Arthritis is an illness that can cause pain and swelling in the bones and joints of the body, and can range from being so mild that it only hurts you some of the time to being so severe that it can feel debilitating.

Arthritis, no matter what specific type you may be diagnosed with, is very difficult to deal with. However learning to live with degenerative arthritis will be especially difficult because it is more intense and more painful than all other types of arthritis. If you are one of the millions of people out there who have recently been diagnosed with this condition, of course you are going to want to make yourself more educated on it and on the different things that you can do about it.

The first step will be learning about the degenerative arthritis condition itself, so that you can determine which specific type you have, such as degenerative osteoarthritis.

Degenerative Arthritis

This condition is also known as osteoarthritis, and affects one in every four people, that is how common it is. This is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage and one or more joints. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis that a person can be developed with this one is by far the most common.

Degenerative arthritis most commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees, but can develop in other areas of the body as well.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It is very important that you know your body, so you will be able to recognize if there is ever a problem. This is important, because if you do ever notice that you are experiencing a degenerative arthritis symptom you want to get in and see your doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to let you know in a matter of just a few days as to whether or not it is arthritis that you are dealing with.

You need to know that this or any other type of arthritis does not have to rule your life, and there are certainly more than enough options out there in terms of treatment that are available for you to use.

Make sure that you are working with a professional on this, whether that be your doctor, a nutritionist, personal trainer or all of the above. You really want to ensure that you are living as healthy a lifestyle as possible so that at least your arthritis will be at bay for as long as possible.