ARTHRITIS

People who have arthritis are always searching for fastest and most effective solution for their condition. New and upcoming arthritis solutions are always watched out for. Researchers are always looking for the best treatment for the disease. Right now, there are more than 100 types of arthritis. To uncover the necessary cure for each one of those is quite a task.

To treat arthritis, the use of herbal medicines, synthetic drugs, exercises, and diet are recommended. Some synthetic drugs are used alongside herbal medicines to help ease arthritis. While it is generally safe to use these two ingredients together, it is still best that you talk to your doctor about it. Some herbal medicines are so potent that it may clash with the active ingredients of certain synthetic medicines. Exercise and diet are the natural ways to counter arthritis and are important to achieve recovery from the disease.

As for the particular brands and products created for arthritis, there are just too many of them. Herbs are still considered as the most celebrated wonder medicines. On the other hand, the efficiency of formulated drugs can't be underestimated. Drugs like glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate can provide an almost immediate relief to arthritis patients.

However, as with other drugs, the potency depends on its actual user. Some drug proves to be very effective to certain patients and not for some. Natural ingredients for arthritis medicine are MSM and emu oil. It was found out that when these two ingredients were taken along the usual medicines of the patient, relief will be achieved a lot faster.

Other than oral medicines, topical treatments are some of the widely-used arthritis solutions today. These are creams and oils that are supposed to be applied on affected area. Most of the topical solutions contain herbs and mints that penetrate deep into the skin. It addresses the swelling in the cartilage, joints, and tendons. The effects of such topical treatments are somehow immediate, as you could feel the sensation spreading all over the part where you applied the formula.

Surgery is another popular solution for arthritis. Patients suffering from advanced cases of arthritis are the usual candidates of this procedure. This procedure is performed only by qualified surgeons. If your doctor recommends surgery as a solution to your condition and you are having doubts about it, you can always ask for a second opinion from other experts. And if ever you decide to go for it, let your doctor tell you everything that you can expect from the outcome. While surgery is the most effective treatment for arthritis, its effect doesn't show immediately. Your body has to adjust to the changes and you also have to undergo physical therapy and certain exercises to make it work for you.

These are the solutions for arthritis. And they are not as elusive now like before. With these cures, patients should be able to manage their disease better. By living healthy, they should be back on their feet again in no time.

By: Edward Chen

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Have you ever ridden on a roller coaster and felt like you were out of control? LIFE can be like a roller coaster for those of us with Arthritis. There are good days and bad days. It is what we do with what we have—that counts.

Arthritis affects nearly 70 million Americans. There are more than 100 types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis. There are numerous arthritis treatments to help manage the pain as well. Arthritis is a major cause of chronic pain and leading cause of disability in the United States.

Did you know that the word arthritis literally means “joint inflammation?” Inflammation and pain are involved in most types of arthritis. Aching, throbbing, nagging, sometimes sharp pain – arthritis hurts!

It can make simple, daily activities like opening a pill bottle, getting out of a chair or even walking difficult. There is no cure for arthritis but there are things you can do to help manage arthritis pain symptoms.

See your doctor: Know what type of arthritis you have. Early diagnosis is important to proper treatment and prevention of permanent joint damage. Follow your doctor’s advice.

Keep a Positive Attitude: Make a plan for managing your arthritis. Take control. Arthritis is a condition that requires your participation in ongoing care.

Control your weight: Increased weight adds stress on joints in your back, hips, knees and feet. Less weight will reduce this stress.

Exercise: Stay fit! Exercise regularly to build muscles and keep joints moving well. Inactivity can increase your weight gain and your pain. Exercise (even walking 30 minutes a day or 10 minutes 3X a day) can increase strength and stability in weakened muscles and mobility in your joints. Remember the saying “Use it or lose it” – Then MOVE it!

Relax your muscles: Stress increases muscle tension, pain and feelings of helplessness and depression. Try relaxing by tensing and releasing muscle groups. Start at your head and work down to your toes. Deep breathing also helps to reduce stress.

Use assistive devices: Specially designed tools, called assistive devices, can help you perform basic activities. Long handled reachers, padded cooking utensils, etc., are available in stores, catalogs, and online.

