Arthritis comes in many forms and types. Medical researchers have tallied more than one hundred ailments that fall under the umbrella term "arthritis." There are many conditions that lead to a person developing arthritis. Of these, two are most common: osteoarthritis, which arises from the wear and tear of joints; and rheumatoid arthritis, which results from the body's immune system attacking the cell lining of the joints.

Regardless of the wideness of the range of forms, types and causes surrounding arthritis, there is one fact that nonetheless remains true for all. This fact is simply that if arthritis, in all its types and forms, is left alone and untreated, then it can cause not just excruciating pain, but also disability. It can also lead to the development of other grave illnesses.

Treating and managing arthritis largely depends on the type the patient is suffering from. But all systems of treatment and management of the ailment have the same goals. These goals are:

1. To ease and abate the symptoms the patient is experiencing;

2. To arrest the possible aggravation of the disease;

3. To maintain function and mobility of affected joints; and

4. To prevent damages to affected tissues, or stop the damage from turning into a disability for the patient.

The first step towards treating arthritis always involves seeing a physician that specializes in this disease. Such a specialist is called a rheumatologist. Upon taking note of symptoms and the medical history of the patient, the rheumatologist may require laboratory tests to figure out what kind of arthritis is afflicting the patient, and what type of treatment is most appropriate. Such tests include examining blood and urine samples and joint fluids, as well as X-rays.

Once the rheumatologist completes his or her diagnosis, the treatment for the patient is then prescribed. Traditional treatments for arthritis include such medications as:

1. NSAIDs. NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are the most common medications prescribed for treating arthritis. These drugs work by relieving pain and reducing the inflammation of the joints.

2. Analgesics. Analgesics are painkillers. They provide relief from pain by either stopping the brain from recognizing pain signals as pain signals, or by stopping the pain signals from going to the brain.

3. Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, or steroids for short, are extremely powerful drugs used to treat pain and prevent the body from producing the chemicals that lead to inflammation. Because steroids can stop the body from producing white blood cells, they are administered only in small doses.

On the other hand, many arthritis patients also seek alternative treatments for managing the ailment. These alternative treatments include acupuncture and acupressure, chiropractic therapy, therapeutic massage, tai chi and yoga. Taking supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are also popular methods of managing arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are considered to be very effective in treating arthritis. Not only do they help in reducing pain, but they also help in renewing the synovial fluid cushioning the joints. Moreover, it has been shown in recent studies that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate assists in repairing the damaged cartilage on the affected joints from osteoarthritis.