Arthritis: An Overview

Feb 24
Arthritis
Steven Godlewski asked:

Over 100 known forms of arthritis are making millions of people suffer today. The most weakening of all forms is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms are joints that ache, throb, and eventually become deformed. Those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often find it hard to do everyday tasks, like taking a walk, or opening a car or jar. Some with rheumatoid arthritis have joints that are so deformed they are unable to even do the simplest job. No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis, but many believe it is the body’s immune system attacking the lining of your joints. This lining called the synovium.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms are more common in women than in men and will usually strike an adult between the ages of 20 to 50. That is the general criteria for rheumatoid arthritis symptom sufferers, but people over 50 and children can also be affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms usually develop in several joints at the same time. The first parts of your body that show signs of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are usually your wrists, shoulders, hands, and feet. As the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms gradually get worse, it will attack the elbows, hips, neck, and jaw as well. It normally affects both sides at the same time.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may appear as small lumps under skin where there are pressure points near your elbows, hands, feet, and Achilles tendons. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can develop in other areas of your body, but that’s where they start. At some point, you may experience rheumatoid nodules on the back of your scalp, around your knees, and even in your lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can develop your salivary glands, linings of your lungs and heart, and sometimes the tear duct glands. These lumps are usually not painful. They can be the size of a pea or the size of a walnut.

Here are some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Some of those Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are:

Aching and stiffness of joints and muscles, especially after a time of rest. Pain and swelling in the joints, especially the smaller ones like in the hand. Loss of motion in the joints. Low-grade fever. Strength is lost in the muscles attached to the affected joints. Chronic fatigue when there is a flare-up of the disease. Deformity of joints. A general sense of just not feeling well. Unable to pinpoint exactly why they feel bad.

Any or all of these rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may come and go, but largely depend on what type of activity you are taking part in.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms do not go away, but it does come in “episodes.” A person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may go into remission for a period, and then have another flare up of pain, swelling, weakness, and difficulty sleeping. You may experience a flare up, and then have several weeks or months of remission before it attacks again. There isn’t any reason why a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can’t be productive and useful lives while working around the attacks of your rheumatoid arthritis.

Some researchers theorize that rheumatoid arthritis could be the result of an infection or inflammation. When your body experiences an infection or inflammation, it sends white blood cells through the bloodstream and attacks the lining of the joints. Their usual job is to attack bacteria and viruses in the body instead it attacks the lining of the joints.

Other risk factors can increase your chances of having rheumatoid arthritis. Risk is increased as you age. The good news is if you are over the age of 80, the risk decreases.

You also have a higher risk of having rheumatoid arthritis if you are a woman, and if you have been exposed to a virus or bacteria. Although the disease is not inherited, there is evidence that specific genes you inherit could make you more prone to this arthritis.

Last, smoking cigarettes over a many years can also increase your chances of rheumatoid arthritis.

There isn’t a cure for rheumatoid arthritis yet. Scientists and researchers are still searching for the cause when that is found hopefully a cure would follow.

With the proper treatment, change in lifestyles, and a plan to prevent joints from deforming, a person experiencing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may still be able to live a productive and long life. Deformity or swelling may limit your flexibility, but even in the most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, you will probably still keep flexibility in most of your joints.

Feb 23
Arthritis
Joe Barton asked:

The soothing words of ‘arthritis pain relief’ bring you back to years ago when you didn’t have to worry about the pain, the stiffness, the misery associated with the disease. But now you are willing to try anything for curing the arthritis symptoms. But before you can cure it, you should know something about arthritis.

1. It is extremely important to know the cause before you know the cure.

2. Preventing arthritis is how you cure arthritis.

I understand the temptation with simply popping the pills that make the pain go away for hours. It’s easy and works like a Band-Aid to hide the problem. But during those few hours of comfort, you can actually be doing more physical harm to the arthritic joints. And that is why millions of people are curing arthritis symptoms with a natural treatment.

