Taming My Arthritis

Arthritis is disease related to pain in joints and joint inflammation. Common arthritis symptoms include slow, limited motion of joints and long term joint stiffness. Inflammation of joints from arthritis includes swelling, redness, joint stiffness and warmth. Due to inflammation fluid gather within a joint and generally it happens with patients suffering from haemophilia or who have undergone anticoagulant therapy. Some types of arthritis leave effects on the skin resulting in rash or ulcers. People can see nodules under skin in rheumatoid arthritis.

There are many ways to treat arthritis. Here are given some treatments which can be helpful in relief:-

Medications: - You can use some medicines which can relieve in arthritis. These medicines can reduce pain and inflammation for short term.

Massage: - Massage can be very helpful in arthritis relief. Stroking painful muscles slightly increases the flow of blood and brings warmth in the muscles.

Take care of diet: – A healthy and nutritional diet can significantly increase the ratio of arthritis relief. An ideal weight can lower down the chances of getting arthritis worse and even assist in treatments. Extra weight leads to increase in stress on weight-carrying joints such as knees. Include more quantity of healthy and nutritional food in your diet.

Regular exercise and yoga: – Regular exercise such as cycling, walking, swimming and low impact aerobic exercises can reduce joint pain. Some stretching exercise will assist you in keeping body joints such as knees flexible. Yoga is a great arthritis relief tool and you can obtain many benefits from it.

Heat and cold: - Using hot and cold application for arthritis relief depends upon the type of arthritis problem and also on the suggestion of doctor. However, you can get temporary arthritis relief from moist heat and dry heat on body joints. You can also use ice pack wrapped in cloth on the joints as it will reduce swelling of joints.

Herbs: -Using herbal remedies may prove very beneficial for arthritis relief. Few nutritional supplements such as glucosamine are very effective in arthritis. However, the arthritis relief which you can gain from herbs is dependent completely on the purity of herbs.

Arthritis impacts your day to day life and affects your quality of living. Treatment from arthritis is necessary and should be followed depending on the nature and stage of your arthritis. With the right arthritis treatment you can control this disease effectively.

Jim Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/arthritis-relief-for-effective-and-healthy-living-729126.html

I am a 57 yr old with a current Thyroid condition, I also take a HZT as a monitoring prevention for low to moderate Blood pressure, other maintenance meds I take is Simvastatin,Levothryoxin,Leflunomide along with Tramadol. I’m still acitively working a few more yrs., before my retirement, But I hurt mainly in the knees, and ankles. Can I take methcarbomal for the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

If the arthritis is mainly in your knees are you sure that it is arthritis? I know a gal with MS and she was told her problem was arthritis because she had so much trouble walking up stairs, bending her knees. Her dr.’s all had told her that was what it was. I asked her if I could try something on her and in less than five minutes she was walking without pain, she said I took her arthritis away. It wasn’t arthritis, it was the tendons for her kneecaps which had shortened up. When shortened up they pull the kneecaps up on the knees making it painful to move your knees. I only went that way because my understanding of arthritis was that it would start in the extremities not the middle of the body in a big joint like that. Here is what I did for her to get rid of her pain:
Kneecaps:
Do while sitting on a chair with no front cross braces.
While sitting have your leg resting in a stretched mode. Place both your thumbs, side by side, about 2 inches behind the kneecap and press down into your leg and then redirect the pressure a little towards the kneecap. After 30 seconds, slowly slide your foot back and under your chair as far as it will go, release the pressure but hold your foot there for another 30 seconds.
It is important to keep a good amount of pressure on during the whole time or this won’t work. If you do have trouble give it another try. One person wrote to say the third time was the charm for her.

Septic Arthritis (in other terms as Bacterial Arthritis or Infectious Arthritis) is an infection in the fluid and tissues of joint cavity most commonly caused by bacteria. It is considered a dangerous form of acute arthritis in dogs because just like other bacterial infections, the bacterial can get into dog’s bloodstream and carry an infecting organism into other parts of the body. Bacteria can cause infectious joint disease by tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and by fungal infection. On Septic Arthritis, the primary bacterial sources, based on clinical search and studies, were associated with abscesses, bite wounds, enteritis, dermatitis, cystitis and/or endometritis after birth.

Septic arthritis normally only affects a single joint and the condition results in swelling, fever, heat, and pain in the joint. With septic arthritis, the dog is likely to stop eating and become depressed. Risk factors for septic arthritis are joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis, high infection risk, and a weak immune system. Septic arthritis is commonly spread hematogenously with predisposing factors being intravenous drug usage, in-dwelling catheters present as well as underlying immuno-compromised states. Bacteria are carried by the bloodstream from an infectious focus or are introduced by a skin lesion that penetrates the joint. Septic Arthritis most commonly occurred after surgeries of the stifle joints of dogs. The joint cavity is usually a sterile space, with synovial fluid and cellular matter including a few white blood cells. Some diagnosis was based on clinical signs, joint fluid analysis, radiography, microbiology and/or response to treatment. Chronic lameness was the most common problem at presentation. Analysis of joint fluid invariably revealed large number of nucleated cells, which consisted primarily of neutrophils. Bacterial septic arthritis may often be mild and manifest as chronic lameness. Analysis of joint fluid will detect an inflammatory arthropathy but the presence of toxic neutrophils should not be relied on as an indicator of sepsis. Culture of infected joint fluid is likely to be successful if antimicrobials are not given prior to collection and if the sample is inoculated into enrichment broth. Treatment should involve antimicrobial drugs, open-joint lavage and removal of joint prostheses if the infection is associated with previous surgery.

Septic arthritis might be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and radiological findings in early stage of the disease. An early diagnosis is important for achieving favorable prognosis. Diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed by physical and orthopaedic examinations, evaluation of radiographs and synovial fluid analysis including leukocyte and neutrophil counts, cytological examination and bacterial culture. Bacteria is one of the most common causes of infective arthritis in dogs. However, bacterial arthritis in dogs can resemble many other arthropathies and attempts to achieve a definitive diagnosis by culture of the offending organism are not always successful.

The treatment of Septic Arthritis involves determining the type of microorganism involved and its antibiotic sensitivity. Antibiotics are usually administered for a minimum of a month and analgesics (pain relief medications) are necessary to combat pain and inflammation. Other major treatment involves antimicrobial drugs, while there many other cases the dog received antimicrobial drugs and with combination of surgical procedures such as joint lavage and sometimes removable of non-absorbent suture material, arthrodesis and amputation. The surgical treatment for septic arthritis (infectious arthritis) includes removal of joint fluid. To examine white blood cells and bacteria blood tests are performed.

Wishbone
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/septic-bacterial-arthritis-in-joints-of-dogs-752481.html

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of the body. Wherever bones meet there is a joint, such as at the shoulders, elbows, hip, knees, fingers, etc. When these joints are well-lubricated and healthy there is no arthritis pain.

A protective layer of cartilage covers the ends of the bones and provides a smooth, slick  surface that cushions and removes friction in  the joint where the bones rub together. A thin membrane called the synovium lines the joints and provides a fluid that lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bones in the joint.

Arthritis can occur when this synovium becomes damaged or inflamed. If this happens, the lubricating fluid may not be present in the joint, and cartilage damage can take place. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the joints deteriorates and erodes until its cushioning effects are nonexistent. Eventually the joint is just bone rubbing on bone, which becomes very painful and crippling. Osteoarthritis happens over time and is a gradual effect, which is why older people are more affected by it.

Another form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, can also be caused by damage to the synovium. The synovium again stops providing the lubricating fluid to the joint. This causes the joints to become swollen, stiff, and painful.

While the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not completely known, it is believed that the immune system of the body actually attacks certain tissues, with the sunovium being one of them. Scar tissue can form in the joints, and in extreme case, the bones can actually fuse together.

Women make up almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States. This disease can start affecting people as early as their teenage years.

Exercise helps to minimize arthritis.

An exercise program consisting of a weight-bearing low-impact routine can greatly help to ward off arthritis pain. Stretching is another excellent way to stay flexible and maintain good joint health. Strong muscles assist the joints and prevent some degree of wear and tear.

If you are over age 50, it is especially important to do some type of exercise to keep the joints flexible and prevent the onset of arthritis. Many older people may think it is too late to begin exercising, but the sooner you start the better. This age is when the effects of arthritis begin to be felt the most, so this is when people should really work to stay as healthy as possible.

Some other ways to prevent and minimize arthritis include:

1. Lose that extra weight. The more you weigh, the more strain you put on your joints, especially your hips and knees. The pressure from this extra weight will more quickly erode the cartilage in the joints and cause pain all that much quicker. Studies have shown that losing weight is a clear advantage to delaying and preventing arthritis. In one study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.

2. Stretch those muscles. Stretching warms up the muscles and helps prevent muscle strain and tears when exercising. Stretch and hold for 15 to 20 seconds, then rest a short while and repeat. Even when you are not exercising, it’s a good idea to stretch every day. This keeps the muscles loose and limber, and helps them to support the joints better.

3. Walking is one of the best exercises. If you are an older person, walking is a safe, healthy exercise that has great benefits for all systems of the body. Not only does it help keep the joints in shape, but it increases blood flow and energy levels.

So, to keep your joints free from the painful effects of arthritis as long as possible, follow the few tips just given. Lose the extra weight, stretch those muscles occasionally, and walk several times a week to keep those joints free from wear and tear. Exercising and taking care of your body now will prevent a bunch of pain later!

To learn more about the benefits of exercise to health and fitness, visit the Mental Well-Being.com exercise section at – http://www.mentalwell-being.com/exercise.html

Ernie Reynolds
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/how-to-beat-that-painful-arthritis-709801.html

I have rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes runs in my family. Is there a link between diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis? My RA breaks down the immune system.

Yes, There it is. If you suffer from Diabetes [Type 1 / Type 2 - IDDM / NIDDM]

It will effect from the Toe to Head and each and every part of the body.

Because, Insulin [Glucose] in the fuel for our body. If it is low… You will be tired and exhausted in no time. If the fuel [Glucose / Insulin] is more / high, then it will be choke…

Cure Rheumatoid Arthritis : http://www.Cure-Rheumatoid-Arthritis.com/

IDDM – Insulin Dependable Diabetes Mellitus
NIDDM – Non Insulin Dependable Diabetes Mellitus

I have this girl who i love and she loves me,but she has Rheumatoid arthritis.I don’t know what i should do.

If you truly love her, then you have to love all of her. Even the "broken" parts. She’s going to need a man who can understand that she’s going to have bad days. Some days she’s going to need extra help with the littlest things. Perhaps she only have a few bad hours here and there, or perhaps she’ll have bad weeks. Depending on the severity of her RA she may be limited in physical activities, so if you’re looking for someone to base-jump around the world with, she may not be up to that. Otherwise she’s just a beautiful woman who got a crappy roll of the dice.

It is quite possible to have a happy and lengthy marriage when one person has RA. Every marriage has struggles to deal with, you get to know one in advance.

And talk to her. Maybe she has just as many concerns about marrying someone who doesn’t have RA. Marriage is through sickness and health, if you truly love each other you will be just fine.

Peace to you

I would like to know if a woman is pregnant and she has rheumatoid arthritis would the pain kill her while giving birth or after.How long a person with that illness can live?

Yes a pregnant woman with RA can safely deliver a baby. I myself did it twice. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis can live just as long as "normal" healthy people just perhaps not as comfortably.

Take care and peace to you!

Prior to the development of newer biologic medications, rheumatologists were relegated to using disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

These DMARDS (drugs such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine [Plaquenil], sulfasalazine [Azulfidine]), were and continue to be helpful in reducing signs and symptoms of disease but do not have the ability to place the disease into remission.

Approximately 15 years ago, though, the landscape shifted with the advent of biologic therapy, targeted therapies that act on specific targets in the immune cascade.

The measurement of disease activity as well as treatment effectiveness has shifted from purely measuring inflammation to also using devices such as health related quality of life questionnaires.

The use of these questionnaires provides a glimpse into a patient’s physical function, subjective sensation of pain, emotional health, social function, and fatigue.

While these questionnaires are subjective, objective measures of disease are also being tallied. In addition to blood markers such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which have been old-time stand-bys, clinical measurements such as disease activity score (DAS) which incorporate a combination of objective joint measures of inflammation plus blood markers, have allowed more precise evaluations of a patient’s status.

Also, the use of diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging has allowed rheumatologists to make treatment decisions that are based on objective data rather than “gestalt.”

Analysis of epidemiologic information in the past has demonstrated that RA increases the likelihood of a patient having a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

It appears from recent preliminary data that the use of biologic drugs in combination with methotrexate has reduced the chance of this occurrence much more so than the use of conventional DMARD treatment by itself.

In addition, there have been significant reductions in the rate of hospitalization for pneumonia, and reduction in the incidence of flares of inflammatory eye disease due to RA.

Current biologic therapies are highly effective in treating RA, but alternatives are still needed for patients who have either primary non-response (not responding to the drug right out of the chute) or secondary non-response (losing effectiveness over time).

In addition to the first wave of biologic therapies which consist of drugs that block tumor necrosis factor (TNF), more recent biologic therapies such as rituximab (Rituxan) and abatacept (Orencia) may provide further benefits due to differences in mechanism of action.

These drugs are generally reserved for patients who have failed anti-TNF therapy.

A major hurdle that biologic drugs in general need to circumvent is the increased propensity towards infection, particularly tuberculosis with the anti-TNF drugs. In addition, an increased incidence of other fungal infections such as histoplasmosis and coccidiodomycosis has also been noted.

In addition, newer drugs in the anti-TNF class such as certoluzimab (Cimzia) and golimumab may also be welcome additions to the rheumatologists arsenal of weapons.

Cimzia appears to have a couple of attractive properties since it seems to have a rapid onset of action and also cause less pain at the site of injection.

Another biologic, tociluzumab- a humanized antibody- that blocks interlekin-6, also has demonstrated effectiveness in patients who have failed to respond to anti-TNF therapy.

Denosumab, which is a drug that blocks a substance called RANK ligand inhibits bone destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may also be effective for treating osteoporosis.

Finally, a class of drugs, called “small molecules”- oral agents that block protein kinases, have far-reaching effects on the immune system and have shown impressive effects in rheumatoid arthritis. They have the added advantage of being oral. Unfortunately, they may, because of their mode of action, also have undesirable side effects… so further investigation is ongoing.

Nathan Wei
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/biologic-bullets-the-new-model-for-treating-rheumatoid-arthritis-673563.html

The question I would like to bring to your attention today is can vitamins help to fight Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). I decided to do some studying on the subject and what I found was some interesting facts that helped me support this idea. Let me start out by telling you a little more about RA. More than a million people in the United States have RA. RA typically develops between the ages of 25 and 50. RA is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints that affects an estimated 1.3 million Americans.

The disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thin membrane that lines the joints. The results can be joint damage, ongoing pain, inflammation, loss function and disability. The joints most commonly affected by RA are those of the hands, feet, wrists, knees, elbows, and ankles. In RA, the primary site of the attack is in the thin layer of tissue that is around the joints.

Studies have shown that those Americans with RA have vitamins deficiencies. The most common vitamin deficiencies in RA is folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Selenium. Food of course is the preferred source for getting the vitamins and minerals. Vitamin Supplements will work in getting the vitamins and minerals that you don’t receive from food. I would like to discuss with you two particular vitamins that studies have shown to help fight RA.

Research has made a case that Vitamin D helps protect older women against RA. Recent Studies has also linked deficiencies of Vitamin D to other disorders such as certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. General population studies indicate that about one in three people are Vitamin D deficient especially during the winter months. The easiest way to make sure you are getting the proper amount of Vitamin D is through Vitamin Supplements.

Another Study used data from the Iowa’s Women Health Study, which followed almost 30,000 women, aged 55 to 69, for 11 years. Over the course of those 11 years, the women involved were questioned about their eating habits, their use of nutritional supplements and other health related issues.

During the test, 152 of the women developed RA. The investigators found that women whose diets were highest in Vitamin D had the lowest incidence of RA. Women who got less than 200 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D in their diets each day were 33% more likely to develop RA than women who got more. So how much is enough Vitamin D. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine says that older women should consume 400 to 600 IU per day in order to have an adequate Vitamin D intake.

Vitamin C can also be linked to lowering RA risks. In another study, researchers looked at the link between fruit and vegetable and dietary antioxidant intake and the development of inflammatory arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in a group of 23,000 men and women who entered a large cancer study in the U.K. between 1993 and 1997. As a part of that study, the participants kept track of what they ate in a weekly food diary.

Between 1993 and 2001, 73 people developed inflammatory arthritis affecting two or more painfully swollen joints for at least a month, and 40% of them met the criteria for having RA. Compared with those who did not develop the disease, researchers found that those with arthritis ate fewer fruits and vegetables. Specifically, people who ate the least amount of fruits and vegetables had double the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.

The study also showed that people who got less than 40 mg of Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables had four times the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis. In the United States, the recommended dietary allowance for men is 90mg of Vitamin C a day and for women is 75mg. Now by taking a look at just those two certain vitamins, I find that vitamins do have added benefits in fighting RA. The vitamins do this by fighting the free radicals (unstable molecules that cause damage to cells) associated with the development of the disease.

Now to get the benefits of all vitamins, it would your best option to take a multi-vitamin. I would also like to say that the best multi-vitamin is a liquid vitamin instead of the standard capsule/pill. Not only will you get the full benefits of the vitamins but the liquid vitamin will work faster because it will absorb into your body quicker.
I know a 74 yr old lady that has been taking a liquid vitamin for the past 6 months and says that it has definitely helped to fight her RA. She takes 2 oz of this vitamin a day. This liquid vitamin has 410mg of Vitamin C per ounce, 1107 IU of Vitamin D3 per ounce and many more essential vitamins and minerals.

If you would like more information (testimonies/articles) then visit me at www.healthnutty.com. You can also contact me at www.john@nitemarketing.com

John McNett
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/can-vitamin-supplements-help-fight-rheumatoid-arthritis-700828.html