Arthritis

Tips On How To Relieve Your Arthritis Pain

If a person experiences muscle pain and it continues for more than two to three days, there is a strong chance that he or she is suffering from arthritis. This chronic disease is a very common disorder, one that affects lots of people all around the world. The major symptom of arthritis is pain in the bone joints, but some arthritis sufferers may also feel pain in certain organs in the body.

The term Arthritis is actually a Latin word that means inflammation of joints. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints due to damage to the cartilage. Patients suffering from arthritis could suffer from long-term joint damage, which could ultimately lead to disability from severe arthritis pain. Arthritic patients commonly feel pain in the early morning hours that slowly subsides as the day progresses.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Without a thorough examination the doctor will not be able to find which type of arthritis you are suffering from. Arthritis can stem from injuries and strains caused by sports, repetitive motion, overexertion etc. Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease that largely affects older people.

There are three stages of arthritis:

The first stage of arthritis is swelling. The second stage is rapid division and growth of the cells. In the third stage the cells release specific enzymes, which erode the bone, causing the joint to lose its shape. It is then the arthritis pain becomes unbearable. Since this is a systemic disease, it can migrate and affect other body organs. So it is better to detect arthritis at its early stage before it spreads to other parts of the body. Arthritis can be treated with proper therapy and medication.

Treatment: Arthritis treatment includes medicine, exercise, thermal modalities, joint protection and surgery.

Medicine: there are several effective arthritis medications available in the market for proper arthritis treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful in most cases. However you should consult a doctor before buying any medicine.

Exercise: this helps strengthen muscles and joints plus increases blood circulation in those areas. Yoga is very therapeutic in reducing arthritis pain.

Rest: rest provides good arthritis relief, as proper rest helps the body to conserve energy and allows the body to heal and reduce pain.

Thermal modalities: cold and heat compresses give short-term relief to stiffness and pain.

Joint protection: this allows the patient to move with minimal stress to the joints. Joint protections like knee supports, back belts are common arthritis relief products widely available on the market today.

For more on Arthritis visit best-arthritis-treatment.info. Susan’s other articles are at sports-and-recreation-hub.info.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 31, 2010 at 10:29 am

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Arthritis and Glucosamine: Arthritis Can Be Treated With Glucosamine

Arthritis is a Greek word which is used to describe certain conditions which affects the bone joints of the body. Arthritis disease is of many forms which may include psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis is generally caused due to the joint infection which is commonly known as osteoarthritis. Arthritis is generally caused due to certain strains, injuries, repetitive motions, too much of exertions etc. Arthritis is found to be very much common in the older generation of people. Arthritis is found to be very much sensitive to certain weather conditions.

Arthritis is necessary to be properly diagnosed. Proper diagnosis of Arthritis virtually depends upon the stage of development and also upon one’s gender that is whether one is a male or a female. Blood tests as well as x-rays are necessary for proper Arthritis diagnosis. After proper diagnosis has been done, treatment commemorates depending upon the condition of the patient. Treatments like surgery, joint stress reduction, physical therapy and certain medicated treatment are offered to the patients. Besides these, glucosamine is basically used for the purpose of treatment of osteoarthritis, a common form of Arthritis. Glucosamine is commonly used for rebuilding cartilage and thus treat arthritis.

Besides osteoarthritis, glucosamine is also used for the treatment of many other forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, juvenile arthritis, etc. However, it is necessary to estimate the side effects which are generally caused due to the intake of glucosamine. The most common side effect of glucosamine is intestinal gastric problems and also stool problem which get too softened due to undertaking of glucosamine. Thus before undertaking the arthritis supplements it is generally recommended to get the doctor’s advice. The blood pressure of the patients, whether the patient is a diabetic patient or whether he or she is undertaking certain drugs, antibiotics etc should all be known before prescribing for undertaking glucosamine to cure arthritis.

Herbal and ayurvedic treatment can also be used for overcoming arthritis. Glucosamine acts as an anti-inflammatory supplement which might sometimes lead to irritation in the stomach. However internet at present brings about various solutions to arthritis. Just by simply inserting the key word in the search section, one can get knowledge of the disease of arthritis and also the remedial measures and the medical treatments which can be sorted out to overcome arthritis. But it is the physician’s recommendation, consultation and treatment which count to be very much important in overcoming arthritis.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 29, 2010 at 10:24 am

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“What Causes Arthritis?” featuring Dr. Sculco (Dramatic Health)


“For the vast majority of people we don’t have a good explanation why it occurs.” Thomas P. Sculco, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, explains several common causes for arthritis, while noting that it’s still a relatively mysterious condition.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 27, 2010 at 10:24 am

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Ancient Alternatives: Herbal Remedies For Arthritis Pt 1


Master Herbalist, Victor Shim explains the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of treating Arthritis. If you have any health question for Victor please enter it in comments and he will answer it in a coming video. Or visit his blog at: ancientalternatives.blogspot.com Web Site: www.ancientalternatives.com

3 comments - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 25, 2010 at 10:27 am

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Arthritis Pain and Natural Cure

Ayurveda is used widely to treat Arthritis. According to the Ayurveda, arthritis is caused due to an excess of ama and lack of agni. The reason for this is nothing but poor digestion and a weakened colon. This results in the accumulation of undigested food and also building up of waste matter. Poor digestion in the system allows toxins to accumulate in the body. Along with this the problems with the colon let the toxins to reach the joints.

Therefore, the only way to treat arthritis is by stimulating the digestive fire which is the agni and to reduce the ama.

Ayurveda identifies and distinguishes three categories of arthritis. These categories are corresponding to vata, pitta, and kapha. For treating this condition properly, it is crucial to carefully diagnose which type of arthritis you have.

There are three types of Arthritis according to Ayurveda. These include:

- Vata

- Pitta

- Kapha

Vata

If arthritis is due to vata in your body, your joints will crack and pop. The joint then become dry. they are not swollen if excess vata is not the cause for arthritis.

Pitta

The arthritis which is caused due to Pitta is characterized by inflammation. The joint becomes swollen. The joint also becomes painful even without having any kind of movement. The knee looks red and feels hot to the touch.

Kapha

In kapha-type arthritis, the joint tends to become stiff and swollen. The joint also feels cold and clammy rather than being hot. A little movement in the joint tends to increase the pain than reducing it.

General Treatment of Arthritis

Depending on an individual’s lifestyle, his diet, and his emotional pattern, either vata, pitta, or kapha goes out of balance and this can lead to arthritis. After that, a particular dosha slows down agni which is the digestive fire. This results in the toxic, sticky by-product of insufficient digestion and this is known as ama.

Vata is the main active dosha. Vata brings the ama into the colon. After that, from there it travels through the system. Vata then gets in the bone tissue and in the joints. This gives rise to the stiffness and pain characteristic of arthritis.

Ayurveda tries to remove the ama from the joint. It also mainly attempts to bring it back to the colon and later eliminating it. For being able to do this, we need to keep the colon clean and the best way to determine the kind of arthritis. Once you determine that, you can start remedies which are recommended for the specific type of arthritis. If you do not know which kind of arthritis it is, whether vata, pitta, or kapha arthritis, you can safely take 1 teaspoon of triphala at night. You can take that along with 1/2 to 1 cup warm water.

If you kind of get to know which kind of arthritis it is, you can follow this. Along with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon with warm water, use the following for treatment:

Use Haritaki for vata-type arthritis Use Amalaki for pitta-type arthritis Use Bibbitaki for kapha-type arthritis

Ayurveda suggest general techniques to increase the intensity of the digestive fire which is agni. This is done to burn up the toxins which are posing threat to the body.

Natural Solution: Arthcare Oil – An Anti-inflammatory Herbal massage oil.

Arthcare is an anti-inflammatory herbal oil which not only gives a relief from joint pains but also strengthens the bone tissues, the skeletal and the neuromuscular systems, giving a comfortable movements of joints and muscles.

http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm

You can follow some diets, any of the below and start getting treated for arthritis

You can use selected foods and herbs

You can use detoxification diet

Normally, a three- to five-day detoxification diet is prescribed to people having this kind of problem. You can have plenty of vegetables, juices, spices and herbs. These are usually taken during the fast. This food habit lasts till the body shows signs that the digestive fire is really burning strong. Also importantly, these signs include a return of the appetite. These signs also create a feeling of lightness apart from creating a feeling of giving a clear coating to the tongue.

Use of Enemas/ Cleaning Colon

There are enemas and other means of cleaning the colon. These are used very often to help detoxification in the body.

Gemstone Therapy

Use of Ruby, garnet or other “hot” gems which are set in gold are also used for all three kinds of arthritis.

Also there is a use of herbal, medicinal or essential oils to treat arthritis.

Several oils could be applied to the skin. These oils help the body clear toxins. They also help you relieve pain and restore mobility in your legs.

There is an oil names Mahanarayan oil. This oil helps in improving flexibility, stiffness, and muscle fatigue. This oil also removes pain. The oil is mixed with sesame oil and applied to the places where there is pain. This oil also breaks up the blockages. After the oil application, you can take warm heat, yoga, and bath. You can also take a mild exercise as this can further improves this situation.

Narayan oil is another good oil if you have muscle and joint pain. This can also be used for lower body circulation apart from being used for reversing imbalances caused by aging.

Avipattikar churna is used to ingest for rheumatism.

Heat Therapy

In this kind of treatment, the patient will be asked to sit in a sauna. He may also be told to have steam applied directly to the affected areas.

Use of herbs, spices and bitters

There are various herbs, spices and bitters which are being used in Ayurveda. These herbs are often applied externally or they are ingested inside the body. These methods of treatment are believed to cleanse the body. They also do a great deal to relieve pain and stiffness. Some herbs which are used include Mint, ephedra, golden seal, gentian, nirgundi, eucalyptus leaves. Apart from that herbs like prasarini, quassia, coptis, scute, phellodendrom, aloe, guggul, du huo, ligusticum, Siberian ginseng, myrrh, and yucca are also used.

Using all the above methods of treatment, one can successfully treat arthritis. In most cases, the oil used tends to be every effective especially for people in the older age who will not be able to take specific kind of treatments like yoga or exercise to treat arthritis.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 23, 2010 at 10:29 am

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Reverse Rheumatoid Arthritis with Natural Medicine – Dr. Barker, ND


See www.thenaturalguide.com – Naturopathic Doctor Simon Barker – www.ParacelsusLA.com – explains how Naturopathic medicine, a subset of alternative medicine (or natural medicine), is able to reverse Rheumatoid Arthritis. Produced by Larry Cook. arthritis rheumatoid rheumatoid arthritis…

2 comments - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 21, 2010 at 10:24 am

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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Part 1


my dealings with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis part 1. here is video that explains RA very well: www.youtube.com general disease: en.wikipedia.org Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (it is now called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis apparently): en.wikipedia.org

25 comments - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 19, 2010 at 10:23 am

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Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55. Arthritis is a common condition that affects an estimated 8 million people in the UK. One type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is often related to aging or to an injury. Other types occur when your immune system, which normally protects your body from infection, attacks your body’s own tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of this kind of arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of the disease that happens in children. There are many forms of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system. Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and many have the potential to affect internal body areas. Women – 24.3 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Men – 17.1 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15. Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. 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. Rheumatoid arthritis is generally worse in the morning; in the early stages. 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. Nicotine from heavy cigarette smoking appears to slow joint destruction associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, and medications (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis. Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants like vitamin E. These are found in fruits and vegetables. Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your painful joints. Anti-biologics — these are the most recent breakthrough for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Such medications, including etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), are administered by injection and can dramatically improve your quality of life. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors -These drugs block an inflammation-promoting enzyme called COX-2. Corticosteroids (“steroids”) -these are medications that suppress the immune system and symptoms of inflammation.

Arthritis Pain Treatment Tips

1. Topical pain killers come as gels, creams, lotions or patches that are applied directly to the skin over your aching joints.

2. Topical prescription medications containing the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac are available in countries outside the United States.

3. Bromelain a proteclytic enzyme present in pineapples helps prevent inflammation.

4. Ginger is a fantastic herb. It has been used for the treatment of many aliments.

5. Cayenne Pepper or Red Pepper is another wonderful herb, with a wide range of medical properties to heal the body.

6. Ginkgo biloba have been shown to help with circulation and improve blood flow.

7. Boswellia has been used for thousands of years as a natural anti-inflammatory.

8. Gandhaprasarini inhibited the elevation of serum orosomucoid levels in rats, suggesting the possibility of the presence of disease-modifying antirheumatic activity.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 17, 2010 at 10:25 am

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Arthritis Management Through Diet

The term “arthritis” refers to the chronic inflammation of joints throughout the body. Arthritis is one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in North America. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is also known as wear and tear arthritis and degenerative joint disease. This form of arthritis classically affects the knee joint, the hips and other weight bearing joints. Other forms include rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis.

New treatments for arthritis are constantly researched. The most common arthritis medications are non-steroid or steroid anti-inflammatory drugs which, although effective, have serious side-effects. They can have unpleasant side effects: cause weight gain, acne, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, cataracts and infections. The side effects of steroids impact on almost every system of the body, and the more steroids you take, the more side effects you are likely to experience.

The newest findings link arthritis not only to poor diet and obesity, but also to the overall state of the immune system. Quite recently, researchers have found a protein in the immune system that malfunctioned in patients who have arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. Doctors believe they can block this protein to reduce the need for steroids.

As the general population ages, the number of people with arthritis is growing. Today arthritis medications are aimed at baby-boomers who have spent more years living with obesity than the previous generation. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have found that there are more cases of obesity-related arthritis among baby boomers compared to the previous generation.

What we eat often plays a large role in setting the stage for the start of arthritis. There are a few changes anyone can make to their diet to successfully offset arthritis even without using arthritis medications.

The typical North American diet contains an overwhelming amount of cooked, processed and other acid forming foods. A healthy diet should be 70% alkaline and 30% acidic. Unfortunately, the average North American diet has reversed this ratio.

Instead of eating cooked foods that are acid forming, a diet of mostly raw, fresh vegetables, fruits and reducing the consumption of meats are an excellent way to help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

To ease your arthritis symptoms without succumbing to arthritis medications, avoid foods that form acid in your body. These foods include bread, coffee, corn, honey, oatmeal, peanuts, rice, soy, pasta and wheat. When treating arthritis, stay away from saturated fats, such as butter, cream, and margarine.

Antioxidants in brightly colored fruits and vegetables offer substantial protection against arthritis. By eating more yellow and orange fruits and vegetables you will consume antioxidants called carotenoids, which can lower your chances of developing inflammatory arthritis. Some dietitians suggest that night-shade vegetables are unsuitable for arthritis patients, which means you should think twice about eating peppers, (red, green and yellow), potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.

Build your arthritis diet around such alkaline-forming products as most berries, bananas, dates, figs, prunes, raisins, almonds, asparagus, avocado, fresh beans, beets, carrots, grapes, plums, spinach, apricots, broccoli, all kind of cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, cherries, chestnuts, chicory, coconut milk, fresh sweet corn and cucumbers. Focusing on vegetables instead of proteins will ease many other symptoms and help you reduce weight too.

Proper hydration is a must. Drink half your weight in ounces – that would be 75 oz of water for a person weighing 150 pounds. If you must drink alcohol, coffee or soda, drink an extra 16 oz of water for every alcoholic drink and cup of coffee or soda you consume in addition to the water you would normally drink.

Arthritis is a condition that takes years to develop. In many cases, arthritis can be avoided or effectively managed through the use of alternative methods that include proper nutrition, hydration and specific nutritional supplements that can reduce the damage done to aging joints.

For more information on arthritis and gout please visit Cure Gout Now where you can sign up for a free newsletter.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 15, 2010 at 10:24 am

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Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis


Surgical treatment options for RA. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Daily Healthy Choices - July 13, 2010 at 10:24 am

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