I got this information from the internet.... hopefully it gives
you more helpful information about arthritis.
If the arthritis is really severe, the doctor will probably put you
on anti-inflammatory drugs. You can also take some supplements like
Glucosamine and Shark Cartilage tablets.
Take care. 
Arthritis is a general term that means pain, stiffness and often
inflammation exist in one or more joints of the body. There are
more than 150 forms of arthritis.
Around one in five Australians has some type of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two common forms of
this condition.
There is no cure for arthritis. However many techniques can help a
person manage arthritis, including medication, physiotherapy,
exercise and self-education.
Symptoms of arthritis
Arthritis can affect a person at any age. Some forms of arthritis
are more common in middle aged or older people.
The symptoms may include:
Persistent joint pain aggravated by movement
Inflammation indicated by joint swelling, stiffness, redness and/or
warmth
Loss of flexibility or range of motion in a joint
Joint deformity
Fatigue
Fever
Crepitus (the cracking noise arthritic joints make with
movement).
Sometimes these symptoms are called rheumatism. Rheumatism isnt
a disorder in itself, but the word is often used to describe any
sort of joint or muscle pain.
The workings of the joint
A joint, like the knee or elbow, is the meeting point between bones
that allows movement. The workings of a joint include:
Muscle muscle tissue contracts and relaxes, usually in opposite
working pairs, to move a joint.
Tendon a tough cord that anchors muscle to the bone.
Ligament tough cords, like bunches of rubber bands, that bind the
bones of the joint together.
Cartilage smooth material found between the bones to stop them
from grating against each other. It also acts as a shock
absorber.
Synovial membrane contains lubricating fluid to keep the joint
working smoothly.
Bursa lubricates the movement of muscle on muscle, and muscle
against bone.
Eight categories of arthritis
Eight categories of arthritis and associated conditions have been
identified. These categories are:
Inflammatory for example, rheumatoid arthritis. The membrane of
the joint becomes inflamed. Other parts of the body can also be
affected.
Attachment arthritis for example, ankylosing spondylitis. The
ligament or tendon attached to the bone becomes inflamed, commonly
in the heels and lower back.
Crystal arthritis for example, gout. Deposits of microscopic
crystals of sodium urate are found in the joint, usually in the big
toe.
Joint infection for example, staphylococcus. Bacteria infect the
fluid inside the joint; commonly found in the hip, shoulder and
knee.
Cartilage degeneration for example, osteoarthritis. The cartilage
of the joint breaks down; commonly found in the knees, neck, lower
back, hips and fingers.
Muscle inflammation for example, polymyalgia rheumatica. Muscle
tissue becomes inflamed.
Local conditions for example, tendinitis. A local injury causes
pain, such as tennis elbow.
General conditions for example, fibromyalgia. A condition
characterised by generalised muscle pain and sleep
disturbance.
Managing arthritis
Experiences of living with arthritis can be different from person
to person. For an individual, symptoms can vary from day to day.
Treatment and management options vary with the type of arthritis,
its severity and the sites affected.
A variety of approaches can be helpful in conjunction with medical
management and, in some cases, management by medical specialists
known as rheumatologists.
Health professions and therapies that may assist include:
Exercise physiology
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Chiropractics
Acupuncture
Osteopathy.
Other tools to manage arthritis include:
Exercise
Medication
Aids and equipment for example specially designed cutlery,
kitchen equipment and garden tools. These can reduce joint strain
and save physical energy.
Education programs self-management education programs aim to
build the confidence of people with chronic conditions including
arthritis.
The benefits of physical activity
Physical activity plays a major role in both managing pain and
keeping joints mobile and flexible. It also offers many other
health benefits including weight control.
A person with arthritis can choose from many different types of
exercise. A physiotherapist can help design an individual program.
Some physical activity options include:
Warm water exercises
Tai chi
Strength training.
It is important to balance rest and exercise to avoid injury and
fatigue.
Medications and arthritis
Different types of arthritis are treated by different medications
which aim to reduce pain and inflammation.
Medications include:
Paracetamol for pain management, particularly for
osteoarthritis.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed
for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs aim to
reduce inflammation.
Anti-rheumatic drugs for inflammatory forms of arthritis such as
rheumatoid and attachment arthritis. These medications reduce
inflammation and slow the progress of joint damage.
