A few years ago I accidentally discovered how to rid myself of arthritis pain, naturally. I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain forever by changing my diet. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic; it does not spread through the entire body.

Arthritis concentrates in one or several joints where deterioration occurs. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

The synovium is a membrane that surrounds the whole joint; it's filled with synovial fluid, a lubricating liquid that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage. Cartilage contains a high percentage of water, but it decreases with age. Joints are designed for normal and painless movement and are primarily supplied by the synovium and cartilage.

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. 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.

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.

If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day.

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. Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn't help at all.

An acidic diet, that is any foods not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints. For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts. Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it's non-invasive to the body. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.

To be on the safe side always seek your doctor's advice before starting or changing your exercise program. Exercise in a heated pool; it will help reduce the pressure on your joints and the heat will help you loosen those joints. Your body has 147 joints in motion every day. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health.

If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls. Fight arthritis through proper exercise! Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner.

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. 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.

Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don't object to patients trying them. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it.