You've probably seen pillows, mattresses, mattress toppers, and seat cushions made of memory foam. Memory foam is made of polyurethane and added chemicals that increase its viscosity and density.

Memory foam is firmer when cooler. High density memory foam reacts to body heat -- molding to a warm human body in a few minutes. A lower density memory foam reacts to pressure and molds quickly.

Regardless, memory foam products have become popular among chronic pain and arthritis patients looking for comfort when sitting, resting, or sleeping. Look at a few of your options in Memory Foam Products.

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The knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and even shoulder joints are commonly affected by arthritis -- but what about the cricoarytenoid joint? The cricoarytenoid joints are between the cricoid and paired arytenoid cartilages in the back wall of the larynx. The cricoarytenoid joints help open, close, and tighten the vocal cords during speech and breathing.

About one in three rheumatoid arthritis patients suffers from cricoarytenoid arthritis. Why some people get it and others don't is not known. Learn more about symptoms, prevalence, and treatment in Cricoarytenoid Joint - What You Should Know.

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When you think about arthritis, you likely think "joint disease." But there are certain types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, that have "extraarticular manifestations" -- meaning, the disease affects areas of the body outside of the joints. When this occurs, especially in multiple organ systems in the body, that form of arthritis is referred to as a systemic disease.

There are over 100 types of arthritis. Learning about the individual types of arthritis can help you determine whether systemic disease is likely, and what you can expect. What are some examples of extraarticular involvement? Why do some arthritis patients develop systemic disease, while others are limited to joint disease? Learn more in Systemic Disease in Arthritis Explained.

Everyone should be careful when they get in and out of a shower or bathtub. People with arthritis are dealing with limited range of motion, pain, and weakness -- so safety is a concern. Grab bars can improve bathroom safety.

If you have grab bars, suffice to say, you have made necessary improvements and created a safe environment. If you don't, consider these grab bars for your bathroom. Check out some of your options in Grab Bars Create a Safe Bathroom Environment.

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There are potential side effects with all arthritis medications. Some arthritis medication side effects are apparent (for example, a skin rash) while others may not be as obvious (such as elevated liver enzymes). You should know as much about potential side effects as you do about why you were prescribed the medication.

If bothersome side effects do occur, you have essentially three options. Learn what those options are in Arthritis Medication Side Effects - What You Should Know.

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The Jingle Bell Run / Walk for Arthritis, more commonly and succinctly referred to as the Jingle Bell Run, is a 5K run or 5K walk (your choice!) to raise money and support the mission of the Arthritis Foundation, which is to prevent, control, and cure arthritis and related conditions. Not every state holds a Jingle Bell Run event, but many do. Most are held in November or December.

Several of our forum members participate in their local Jingle Bell Run, while others support someone else who participates. To learn more about when your local Jingle Bell Run event is being held, registering, forming a team, fundraising, and donating -- check out Jingle Bell Run / Walk for Arthritis.

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A Swedish study has concluded that rheumatoid arthritis patients did not experience an increased cancer risk in the first 6 years of treatment with TNF blockers. Researchers from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm assessed short-term and medium-term cancer risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients using Remicade, Humira, and Enbrel.

According to the report published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the study was one of the largest and longest population-based assessments of cancer risk associated with immunosupressive therapy. Data from 6,366 patients who used TNF blockers between January 1999 through July 2006 was included in the study. Their data was compared to other groups of rheumatoid arthritis patients -- including more than 61,000 who were not taking medication, about 4,000 who were using methotrexate, and about 4,000 patients using a combination of DMARDs (not TNF blockers).

The overall cancer risk was found to be the same for rheumatoid arthritis patients on immunosuppressants as for those patients not taking medications. But researchers added, this is just one study and it doesn't erase uncertainty about cancer risk that will be proven over time. Patients should still have routine cancer screenings and be vigilant about any physical changes that might be indicative of cancer.

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If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may have been told by your doctor that taking fish oil is beneficial. If not told by your own doctor, you probably have heard about the recommendation. Fish oil reduces inflammation that is associated with many conditions, including arthritis. But how? Until now, there has not been a detailed explanation.

According to a paper published in Nature, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London and Harvard Medical School have determined how the body converts DHA, an ingredient found in fish oil, into a chemical referred to as Resolvin D2. They also analyzed the chemical structure of Resolvin D2 and studied how it interacts with white blood cells that adhere to the inner lining of blood vessels during the inflammatory process. The findings offer at least one explanation for how fish oil works -- important for understanding its role in preventing and treating arthritis -- and possibly other inflammatory conditions.

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Gout is considered one of the most painful types of arthritis. Managing gout can be difficult. Studies have shown that people who drink a lot of milk have a lower risk of developing gout. Last week, at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers reported the results of a study which assessed the effect of skim milk on serum uric acid concentrations. Elevated uric acid concentrations can increase the risk of gout.

Along with three different types of skim milk, researchers also tested soy milk. After drinking soy milk, uric acid concentrations rose 10%. All skim milk versions brought uric acid concentration down by 10%. Bottom line -- skim milk may be beneficial for gout prevention, as well as gout treatment, because it reduces uric acid concentration short-term. Researchers are now studying long term effects.

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The rate of joint surgery in rheumatoid arthritis patients hit an all-time high in the 1990s -- and since then it has been declining, according to a report presented at the 2009 ACR (American College of Rheumatology) meeting. Over the past 25 years, rheumatoid arthritis treatment options have greatly improved, and perhaps so has the need for joint replacement.

Researchers found that the rate of knee replacement in patients age 40-59 years dropped 19% from the period 1983-1987 to 2003-2007. Over the same time period, hip replacement rates dropped by 40%. Researchers concluded that younger patients are having fewer joint replacements compared to the last decade.

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• Tell Us About Your Joint Replacement Surgery

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