Arthritis sufferers today are still continually seeking relief from their arthritis pain. I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. In osteoarthritis, any one or more affected joints experience a progressive loss of cartilage, which is the slippery material that cushions the ends of bones.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from "wear and tear" on a joint, although there are other causes of arthritis such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. Osteoarthritis affects joints in a different way depending on their location in the body, causing various symptoms.

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. The joints are designed to provide flexibility, support, stability, and protection. The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones.

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. It's generally thought that inflammation plays a minor role in osteoarthritis and is more likely to be a result, not a cause, of arthritis.

For natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

I eat a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds) to relieve my arthritis pain and this should be tried for at least 30 days, thus eliminating any foods that might be culprits. 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.

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. 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.

One natural approach is to consume foods that are known to help relieve arthritis pain or prevent arthritis. 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. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.

Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Use Taiji health balls, with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints: hold two balls, move in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try counterclockwise and do throughout the day. At bedtime you can try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those with arthritic hands.

Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk.

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. At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. 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.

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. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast. Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain.