2nd followup -- can you cite your sources on this? I know this was debatable in the past but at present, my doctor disagrees, so does the medicine I am able to look up. If you have current information I'd very much appreciate knowing the source. I can get the journals via my library. This is the most recent info I have: http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/rheumatology/osteoarthritis/ Not claiming that's reliable (it recommends glucosamine/chondritin, and I've seen other papers saying they don't work!) -- just noting this stuff needs to be tied to current sources. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm asking for the sources you rely on and why you consider them reliable on this. "Pathophysiology Understanding the metabolic pathways at the molecular level has greatly enhanced our understanding of the tissue factors involved. 7 Although the role of inflammation in osteoarthritis has been unclear for a long time, significant progress has been made in more recent years. The molecular pathways involved are being more clearly defined, and this is an area of intense ongoing research. Studies also show that there are ongoing inflammation and synovitis that result in permanent joint damage. 1,5,8 At times, this may be more striking, with flares of symptoms or joint effusions. Effusions can be very large at times, and we have aspirated more than 100 mL of fluid from an acutely swollen knee on more than one occasion. Biopsies of synovium from patients with osteoarthritis show more inflammatory infiltrates than normal controls do...."
Reply - Janet
Hank, I'm on the road teaching a class this weekend and not at my references which are in my office - but send me an e-mail (janet at runningstrong dot com) and I'll pull together what I have and send it to you.  An interesting author to search is Dr. Karim Kahn - he's done a fair amount of research on the issue of inflammation vs. degeneration, and though his research has focused more on tendon issues, he cites a fair amount of research on articular issues so his reference lists may be a nice jumping off point in your research.  I think that the article you mentioned in another post that says the issue is still not clear is probably right on... and that some people in the early stages of osteoarthritis probably do have active inflammation going on.  Some others who have had long-standing symptoms may not have any evidence of cellular markers of inflammation.  I think the underlying question is "do you take the drugs or not?"  It's not a simple question and deserves some consideration.  Certainly the drugs are usually effective at controlling symptoms so that will enable you to accomplish exercises that might prove to be very helpful for your condition.  On the other hand I think you'd be wise to be cognizant of the fact that they ARE controlling your symptoms possibly by masking your ability to feel pain... so it might behoove you to be a bit more conservative in your progressions than you would be otherwise.   In addition, like all drugs they have side-effects, primarily related to their ability to inhibit prostaglandins - which may result in upper gastrointestinal side-effects. 
I'll do some digging in my articles when I get back to the home office and send you some citations.  Thanks for the dialog!  Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS, RRCA coaching instructor.

Following up on the earlier question: -- is there any anti-inflammatory that doesn't block pain to the extent of risking injury? Reducing inflammation is apparently the main goal early on with what might be possible osteoarthritis. And if not -- the NSAIDS wash out within 12 hours or less; will an injury be apparent promptly or might it take a day or two to feel an injury? Wondering if I can alternate between the antiinflammatory and the exercise, get the benefits of reducing inflammation, and the benefits of exercise, alternately. Hate to be stuck where I have to either block the pain and risk injury from exercise, or not block the inflammation and risk injury from developing osteoarthritis problems.
Reply - Janet
Ah, herein lies the conundrum.... osteoarthritis is NOT an inflammatory condition!  It is a degenerative condition!  To my knowledge there are no NSAID's that lack analgesic properties... in other words they all are very effective at blocking pain. Inflammation is usually a relatively short-lived process and in truth is considered by most to be a necessary first step to healing.  Without inflammation, the healing process doesn't get off to a good start.  The issue with osteoarthritis (which might better be termed osteoarthrosis) is that it's a degeneration of the articular cartilage... not an inflammation of the articular cartilage.  Anti-inflammatory drugs do a wonderful job of making things feel better... but they also alter the dynamics involved in tissue repair and regeneration. Studies on athletes who took NSAID's showed a lower response in terms of muscle hypertrophy (growth) and also a change in the bone-cell turnover.... in other words some of the physiological adaptations you're hoping for with any training program (more muscle growth and enhanced bone health) may be adversely affected by the NSAID. 
If it were me - I'd focus on strength work for the muscles that support the affected joints, gentle flexibility exercises to maintain adequate range of motion, and a variety of forms of aerobic exercise to help maintain ideal body weight and cardiovascular health.  You may find that by combining a variety of exercises (walking, running, swimming or deep water running) that you can get adequate training response without further irritating your joints. 
Book is on it's way to you - thanks for your order!   Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS, RRCA coaching instructor

Help me clarify this question? I'm 60; early retired, wanting to get back to what I loved long ago, running trails, long slow distance 'birdwatching' runs). Got what doctor says is probably early osteoarthritis --knee pain but only after sitting or at night, bad enough sometimes that if I get down on my knees I can't stand up without pulling with arms, and I've fallen a couple of times just from pain when stepping up a single step. But naproxen (one pill/24 hours or less) stops it. And it's very intermittent, it doesn't happen when I'm running or after running as long as I stay standing (I'm starting with 30sec run/4-1/2 min walk x6 every other day). Also some shoulder pain, none at present. I don't have the money for your program here, sorry. But if you can help me focus this as a question and suggest who to ask, it'd help. I know NSAID risk goes up at my age. I know I need to lose about 30 pounds (5'10", 185 lbs). I can switch to swimming (boring!); I'm doing "prehabilitation" exercises like standing on one leg; exercises for strengthening knees and stretches. What's the worst thing that could happen? (My current 'worst' is GI bleeding from NSAIDS, just statistically a risk, but I don't know how much to worry about that--if I don't worry about it, I'll just use a naproxen a day and go on running and see what happens). No regular MD; there's a new one at the office every time I go in (I rarely need a doctor's attention so far)
Reply - Janet
The GI risk is not the only one to consider with NSAID's in my opinion.  One problem with them is that they ARE very effective at pain control.  That means that you're likely to go out and exercise on tissue that may or may not be ready for the load.  In other words it masks your ability to feel the symptoms that might otherwise stop you.  There is no research to say that running "causes" osteoarthritis, but if you currently have been diagnosed with it, you might want to progress very slowly to make sure that you give your tissue time to adapt.  The best thing for your knees is to maximize your hip strength so focus a lot on lateral hips and gluteal muscles (not the knee extension/flexion machines at the gym).  Easy paces (like you referred to) are best and if you follow a very conservative walk to run progression - listening to your body's response along the way - you should be able to progress back to running several days a week.  The only way to listen to your body is to NOT mask the symptoms with naproxyn. 
So to summarize - your best chance of success is to progress very gradually, make sure you're keeping aware of your body's symptoms, and get your hips as strong as you possibly can.  Best of luck to you!  Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS, RRCA coaching instructor