pain and swelling of degenerative arthritis include Naproxen.

Those that are not happy with the results of taking over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs for their degenerative arthritis may have much better luck alternating two of the most popular pain relievers.

If you have not noticed marked decrease in pain or swelling using one over the counter pain medication, try alternating between two every regular dosing period. For example, every four hours alternate between ibuprofen and acetaminophen (aspirin). Both ibuprofen and aspirin have specific attributes that can be combined when taken alternately.

Aspirin aids pain and swelling by thinning the blood as well as interacting with neurological pain receptors. Ibuprofen works in somewhat different ways to accomplish much of the same effects. Yet together, many people find that swelling and tension untouched by one or the other magically disappear when a combination of pain relievers is used.

Degenerative arthritis can also benefit from a nice soak in a very warm bath. Adding Epsom salts or eucalyptus essential oil can make a warm bath that much more enjoyable and soothing.

By: Suellen Cazarez