The more you know about the condition, the greater your chance for success in finding the help that you need. "The arthritis pain is usually described as a deep ache or throbbing joint pain that is often worse upon getting up in the morning. In addition, sufferers may also experience muscle weakness around the arthritic joint and functional limitations, such as difficulty getting up and walking," says Dr. David Wang, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Virginia. A variety of non-surgical treatments are available for those who suffer from osteoarthritis: --

Physical Therapy and Exercise- An individually customized exercise program coordinated through a physical therapist can reduce the pain and functional limitations caused by osteoarthritis by maximizing strength, balance, and joint stability. --

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment- This specialized, hands-on method of diagnosis and treatment can improve muscle balance, joint alignment, blood flow, and the efficiency of the lymphatic system to naturally remove chronic inflammatory agents and excess fluid.

-- Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Dietary Supplements - The acute inflammation response after an injury is actually essential to good healing. However, chronic inflammation contributes to many debilitating illnesses, including osteoarthritis. Adopting a proper diet and taking certain nutritional supplements can go a long way toward alleviating inflammation. It is important to take appropriately high levels of vitamins E, C, and D; minerals zinc, magnesium, and copper; omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, wild game and grass fed beef) oleic acid (present in extra virgin olive oil); glucosamine and chondroitin; and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables(e.g., Avosoy). In addition, it is best to avoid processed foods, including refined starch and sugar, and excessive amounts of high fructose corn syrup, saturated fats, and trans fats, all of which can promote chronic inflammation.

-- Acupuncture - Insertion of thin needles into specific "acupuncture points," both with and without electrical stimulation, has been shown through multiple, well-controlled, randomized trials over the last 20 years to both reduce pain and improve function in patients with hip and knee arthritis. "Most people believe that they "just have to live with the pain" brought on by osteoarthritis, but today, that's just not the case," says Dr. Wang. "There is a great deal you can do to delay the onset and minimize the impact of arthritis. The key is to find a medical team that truly listens and cares and has expertise in a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options to customize a program that works best for you."