Arthritis concentrates in one or several joints where deterioration occurs. To get the arthritis pain relief you're seeking it's helpful to understand how arthritis works. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic - it does not spread through the entire body.



Cartilage contains chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen; chondrocytes are the basic cartilage cells and are necessary for balance and function. It's important to learn plenty of facts about joints and arthritis to help you understand how to treat arthritis better. The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones.

Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. The cause of arthritis (osteoarthritis) and the factors leading to the deterioration of cartilage in osteoarthritis is still not understood. One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection.

For natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. 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.

Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it's non-invasive to the body. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also. For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts.

Some people swear by morning drinks of raw apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis pain relief. Keep in mind, if you take a joint supplement it should help do three things -- build cartilage, relieve everyday joint pain, and enhance your flexibility and movement.

If your osteoarthritis is affecting your load-bearing joints, keeping your weight within a normal range is important. A study in Great Britain touted the beneficial effects of cod liver oil on osteoarthritis; relieving pain and stiffness, and reversing the destruction of joint cartilage within 24 hours.

Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. Important exercises for arthritis are range-of-motion exercises, isometrics, and some weight bearing exercises.

Don't just sit there, keep moving. At bedtime try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those of you who have arthritic hands. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health.

If you're going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. If you're planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor. Conventional doctors may suggest the standard protocol for your joint pain; they tell you to take over-the-counter NSAIDS or prescribe COX-2 inhibitors, of which all have side effects.

Arthritis pain relief is the ultimate goal - understanding arthritis is a good way to get there. Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. Once you understand the facts about arthritis, possible causes and treatment approaches you can take, you'll be on your way to recovery and pain will disappear.