Stop the Pain and Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis II

Once you are diagnosed with R.A., what are the next steps. My wife followed the recommendations of her doctor and started taking two medications. The first was a steroid, prednisone. Reading the possible side effects of this and her other medication was enough to scare you to death. Everyone has read about the horrors of steroids, but when you are hurting as badly as she was hurting you are willing to try anything. The second medication was methotrexate. It was initially developed to treat cancer, but now is one of the gold standards for rheumatoid arthritis. There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Some patients go into remission when the damage to joints stops and the pain goes away using traditional medical therapy. It is interesting that trauma may cause a relapse of the disease. Another patient in the waiting room with my wife shared that her symptoms reappeared after she caught her hand in a recliner resulting in a broken finger. But many people have gastrointestinal trouble taking the drug. It can also be given as shots. Taken orally, most patients take the entire dosage once a week, usually on Saturday, when stomach trouble will not interfere with work. Many patients have to go to stronger, more expensive drugs as the disease progresses. In fact, one of the first things my wife's doctor told her was she would not be able to afford the treatment since we didn't have medical insurance and he would not accept Medicare or Medicaid. He said the usual progression of treatments would run from forty-five to sixty thousand dollars a year, but he might be able to get her on a trial program. This was even a bigger incentive for us to find a better solution.

I might add that some, including the author you are about to discover, says that taking these drugs can slow up the recovery using the diets described. She specifically mentioned the two drugs my wife started taking. I specifically asked her doctor if we could try the diet first. He wanted to start her on the drugs immediately to give her relief from the pain. We decided to work with Nell's doctor and take the medications. As I have said several times, I am telling our story and what we have done. I encourage you to do what you feel is best for you. Most traditional doctors will want you to take the drugs. You might want to try the fasting for five to six days and see if it offers some relief, and then make your decision, maybe before seeing the doctor. But don't put off getting a correct diagnosis too long.

Exploring The Many Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Options

When the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis calls for adequate treatment, there are many different options to consider. Since there is no known cure for this joint-affecting condition, patients must turn towards medication and other remedies in order to increase joint function and avoid further damage or deformity. Below you will find a brief description regarding an array of rheumatoid arthritis treatment options:

First-Line Drugs

There are two main classes of medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis: first-line and second-line drugs. First-line drugs are quick to respond to symptoms of the disease and include aspirin and cortisone because they are used to swiftly reduce inflammation and pain. Many patients wish to avoid the use of steroids during their treatment, meaning products like Naptosyn, Advil, Motrin, Medipren, and Lodine should be selected. It is also common to try an assortment of drugs before finding the one or ones that work the best. A doctor's goal is to pinpoint the first-line drug that creates the least amount of side effects.

Corticosteroid Medications

A stronger first-line drug given to rheumatoid arthritis patients includes oral or injected corticosteroids. Although the chances of enhanced joint mobility and function is often achieved, there are serious side effects that may also occur. High doses of these drugs for a long period of time increases the likelihood that issues may arise, such as muscle wasting, facial puffiness, and weight gain.

Second-Line Drugs

This approach towards rheumatoid arthritis treatment is slower to take action, including options, such as gold, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). These selections are used to combat progressive joint damage, and encourage remission of the disease. They do not act as an anti-inflammatory. When it comes to choosing one of the most aggressive out of the second-line drug options, methotrexate is often prescribed. Additional second-line drug selections include the oral approach (Azulfidine), and injections (Solganal and Myochrysine).

Immunosuppressive Drugs

Immunosuppressive drugs are rather powerful in treating rheumatoid arthritis, but are often saved as a last resort or when the disease has taken an aggressive turn for the worst. Some of the products offering this effective medication choice include Rheumatrex, Trexall, Imuran, Cytoxan, Leukeran, and Sandimmune.

Surgery

When a patient suffers from an intense joint deformity, surgery might be the best choice to consider. Restoring joint mobility, as well as mending damaged joints are some of gains associated with this sort of procedure. An orthopedic surgeon may perform an arthroscopy or completely replace a joint, such as a knee or hip, which means damaged tissue is replaced with metal.

When an individual assesses the best course of action for their rheumatoid arthritis treatment, there are many factors to think about. Age, overall health, daily level of activity, affected joints, and disease progression are just some of the things that influence treatments choices. Overall, most patients respond the best to medical management when combining medications; specific joint exercises; rest; protective gear; as well as learning the ins and outs of the disease.

Arthritis Treatment: Knee Osteoarthritis - What Are the Alternatives to Knee Replacement?

Arthritis is a term derived from the Greek: "arthron" meaning joint and "itis" meaning inflammation. It is used to refer to more than 100 different diseases.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA) which affects more than 20 million Americans. Osteoarthritis is a condition that impacts hyaline articular cartilage, the tough gristle that caps the ends of long bones.

