Is it okay to wear a brace for degernative osteo arthritis?

I believe it's ok to wear a brace (from the drugstore) for osteo Arthritis, however it's not a good idea to stop trying to move the arthritic joint entirely, since that can make problems worse in the long run. Try to remove the brace a couple of times a day (try not to wear it at night) and just try to gently bend and flex the joint in question. This should prevent the possibility of fluid build up around the joint, which can happen if you're not moving it it much. There's also a minor risk of DVT's from trying to not move the joint too much - but this only really applies to knees or hips, rather than wrists or elbows. If the joint is too sore/stiff to bend and flex it much, try a warm bath/warm flannel wrapped around it, then use an topical painkilling cream (such as Ibuleve or Deepheat) 10 minutes before trying to flex anything. You may find a painkilling cream additionally helpful anyway - they can be used alongside oral painkillers with no side-effects (unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients).