The numbers also show that sixty per cent of those suffering with arthritis are under the age of 65, leading the Canadian Arthritis Society to believe that "new treatment discoveries and a cure for arthritis are essential."

For those whose suffer with arthritis pain, there are few choices. -- medications called biologics; steroids or corticosteroids; a medication called methotrexate; and joint replacement surgery.

While medical advancements have been made, the choice is still simple - it's either medication or surgery - solutions that can be risky or expensive.

It is not uncommon for medications to have adverse side effects - just read the warnings on the labels. Additionally, complications can arise from mixing alcohol and medications containing acetaminophen. Narcotics being used to relieve arthritis pain can become addictive and result in disturbing side effects.

According to a CBC investigative report in 2005, "Seniors, who make up 13 per cent of the population, accounted for 44.4 per cent of all deaths reported to Health Canada's adverse drug reaction database between 1999 and 2003."

"While drugs and prescribed medication are at times necessary and even helpful, they are not without risk," says Terence Young, Member of Parliament for Oakville, founder of Drug Safety Canada, and author of Death by Prescription. "Prescription drugs given correctly are the fourth leading cause of death in Canada today - this is an issue that affects all Canadians."

There are however, organizations that are committed to providing Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), that relieve arthritis pain.

For example, MyPhield technology has been used successfully for 8 years, in 10,000 treatments at the BioResonance Pain Relief Center in Winnipeg as an alternative therapy for arthritis pain relief.

"The challenge with arthritis medications designed to treat the pain or lessen joint inflammation, are their potential side effects," says Alan Kotowich. "People have been known to develop ulcers and suffer a variety of health issues in their effort to lessen their pain. But with MyPhield's BioResonance treatments, there's no medication and no side effects."

MyPhield is a Class II medical device licensed by Health Canada for the treatment of pain resulting from arthritic conditions and with only 2 - 3 weeks of treatments, and just 45 minutes each day, the results are significant.