Are you taking supplements? I have a lot of arthritis in my knees and back, and supplements do seem to help prevent additional deterioration. My knees got bad fairly quickly, but a combination of calcium citrate, glucosamine chondroitin, and vitamin D seems to have halted the deterioration. I did not get this info from my doctor! Did it on my own after researching on the internet.
I should add that my problems all seem to be osteo-arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a completely different animal. A good friend was diagnosed with severe RA 20 years ago. When the doctor told her the medication she needed to take "rarely" caused blindness, she decided to try a naturopathic route instead. She has been able to control her RA by means of diet ever since then. She still has RA, but has not been crippled by it.
Isn't all arthritis degenerative? I'm wondering what kind you have.