Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, lifestyle changes (including exercise and weight control), and medications (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis.
Physical exercise of the affected joint can result in improvement long-term pain relief. Exercising the arthritic joint is encouraged to maintain the health of the particular joint and the overall body of the person.
Connexin molecules maintain the integrity of the lining of the joints (synovium) and therefore a connexin-enhancing lifestyle of foods containing connexin-enhancing molecules, exercise and stress reduction may be beneficial. Inflammatory molecules (such as prostaglandins and other specific inflammatory molecules) contribute to the development and maintenance of arthritis. As such, it is important to consume foods that contain less inflammatory molecule precursors (such as arachidonic acid, a connexin closer) that is found in high concentration in red meat. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc are important for bone and joints. An alkalinizing diet is important in that it enhances connexin function and also helps by removing inflammatory molecules from your body (for example, PGE2) that can contribute to and maintain arthritic conditions and symptoms.