Arthritis What to Do The most important aspects of arthritis are: 1. Easing the pain 2. Exercise 3. Weight loss 4. Good food choices As an arthritis sufferer I know the pain arthritis can bring. For some people it can be unbearable. Currently I'm taking medication from my doctor to ease the pain. Like most modern medication it has side affects and doesn't entirely take away my pain. However I don't want to increase the dosage for fear this would increase the side affects, like constipation and tiredness.I will eventually investigate other methods of pain control. But whatever happens you need some affective form of pain control. Before you get arthritis and when you have it, exercise is essential. They say "if you don't use it, you'll lose it" and this is very true. OK, the exercise can often be painful for you but keep doing it or you will get worse. Weight loss is very very important. As an overweight myself I'm fully aware of how this makes my arthritis worse. I'm doing my best to control my weight and know that weight loss will ease my pain and give me increased energy. But controlling food intake is a hard task. By good food choices I mean choosing food that won't make your arthritis worse and will help relieve your arthritis. See my blog for an article on the subject. My arthritis gives me hell and I obviously want to know how to get rid of it or ease it. My movements are already quite restricted. I can't walk far or stand around much because of my hips, knees and lower back. I don't want to become really bad like some of the casesI've seen where the poor souls can't move at all and don't have a proper life. Some of the deformities caused by arthritis are horrifying and let's not forget that arthritis can also be a killer. Arthritis sufferers have to exercise, watch weight and eat right. Even those who don't have arthritis should follow the same rules in order to prevent it. See my blog at http://arthritis-prevention.blogspot.com