There is a little-known natural, diet solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain, which I discovered quite a few years ago. Arthritis sufferers today are still continually seeking relief from their arthritis pain. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works.

There are more than 100 different types of medical conditions that can affect your joints; it'll be difficult to treat your condition effectively unless you know exactly what your diagnosis is; get diagnosed. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine.

Proteoglycans are large molecules that help make up cartilage; they bond to water, which ensures the high-fluid content in cartilage. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint.

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.

Injuries sometimes can be the start in the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later even after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint.

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.

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. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 -- the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and has to be sub-lingual -- dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 especially if you can't get a daily dose of 15-20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

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. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.

With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day. Not a food, but many, including one well-known professional golfer, still wear copper bracelets and swear by them.

For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Don't just sit there, keep moving. Even if you don't think you can exercise, you can do some movements. Exercise in a heated pool; it will help reduce the pressure on your joints and the heat will help you loosen those joints.

Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.

At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. For conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly. 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.

More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don't object to patients trying them. Stopping the progress of your arthritis as well as stopping your pain should be your number one goal. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast.