Degenerative joint disease, arthritis, and osteoarthritis are?all the same disease characterised by pain in the joints (i.e. hips, knees and other joints). Literally translated? as inflammation of the joints, osteoarthritis is part of the family of diseases known as arthritis which refers to 100 various diseases. Osteoarthritis commonly causes disability as the joint cartilagebreaks down causingpainful and stiff joints. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are effective treatment options.