As life expectancies lengthen, we are seeing an increase in the number of arthritis sufferers. There may be as many as 3 million of them in Australia, enduring the discomfort and loss of mobility that the condition entails. Arthritis: The Essential Guide explains the many different forms of the disease and associated muscular-skeletal conditions in language that respects the reader's intelligence and need for reliable information. It assesses the current drug and surgical treatment options for symptom relief and disease modification, and looks also at complementary treatments such as naturopathy, osteopathy and Chinese herbal medecine. It also examines lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet, and provides many practical suggestions for coping with the depression, fear and anger that can accompany living with a chronic, painful condition. Arthritis presents the sufferer and his or her family with many challenges.This is a book for those who wish to continue to live a full life, despite the limitations of the disease. It offers hope in the form of sound information and helpful advice.