Two decades ago, it was believed that arthritis was just a symptom of old age. There was nothing you could do about it but deal with the pain. However, this all began to change after researchers discovered how indigenous tribes’ members in undeveloped countries lived to upwards of 100 years of age with no arthritis symptoms documented. What was even more astonishing was how these people would live, hunt, gather, plant, harvest and work right up till their dying day. How could this ever be?

Could a natural and healthy lifestyle be the cause of an arthritis free life? And could arthritis pain relief be as simple as altering your diet?

The Cause of Arthritis?

There are hundreds of different forms of arthritis but most often the cause of arthritis can be blamed on a person’s lifestyle health. Typically, arthritis is caused by the following: poor diet; unbalanced diet; inactive lifestyle; stress; inefficient vitamins; improper breathing; and lack of sleep. And if these are the causes of arthritis; then the cure for arthritis would be the opposite. Let me explain!

Arthritis Natural Treatment

Fact! A thirty year old landfill was recently uncovered and its contents were (to say the least) disturbing. In this landfill much of the garbage was decomposed but one thing of many that was NOT decomposed was a 30 year old hotdog. Scientists say that food preservatives kept the hotdog from spoiling. Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Preservatives are everywhere in our diets. Chances are, if you are reading this article via the internet, you have consumed numerous preservatives and additives already today. Because if you live in a developed country, your FDA has approved over a thousand additives and preservatives over the past few decades.

But what does this have to do with arthritis? Well consider how many tribesmen have never consumed one additive or preservative their entire life; and also have never suffered the slightest pain of arthritis.

Research has concluded that our diet is closely linked to arthritis pain relief. Here are 10 tips to begin your natural treatment today!

Arthritis Pain Relief Tips

1. Cans! Typically anything in a can is loaded with preservatives and additives. Including your average soft drink.

2. Caffeine! Drink less coffee and more herbal teas.

3. Enriched! Anything with the words ‘enriched’ is not a good choice for arthritis.

4. Sugar! Most arthritic symptoms are associated with high amounts of sugar.

5. Stay away from dairy products. If you go with dairy products; go organic. The hormones that have changed the dairy industry have also contributed to the arthritis cases.

6. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables! These water-soluble fiber foods are great for arthritis sufferers.

7. Protein! Eat protein from any lean meat, eggs, beans, grains and nuts.

8. Water! Drink 8-10 glasses of water each and every day! This is extremely important for curing arthritis.

9. Fresh! Stay away from fast foods and processed foods that contain numerous preservatives and additives.

10. Spoil in Weeks! The best foods are always fresh and raw. Eat foods that will spoil after a couple of weeks.

Is There More?

What supplements will save me from pain? What vitamins does my body lack? What breathing exercises (you can do at work) will blast oxygen to my joints. Why does your body need a toxin flush? What foods should you eat and NOT eat? What herbs have helped millions of sufferers? And what can we learn from a deer about arthritis and rebuilding joint cartilage?

If you are serious about a natural arthritis cure, that will save you from the medication and the surgery, please check out our Arthritis Natural Treatment Report that gives a step-by-step remedy that lasts a few weeks and is guaranteed to show results. You can start your treatment today by visiting our safe and secure website.

Feb 16
Arthritis
Scott Goodman asked:

Because arthritis has become a very “popular” disease today, people are finding ways to totally eliminate the problem. But is there really a cure for any of the arthritis diseases? Is there an arthritis medication which can take away the causative problem of your disease? Well, the answer is no.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment comes in many ways. Aside from the medications and the surgeries for arthritis, there are several other therapies which help a lot in the cure of arthritis. To name a few are: hydrotherapy, massage therapy, paraffin dip, and a number of exercises. With the use of these treatments, a patient will be relieved not only of the pain but the inflammation of the joints as well. If these are done continuously, the ill person will be able to go back to his normal way of living again.

Arthritis treatment can be given to alleviate the patient’s condition and to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible. But to eliminate the root of the problem is quite impossible; since we all know that arthritis is a genetic problem, nothing can “erase” it as it runs in your system already. The list given below will explain how each form of treatment can provide for a temporary relief from arthritis.

Arthritis Cure through Medications

Arthritis cure through medications is impossible. However, they help tremendously in putting your disease on a resting stage. The medications can control several symptoms of your disease such as the inflammation, pain, and stiffness of the joints; but it can never take them away.

Once in a while, your symptoms will attack; but if you regularly comply with the treatment regimen given to you, the chances of disease occurrence would be unlikely. This is why doctors stress the importance of religiously conforming with your arthritis drugs; for without them, it will be impossible to relieve you of the symptoms your are experiencing.

Arthritis Cure through Surgery

The best arthritis cure that is considered today would be surgery. Because an operation fixes your bones, joints and ligaments, it can very well remove your arthritis problems. However, this form of arthritis cure does not mean that you are totally safe from another disease attack.

Although most of your symptoms may have been removed by the surgery already, your genetic problem is still at large. Since genes are the cause of your problem, it cannot be taken cared of by surgery. Like the medications, surgery will give you a temporary arthritis cure. Through time, the disease will emerge again and will attack your system the second time around.

Arthritis Cure through Other Therapies

Another considered treatment would be the variety of therapies available. Like the two treatments mentioned above, the other therapies for the disease can not be considered as an arthritis cure. Therapies like natural remedies, paraffin wax treatments, exercise and diet can only alleviate a part of your arthritis symptoms; but they cannot fully eradicate the origins of your disease.

It is a good thing that several forms for temporary arthritis cure are being generated in our world today. This alone is a big help to those who are experiencing the pains of arthritis. What people need to do is to be thankful for the variety of treatments available. Gratitude to these innovations can be shown through compliance with whatever treatment the doctors give you. After all, it is you who will enjoy all the benefits you can get from an arthritis treatment.

Feb 11
Arthritis
Alexis-Blaise Kenne asked:

I would like to start with a quote from Dr Robert Bingham, a specialist in the treatment of arthritis. He said: “ No person who is in good nutritional health develops rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis ”

What is Arthritis? Arthritis is (from Greek Arthro = joint + itis= inflammation) a group of diseases where there is a damage caused to the joints of the body.

There are many form of arthritis : Rheumatoid arthritis , psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, Gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis(the most common form of arthritis).

Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases (the body attacking itself)

Septic arthritis is caused by joints infections.

Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints that results in subsequent inflammation.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can occur after a trauma to the joints or simply aging .

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 65. By the age of 60 nine in every ten people have it . For most of them arthritis means living with pain and stiffness. However, Arthritis is not an inevitable consequence of aging and can be prevented , provided the underlying causes are eliminated. In the search of causes and solutions many things have been considered including diet, exercise, posture, climate, hormones, infections, genetics ,old age, stress..

The likely factors that lead to the development of Arthritis are:

-Poor lubrication of the joints. In between joints is a substance called synovial fluid. Appropriate nutrition is needed to make sure that the synovial fluid stays fluid and able to lubricate.

- Hormonal imbalance .Hormones control the calcium balance in the body. If the calcium balance is not right, the bones and joints can become porous and subject to wear and tear.

-Allergies and sensitivities. Most of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have food and chemical allergies or sensitivities that make their symtoms flare up.

- Free radicals . If the immune system is not working properly, as in rheumatoid arthritis, it will produce too many free radicals, which can damage tissue around the joint. In this case a good intake of antioxidant is very valuable.

-Infections. Any infection ,be it viral or bacterial, weaken the immune system which control inflammation.

Bone strain and deformities. Any damage or strain, so often caused by bad posture, increases the risk of developing arthritis .

- State of mind. Research at the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation and at the University of Southern California Medical School has shown a link between arthritis and emotional stress.

- Poor diet . Most people with Arthritis have a history of very poor diet, which pave the way to many of the factors stated above.

Diet advice: avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates, stimulants, fat ,too much protein . Drink plenty of water and herb teas. Make sure you have all the vital vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, antioxidants nutrients.

Alexis Kenne

Feb 11
Arthritis
Keith Tennent asked:

Treating Arthritis and Related Conditions

According to medical records, the first ever case of arthritis was recorded during 4500 BC. Arthritis can be defined as the condition wherein the joints of the human body get damaged, which is often related to the natural aging process.

The word “Arthritis” is believed to have been derived from the Greek language. Arthritis literally means joint inflammation: “Arth” refers to the joints and “itis” refers to inflammation. Arthritis is not a single disease.

There are several different types of Arthritis, each of which has a specific cause. Of these Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis are considered to be autoimmune diseases wherein the human body is self attacked. Joint contamination leads to Septic Arthritis while Gouty Arthritis is often caused due to accretion of crystals of uric acid within the joints, followed by inflammation. Osteoarthritis is believed to be the most common type of Arthritis which is generally caused following injury of the joints due to some infection or the natural aging process.

In terms of seriousness and physical effect, the medical sciences have identified Arthritis as a disease which is second only to heart disease and associated diseases. Self-diagnosis of Arthritis is often problematic, owing to the fact that there are over a hundred different types of Arthritis. This disorder can also be found in juveniles under the age of 15 years.

Whilst Arthritis mainly affects the joints, in some cases it has also been found to affect certain other body parts. These affected body parts develop often intense pain and inflammation and will often leave the suffer incapacitated. It has been observed that women are more prone to Arthritis than men.

One of the causes of Arthritis is insufficient lubrication of the joints which in turn may lead to heightened levels of stress on the body part. The initial symptoms of arthritis include severe pain and stiffness around the joint which happens gradually within a period of time. Arthritis symptoms could easily be avoided or prevented through various physical exercises or activities. Obesity is supposed to be one of the major causes of the Arthritis complaints due to intensive stress generated on the limbs and joints. Heavier body weights damage muscles and joints more over a period of time than lighter body parts. Arthritis is usually more painful during winter or damp weather conditions. Hence during these periods, the affected body parts should be covered with some woolen cloth or kept warm - this would reduce the discomfort significantly.

In some cases of Arthritis the patients may become completely physically disabled and be forced to remain bed-ridden for an extended period of time., though thankfully these cases are much less frequent than other effects of Arthritis

There are several remedial medications approved by the FDA for various Arthritis disorders which do help relieving the problem to varying degrees of success. It is essential that you consult a physician for proper diagnosis of the precise type of Arthritis before undertaking any treatment plan. Such treatment will often involve some physical and occupational therapy, with arthroplasty being offered as the preferred option for medicinal therapy.

In some extreme cases doctors also recommend artificial joint replacement therapy as an option which is considered to be highly effective and successful. Just over 90% of the patients who are severely affected by arthritis symptoms, will report relief with these types of treatments.

Feb 10
Arthritis
Nathan Wei asked:

There is an old joke. It goes like this: “Neurologists diagnose the untreatable while rheumatologists treat the undiagnosable.” Nothing could be truer than when it comes to what is termed “inflammatory arthritis.”

Most rheumatologists tend to divide arthritis into two major categories: inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The latter category is also termed “degenerative” arthritis.

The major distinction is that inflammatory types of arthritis have a significant amount of inflammatory cells that attack the joints. These types of arthritis tend to cause more symptoms, particularly stiffness and pain. They also tend to be progressive. Oftentimes inflammatory types of arthritis are associated with constitutional symptoms, meaning low grade fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Inflammatory types of arthritis can also cause significant damage to internal organs. Disability and early death may be a consequence of some types of inflammatory arthritis. Examples of inflammatory arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, gout, infectious arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Inflammatory types of arthritis can strike at any age.

Inflammatory types of arthritis have typical patterns although theoretically any joint in the body can be affected.

Inflammatory forms of arthritis may not be easy to categorize. Sometimes it will be obvious that inflammation is present and is a prominent component of the symptom complex. However, a specific diagnosis may not be apparent. Eventually most forms of inflammatory arthritis do “declare” themselves and ultimately fall into a category. But not always! This is a situation where a skilled diagnostician and clinician is worth their weight in gold!

On the other hand, non-inflammatory types of arthritis cause symptoms based on mechanical factors. Often degenerative arthritis affects weight-bearing joints such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees. It tends to occur in older people. While it may progress, it does so relatively slowly. It is rarely, if ever, associated with constitutional symptoms. In fact if constitutional symptoms are present, then either the patient has more than non-inflammatory arthritis or has another illness in addition to their arthritis. This is the type of arthritis people often associate with getting older.

Non-inflammatory types of arthritis may also be confusing some times. An example is a condition like fibromyalgia where the pain occurs pretty much all over. Symptomatic and subjective joint swelling may make the clinical diagnosis difficult.

The distinction between inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthritis is made on the basis of a careful history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.

Sometimes a patient can have both types of arthritis. For instance it is not uncommon for a patient with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis to also have degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) in a knee or hip.

Interestingly, when an arthroscope (small telescope) is used to visualize the interior of a joint, almost all types of arthritis have an inflammatory component to them. The extent and type of inflammatory change though varies from disease to disease.

The treatment for inflammatory arthritis will vary. While anti-inflammatory medicines are sometimes helpful, it may be necessary to start disease modifying drug therapy. Again the skill and experience of the arthritis specialist is paramount in determining which direction to head. Obviously, if the inflammatory arthritis becomes more well-defined, then treatment becomes easier to define as well.

The key point to remember is that if you do have arthritis, it’s important to seek the opinion of an expert arthritis specialist.

Feb 2
Arthritis
herbalremedies asked:

Having aches and stiff joints are sometimes a part of life. But if one notices that this goes beyond usual wear and tear or if it begins to interfere with the ability to live a normal, happy life, a type of arthritis may be the cause. Being able to identify what type of arthritis is the culprit will aide in the treatment and prevention of damage to joints.

23.1 million Americans have been diagnosed by doctors with arthritis. There are 2 main types of arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, both are painful and can be debilitating but there are major differences.

Osteo-arthritis is also known as a degenerative arthritis, a syndrome which causes low-grade inflammation and pain in the joints. This type of arthritis is caused by the abnormal wearing of the cartilage that acts like a cushion inside joints. The synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant is also destroyed or decreased. The bone becomes less and less protected by the cartilage and lubricant causing pain during movement such as walking, it can even cause pain upon bearing weight like standing.

usually it takes people one ore two years in the regular health care before they start looking for other remedies. A rheumatoid arthritis diet is one of these alternative remedies we want to inform you about.

Of course the symptoms vary, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where people react totally different to the disease itself but also to the medicine. Some people have severe pains every day and others have mild pain but do have very inflamed joints. Also the way they react to medication can be completely different. Some really have very good results with the prescription drug their doctor gave them while others have severe side effects. All of this is because rheumatoid arthritis is an illness of the immune system and people have a tendency to react different to it.

In general, arthritis attacks the joints, the muscles as well as the connective tissues of the body. It is very important to pay attention to this problem before it steal away your beautiful nights. If you have made a clear decision to actively manage your arthritis, then you are at the right place to keep your arthritis under control.

Arthritis diet - Salmon - It is among the richest sources of healthy fats, making it an ideal source of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, it contains calcium, vitamin D, and folate. Besides helping in arthritis, salmon may protect the cardiovascular system by preventing blood clots, repairing artery damage, raising levels of good cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure.

Arthritis diet - Green tea - It contains hundreds of powerful antioxidant chemicals called polyphenols and may help prevent or ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been cited for helping prevent problems ranging from cancer to heart disease.

Arthritis diet - Banana - It is perhaps a rich source of potassium, but has also good sources of arthritis-fighting vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin C. Arthritis diet - Cheese - It is an excellent source of calcium for bones, and protein for muscles and other joint-supporting tissues.

Preventing arthritis altogether may not be entirely possible, but by using the tips above, you may be able to greatly lessen its painful effects and prevent it from changing your lifestyle.