I watched my mother suffer for years from joint pain and swelling caused by arthritis. As the arthritis got worse, the more swollen and painful her joints became until eventually she began to limit the activities and hobbies she used to love, like knitting and gardening. Eventually, the joints in her fingers had so much pain and swelling that her wedding ring no longer fit on her finger comfortably. My mother isn’t old, and she is otherwise very active, so it really pains me to see her suffer from the inflammation in her fingers. I’ve done some research on arthritis, and while not all forms are hereditary, it is strongly believed that there are genetic links from one generation to the next. Knowing this, I’m taking precautions and taking early care for myself now, just in case.