Archive for July, 2009
What can help my mom’s rheumatoid arthritis pain?
Posted by: | Commentsmy mom has had rheumatoid arthritis for about 9 years now, and she had a knee replacement about 6 years ago… lately her arthritis has been causing her a lot of pain that she loses sleep over… medications that her doc gives her do not help. Are there any natural remedies or vitamins she can take to help ease the pain?
My sympathies to your mother (and you). I know all too well the pain of RA…
At the moment, I am in the same predicament. Lots of pain, loss of sleep. The pain makes sleeping impossible, and the loss of sleep makes the pain greater. It’s a vicious cycle.
All I can suggest is that your mother speak with her rheumatologist and/or family practitioner and tell them everything that is going on. They may be able to prescribe a sleep aid along with the pain meds.
Vitamins and supplements? I don’t know of anything that eliminates pain, although I *do* notice some lessening of pain when I eat fresh or frozen pineapple, or tart cherries. The bromelian in pineapple is an anti-inflammatory, and can be obtained as an OTC supplement. Ditto the cherry supplements. Both of these seem to be perfectly safe.
Some people swear by melatonin as a sleep aid, but I’ve heard also that it shouldn’t be taken with certain meds and for lengthy periods of time, so I hesitate to recommend this. Your mom should probably speak with her doctor about this. Perhaps a glass of warm milk?
Deep breathing, relaxation, prayer, meditation, white noise (a fan in the background) and sounds of nature (cd’s of waves crashing and waterfalls) can also contribute to a relaxed state and a restful sleep environment. It’s important that your mom be able to relax, as pain causes stress and stress increases pain … I know, it’s so hard, and my heart aches for her.
If your mom is able, a good long soak in a hot bath would do wonders, but 9 years into her disease this may no longer be a possibility. I know I can’t sink into a tub, and oh, how I wish.
Maybe your mother would appreciate a gentle massage from her very caring daughter. That or a hug would do wonders.
Hope I was able to help in some small way, and only the best to both of you.
Arthritis Laser Treatment
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Dr. Perry treats cervical spine (neck) arthritis with high power laser.
Duration : 0:4:16
People and Pets: Common Diseases – Arthritis
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Osteoarthritis affects more than 20 million Americans and almost as many companion dogs. The similarities of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment in humans and canines are great. Nancy Hampel, DVM shares her incredible medical journey with her dog, Cheyenne, in finding ways to alleviate the pain, repair the joints and improve the quality of life for “man’s best friend.” Series: “People & Pets: Common Diseases” [7/2003] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 7676]
Duration : 0:27:5
Need an Arthritis Cure? Try Mangosteen Juice!
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Hello everyone!
In this video I share with you more of my thoughts on arthritis and what you can do in order to relieve a lot of the symptoms ociated with arthritis. I hope that this information can really help you out!
Duration : 0:1:57
Arthritis Q&A: Is rheumatoid arthritis related to allergies?
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http://CreakyJoints.org
At our Sept. 2008 RA Event — “Life Within Reach” — rheumatologist Dr. Stephen Paget of New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery answered several questions from the audience.
Our wrap-up video of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpqUfU9vSQw
Our education video on what biologic treatments and infusion therapy are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC7-2ZWN_Bw
This event was made possible by an education grant from Centocor Inc.
Duration : 0:2:29
Back Pain, Arthritis & the Spine & Neck Austin Chiropractic
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Be My Friend – http://www.myspace.com/psychtruth
Back Pain, Arthritis & the Spine & Neck, Austin Chiropractic
Dr. Echols has been a been a chiropractor for more than 20 years and practices in Austin, Texas.
Visit Dr. Echols website at
http://www.dcnrt.com/
This video was produced by Psychetruth
http://www.myspace.com/psychtruth
http://www.youtube.com/psychetruth
http://www.livevideo.com/psychetruth
© Copyright 2008 Zoe Sofia. All Rights Reserved.
This video may be displayed in public, copied and redistributed for any strictly non-commercial use in its entire unedited form. Alteration or commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Duration : 0:8:12
arthritis/back-pain-arthritis-the-spine-neck-austin-chiropractic#more-475″ class=”more-link”>Read More→
Co-proximal prescribed over a long period for osteo arthritic pain?
Posted by: | CommentsI was prescribed this pain killer for a number of years. It was withdrawn in 2007 due to the high incidence of intentional and accidental overdosing. My problem is that I believe this drug either caused or aggravated my diverticulitis. Is there any connection between this drug and my condition? I was also prescribed the now withdrawn Vioxx for a number of years.
Hmm, you really need to talk to your Dr. If you feel that your Rx was the cause, then your Dr will be a good advocate with the drug company. Read the drug information in the packaging or consult the PDR, physican’s desk reference. If you have further conserns, contact the your state’s medical assocation, or your insurance company, or the state insurance commission. There are many resources on the internet which will over educate you on your conditions and the co relation between drugs and conditions.
If someone is injured in an accident and they are told by doctors that they might of had arthritis lying dormant,and the accident started the process,how does this stand up in a court of law??
aged 25 when accident happened.
In PI claims this may be known as acceleration or aggravation.
The parties will call upon an expert rheumatologist to clarify the issue.
He may make one of several prognoses:
1. The arthritis would have happened anyway but has been brought forward by the impact;
2. the arthritis was ‘dormant’ and but for the accident would never have become symptomatic.
3. the arthritis is as a direct consequence of the accident and would not have happened otherwise.
It’s Impact upon the claim depends on the Impact of the injuries. Do they prevent the person working? Do they result in his retiring earlier than usual? Is the arthritis so serious (or will it become so serious) that it will interfere with work?
The aggravation or acceleration of previously asymptomatic conditions is a very common issue in PI claims; it simply affects the overall award of damages but the principal impact (if any) is upon special damages, not general damages.
Motor Oil May Give you Arthritis
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Gas station attendants, mechanics, car enthusiasts beware! A study suggests that exposure to motor oil and similar substances may increase your chances of getting arthritis.
This starting discovery comes from Swedish researchers who said mineral oils like hydraulic or motor oils can give you a 30 percent risk of developing certain forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Researchers from the Karolinska Institute said these oils appear to contain certain molecules that trigger the development of RA. Their study appeared in âArthritis Research and Therapy.â
Earlier, tests on rats showed a similar pattern. To confirm this, the researchers studied patients with rheumatoid arthritis between 1996 and 2003.
âEach patient provided details of their exposure to different types of mineral oils, including asphalt and engine oil. The results suggested that exposure to hydraulic or motor oil was associated with an increased risk of two forms of rheumatoid arthritis,â reported the BBC News.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects over two million American adults. It is the most crippling form of arthritis that causes the joints to become painful and deformed, making simple activities like walking or opening a jar difficult to perform.
âUnlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear on your joints, RA is an inflammatory condition. The exact cause of RA is unknown, but it’s believed to be the body’s immune system attacking the tissue that lines your joints (synovium),â explained the Mayo Clinic.
âRA is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. But RA can also affect young children and adults older than age 50,â it added.
Risk factors for RA include old age, being female, smoking, and being exposed to an infection that may trigger the disease in susceptible individuals.
Although experts consider the findings of Swedish researchers rather bizarre, they contend that it merits serious attention, especially since it was published in a prestigious medical journal.
âThere are many so-called environmental risk factors such as exposure to silica that triggers RA in some people – combined with a genetic predisposition,” they said.
While there are many prescription medications to relieve the symptoms of RA and slow its progression, these have serious side effects like stomach bleeding, indigestion, high blood pressure, and kidney or liver damage. Others have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
One exception is Flexcerin, a natural non-prescription product that reduces pain and inflammation, restores and rebuilds healthy joints, and improves joint mobility and flexibility. For details, check out http://www.flexcerin.com.
Janet Martin
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/motor-oil-may-give-you-arthritis-243730.html
Can the Natural Supplement Sam-e Cure Depression?
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Many people today suffer from depression. Fortunately we live in a time when a wide variety of treatments are available for treating depression. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take months to find a treatment that works for a particular person.
Although there are many prescription antidepressant medications available, not everyone wants to take prescription drugs for depression. Some people experience unpleasant side effects with prescription antidepressants. Many people prefer to take natural substances instead of pharmaceutical drugs, whenever possible.
People who want more natural solutions for depression often wonder if there is anything available in a health food store that can cure depression. Many people have heard about spectacular results for treating depression that have been achieved with a natural substance known as Sam-e. Sam-e is found in many health food stores.
So is Sam-e really the magic, natural antidepression pill some people claim it to be?
Our bodies make Sam-e naturally, but when Sam-e is taken as a supplement it can function as a very powerful drug. It is also known under several other names, including s-adenosylmethionine. Sam-e is very important in the body as a methyl donor and is needed for more than thirty different reactions in the body.
Besides treating depression, Sam-e is also used in treating arthritis and fibromyalgia.
As we age, we become less efficient at producing Sam-e.
One of the many effects that Sam-e has in the body is that it seems to boost various neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin.
There have been over forty studies of Sam-e done that have shown it to be an effective treatment for depression. Most of these studies were done in Europe and were fairly small trials done over a relatively short period of time.
No one yet knows if there are any long term negative effects of taking Sam-e over a period of many years.
Although it is much more common for doctors in Europe and other parts of the world to prescribe Sam-e as a treatment for depression, in North America, very few doctors are knowledgeable about the use of Sam-e in treating depression.
Doctors in North America tend to put their faith in those drugs that have been approved by the FDA after undergoing very large, very expensive drug trials paid for by large drug companies. Most North American doctors tend to ignore treatments based on herbs and other natural supplements.
Studies of Sam-e done in Europe show that Sam-e can relieve depression in about 70% of cases. This 70% success rate in treating depression is better than a placebo, and it equals the rate of cure of prescription antidepressants.
Itâs very unlikely that Sam-e will ever undergo major clinical trials like those that are used to evaluate new drugs for the FDA in the United States. The reason is that Sam-e is a natural substance and it can never be patented. That means no drug company could make big profits from it.
Some people who have used Sam-e for depression claim that this substance lifted their mood in a matter of just two or three days. When a depressed person takes prescription antidepressants, it can take as long as six weeks to start getting an improvement in mood.
Although the supporters of Sam-e claim there are few significant side effects when taking this supplement, this is not entirely true. There are side effects of taking Sam-e that you should be aware of.
Some people experience gastrointestinal discomfort when they take Sam-e, including nausea, gassiness, and bloating. This discomfort can usually be prevented if you take enteric-coated pills, and swallow them with a meal.
Sam-e can be very stimulating to people who take it, to the point where some people become very agitated, anxious, and canât sleep. This side effect of Sam-e is cumulative and can increase the longer you take it, especially if your dose is too high.
For this reason itâs better to start with a very low dose of Sam-e until you know whether you experience any negative side effects.
Although some manufacturers of various brands of Sam-e say you should take 400 mg of Sam-e a day or more, if you want to relieve depression, this dose can trigger anxiety and insomnia in some people. In fact, people have reported experiencing agitation and an inability to sleep even at doses as low as 100 mg a day.
A starting dose of 50 mg a day may help avoid this potential side effect of agitation and insomnia.
If you have bipolar depression, you should not take Sam-e. In some cases, it can aggravate the manic stage of this type of depression.
Sam-e can also cause problems when taken with other types of antidepressants.
There is another potential problem you might encounter if you take Sam-e. Sam-e can increase the levels of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
If you add more Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid to your intake of Sam-e, you can help convert the homocysteine back into a harmless substance.
Sam-e is a very expensive supplement, so if you decide to take it, choose a reliable brand that actually contains the substance it claims to be.
If you decide to self medicate with Sam-e, you might end up causing a conflict with some other drug you are taking. Every case of depression is different.
Even though Sam-e appears to have good results in alleviating depression in some people, itâs very important to work with your doctor in finding the best treatment that works for you.
Royane Real
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/can-the-natural-supplement-same-cure-depression-115243.html