Hyaline cartilage is a complex material consisting of a combination of proteoglycans (complexes of proteins and sugars) and chondrocytes. Chondrocytes are located within the matrix... picture a gelatin mold with grapes. The gelatin is the matrix and the grapes are the chondrocytes. Chondrocytes are cartilage cells that manufacture matrix under normal healthy circumstances. They are responsible for nourishing the matrix as well.

However, when OA develops, a distinct change in the joint environment occurs. Chondrocytes begin to elaborate destructive enzymes causing cracks in the cartilage. These are called "fissures" and "fibrillations."

One of the most common areas affected by osteoarthritis is the knee. This is not a surprise since OA preferentially attacks weight-bearing joints.

The treatment of OA of the knee is primarily symptomatic. Weight loss, exercise, physical therapy, assistive devices (such as canes, braces, and walkers), analgesics (pain-relieving medicines), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) which also reduce inflammation and pain, as well as thermal modalities such as heat and ice can all be employed.

However, once those resources are exhausted and the patient has undergone injections with glucocorticoids ("cortisone") and viscosupplements (hyaluronic acid..." rooster comb shots"), there is a large void that is present because until recently the only remaining option was knee replacement surgery.

Despite the improvement in technology, knee replacement surgery is still surgery with all the attendant risks of a major invasive procedure in a hospital setting. And the specter of having to have a revision procedure (a replacement of the replacement) done maybe three times in one's lifetime is an unhappy picture.

Recent work using autologous stem cells, sometimes referred to as mesenchymal stem cells looks very promising. (Wei N, Beard S, Delauter S, Bitner C, Gillis R, Rau L, Miller C, Clark T. Guided Mesenchymal Stem Cell Layering Technique for Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee. J Applied Res. 2011; 11: 44-48)

While not effective for everyone, there is abundant evidence in animal models as well as anecdotal data in humans that certain procedures that incorporate mesenchymal stem cells using a framework of fat and stimulated by autologous growth factors may indeed slow down the rate of cartilage loss and may even improve cartilage thickness. This procedure is also undergoing an evolution of sorts just as all other medical procedures do. If the early work is validated, then this approach will certainly bridge the gap between current symptomatic options and surgery.

And just like recent data showing that orthopedic procedures are declining in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, maybe someday the same will be true for, patients with OA of the knee.

Knee Arthritis Treatment

What you need to know about arthritis of the knee.

The most common form of arthritis in the knee:

The most active type of arthritis in the knee is osteoarthritis. This is where the disease causes a gradual deterioration of the cartilage in the joint, resulting in swelling, sometimes excruciating pain and loss of mobility.

The most likely affected:

Most at risk are women over 50 who are overweight. A hereditary link also seems to be a factor, plus men or women who have experienced fracture to the bone near the joint, a ligament injury or a meniscus tear.

Symptoms associated with knee arthritis:

There is no typical progression of pain as this disease worsens. Weather can play a key factor so cold symptoms can be particularly difficultly in winter months, while summer days can be remarkably easy on the knees but that doesn't mean the arthritis is in remission.

Time is the key factor in measuring its progress along with constant monitoring through x-rays and blood tests.

Most reported symptoms:

• Bow legs or knock-knees.


• Discomfort when active.


• Restricted movement.


• Joint inflammation.


• A sensation which feels like the joint might "pop out".

There are three ways to treat knee arthritis, you can treat the symptoms, have surgery or you can treat the cause - which ideally will fix if not put the disease in to remission.

Treatments for the symptoms of arthritis in the knee:

First things first and that's to go and get a physical examination and an x-ray. A second evaluation is also not a bad idea also as early stages of osteoarthritis can often go undiagnosed.

Each case should be valued on its own merit, so do not interpret this article as a definitive guide for treating arthritis in this region, it merely serves to highlight the practices that patients and practitioners generally follow today.

Acupuncture:

You won't find this endorsed on About.com but acupuncture has to be one of the fastest and more effective methods for acute and serious cases of osteoarthritis, yet it can still be practiced on less damaged joints.

Prof Dr Anton Jayasuriya's methods while often frowned upon in the West, is an art of acupuncture which dates back centuries and is reported to provide instant and permanent relief.

It can reduce the swelling, relieve a patient from pain by up to 80% and provide almost sudden mobility.

Four needles are inserted in to specific stress points - not just points of acupuncture - to a certain depth, then heated till they glow piping red, then gently and swiftly removed one by one.

This practice is repeated 2 to 3 times a day until the swelling has all but disappeared and the pain has relinquished.

Once the course of treatment is complete it is stated to be permanent.

Soothing oils and warming pads are then used by the patient at home to complete the treatment.

Acupuncture does not treat the deterioration of the joint directly, but rather the pain inflammation and lack of movement - the symptoms.

Anti-Inflamatory Prescription Drugs

These have provided the earliest breakthrough in the West for an initial pain release but the effects these have on your body now that they've been on the market for more than two decades, are coming to light.

Prolonged usage of theses NSAID's as they're known have shown to have a debilitating effect on the liver, kidneys and heart, so before deciding to take a quick fix for the inflammation and pain, make sure you lay out what initial health problems you may have with your doctor so the prescription won't conflict with your current medication.

Physical Therapy & Relaxation

Physical therapy and controlled periods of relaxation both help strengthen the muscle around the joint, lightening its burden and reducing the stress.

Meditation, sleep and hypnotherapy are all forms of relaxation that can reduce the amount of pain you're experiencing in your knee and exercise will prevent atrophy of the leg muscles.

Arthritis Surgery

If the disease has simply become unbearable in pain and has left you almost immobile, then surgery today is the last resort.

a) Knee Osteotomy

This is effectively for only young patients who have caught the disease early on and have had a total knee replacement.

b) An Unicompartmental Knee Replacement

Or simply known as a partial knee replacement, this again is for a small surgical replacement of the knee when the disease is limited and this is more common among middle to elderly aged patients.

c) Total Knee Replacement

Now that the joint can no longer function the will be the last resort where a plastic and metal implant is fitted in to the knee.

Treatments to Influence Remission of Arthritis in the Knee

a) Biologically Injected Medications

Cortisone injections which ooze the pain and reduce the swelling are much safer and more beneficial than NSAID's, and while they won't influence remission, you can safely take additional joint supplements without any side-effects that can help treat this disease.

b) Joint Supplements and Non-Prescription Treatments

Glucosamine is still lacking in research data, but it is showing signs that it may help the remission process of arthritis in the knee.

Additional non-prescription natural treatments include active compounds found in Capsaicun, Tonkat Ali, Omega 3 Acids and Reishi.

These ingredients not only treat inflammation effectively, they also naturally help block the pain signals being sent from the joint to the brain.

More importantly they assist in rebuilding the cartilage.

Now dry and deteriorated from this disease, these are just some of the ingredients when taken regularly in high concentrations that can help the cartilage function better.

Cod liver oil tablets have for years been used to free up stiff joints for mild arthritis of the knees, but now research over the last decade has given birth to new supplements that not just treat the symptoms but fight it.

Autoimmune Disease: Type I Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease, and Many Others!

Some of the most common diseases in the U.S. are classified as autoimmune disease. As you recognize, some of these diseases can cause disability. Our lives may never be the same. You may or someone you love may suffer from them. During my almost 3 decades of pharmacy practice I saw many people suffering with these diseases. The situations seemed hopeless at times. Now, as a graduate of Dr. John Christopher's School of Natural Healing with a rating of Master Herbalist, I see them through more hopeful eyes.

What are we talking about when we mention "autoimmune disease"? Here is a partial list from the National Institute of Health:

• Addisons Disease


• Celiac Disease


• Dermatomysositis


• Graves Disease


• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis


• Multiple Sclerosis


• Pernicious Anemia


• Reactive arthritis


• Systemic Lupus erythematosus


• Type I Diabetes

Certainly you know at least one person with one of these problems. Why does autoimmune disease happen? Our immune system is designed to attack foreign (non-human) protein in our bodies. For example, bacteria in the wrong place will be attacked and killed by our immune system. Sometimes - in Type I Diabetes, for example - we see the immune system attack our own tissues. In this case the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are attacked and destroyed. This is a rather simplified version of what happens in auto-immune diseases of all types.

To understand why the immune system attacks our own bodies we must understand one thing clearly: our immune system is working correctly. It identifies non-human proteins that have become attached to our own internal tissues and attacks those non-human proteins. Without launching into a long explanation, these non-human proteins get into our bodies from various sources; for example colon disease, antibiotic injections, vaccinations, and yeast overgrowth. What is more important to understand is how we treat these auto-immune conditions.

Conventional western medicine will treat symptoms of the disease. One method is to use drugs that suppress the immune system. These drugs have toxicities. Let us consider chlorambucil for example.

This drug has adverse effects including:

• Although chlorambucil is used to treat cancer, it may increase your risk of developing another form of cancer.


• This medication can also decrease your bone marrow function, lowering your body's ability to fight an infection.


• Chlorambucil may damage chromosomes (genes) and causebirth defects. It may also possibly leave men and women unable to have children in the future (sterility).


• Opening our systems to all sorts of infections - viral, fungal, and bacterial all included.

Other than immunosuppresion, your prescriber may choose to prescribe a drug that suppresses symptoms of the disease. This is frequently the case with rheumatoid arthritis in which we see non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs being prescribed. A drug such as ibuprofen may be used to relieve pain symptoms and swelling symptoms. At times the destruction of the joints can be slowed (but not stopped) by using this drug.

On the other hand, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do have some adverse effects including

• Heartburn


• Gastric ulcers (recall that non-human proteins can enter our systems in this way, causing the bringing about more auto-immune disease!)


• Raised blood pressure


• Increased plugging of the small blood vessels (atherosclerosis)


• Increased likelihood of heart attack

You may be saying to yourself "there must be a better way".

Aside from Divine Healing by prayer (which is the best), Natural Healing can fight auto-immune disease more effectively than conventional medical treatment. And, it can do it at a fraction of the cost and without the horrible side-effects involved with pharmaceutical drugs. This approach times weeks, months, even up to years for very severe medical conditions to effect complete healing. However, you will begin to see results soon after you begin

Here is what needs to happen to get better:

• Cleansing including the 3 day Juice cleanse and extended cleanses


• Use of herbal aids such as a 1 to 1 ratio of Marshmallow root powder and Astragalus root powder capsules. To kill pain a combination of Wild Lettuce and Valerian Root may be used. Externally, cayenne ointment helps with pain control.


• Eat, eat, eat! But use the Mucusless diet to avoid a recurrence of the auto-immune disease. You may look at my blog site listed in the author's box below to find my article "Good Nutrition, What Do I Mean By That"


• Avoid any protein being injected hypodermically


• Heal any digestive tract ulcers.

I pray for your success in beating this. Please let me know how you do or how I can help you in your quest.

Burst Courses of Corticosteroid Therapy

For many conditions a short course of high dose prednisone or similar oral corticosteroid therapy can lead to dramatic improvement. Examples of illnesses treated effectively with burst course of prednisone include croup, acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic bronchitis, many acute allergic reactions, acute attacks of gout, and numerous other acute inflammatory disorders.

Corticosteroids are very different from the anabolic steroids you read about being abused by athletes. Corticosteroids are produced in the adrenal cortex, and are important in regulation of the bodies inflammatory response and in regulation of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.

The key to safely using short-term corticosteroid therapy is to keep the duration of therapy brief. Use of even moderate doses of steroids for over about 2 weeks can lead to a delay in the adrenal gland being able to produce adequate natural cortisol to support us in times of increased demand. This is not felt to be a problem with the usual short courses given most of the time. It is safer to use a high dose for a short time than a moderate dose for a longer period of time.

Some patients cannot tolerate high dose corticosteroids. Most side effects are temporary and not serious, including fluid retention, acid dyspepsia, and mild to moderate agitation or anxiety. Less common but more significant risks include psychosis, extreme insomnia or agitation, marked elevation of blood sugars in diabetic or pre-diabetic patients, and a very rare condition called aseptic necrosis of bone, usually the hip. There is also concern about suppression of the immune system and reactivation of latent tuberculosis in patients with a history of TB or a positive TB skin test.

The basic message though is that if you need to use prednisone a short course is usually safe and can be very effective. Longer courses are much more problematic, require careful monitoring by your physician and may need prolonged tapering of the drug.

Herbal Remedies for Arthritis Relief

With so many dangers of arthritis drugs like Vioxx and Naproxin recently exposed, it's no wonder more and more people are turning to herbal remedies for relief. Here are a few herbs that will treat arthritis pain and joint inflammation.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have used ginger to treat arthritis. Recent studies have shown that ginger is helpful in relieving pain from both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The Scottish and other Nordic peoples discovered years ago that Cod Liver Oil reduced pain and stiffness in the joints, especially during the frigid winter months. Cod Liver Oil is available in supplement form at most health food stores, and has been shown in studies to have numerous health benefits, including reduction of pain from rheumatoid arthritis.

Glucosamine has also recently been tested for the treatment of arthritis pain, and proven very effective for reducing pain from osteoarthritis. Glucosamine also works to repair joint damage and rehabilitate the cartilage.

Everyone's body produces glucosamine, but as your body grows older production slows down. This causes cartilage in weight-bearing joints to harden, and become painful. Glucosamine therapy can help repair damage and reduce pain, in both humans and in pets.

All these and more herbal remedies are available at most health food stores. Additionally, herbal creams can be purchased, many made with peppermint and/or rosemary, that are very soothing when applied topically (mint and rosemary are natural analgesics).

You do not have to take drugs to relieve your arthritis pain. Stop worrying about dangerous side effects. Talk to your doctor about controlling arthritis pain naturally.