Well I've had to resort to cider vinegar and honey.
I was diagnosed with athritis in the neck about 9 years ago and while trying to find a natural remedy to deal with it I came across Margaret Hill's book "Curing Arthritis" a drug free way.
Now depending upon the severity of your arthritis you can go the whole way and follow her diet, supplements and honey & cider vinegar or as mine was not so bad I just took on the cider vinegar & honey (to help dissolve/remove the acid in your body).
I was sceptical at first but when you are in pain you will try anything and the painkillers that I had been taking were not really having any effect any more.
So, taking some organic cider vinegar and honey you put a teaspoon of honey and a dessert spoon of cider vinegar in warm water. Drink this 3 times a day to start with and believe it or not it really does work!
It isn't instantaneous but gradually the crystalisation (that crunches as you move your body) disappears and with it the pain.
I have arthritis in my upper spine and although it can go for ages without any problems all of a sudden I will get a flare up - and then it is unbelievably painful!
So just a little snippet of a natural remedy that certainly won't do you any harm - and if you are like me it will do you a lot of good.