What your joints need

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.

Description

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, not degenerative, disease. It first appears as an inflammation in a joint’s synovium, the membrane that lines and lubricates the joint. Once inflamed, the membrane thickens and become sore and swollen-which in turn may limit the affected joint’s movement. In time, this inflammation spreads to other parts of the affected joint, causing even more stiffness and pain. Eventually, the inflammation can spread to organs, such as the heart, lungs, and eyes. Its ability to spread throughout the body makes rheumatoid arthritis a systemic disease-a disease that affects the entire body.

Inflammation is not a harmful state, per se. It’s actually your body’s normal response to infections and injuries, caused when your white cells battle an invading organism. Typically, the inflammation subsides after the infection is wiped out. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune system seems to fight the body instead of protecting it.

While the disease can strike at any time, it usually occurs between the ages 20 and 50. It affects approximately three times as many women as men.

Unlike illnesses that have a set progression of symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis is unpredictable. What symptoms appear, how often they appear, and what joints and organs are affected vary widely, depending on the individual. In some sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis will flare up occasionally, only to be followed by periods of normal health. Others experience recurring attacks without returning to a state of full wellness in between. Many experience a slow and steady increase in the severity of their symptoms over time.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

While medical experts have not identified a single cause for rheumatoid arthritis, possibilities include heredity, viral or bacterial infection, and emotional stress.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected

Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)

Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides

Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness

Anemia

Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

Conventional Medical Treatment

A series of blood tests, along with a thorough physical exam and medical history, can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. X-rays may also be helpful. Strategies for treating rheumatoid arthritis differ, depending on whether it is active or in remission. During a flare-up, a combination of rest, heat, and medication is prescribed. Anti-inflammatory drugsaspirin, in particular are the first line of treatment and may ease symptoms. There are several other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe gold salts, penicellamine, methotrexate, azathioprine, or anti-malarials, depending on how your symptoms progress. Corticosteroids can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, but they are usually reserved for those with more serious disease.

Physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is most effective when swelling and inflammation of the joint are suppressed with medications. Physical therapy can reduce deformity and restore function.

In severe cases, surgical removal of affected joint lining can prevent damage to other joint structures and cartilage. Another surgical procedure fuses the painful, uncushioned bones together but is only performed on the wrist, feet, ankles, and thumbs because it restricts motion. Tendon transfer is another surgical option for repairing damaged tendons and ligaments it is performed most frequently on the hands. Another option is arthroplasty, or joint replacement, which is usually performed on knees, hips, and shoulders.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, affecting more than two million people in the United States. RA is a systemic disease, often affecting extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles. About 60% of RA patients are unable to work 10 years after the onset of their disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. But rheumatoid arthritis can also affect young children. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. The joints are usually affected initially asymmetrically and then in a symmetrical fashion as the disease progresses. The pain generally improves with use of the affected joints, and there is usually stiffness of all joints in the morning that lasts over 1 hour. People with these genes will not automatically develop RA. In some families, multiple members can be affected, suggesting a genetic basis for the disorder

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a variety of forms of vasculitis. Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis affects people differently. For some people, it lasts only a few months or a year or two and goes away without causing any noticeable damage. Other people have mild or moderate forms of the disease, with periods of worsening symptoms, called flares, and periods in which they feel better, called remissions. RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected. RA is a diffuse systemic disease involving many areas of the body. The presenting complaint may be remote from a joint or may involve inflammatory symptoms at a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with increased frequency in older people, children and young also develop it

Home Remedies for Rheumatiod Arthitis Tips

1. Cayenne Pepper Extract has been found to be useful in arthritis pain relief.

2. Emu Oil is also very excellent for the arthritis cure and has many anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Many users involves the consumption of 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice, as it helps in minimizing the swelling and inflammation in arthritis.

4. A teaspoon of black sesame seeds, soaked in a quarter cup of water and kept overnight, has been found to be effective in avoiding joint pains.

5. Two teaspoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey mixed in a cup of warm water is useful in curing arthritis.

6. Warm coconut oil or mustard oil, mixed with two or three pieces of camphor should be massaged on rigid and aching joints.

7. Dilute five drops of essential oil of ginger in 20 drops of a carrier oil such as wheat germ or almond oil , and massage into painful areas.

8. Guggulu is very helpful in curing arthritis. If available, eat half a teaspoon twice a day after meals with warm water.

9. Potato juice therapy is considered one of the most successful biological treatments for rheumatic and arthritic conditions.

10. One cup of green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed in equal proportions with carrot, celery, and red beet juices is good for arthritis.

11. A teaspoon of black sesame seeds, soaked in a quarter cup of water and kept overnight, has been found to be effective in preventing frequent joint pains.

12. Drinking water kept overnight in a copper container accumulates traces of copper, which is said to strengthen the muscular system.

13. Garlic is another effective remedy for arthritis. It contains an anti-inflammatory property which accounts for its effectiveness in the treatment of this disease.

14. Bananas, being a rich source of vitamin B6, have proved useful in the treatment of arthritis.

15. Lime has also been found beneficial as a home remedy for arthritis.

16. A tea made from the herb alfalfa, especially from its seeds, has shown beneficial results in the treatment of arthritis.

17. Warm coconut oil or mustard oil, mixed with two or three pieces of camphor should be massaged on stiff and aching joints.

18. The diet of an arthritis patient should be planned so as to produce alkalinity in the blood. It should include fruits and vegetables in the form of salads, and, at least, two cooked vegetables.

19. A gentle massage with warm olive oil is very effective to relieve arthritis pain.

20. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, called EPA and DHA, relieve symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis.