Walkers or runners with concerns about osteoarthritis should exercise on a soft surface such as grass instead of pavement. It does not hurt the stomach, but can be fatal even in normal doses to someone with serious liver disease such as cirrhosis. It can be added to any of the other drugs to help with pain control. It is usually sold in combination with chondroitin, which may slow down cartilage destruction. Aspirin reduces pain and inflammation effectively but is quite toxic to the stomach lining if taken routinely.
Shark cartilage is of no benefit whatsoever.
All are about equal in reducing pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen lasts four hours, ketaprofen six to eight hours and naproxen eight to twelve hours. Ibuprofen can be bought inexpensively as a generic. All can cause ulcers in the stomach lining, with about 1.7 stomach bleeds severe enough to go to the hospital per 100 people who take the drugs routinely per year. Aspirin's rate by comparison is about four per 100.