To get the arthritis pain relief you're seeking it's helpful to understand how arthritis works. Arthritic joints appear to be larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used as the day progresses. Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used.



The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones. In young people, cartilage is about 85% water and in older folks about 70% of cartilage is water. The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age.

Researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children or between siblings than between husbands and wives. The cause of arthritis (osteoarthritis) and the factors leading to the deterioration of cartilage in osteoarthritis is still not understood. Possible causes of arthritis include lesser known: bleeding disorders, like hemophilia, which causes bleeding to occur in the joint; disorders such as avascular necrosis, that block the blood supply closest to the joint; and conditions like hemochromatosis, that causes iron build-up in the joints.

Some people swear by morning drinks of raw apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis pain relief. Try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, wheat being the most allergenic; they are wheat, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish and some nuts, not all. Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn't help at all.

Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts.

The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost -- no one will ever know. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.

Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.

Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television. Fight arthritis through proper exercise! Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible.

Only you know which treatment option is best for you. Drugs commonly used for arthritis pain can cause ulcers, heart disease and liver or kidney damage.

Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you're taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements.

Your treatment plan should include an anti-arthritis diet, exercise, and a positive mental attitude. I got rid of my arthritis pain years ago when I stopped eating dead food and changed my diet to all living foods; you can do it too. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast.