Arthritis Remedies
The Arthritis Relief Report
INTRODUCTION TO ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a big issue. Look at some introductory
facts.
Referred to as the nation's number one crippling disease
and the most common chronic disease in people over 40, arthritis affects
more than 40 million Americans. And this figure is expected to rise
to 60 million by 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Arthritis generally afflicts people between the ages
of 20 and 50, but can affect all ages, even infants. The average age
of onset is 47 and about three out of every five people with arthritis
are under 65 years of age.
Doctors believe there are over 100 different forms
of arthritis, all sharing one main characteristic: all forms cause
joint inflammation.
What can be done for arthritis relief? A lot!
For example, weight and nutrition are only a couple
of factors that play a role in arthritic pain. And yet shedding even
10 pounds to relieve weight from knees and finding the right nutritional
strategy can help relieve pain a lot.
This report covers the most recent research and findings
available so that you can learn more about arthritis relief, covering
as many bases as possible from A to Z.
Note that the contents here are not presented from
a medical practitioner, and that any and all health care planning
should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners.
The content within only presents an overview of arthritis relief research
for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice from
a professional physician.
ARTHRITIS BASICS
Arthritis actually means "joint inflammation"
and has over 100 related conditions or type / forms of disease. Left
untreated, it can advance, resulting in joint damage that cannot be
undone or reversed. So early detection and treatment are important.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis
(OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although
both have similar symptoms, both happen for different reasons. When
joints are overused and misused, the results can be OA.
What happens is that the cushioning cartilage that
protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the bones rubbing together.
This generally happens in the knees, but can be found in the hips,
spine and hands often, too. And only in later stages will a person
most often feel pain, after quite a bit of cartilage is lost.
The second type, RA, refers to the body's immune system
attacking joint tissue. Still not fully understood in the medical
community, this condition most often starts in a person's hands, wrists
and feet. Then it advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Similar symptoms include pain, stiffness, fatigue,
weakness, slight fever and inflamed tissue lumps under the skin. And
both OA and RA generally develop symmetrically, i.e. affecting the
same joints on both the left and right sides of the body.
OTHER MAIN TYPES OF ARTHRITIS
After osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), three other major types of arthritis are systemic lupus erythematosis,
ankylosing spondylitis and gout. Let's take a look at each.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE)
- This form of arthritis mainly affects women. It develops in the
skin, internal organs and joints.
Ankylosing Spondylitis - This form
or arthritis affects the spine and can also affect the ankles, knees,
lungs, heart, shoulders and eyes.
Gout - This is a painful affliction
mainly for men, about one million of them in the United States alone.
Uric acid build up, due to an internal chemical malfunction, forms
crystals that get stuck in a joint, generally the big toe, and become
inflamed.
ARTHRITIS RELIEF AND YOUR DIET
There is a great deal of debate in the medical world
about the effects of overall diet on arthritis and using diet toward
alleviating the condition.
Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects
gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained
out for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid
and osteoarthritis.
What is known however, is that overall dietary health
is important and does come into play. Weight and nutrition are two
factors that play a role in arthritic pain.
Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions,
forcing some joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses
the joints, causing overuse or more wear to components, and pain,
especially in the knees.
If you suffer from arthritis make sure you eat good
foods and get help from healthcare providers to create and follow
a well-balanced dietary plan.
To begin with, here are some vitamins, minerals, foods, supplements
and herbal applications to consider.
Vitamins that have shown to reduce tissue swelling
or provide relief include Vitamins B5, B6, B12, the antioxidant vitamins
C and E, and vitamin K, which improves bone health.
Several independent studies have found that rheumatoid
arthritis patients given increased doses of zinc showed marginal improvement.
Other minerals to consider include Boron, Calcium,
Magnesium, Manganese (not to be taken with calcium), Copper, Germanium
and Sulfur.
The National Institutes of Health is studying the
food supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, for use in relieving
symptoms of pain and stiffness for some persons with osteoarthritis.
Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners
should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning
and cause excessive bleeding.
Fish
oil supplements have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Increasing dietary fish intake or fish oil capsules (omega
3 capsules) can relieve inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
Glutathione
is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and can be safely
boosted by consuming its precursors available in the supplements,
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) or undenatured
whey protein.
For more information, read Food
Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally
Quercetin is also known to help reduce inflammation,
while Type II Collagen plays a role in growth and repair of joints,
articular cartilage and connective tissue.
Because of the risk in overdosing, one should be discouraged
from taking doses of vitamins that are higher than recommended without
a physician's direction.
Some vitamins and minerals can actually worsen
certain conditions, and the concentration that can be attained through
vitamins can be dangerous. It is always better to increase in vitamin
or mineral intake through your normal diet.
Foods To Avoid
There are many factors to consider with regards to
arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and each factor may not apply
to each individual.
For example, certain people are allergic to specific
foods, and these allergies can indeed worsen arthritic conditions.
The best way to approach the situation is to examine each arthritic
condition and tailor one's approach based upon the specifics.
Ingesting foods that contain sodium nitrate or tartrazine
can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods containing
a substance called hydrazine can contribute to an arthritic condition
connected to lupus.
Black walnuts can cause flare-ups in people a rare
type of arthritis called Behcet's Disease.
With osteoarthritis, deterioration of cartilage is
a concern. Since there is some evidence that Vitamin A, contributes
to cartilage deterioration, those with osteoarthritis should avoid
large doses of it.
Although clinical proof is not available, anecdotal
evidence suggests that in the case of fibromyalgia, eliminating wheat,
dairy, citrus, sugar, aspartame (Nutrasweet), alcohol, caffeine, and
tobacco can provide relief.
Many nutritionists and naturopaths suggest that those
suffering with rheumatoid arthritis avoid dairy products all together,
as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups.
The report "I
Cured My Arthritis You Can Too" suggests that white flour
aggravates arthritis symptoms.
HERBAL REMEDIES AND SUPPLEMENTS FOR ARTHRITIS
Many natural remedies and supplements have been found
to actually reduce cartilage deterioration and even rebuild a patient's
lost cartilage. However, before adding any to your daily routine,
check with your healthcare advisor, as supplements can cause adverse
reactions and may not be right for your situation. So use caution.
The most popular dietary supplements for arthritis
sufferers are chondroitin, fish oil and glucosamine.
Chondroitin
can draw fluid into the cartilage, improving shock-absorbing ability
and weight control, as more weight equals more joint pressure.
Fish oils are rich in omega-3
fatty acids that play a role in controlling inflammation
in the body.
Recent studies have shown that the cartilage-building
substance called glucosamine
is effective for the long-term relief of osteoarthritis pain. In some
people, glucosamine appears to even slow the deterioration of joints
over time and reinforce joint cartilage. Whether or not it can actually
reverse the disease is still unclear.
In some instances, glucosamine can be used in conjunction
with MSM
(Methylsulfonylmethane) 
,
a substance that appears to slow down the degeneration but is not
yet proven and approved.
Read also: Discovering
MSM
In a nutshell:
- Chondroitin
- Helps draw fluid into cartilage, improving shock-absorbing ability.
- Ginger - Antioxidant that acts as an inflammatory.
- Glucosamine sulfate
- Builds cartilage with very few side effects.
- Magnets - Reported by some to be effective pain relievers
- MSM
- Organic sulfur used in reducing inflammation.
- Nettle leaf - Can reduce a patient's need for NSAIDS by up to
70 percent.
- Vitamin E - Antioxidant is used primarily for osteoarthritis.
- Vitamin B - Effective pain reliever. Works best on the knee.
Nothing can cure osteoarthritis, but nutritional supplements,
the application of heat or cold to affected joints, exercise, and
weight loss can improve the function and flexibility of your joints,
and perhaps even slow the progress of the disease.
EXERCISES FOR ARTHRITIS PATIENTS
Exercise can be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers.
Exercise relieves stiffness in joints, strengthens muscles, reduced
stress on joints, keeps bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy,
and increases flexibility.
Most doctors recommend exercise for arthritis patients.
A recommended 30-minute minimum of daily activity is the norm. Speak
to your physician to rule out unseen risks before starting any exercise
program.
Yoga
is also recommended for arthritis patients as it is helps to achieve
flexibility and reduce mental and physical stress. Yoga has helped
arthritic patients with improving confidence, mood, self-awareness,
range of motion, relaxation, blood circulation, concentration, stress
and pain reduction, health of bones, tendons, muscles and joint ligaments.
Whatever exercise program you choose, be sure to breathe
properly when exercising. Oxygenation is important to any exercise
regimen as it promotes a healthy heart rate, reduces fatigue and promotes
circulation.
Listen to your body and look for signs of increased
swelling of joints or any persistent increase of weakness; these are
signs of activities that are too strenuous and a reduction in activity
will be necessary.
There are three main types of exercises to include
in a basic exercise program:
- Range-of-motion exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Endurance exercises
RELAXATION & COPING STRATEGIES TO MANAGE ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS
Relaxation
techniques have a definite place in the healing process
of the body, especially with chronic diseases like arthritis. With
types of arthritis related to stress and emotional disposition, the
importance of relaxation increases.
Prayer is a form of relaxation and
meditation if you are spiritually or religiously inclined that also
works wonders. Hypnosis is simply a guided meditation
that allows you to access the power of your subconscious mind through
a guide called a hypnotist, who is either a trained psychologist,
psychiatrist, counselor, or social worker.
Yoga
is very beneficial both for flexibility as well as relaxation. It
can provide a great deal of healing toward all types of arthritis,
but specifically fibromyalgia because of the emotional causes.
See also:
Natural
Remedies to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Induce Relaxation
THE DANGERS OF ARTHRITIS MEDICATIONS & OTCs (OVER-THE-COUNTER
MEDS)
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications
for arthritis pain sufferers that can be purchased without physicians'
prescriptions. Some are nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - some are OTCs / some require
a prescription, acetaminophen and various topical medications, covered
in the very next section.
The most common OTC NSAIDs are ibuprofen, naproxen
and aspirin. Misuse can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding, and liver
and kidney trouble. (The same drug abuse issues can result from prescription
NSAIDs, too).
Additional reading: NSAID's
- The Jaw-Dropping Truth
Topical Painkillers
If your arthritis pain is mild and only affects on
or two joints, you may find that a topical
pain reliever or topical analgesic can be useful. Topical painkillers
are available as creams, salves or gels.
SURGERY FOR ARTHRITIS
If medications fail to solve the problem, many doctors
will suggest surgery. Some benefits of going the surgery route can
include the stabilization, improved alignment or replacement of a
joint so that you can have greater mobility, flexibility, overall
use and range-of-motion.
Surgery may also be able to provide some level of
pain relief where other treatment options might have failed. Possible
risks associated with surgery include like blood clots.
Common types of surgery used in the treatment of arthritis
follow:
- Arthrodesis
- Arthroplasty
- Arthroscopy
- Osteotomy
- Synovectomy
Joint Replacement Surgery (Hip)
Joint replacement is the most common option
in orthopedic (bone) surgery for people with arthritis. Joint replacement
is the process of removing one's entire joint as well as any damaged
tissue and replacing it with a metal prosthesis. This prosthesis provides
the patient with much need relief from pain. Hip replacement surgery
consists of removing the entire hip joint and replacing it with artificial
components.
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