On of the most troubling and frustrating things to see in any aspect of life, let alone a limb or joint, is deterioration of something that is good and beautiful that has transformed into something that is ugly and useless. That in a nutshell is what arthritis and joint inflammation does to you, it slowly deteriorates everything in its path, making it deformed, ugly, painful and virtually useless.

There are many different types of arthritis, close to 100, of different types and variations of this disease. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which tends to come on more with ageing and that's where the cartilage, the smooth cartilage at the end of the bone that's meant to be there as a shock absorber starts to break down and then the bone underneath breaks down - that's when the real pain and suffering starts.

Although there are many ways to fight this progression, we will just concentrate on some things that make most dramatic and quick results. Mind you, there are no "magic bullets" or "quick-fixes" - everything presented here are just common sense, good practice advice and treatment that can substantially slow down arthritic progression to what we hope would be a pace much slower than without doing these treatments. So, here we go (not in any specific order).

Exercise:
As often as we hear it, we never take it seriously, but yet another benefit of regular exercise is a dramatic slowing down, and in rare cases even reversal of arthritic deterioration. Almost any exercise will be beneficial, but when it comes to arthritis, Tai Chi is the one most studied and it does have some unique properties in terms of balance and proper perception, sort of the joint knowing what position it's meant to be in and toning the muscles around the joint. Certainly, aerobic exercise, jumping up and down and sometimes the heavy impact is good also although if someone is very overweight and they are doing heavy impact exercise, that might actually be harmful. But by and large you must find exercise programs that anyone can do, even if they have a painful joint. One of the most important advise when it comes to exercise is regularity, stick with it!

Omega 3 supplementation:
Much has been written about benefits of a good diet, but unfortunately making sure that the patient stays with the diet for any length of time is largely a psychological problem, rather than physical. So, regardless of the diet you currently subscribe to, one of the most beneficial "ingredience" in fight against arthritis has been the Omega-3 supplements as well as anything else that is rich in fish oil. The Omega 3 supplementation has been studied in randomized trials and can contribute to the reduction in the joint swelling and the joint pain quickly and painlessly. The supplements are readily available, relatively inexpensive and contribute no ill effects. Add this to your diet today.

Cherries:
Cherries have been receiving a lot of attention of late due to their beneficial effects on fighting and slowing down arthritis. According to arthritis researchers, cherries contain anti-inflammatory properties that may work even better than over-the-counter drugs. Researchers have largely focused their attention on tart cherry juice. According to studies, tart cherries contain something called anthocyanins that prevent free radical damage and inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes better than some anti-inflammatory drugs that work as Cox inhibitors. Bottom line: Add cherries and cherry juice to your everyday dietary intake and reap benefits while enjoying awesome cherry taste.

Medicine:
The usual treatment for arthritis is through the use of painkillers. Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin can help relieve the pain of arthritis. But they only target the symptom and not the disease itself. Studies even show that the continual use of these NSAIDs may even cause joint deterioration thus making arthritis worse. Modern medicine does not have much to offer for the cure of this disease.

As we can see, the traditional temporary arthritis pain relief medications available leave a lot to be desired, largely because they are driven by short-term effects (to get you to buy quicker), rather than a long term benefit.

Massage therapy, hydrotherapy and cold packs are a few of the simple methods of pain management that may work just as well as drugs. Herbal remedies such as ginger, willow bark and the well-known cartilage constituents glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are also promising a lot in revolutionizing the treatment of arthritis. Aside from the symptomatic relief they offer, they actually interfere with the origin of the disease. They are also being considered to help the body rebuild functioning joints. Fast acting,in cream form, they increase mobility and optimal repair of joint structures as they help reinforce the body's protective linings and lubricating fluids by recovering cell stability and function to stop further damage.

In conclusion, although there are no instant cures, some common sense advice and foods work well, but only when used in early stages of arthritis. Therefore, it is very important to not only be vigilant of your body and joints, but also to seek proper medical attention and diagnosis early on. Once detected early, the approaches outlined here can minimize arthritic effects and provide you a long, bountiful life.