If your workout causes a flare-up of pain, be sure to ease up until the discomfort subsides. Try spicing up your diet, too. Red peppers contain aspirinlike compounds, as well as capsaicin, a chemical believed to trigger the release of endorphins. Toss a few into your next meal or look for pain-relieving creams containing capsaicin at your local pharmacy. Studies show capsaicin offers significant relief for arthritis pain.
Acupuncture is another promising alternative.
And in 1997, after looking at hundreds of studies and interviewing leading researchers, a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health gave acupuncture its stamp of approval, saying needlework is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis, among other health problems. Or try ginger , an herbal remedy that can reduce inflammation. Add it to meals or drink it in a tea. Joint replacement surgery can provide significant relief for severe arthritis, but it should be considered a last resort and postponed as long as possible. After recovery, you stand a good chance of resuming most activities without pain, but there is some risk that you will continue to have pain and will need to curtail your activities even further.