please research the wealth of posting here over time. I'm sure it will overwhelm! I am pretty sure after 30 years of actively dealing with OA that 1) my inflammatory pain came not from OA but Gout, 2) my small body frame contributed, 3) my hereditary situation was a MAJOR factor, 4) as well POST MENOPAUSE 5) and possibly bad habits when I was young. However bones reform over 10 years so I think Menopause and ancestry played the biggest part. Knowing that, I take Allopurinol for gout, Vit. D and B, L-carnitine from a cellular level deficiency, take Bioidentical hormones (can't build muscle and bone without them!) it also helps with bones, take the bone medicine Reclast/Tymlos as prescribed by the endo doctor and exercise. Eat right. My personal path!