If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, your treatment plan will likely include a combination of strategies with the aim of reducing pain and swelling, maintaining joint function, and preventing further damage and disability. Although there is little that can be done to repair damage that has already started, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medications, as well as physical and occupational therapies can help you move and get about your day.
Read more about the different types of treatments for arthritis ›
If you are living with the pain and disability of arthritis you have probably wondered if alternative, complementary, and natural remedies can help. Scientists have studied some alternative medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, glucosamine, and even magnets in an effort to tease out the truth. While solid studies that show strong results are few and far between, that doesn’t stop people from trying and hoping that alternative remedies will give them relief.
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When you have arthritis, joint pain, swelling and joint deformity can be immobilizing, keeping you from doing simple activities including things you love to do. In their search for pain relief, some people with arthritis believe that certain foods, diets, or even fasting can improve the pain, swelling and joint destruction that comes with arthritis. Is there any truth to the claims?
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There was a time back in the day when doctors told people with arthritis to skip exercise because they believed it might worsen joint damage. Today it’s clear that exercise benefits everyone, including people of all ages with arthritis. It can help arthritis in the hips, shoulders, and the neck and back. Even the smallest joints in your fingers can reap the rewards of a tailored exercise program for arthritis.
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Arthritis is a general term for more than 100 rheumatic diseases. More than 46 million Americans reported having diagnosed arthritis or chronic joint symptoms in a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Arthritis can affect the joints, muscles, connective tissues, skin and organs. The most obvious warning signs are pain, swelling, stiffness or problems moving one or more joints. Although there's no cure for arthritis, the symptoms can be treated effectively in many cases.
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If you, or someone you know is considering joint replacement, you may find some comfort in reading what others went through. A few patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers generously share their stories about knee and hip replacement surgery in their own words in the hope that others will benefit from their experience and knowledge.
Read all joint replacement stories on the Personal Story Network ›
Diagnosing Arthritis 
7 Proven Treatments for Arthritis 
Myths and Facts About Arthritis 
Is It Time for a New Joint? 
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