Read up on eliminating all members of the nightshade family from your diet. Tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato, ciggies. There are supplements that can help. You can't cure genetic predisposition to joint problems, but maybe lessen them.
On the subject, I remember my first vw clutch replacement with my dad. Would have taken maybe an hour if we would have had that plastic dowel tool to get the engine mated back up with the trans. A trip down to the NAPA store, and a turkey sammich and we were back in business. Yeah I ate it with greasy hands, and I didn't DIE, mom!