Aching Joints - traveling arthritis ?

It started in my right elbow. Then went to the left. Then my hip got worse. My hip used to occasionally "catch" when I would get up. Like a sharp pain, but then nothing else. SO then the hip started getting worse, "catches" Really bad now, I limp, can't comfortably walk,I sometimes feel like I'm going to fall down when I get up! Now the left ankle is swollen and uncomfortable too. Now they are talking hip replacement. In two weeks I get my first cortisone shot in the hip. I have Kaiser. Yeah! But they got me through two brain surgeries so I aint' complainin'! Any ideas? A friend swears by Alfalfa (sp?) so I'm taking boat loads of that.
Thanks in advance for your ideas and suggestions. Corinna
(is this internet amazing or What!?)