Avoid improper positions: Using good posture and good body mechanics will help protect your joints. Don’t slouch in your chair; keep your head, neck and back straight, your legs uncrossed and your feet on the floor. This will help you reduce unnecessary pain.

Move around: Don’t stay in the same position too long. Taking frequent stretch breaks will reduce joint stiffness and pain.

Respect your Arthritis pain: Pain is a signal from your body that something is wrong. Arthritis causes some chronic pain, but when you have sudden excessive pain after an activity, you may have overexerted yourself or have been doing the activity incorrectly. Listen to your body, learn your limits and take extra care when you have pain.

Know your limits: Rest when you are tired. Arthritis can cause fatigue muscle weakness – a deep exhaustion that makes everything you do a great effort. Give yourself permission to rest. Pace yourself – don’t overexert yourself on one project. Break jobs down into smaller pieces that you can do over a period of time with rest breaks.

With proper attention to these items you can manage your arthritis pain.

By: Maureen Wright

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Just because you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis doesn’t mean that you have to wait in pain for your doctor to contact you. There are quite a few things you can do as an arthritis sufferer while waiting for new medications, an appointment for a specialist or just to work on the problem yourself. This article will detail some of the simple but highly effective ways you can manage arthritis comfortably on your own time and at your own pace.

1: Keep On Moving

Although it’s painful for most arthritis sufferers to stay active, you need to be mobile every single day in order to keep your current range of movement. Even if you can only manage a ten minute walk daily, those ten minutes will do wonders for your mood, joints and pain in the long term.

2: Don’t Push Yourself

If you don’t have to use your body to move, push or pull something, don’t. Living with arthritis means taking stock of what you can and cannot do, and then creating new ways of doing the same thing without hurting yourself. This might mean purchasing assistive devices (special can-openers for instance), losing weight or using the larger joints (such as your hips) instead of the smaller ones (such as your back) to lift things.

3: Stay Tuned

Keep up with the current findings, research and information related to fellow arthritis sufferers and the disease itself. As they say, knowing is half the battle!

4: Talk About It

Let your friends and family know when living with arthritis becomes a challenge, or when you are frustrated with the disease. Educate them as well, since the more they know the more they will be able to assist you as well. Even better, find a local support group where you can discuss with other arthritis sufferers your feelings about the illness.

5: If The Shoe Fits…

Make sure that what supports you is actually supporting you properly! Those suffering from arthritis need even more foot, ankle and joint support than most. Invest wisely in a pair of orthopedic shoes and you’ll notice the difference almost immediately.

6: Stretch It Out

By stretching the joints that you use the most, you are not only making your body work better, you’ll be making your disease easier to manage. Try to focus on the larger joints (knees, ankles, hips, back) at least once a day for a cat-like stretch to invigorate the mind, body and spirit.

By: John Robben

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

The term “arthritis” is derived from the Greek… “arthron” meaning joint… and “it is” meaning inflammation. Most types of arthritis are associated with inflammation. Inflammation is a defense mechanism the body employs to fight infection, tumors, and other foreign invaders. The mediator of this inflammatory response is the immune system.

Picture an army of warriors – the immune response- which is ready and eager to take on the task of protecting you against enemies. Inflammation is regulated so that under normal circumstances, once the problem is taken care of, inflammation stops. Unfortunately, inflammation can escape this control mechanism and become chronic. Chronic inflammation, it is believed, is the underlying basis for the development of diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

So is there a way to manipulate the diet so that arthritis damage caused by inappropriate inflammation can be controlled? Recent research has suggested that diets that contain omega-3 fatty acids that combat inflammation may be useful. Also, the elimination of foods containing omega-6 fatty acids which promote inflammation is also helpful.

Here is a list of seven “insider secrets” that you should know about.

Secret #1: Make cold water fish part of your diet at least two to three times a week. Examples include cold water salmon (not farm raised), sardines, herring, cod, and trout. The reason? These types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. If fish is something you don’t enjoy, consider flax seed, walnuts, or dietary fish supplements… all of which also contain significant amounts of omega-3. (Note: If you are a blood thinner, consult your doctor before taking a dietary supplements with omega-3 since your drug dose may need to be adjusted.)

