Arthritis is a condition that can be mildly uncomfortable to painful and debilitating. Many people view arthritis as a natural part of aging. The information in this article is an explanation of what osteoarthritis is and treatment options.

Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis involves the breakdown of joint cartilage.and may affect any joint in the body. Joints including fingers, hips, knees, lower back and feet may be stricken with osteoarthritis. Initially the condition may affect only one joint, but multiple joints may become affected.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, the work "arthritis" is a blend of two Greek words. "arthron" is Greek for joint and "itis" is Greek of inflammation. Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation"

While osteoarthritis has no cure, there are treatments to relieve pain. Self care and alternative treatment can also help in efforts to relieve pain.

Osteoarthritis can develop slowly, without any symptoms. Symptoms may include pain in a joint, discomfort in a joint related to weather change, swelling and stiffness in a joint, bony lumps in the middle of end joints of fingers, and loss of flexibility.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between joints deteriorates and smooth surfaces gets rough. While the exact cause is not known, researchers suspect that it is caused by a combination of factors, including overweight, aging, joint injury or stress, heredity and. muscle weakness.

Factors that increase risk of osteoarthritis may include: being age 45 or older, being female, hereditary (defective cartilage or malformed joint), obesity, diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, hemochromatosis, gout, pseudo gout), or weak thigh muscles which lead to osteoarthritis in the knees.

If you have stiffness or swelling in the joints that lasts for more than two weeks, seek advice from your doctor. If the doctor diagnoses osteoarthritis, they can assist with pain management. The doctor may use a variety of methods to diagnose the disease including: physical examination, blood tests, x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans.

Pain is the major complication of osteoarthritis. There are degrees of pain, from mild to debilitating.. Arthritis itself doesn't go away, but the pain can diminish within a year. Even if pain diminishes, it may return with overuse of the joint. Talk to your doctor to determine how to reduce stress on arthritic joints. People with very painful osteoarthritis may require joint replacement, such as knee replacement surgery.

For occasion bouts of arthritis, good self care may relieve pain. There are many remedies that you can try to relieve pain, including: exercise for flexibility, weight control, healthy diet, applying heat to relax muscles and to increase blood flow, wearing comfortable shoes, applying cold to dull the pain sensation, practicing relaxation techniques, and taking recommended medications.

There is no known cure for osteoarthritis. Treatment focuses on reducing pain.

Following are medical treatments and surgical procedures for treating osteoarthritis:

1. Topical pain relievers. Over the Counter products that can help to temporarily relieve pain include pain relieving creams, gels, ointment and sprays.. Products that contain the pain reliever trolamine salicylate are Aspercreme and Sportscreme. Products with one or more counter irritant medications such as methyl salicylic, menthol and camphor, include; Icy Hot and Ben Gay.

Capsiacin is a cream made from seeds of hot chili peppers. Topical products helps to relieve pain in points close to the skin's surface, getting adequate rest, practicing good body mechanics and maintaining good posture.

2. Acetaminophen. Products such as Tylenol, which do not contain Aspirin, can relieve pain, but not inflammation. Use caution with drinking alcohol when taking acetaminophen, as the combination can cause liver damage.

3. NSAIDS. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain and fight inflammation. NSAIDS include over the counter aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and natroxen sodium (Aleve). These same formulations are also available in higher doses with a prescription. There are also higher doses of NSAIDS available only by prescription. Prescriptions from your doctor may include Orudis, Ctaflam, Volrsten and Relafen.

4. COX-2 inhibitors. Prescriptions, such as Celebrex, are considered effective for managing pain and inflammation.

5. Tramado. Prescription medication which is not an anti-inflammatory but can provide pain relief.

6. Antidepressants. Some antidepressants can help to relieve chronic pain. Antidepressants used for arthritis pain include Pamelor and Aventyl.

7. Pain relief injections. The doctor may occasional inject a joint space with a corticosteroid. The cortisone injection can offer some pain relief and reduce inflammation.

8. Joint replacement. joint replacement surgery, called arthroplaty, is the surgical removal of the damaged joint. The joint is replaced with a plastic or metal device, called a prosthesis. The most commonly replaced joints are the knee and hip joints. Replacement joints for the shoulder, elbow, finger and ankle joints are being replace more frequently. Joint replacement surgery can help the patient to resume an active, pain free lifestyle.

9. Arthroscopic Lavog and Debridement.

10. Repositioning bones. Surgical procedure where the bone is repositioned to correct deformities.

11. Fusing bones. Surgical procedure where the bone is permanently fused. The joint can bear weight without pain, but has no flexibility.

In addition to the self care and possible medical intervention, osteoarthritis suffers may wish to try alternative and complementary treatment, such as acupuncture's, copper jewelry, homeopathy, magnets and nutritional supplements. The best known supplements are condroitin sulfate nd gloucosamine. Glucosamine should not be taken by people with shellfish allergies.