There are many different forms of arthritis; I have osteoarthritis.
What I find helps is keeping the joints strong through exercise. Since the major affected joint is the sacroiliac (which I never heard of until I got arthritis in it), I do back exercises to strengthen the lower back muscles and support the joint.
I rarely take pain medications.
I think the exercise is best for osteoarthritis; other forms of arthritis may not be so easily managed. Also, the amount of exercise is important; too much makes the pain worse.
“Since the major affected joint is the sacroiliac...)
Just wondering if your doctor checked you for ankylosing spondylitis. Sacroiliac problems are indicators of that disease.
Some time ago I assisted someone with a database of a fairly large sampling of arthritis studies.
What I thought I noticed, not really focused on by the studies or the person assisted, afaik, was the importance of lubrication, that is, I wondered if we are not drinking enough water on a consistent lifelong basis. I don’t know if it is possible to catch up once you realize you need it, but I do know it is important for brain health as well.