Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Arthritic joints appear to be larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used as the day progresses. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic - it does not spread through the entire body.



Joints are designed for normal and painless movement and are primarily supplied by the synovium and cartilage. Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint. Collagen is the main protein found in all connective tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

As chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Most experts now believe that osteoarthritis results from a genetic susceptibility that causes a biologic response to injuries to the joint, which leads to progressive deterioration of cartilage. An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it's known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases.

An acidic diet, that is any foods not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints. If your osteoarthritis is affecting your load-bearing joints, keeping your weight within a normal range is important. You can make healthy meals using only raw foods. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3 or 4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned, heated, highly processed applesauce. Mix in 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost.

Some of the supplements commonly used for relieving arthritis pain, but I don't know if any of these work, are: glucosamine, chondroitin, bromelain, grapeseed extract, omega-3 and omega-6, cod liver oil, manganese ascorbate, MSM, boron, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn't help at all. The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this.

Watch your diet closely - load-bearing joints are affected by excessive weight; they are the hips, knees, feet and spine. Natural treatment methods involve avoiding all inflammatory foods.

Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.

Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Thera-putty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking.

Even if you don't think you can exercise, you can do some movements. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Important exercises for arthritis are range-of-motion exercises, isometrics, and some weight bearing exercises.

Only you know which treatment option is best for you. Be aware that the use of NSAIDs or Cox-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten the onset. Once you become more informed about arthritis you'll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both.

Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain. 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. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don't object to patients trying them.