Secret #2: Reduce the amount of certain oils such as corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. These contain large amounts of omega-6 fatty acids that promote inflammation. Use olive oil or canola oil instead.

Secret # 3: Go for veggies and fruits. Many vegetables and fruits are high in antioxidants that fight inflammation. Berries such as blueberries and cherries are excellent and tasty sources of anti-inflammatory ingredients. Pineapple is a good source of bromelain, an excellent anti-oxidant.

Secret # 4: Avoid the white poisons. Often ingredients like refined sugar, refined flour and salt are used in the production of processed foods such as white bread, sugary cereals, candies, and pastries. These white poisons promote inflammation and should be avoided.

Secret # 5: Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet: Animal protein contains large amounts of pro-inflammatory fatty acids.

Secret #6: Reduce the amount of trans fat in your diet. Trans fats, which are present in fried foods, cakes, pies, cookies, and other baked goods, increase low density cholesterol (LDL). This is the bad cholesterol that is pro-inflammatory.

Secret # 7: Use more spices: Spices such as curcumin, garlic, ginger, contain ingredients which have been shown in some well-controlled studies to reduce the inflammation of arthritis.

Some people have claimed that dairy products and nightshade vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes, cause their arthritis to get worse. There may be some individual food sensitivities/ allergies that do aggravate arthritis. However, a blanket statement about the role of dairy products and nightshade plants is not warranted. At our center we do suggest the use of food allergy testing in individuals who have arthritic symptoms that are troublesome and appear to be food-induced.

By Nathan Wei

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Arthritis is often associated with people in their 50s or older. But nowadays, more and more younger people are showing signs of this joint-related disease. What exactly are the causes of joint inflammation and what are the best arthritis treatment? Inflammation of the joints can result from previous injuries, like tibial plateau fracture, which affects certain sensitive cartilages and muscle tissues.

A person can also develop joint swelling and pain if two or more of his or her family members have gout or any related illness. Needless to say, age is also one of the most significant factors in determining the onset of swelling of the joints. As a person gets older, his or her bones tend to be weaker and more fragile as one of the results of the natural laws of aging. But this doesn't necessarily mean teenagers or the twenty-somethings can be complacent. There are cases of brittle joints among younger age brackets because of extraneous determinants like weight and existing illness.

It is understandable that obese or overweight persons have greater tendencies of exhausting or wearing out their bones. Since weight is identified as a factor in causing joint inflammation, doctors suggest arthritis treatment can be in the form of improving one's diet. There are specific diets, like meals heavy in unsaturated fat and cholesterol, that make a person even more susceptible in experiencing joint pain and swelling.

On the other hand, foods rich in certain minerals and vitamins are one's best ally in preventing early signs of bone inflammation. Choose foods with high nutritional value and specifically contain Vitamins K and E, which promote healthier bones. To alleviate inflammation, a person should boost his or her intake of vitamins B12 and B6. If beneficial minerals like zinc and copper are not usually found on your daily meal plan, take health supplements that offer these specific nutrients.

There are also certain medications supposedly aimed at combating arthritis. Some of these drugs don't come without hazardous side effects so it is still best to follow natural remedies to prevent or cure joint inflammation. Arthritis treatment need not cost someone a fortune. The safest and surest way is still through sticking to a healthy diet, or even particular exercise routines, or whatever a doctor advised a patient to do. One should not wait to get older before he starts to take care of his bones and joints. A person may not realize the importance of bone health until he experiences the premature tell-tale signs of joint swelling and inflammation.

By: Gloria Diaz

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes pain and loss of movement of the joints. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55. The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), inheritance, infections, and for unclear reasons (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus).

There are many forms of arthritis .There are about 200 different kinds of arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis (or degenerative arthritis), where the cartilage that protects the bones gets worn away. This makes joints stiff, painful and creaky. About 5 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis. OA is a chronic degenerative arthropathy that frequently leads to chronic pain and disability. With the aging of our population, this condition is becoming increasing prevalent and its treatment increasingly financially burdensome. Using radiographic criteria, the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the hand have been identified as the joints most commonly affected by OA, but they are the least likely to be symptomatic.

