Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is a type of most common arthritis which is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance which serves as a cushion between the bones and the joints.

Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine and large weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips. It worsens gradually with time and no cure exists, but the treatments can relieve pain to lead an active life.

The general symptoms are pain in the joints, tenderness in the joint, stiffness, swelling, loss of flexibility of the joint and the hard lumps which may form around the affected joint.

It is not clear what causes osteoarthritis in most cases, but the factors may be including, the aging process, overweight, heredity, muscle weakness and joint injury or stress. Food, tension and environmental factors play always a vital role.

If you have swelling or stiffness in your joints for more than two weeks, go to your doctor and he will do the needful.

There is no known cure for osteoarthritis, but treatments and lifestyle can help to reduce pain and keep joint movements to manage your daily routine.

Alternative medicine could also help you, normally people try allopathy, if there is no positive result, and they go for the alternative medicines. I know many who are very happy with this.