Arthritis pain can take the fun out of those things you love to do. Arthritis may affect almost any joint in your body and cause pain. It often affects the hips, neck, hands, knees and lower back. The condition usually gets worse over time and there is no known cure, although there are treatments that may help you through the day.

Several contributing factors may affect the disease, but researchers are not sure of the actual cause of osteoarthritis. Some of the contributing factors include injury, aging, weak muscles, heredity and obesity.

Most people do not have problems with osteoarthritis until after age forty. The condition is more prevalent in women than in men. One of the risk factors are sports injuries. Additionally, some jobs that put additional stress on the joints may be a factor in development of the disease.

Often osteoarthritis becomes worse with age. The pain can become so severe that a person is no longer able to work or enjoy their favorite hobbies. The condition may develop to the point that a doctor encourages the person to have joint replacement surgery.

There are several medications that may help to treat this disease. These include acetaminophen which can help with pain. NASIDs can not only help with pain but relieve swelling. One example of a NASID is ibuprofen.

If you are not having success with over the counter medications, the doctor may write a prescription for Tramadol, Darvon or one of the many codeine derivatives. Many doctors also use cortisone shots to help to relieve swelling and pain.

In addition, some people find help from a natural remedy called glucosamine. This naturally occurring substance is useful in rebuilding the skeletal structure that may have been lost due to osteoarthritis. Costco offers their own Kirkland glucosamine that is affordable and a very good product.

If you can find the correct treatments, you will be able to feel better and enjoy work and hobbies once again.

Perhaps you will want to pull out dreadnought acoustic guitar and fill the air with music once again. Fingers that had become useless on this instrument due to the pain of arthritis can become nimble again and you can enjoy your old friend.

Maybe, instead, you want to pull out the old PS2. If you can find the ps2 transformers, you can show the grandkids how a video game should be played. Your once again nimble fingers will let you fine tune your game while they are stuck in school.