Age is the most consistently identified risk factor for OA, regardless of the joint being studied. Prevalence rates for both radiographic OA and, to a lesser extent, symptomatic OA rise steeply after age 50 in men and age 40 in women. Occupation-related repetitive injury and physical trauma contribute to the development of secondary (non-idiopathic) OA, sometimes occurring in joints that are not affected by primary (idiopathic) OA, such as the metacarpophalangeal joints, wrists and ankles.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's defence mechanisms go into action when there's no threat and start attacking the joints and sometimes other parts of the body. RA affects 2.1 million Americans, or about 1% of the adult population in the United States. This disease is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men, and generally affects people between the ages of 20 and 50.

However, young children can develop a form of RA called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Two of the 100 types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. There are specific symptoms, distinguishing characteristics, as well as overlapping symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Rheumatoid arthritis is an additive polyarthritis, with the sequential addition of involved joints, in contrast to the migratory or evanescent arthritis of systemic lupus erythematosus or the episodic arthritis of gout. Occasionally, patients experience an explosive polyarticular onset occurring over 24 to 48 hours. Morning stiffness, persisting more than one hour but often lasting several hours, may be a feature of any inflammatory arthritis but is especially characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Its duration is a useful gauge of the inflammatory activity of the disease.

Psoriatic arthritis is related to the skin condition psoriasis. It occurs more commonly in patients with tissue type HLA-B27. There are five clinical patterns of psoriatic arthritis. First is Asymmetrical mono- and oligoarticular arthritis (30-50% of cases) is the most common presentation of psoriatic arthritis.

Second is symmetrical polyarticular arthritis (30-50% of cases) is ultimately the most common form of psoriatic arthritis.

Third is distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint involvement (25% of cases) is nearly always associated with nail manifestationsm.

Fourth is Arthritis mutilans is affects less than 5% of patients and is a severe, deforming and destructive arthritis. This condition can progress over months or years causing severe joint damage.

Fifth is Axial arthritis (30-35% of cases) may be different in character from ankylosing spondylitis, the prototypical HLA-B27-associated spondyloarthropathy. It may present as sacro-iliitis, which may be asymmetrical and asymptomatic, or spondylitis, which may occur without sacro-iliitis and may affect any level of the spine in "skip" fashion. Genetic factors appear to play an important role. There is a 70% concordance for psoriasis in monozygotic twins. There is a 50-fold increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis in first-degree relatives of patients with the disease.

Environmental factors have been implicated. Streptococcal infection can precipitate the development of guttate psoriasis. HIV infection can present with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as worsen existing disease.

Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. Gout was once incorrectly thought to be a disease of the rich and famous, caused by consuming too much rich food and fine wine. Gout is a disease due to a congenital disorder of uric acid metabolism. Uric acid is produced when purines are broken down by enzymes in the liver. Purines can be generated by the body itself (via the breakdown of cells in normal cellular turnover) or can be ingested in purine-rich foods (e.g. seafood, beer). Gout usually attacks the big toe (approximately 75% of first attacks), however it can also affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine.

In some cases the condition may appear in the joints of the small toes which have become immobile due to impact injury earlier in life, causing poor blood circulation that leads to gout. Chronic gout can lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, decreased kidney function, and kidney stones. An acute attack of gout is a highly inflammatory arthritis often with intense swelling, redness and warmth surrounding the joint. The inflammatory component is so intense, an acute attack of gout is often mistaken for a bacterial cellulitis. Gout is mainly treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Corticosteroids (also called steroids), may be prescribed for people who cannot take NSAIDs. Steroids also work by decreasing inflammation. Steroids can be injected into the affected joint or given as pills. Colchicine is often used to treat gout and usually begins working within a few hours of taking it.

Septic arthritis also known is Pyogenic arthritis. Septic arthritis is infection, usually bacterial, in the joint cavity. Septic arthritis usually affects just one joint, though occasionally it may occur in more than one joint at a time. It is the most dangerous form of acute arthritis. The joint cavity is usually a sterile space, with synovial fluid and cellular matter including a few white blood cells.

