Addressing the growing number of individuals who suffer from this often debilitating ailment, this indispensable reference explains how to manage chronic or acute arthritis in straightforward language. Descriptions of the most common forms of arthritis and how they affect the body and its joints guide arthritis sufferers through the symptoms and show them how to manage their own treatment with the help of a health-care team. Self-management is emphasized and chapters cover topics such as pain management, working with health-care professionals, medication, exercise, surgery options, intimacy issues, emotional health, social interaction, and alternative treatments.