Proteoglycans are the very large molecules that help to make up cartilage. A useful tip: if you’re going to take any arthritis drugs or prescription medications, make sure to ask your pharmacist for the drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions that they have, before you start taking them. If you really do want to get rid of your arthritis pain permanently it may take a major change in your diet and an ongoing commitment to it. Conventional arthritis doctors may suggest their standard protocol for your joint pain and may tell you to take over-the-counter NSAIDS or prescribe COX-2 inhibitors which all have some serious side effects. I started eating a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds), years ago, which caused my osteoarthritis to disappear and therefore relieve me of the crippling arthritis pain I had for years. Exercise is usually good for any joint affected by osteoarthritis, but check with your arthritis doctor first.