Many different types of bacteria (germs) can cause septic arthritis. Infection with a bacterium called Staph. aureus is the most common cause. Septic arthritis is inflammation of a synovial membrane with purulent effusion into the joint capsule, usually due to bacterial infection. This disease entity also is referred to in the literature as bacterial, suppurative, purulent, or infectious arthritis.

The most common bacterial isolates in native joints include gram-positive cocci, with S. aureus found in 40% to 50% of the cases. Septic arthritis is uncommon from age 3 to adolescence. Children with septic arthritis are more likely than adults to be infected with group B streptococcus and Haemophilus influenza. Young children and older adults are most likely to develop septic arthritis. As the population ages, doctors are finding that septic arthritis is becoming more common. Symptoms of septic arthritis occur suddenly and are characterized by severe pain, swelling in the affected joint along with acute pain. Chills and fever are also common symptoms. Chronic septic arthritis (which occurs less frequently) is caused by organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans. The knee and the hip are the most commonly infected joints.

By: Juliet Cohen

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Approximately 2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to degenerative arthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), inheritance (such as in osteoarthritis), infections (such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease), and an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). Treatment programs, when possible, are often directed toward the precise cause of the arthritis.

If joint pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, loss of motion or deformity occurs, medical evaluation by a health-care professional is warranted. Even minor joint symptoms that persist unexplained for over one week should be evaluated. For many forms of arthritis, it is essential that patients have an early evaluation as it is clear that this can both prevent damage and disability as well as make optimal treatment easier.

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two bones meet. A joint functions to allow movement of the body parts it connects. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.

Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognosis. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, and many have the potential to affect internal body areas as well.

There are many forms of arthritis (over 100 have been described so far, and the number is growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation as a result of an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.

For many patients with arthritis, mild pain relievers such as aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be sufficient treatment. Studies have shown that acetaminophen given in adequate doses can often be equally as effective as prescription anti-inflammatory medications in relieving pain in osteoarthritis.

Since acetaminophen has fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDS, especially among elderly patients, acetaminophen is often the preferred initial drug given to patients with osteoarthritis. Pain-relieving creams applied to the skin over the joints can provide relief of minor arthritis pain. Examples include capsaicin, salycin, methyl salicylate, and menthol.

Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Over 40 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children! More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Nearly 60% of Americans with arthritis are women.

Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present. Loss of range of motion and deformity can result. Certain forms of arthritis can also be associated with pain and inflammation of tendons surrounding joints.

Some forms of arthritis are more of an annoyance than a serious medical problem. However, millions of people suffer daily with pain and disability from arthritis or its complications.

Moreover, many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling, weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

The treatment of arthritis depends on which particular form of arthritis is present, its location, severity, persistence, and any underlying background medical conditions of the patient. Each treatment program must be customized for the individual patient.

Treatment programs can incorporate home remedies, nonprescription and prescription medications, joint injections, and surgical operations. Some treatment programs involve weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint. The goal of treatment of arthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while preventing damage and improving and maintaining joint function.

Not every person with arthritis requires medical attention. For example, some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain and may not need treatment. However, for those with persisting joint symptoms, the ideal steps to take should lead to a proper diagnosis and an optimal long-term treatment plan. This plan must be customized for each person affected, depending on the joints involved and the severity of symptoms.

Surgery is generally reserved for those patients with arthritis that is particularly severe and unresponsive to the conservative treatments. Surgical procedures can be performed to relieve pain, improve function, and correct deformity. Occasionally, joint tissue is surgically removed for the purpose of biopsy and diagnosis. Doctors who specialize in joint surgery are orthopedic surgeons.

Currently, prevention of arthritis focuses on avoiding joint injury and early diagnosis and treatment. Research clearly demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment can result in less damage, deformity, disability, and even mortality in rheumatoid disease.

The treatment of rheumatoid disease is not only more effective but easier when administered early.

Additionally, maintaining overall good health and strength with exercise and good nutrition can be helpful in preventing joint disease.

By: Alisha Dhamani

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis