Treatment for Arthritis - Ways and Methods to Fight Arthritis

Treatment for arthritis is a vast field with different approaches. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and different types mean different symptoms and different treatments.

Conventional medicine is still in the early stages of development when it comes to autoimmune diseases which many types of arthritis are. The downside is that they mostly treat only symptoms and can be harsh on the body, potentially causing severe side effects. The upside is that they can give quick results which are needed sometimes, and they deliver what they claim.

Natural medicine, though lacking in what is referred to as legitimate research, has years upon years of ancient knowledge and wisdom, results, testimonies and feedback. The downside is that results don't show instantly, and consistency is needed to get real results, the upside is that they are not harsh on the body and they may treat more than just the symptoms.

Fighting Arthritis - patients divide into three main groups:

Those who rely only on Conventional medicine alone

People within this group either are not aware of the possibilities of natural treatments, or they are put off it by personal belief and philosophy, others' experiences and criticism, or even have personally experienced failure of one or more natural treatments.

This situation is understandable given the vast variety of natural remedies of all types, the amount of companies announcing "they've got the cure for arthritis", and the amount of misleading information and even untruthful information published.

Saying that, natural treatment for arthritis IS a real option for treating arthritis, but one must know what their specific needs are and also how to find good quality remedies and supplements.

Those who rely solely on natural remedies

Those could be people who have used natural medicine and got good results, or have many allergies to conventional medicine, and people who by their personal beliefs and philosophies prefer "the natural way".

Those who combine those two methods

No matter to which group you belong to, treatment for arthritis doesn't stop with which medicine you take or what surgery you have.

Fighting arthritis is done best when you confront it from many directions simultaneously, making changes to your lifestyle and getting the knowledge you need to confront it and know how to use every tool there is - to give yourself a better chance to lead a good life with it.

Which are the main fronts?

Getting enough rest, exercising, reducing stress, drinking enough water, and maintaining a healthy diet are crucial for stopping the progression of arthritis and even preventing it is many cases such as through sport injuries.

In many cases people who have arthritis are lacking in important vitamins, enzymes, and trace elements that must be supplied from outside since they cannot be produced by the body. Those are important for the healthy maintenance of our joints, they aid in fighting infections and in blood circulation. You can find out if you are lacking in any through simple blood tests.

How To Treat And Prevent Wrist Pain

The wrist is an unusual joint because stiffness or even fusion causes relatively little difficulty, while if it is wobbly and unstable there can't be real problems. The wrist provides the platform from which the fine motions of the fingers operate. It is essential that this platform be stable. The eight wrist bones form a rather crude joint that is very limited in motion compared with, for example, the shoulder, but which is strong, and stable. Almost no regular human activities require the wrist to be bent all the way back or all the way forward, and the fingers don't operate as well as when the wrist is fully flexed or fully extended.

The wrist platform works best when the wrist is bent upward just a little. When the wrist is in proper position, you can pull or push most efficiently. To illustrate this position, make a fist and put your thumb in the middle of the wrist. Looking down your arm, the thumb should be on an imaginary horizontal line going straight down the middle of your forearm.

The wrist is very frequently involved in rheumatoid arthritis, and the side of the wrist by the thumb is very commonly involved in osteoarthritis.

The "carpal tunnel syndrome" can cause pain at the wrist. In this syndrome, the median nerve is trapped and squeezed as it passes through the fibrous carpal tunnel in the front of the wrist. Usually the squeezing results from too much inflammatory tissue. The cause can be tennis playing, a blow to the front of the wrist, canoe paddling, rheumatoid arthritis, or many other activities that repeatedly flex and extend the wrist. In addition to wrist pain, this syndrome can cause pains to shoot down into the fingers or up into the forearm; usually there is a numb feeling in the fingers, as if they were asleep.

You can diagnose this syndrome pretty well yourself. The numbness in the fingers will not involve the little finger and often will not involve the half of the ring finger nearest the little finger. If you tap with a finger on the front of the wrist, you may get a sudden tingling in the fingers similar to the feeling of hitting your funny bone. Tingling and pain in the carpal tunnel syndrome may be worse at right or when the wrists are bent down.

The key to management of wrist pain is splinting. Since stability is essential and loss of motion is not as serious in the wrist as in other joints, the treatment strategy is a little different. Exercises to stretch the joint are not very important. The strategy is to rest the joint in the position of best function. Wrist splints are available at hospital supply stores and some drugstores. Any that fit you are probably all right. The splint will be of plastic or aluminum and the hand rest will cock your wrist back just a bit. You can put a cloth sleeve around the splint to make it more comfortable against your skin and wrap the splint on your arm gently with an elastic bandage to keep it in place. That's all there is to it. Wear it all the time for a few days, then just at night for a few weeks. This simple treatment is all that is required for most wrist flare-ups. Even the carpal tunnel syndrome is initially treated by splinting. But since nerve damage is potentially serious, give your doctor a call if you seem to have the carpal tunnel syndrome.

No major pain medication should be necessary. Aspirin and similar-strength medications are all right but probably won't help very much. If you are taking a prescribed anti-inflammatory drug be certain that you are taking it just as directed; sometimes a flare-up is simply due to inadequate medication. If you know what triggered the pain, work out a way to avoid that activity. Common sense means listen to the pain message.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Most people presume osteoarthritis is a condition that only affects the elderly, and to an extent they would be correct. If you are over 40, you are more likely to develop it than a young person in their teens. However, it's not just the elderly who are at risk. Those who are overweight, those who play professional sport or have had a joint injury that is taking a long time to heal, are all at risk of developing the condition as well.

There is no single test that can check for osteoarthritis but fortunately, once detected, there are plenty of osteoarthritis treatments available, and they range widely from complementary therapies to surgery, medicines to non-surgical treatments. When your doctor diagnoses you, he'll talk you through the options in detail and help you find the best treatment to suit your needs.

Non-surgical treatments such as creams and gel can help relieve the pain. Made with an extract of chili peppers, they work to numb the area around the knee, reducing the pain. Non-surgical osteoarthritis treatments are normally prescribed as additional treatments rather than stand alone solutions, to help combat osteoarthritis in hands or knees.

There is little evidence that complimentary therapies help relieve the actual issues of osteoarthritis. More often than not, the therapies simply relax you, and put you in a more positive frame of mind, which gives you the will power and ability to better manage your pain. The exception to this is acupuncture, for which there is evidence to suggest it is an effective osteoarthritis treatment.

Surgery isn't for everyone, but if you suffer from severer osteoarthritis, treatment by knife is sometimes the only way to treat the condition. The type of surgery performed varies according to which part of your body is affected. Hip or knee replacements are more common in the elderly, whilst professional sportsmen may have to have foot or wrist surgery to re-position and stiffen the bones. Both these measure have high rates of success in reducing pain and increasing mobility; so even though it's the most invasive, surgery is sometimes the best option.

Medicine can't cure osteoarthritis - it can't replace your hips or realign your bones - but it can reduce the symptoms. Painkillers, which can be bought over the counter, are a common medical osteoarthritis treatment; if the pain is severe, the doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are equally effective in relieving sufferers of symptoms, and are available through your doctor as cream, gels or pills.

How Should the VA Rate a Veteran's Service-Connected Arthritis?

One of the more common medical conditions that military veterans seek to have service-connected is arthritis of the knees.

It should come as no surprise, then, that one of the most common errors that the VA makes is failing to properly rate arthritis of the knees.

Here is a general summary of how you can double-check the VA's rating to make sure that they properly evaluated and rated your service-connected arthritis of the knee.

Before getting started, it is important to understand that, generally, the VA is not permitted to "pyramid" ratings. A "pyramid rating" happens when the VA rates the same disability under multiple - and sometimes different - diagnoses. Read the regulation at 38 C.F.R. 禮 4.14 to learn more about pyramid ratings.

Arthritis is different. If a military veteran is service-connected with arthritis of the knees, that Veteran might be entitled to up to 3 ratings for the same condition. They key word is "might" - what is important is that the VA evaluate and rate the unique way that arthritis manifests in your knees.

Here are three (3) factors that the VA should look at to see how to rate arthritis of the knees for any military veterans.

1) Functional Loss. Functional Loss is a limitation to the range of motion of the knee. The VA Rater should focus on what the military veteran's medical records say about his/her ability to perform the normal working movements of the knee with "excursion, speed, strength, coordination and endurance". This aspect of arthritis of the knee is typically rated under the Diagnostic Codes 5000-5010 - (Diagnostic Codes and their criteria are found at 38 C.F.R. Part 4.)

2) Instability. Instability is the inability of the knee to play the "support" role it plays - an inability to keep you standing and balanced. If this limitation is present in your knee arthritis, the VA examiner should rate it using three (3) criteria under Diagnostic Code 5257:

a) slight (which equates to an additional 10% rating)

b) moderate (which equates to an additional 20% rating)

c) severe (which equates to an additional 30% rating)

3. Pain. The most common and recognizable manifestation of arthritis is pain. The VA typically does not consider pain in determining the proper rating for a disease or condition. Arthritis is a little different; even if there is no Functional Loss, the VA Examiner can grant a rating for pain if there is evidence that the military veteran is impacted by pain when he or she uses the knee in normal, daily, repetitive use and/or when pain limits the Range of Motion.

Confused? Don't worry. The VA Examiner probably is, too.

I have seen a lot of improper and bizarre ratings and evaluations of pain for service-connected arthritis of the knee.

In fact, I recently looked at a claim where the VA examiner rated arthritis as sciatica. Sciatica is a condition that relates to the nerves of the spinal cord; while pain may refer down the legs to the knees in sciatica, there was no diagnosis for the condition in the C-File - the examiner simply never figured out that arthritis and sciatica are two totally different conditions.

One caveat - the explanation above is simplified, and under the facts of your case, it may not be the right analysis. Ever case is different, every military veteran's medical situation is unique.

If you are a military veteran with service-connected arthritis of the knee, it is highly recommended that you bring your arthritis rating decision - and the code sheet - to an attorney or VSO representative that is familiar with the proper way to rate arthritis.

If you don't know what the VA Code Sheet is, it is even more important that you get it in to have someone review your rating to make sure you are getting all the compensation you are entitled to.

Gouty Arthritis Treatment and Causes

Gouty arthritis is also known as gout. This article is going to detail the top gouty arthritis treatment methods, as well as some of the causes.

First, however, an overview of gout is necessary. Many people do not realize what it is and thus may not even be sure that they have it. It is a classically misunderstood problem.

Gout is typically characterized by attacks wherein there is a burning kind of pain, a stiffness, and a swelling within certain joints.

The attacks will continue occurring until the gout itself gets properly treated. If left untreated, gout can cause serious harm to the tendons, joints, and various other tissues in the body. Generally, men have gout more often than women.

People who are overweight have a higher chance of getting gout. The same goes if you tend to drink a lot of alcohol, or eat high quantities of fish and meat which have a high purine content.

There are even certain medications, like diuretics, which can cause gout in some people.

Usually, the big toe is where the symptoms of gout which most often occur. The big toe may become tender, it may swell, take on redness, and be the victim of sharp pains.

Other times, gout pains occur in the feet, the ankles, or even the knees. An attack may last for several days or it can go on for weeks.

A physical exam will be done to diagnose gout. Sometimes, fluids from the joints are taken and checked for uric acid crystals.

An abundance of uric acid within the blood is the primary cause for gout. As such, blood tests are also done to diagnose the problem.

Quite often, the treatment of gout can consist of a shot of a medicine called corticosteroid. Sometimes, one or more different medications are prescribed.

As the symptoms begin to lessen, the dose will gradually decrease as well. If the treatment begins quickly, the gout patient will begin to feel relief within twenty four hours.

Otherwise, you can rest the joint which is causing you the most pain. Over the counter anti inflammatory medications can be beneficial as well. However, you should not take aspirin.

It can cause the level of uric acid in your blood to get higher. You also want to manage your diet and stay away from the aforementioned foods whenever possible.

Cut down the amount of alcohol you drink. Make sure you are getting all the healthy nutrients you need.

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis - What You Don't Know Could Be Costing You More Than You Think!

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be really very difficult as it is accompanied by intense pain and discomfort. What are their effective treatment methods and the potential side effects? Find out the expert facts in this article.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis is not a joyful situation as it involves a lot of pain and aches. The pain increases with the severity of the condition. Therefore, it is essential that you have a proper diagnosis well in time, so that you can take the appropriate action and treatment method as early as possible.

Although a cure for rheumatoid arthritis has not been found, there are a number of treatments that are available. They all primarily work to counter inflammation, as it is one of the root causes of rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment methods

The following types of treatment methods are generally prescribed for those living with rheumatoid arthritis --

1) Prescription based Cox-2 inhibitors -- these work by inhibiting the action of Cox-2 enzyme in our body, which are responsible for creating inflammation and exasperating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Cox-2 inhibitors are known for their fatal side effects.

For example, Vioxx was a popular Cox-2 inhibitors brand manufactured by Merck. It was taken off from the market due to its fatal side effects such as heart attack and stroke, which were reported by tens of thousands of rheumatoid arthritis patients. In fact, thousands of lawsuits are still pending against it till today.

2) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- the popular anti-inflammatory over the counter prescription drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen come in this category. They are effective for the short term management of inflammation, and they provide effective pain relief. But when taken for long periods of time and in high doses, they can cause side effects such as stomach problems, gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.

3) Corticosteroids -- they are also an effective means of combating inflammation, but they are prescribed only for short periods of time due to their potential side effects such as weight gain, bruising, eye problems like cataract, high blood pressure, diabetes, thinning of the bones which might lead to osteoporosis, etc.

Due to the serious side effects of the above mentioned treatment methods; they might not be the best alternatives for people living with rheumatoid arthritis. Natural remedies such as that involving the use of omega-3 supplementation in the diet have proven much more effective and safer form of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful natural anti-inflammatory. They improve the brain and cardiovascular health, sharpen the memory and boost concentration, and provide many more overall health benefits. Unfortunately, over the recent years the average Western diet has become highly deficient in these essential omega 3 fatty acids.

Here is a word of caution though; Omega 3 fatty acids are also natural blood thinners. So, in case you are taking blood thinner medications such as aspirin, then you should consult your doctor before you use omega-3 supplements for alleviating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

A lot of evidence has been found that omega-3 fatty acids effectively help to overcome the symptoms of those people living with rheumatoid arthritis. They help to reduce the tenderness in joints, reduce inflammation, decrease morning stiffness and also reduce the need of taking prescription based drugs for the purpose of pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that are required by the body anyway for its vital functions, health and well-being. Purified Fish oil and its supplements are among the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA.

The green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is also an amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is very effective in reducing joint stiffness and pain in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and is used along with fish oil to form the best omega 3 supplements for treatment of people living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Natural Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Is natural osteoarthritis pain relief possible? You bet it is!

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It's a degenerative joint disease that affects over 20 million Americans. OA causes inflammation, pain, lack of mobility and reduced motion, mainly in the joints of the hands, knees, hips and spine.

Before the age of 50, men are the most likely to be affected. But once the onset of menopause begins, the number of cases among women increases rapidly.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Healthy cartilage is smooth and slippery. It normally cushions the end of bone joints and serves the purpose of absorbing the pounding and shock of our movements.

But, over time, as a result of growing older and physical abuse, the natural cartilage can become thinner and thinner, causing the smooth cartilage surface to become rough, irritated and swollen. OA starts when this cartilage begins to deteriorate.

If the cartilage eventually wears down completely, bones start rubbing together causing even worse painful joint swelling and stiffness. This is generally most noticeable upon first waking in the morning, in damp or cold weather and after strenuous physical activity.

While the specific cause of osteoarthritis isn't clear, contributing factors can include:

o Being overweight,

o The aging of joints,

o Sports or accidents,

o Joint injury or stress,

o Hereditary tendencies,

o And muscle weakness.

If lifestyle changes aren't made the constant rubbing together of bone on bone can eventually cause permanent joint damage.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

The most common osteoarthritis symptoms are joint pain, stiffness and swelling. But other common symptoms are bony growths and limited mobility of the afflicted joints.

Look for the following warning signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis:

o Inflammation, tenderness or pain in one or more joints.

o A crunchy feeling in a joint or the sound of bones rubbing together.

o Joint stiffness after sitting for a period of time or when first getting out of bed.

No single test can diagnose the existence of osteoarthritis.

And although the neck, lower back, hands, knees and spine can be affected, OA is most prominent in the weight bearing joints - the hips and knees - especially in older women.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition that tends to get worse over time. But some people can go for years without experiencing any pain at all. Symptoms also vary greatly from person to person. While some are incapacitated, others hardly suffer at all.

Osteoarthritis Pain Relief - Naturally

There's no known cure for osteoarthritis, so sufferers are generally prescribed risky, controversial painkillers that can have serious side effects.

But, more and more evidence shows that making healthy lifestyle and dietary changes can both help to prevent the onset of the disease and provide long term pain relief from the symptoms of osteoarthritis. So a more holistic approach is being taken.

The key is to get healthy and fit through exercise and optimum diet and to avoid injuries and reduce stress, fatigue and depression. The main recommendations are:

o Moderate exercise strengthens bones and muscles, improves flexibility, reduces pain and fatigue and relieves stress and depression. Walking, swimming and yoga are good ways to stay active with a minimum of stress. But don't push too hard.

o Healthy weight maintenance keeps joints from having to support excess weight.

o Rest and relaxation relieves stress on joints and improves health.

o An optimum diet provides the nutrients necessary to prevent degenerative diseases and is essential for OA relief. Red meat, for example, can increase the risk of inflammation and arthritis. Eliminate non-nutritious foods, such as high glycemic carbohydrates, and eat a moderately low fat diet (20% to 30% of calories) rich in cold water fish, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean poultry and low fat dairy.

o Omega 3 fish oil is nature's most potent anti-inflammatory. So increase the omega 3 fish in your diet, such as fresh salmon, and include fish oil supplements.

Fatigue And Joint Pain: Common Arthritis Symptoms

The symptoms of fatigue and joint pain, are associated with a great deal of illnesses and diseases, ranging from the common flu to serious autoimmune diseases like lupus or thyroid disorders.

And.....

The symptoms that are most associated with arthritis are those of fatigue and joint pain.

So if you are experiencing any problems that you think to be arthritis, consult your primary health care provider before making any attempts at self medication.

Although a diagnosis of arthritis may be troubling, know that although there is no cure known today for the disease, there are a great many treatment options available to deal with the fatigue and joint pain so that you can reclaim your life.

Generally speaking, arthritis is a condition of inflammation around the joints in a sufferer's body.

Any joint is open to being affected by arthritis, but the usually affected areas include the hands, knees, shoulders, and back.

When the area becomes inflamed, the joints swell, causing a great deal of pain and often an overall feeling of stiffness.

Usually, arthritis causes an individual to lose a certain amount of mobility, whether it is an inability to grasp items or complete a given task due to a restricted range of motion.

Quite often, individuals who suffer from fatigue and joint pain are forced to give up favorite activities simply because their bodies are unable to perform tasks they once enjoyed.

This can include hobbies that require fine motor work, such as needlework, gardening, or painting.

Instead of letting arthritis rule your life, take a stance and fight back. There are many over the counter and prescription medications that can reduce inflammation and restore lost mobility.

Consult your primary health care provider to ensure any medications--including those that are advertised as all natural--will not interact with any current medications or medical issues that you may be experiencing.

Another way to ward off the affects of arthritis is to ensure your body is in proper health.

Work to maintain a healthy, well balanced diet that includes all necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Exercise at least twice a week and consider taking ancient forms of exercise like yoga or Tai Chi.

5 Ways To Reduce Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is a condition that is classified by the inflammation and corresponding agitation of the joints. It is a common health concern for many individuals, especially those over the age of 55, and is cited as the most common disability in the United States. Most of the time, arthritis is felt during the night or when the affected individual is about to go to sleep. Having this pain during the night results in discomfort and a lack of deep, restorative sleep. Affected individuals thus wake feeling exhausted, sore, and unable to fully enjoy their daily activities.

There are many causes of arthritis. One of the major factors in having joint pain and inflammation is old age. The ability of the cartilage to self-repair lessens because the cartilage becomes brittle as the person becomes older. Another factor is the excess body weights, which put pressure to the knees and hips that cause pain. Getting a good night sleep in a comfortable bed is one of the tricks in fighting arthritis instead of taking medications or painkillers.

Reducing Arthritis Pain Through An Adjustable Bed

• Sleeping in an adjustable bed is one of the ways to combat the pain during the night. Getting a comfortable sleep will help you lessen the pressure in your joints as well as the inflammation and the pain.


• Your body is relaxed in an adjustable bed avoiding the joints to be swollen and you can sleep in any position that you like.


• If the person is injured, adjustable beds can help in the faster recovery. A third of our life is spent on sleeping and our body recovers during asleep. It is important that we give our body the best possible comfort when sleeping in order to hasten recovery as well as to recover from fatigue or exhaustion.


• Adjustable bed gives the best support for your body, which helps lessen stress that may cause joint pain. You can adjust the lower part of the bed if your knee hurt so that you can elevate your knee. This will cause your joint and muscles to relax.


• It is already proven that adjustable beds really help people not only with arthritis but also with back pain, neck pain, GERD and a lot more.

Reducing Arthritis Pain Through Therapeutic Remedies

Another way of approaching your arthritis without resorting to huge bills due to medications is by trying the alternative medical ways. Therapeutic taping for arthritis inflammation and pain is the second way of dealing with arthritis. You can try using wrapping tapes in taking off the pressure in the area of the inflamed joints, supporting the joints and for realigning the joints. These wrapping tapes can be bought in pharmaceutical store or grocery store.

Reducing Arthritis Pain Through Safe And Effective Supplements And Proper Diet

The third way of dealing with arthritis is by boosting your body with vitamin C and D. Lack of vitamin C and D will result in unnecessary pain so having enough vitamins C and D will give you pain relief. Grapes skin includes a natural compound known as resveratrol, which acts as a COX-2 inhibitor. It inhibits COX-2, the enzyme responsible for the pain and inflammation of arthritis. The last method is by taking or drinking green tea. Green tea is discovered to contain polyphenols, which fights the key gene that is responsible for arthritis inflammation.

The Nature Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

How long have you been suffering from painful joints? Have you noticed outward physical changes in those joints? Are your joints showing deformity and stiffness?

A combination of several factors may cause the development of rheumatoid arthritis. These factors may include infection, underlying malnutrition problem, endocrine gland disorders and the inability to cope with life's situations. Rheumatoid arthritis may also be due to poisons, viruses or bacterial toxins. The joint fluids of individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis do not show any evidence of pus or disease germs that are mostly seen in acute arthritis. People who suffered from physical or emotional shock, fatigue and injuries are mostly predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals who are often exposed to cold and dampness usually develop the disease more easily. Women are more commonly affected with this type of arthritis compared with men.

Rheumatoid arthritis may occur after childhood and before a person reaches forty years old. Occasionally though, there are cases wherein it affects individuals who are already in their sixties or seventies. The beginning of this disease is often more gradual than rapid. This is usually characterized by a low grade fever, a feeling of weakness all over the body and headache. This type of arthritis usually involves the knees and the fingers first followed by the shoulders, wrists, ankles and elbows. In widespread cases, all of the joints in the body may be attacked. An active inflammation occurs in the joint's synovial membrane causing it to swell with accompanying moderate to severe pain. Rheumatoid arthritis basically involves the joints but it is also a systemic problem that usually affects the whole body.

Affected large joints are usually tender and warm to the touch, swollen and red with an increase amount of joint fluids. The infectious process causes absorption resulting into thinning of the joint cartilage that is often seen in x-ray examinations. Thinning of the joint cartilage can also be caused by the pressure created by muscle spasm or tendons that cross the joint and the calcium loss at bone ends causing it to become rarefied.

Deformity is a very familiar result of rheumatoid arthritis. This is caused by the contraction and atrophy of both tendons and muscles around the joints. These actions cause the muscles and tendons to bend unnaturally. These may even dislodge the bone out of the joint resulting in the characteristic rheumatoid arthritis deformity. There are also instances when the bone ends grow together creating a permanent stiff joint. The limbs can also be affected, which can be cold and clammy. In severe cases, the patient may become thin and anemic.

Rheumatoid arthritis appears to be curable in some cases but as a rule, it recurs over and over again after apparent healing. A person affected with rheumatoid arthritis and its accompanying deformity should accept the fact that he will be carrying this handicap all throughout his life. New methods of treatment however allow many arthritic patients to continue with their normal activities and still enjoy whatever life has to offer.

Tips on How to Cure Arthritis Naturally

Arthritis is an affliction that can be very painful. Many people find themselves at a loss as to how to manage their pain. There are different extremes of the debilitating disease, and you must familiarize yourself with the options and requirements. Consider the following important tips on how to cure arthritis naturally.

You need to be taking a good look at your current diet. What foods are you eating that you really should be avoiding? Some you will notice you should avoid for your overall health and some specifically because of your arthritic condition. Talk to your doctor about what foods you should eat as well. He or she can make some great recommendations for your diet.

Make sure you get what vitamins and supplements you need. When speaking with your doctor concerning your diet, physical condition, and personal needs, sees what vitamins and supplements he or she recommends. There are plenty of supplements you can take to help strengthen your joints and stop inflammation. Also, when it comes to your diet, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables so you can make sure you get the vitamins and nutrients you need.

The utilization of hot and cold therapy can work wonders when managing your condition and levels of joint pain. Use a heated pad or some heated ointment to put on the area that is causing you pain. After that it's cold therapy, and this helps relieve swelling of the joints and pain as well. If your doctor prescribes medication, you need to be taking it. Even if he or she doesn't, if your condition worsens or things just change, ask about medication to help reduce the amount of inflammation that occurs.

Make sure you're consistently researching arthritis. This is how you're going to stay informed on current trends and new innovations. This is a great way to find out new treatments and medications, as well as new strategies to help you deal with your arthritic pain. You want to be able to manage your condition in the best way possible. As always, make sure you check in with your doctor before you make any drastic changes, but it's a good idea to be looking for yourself too because your doctor won't know everything.

Make sure you're willing to ask for help. You're going to need help from time to time with certain activities and things going on. You don't want to find yourself in pain and incapacitated. Manage your condition well, and ask for help when you need help.

Your arthritis might not be as bad if you lose some weight and make an effort to be more active throughout your day. Your joints might not be strong enough to support your weight, especially if you experience a lot of pain in your knees. Go on a diet and do some abs to lose weight in your midsection. Stop eating at fast food restaurants and drinking sodas. Eat three balanced meals a day, drink plenty of water and avoid snacking. Meet with a nutritionist if you need some help with designing a weight loss program that works for you.

When you experience pain, stop what you are doing and try stretching very gently. Stretching is important before any exercise, but it's especially important when you have arthritis. You don't want to injure yourself, and stretching will help your joints and prevent injuries. Talk to your doctor about what stretches you should be performing though.

Applying a cold or a hot treatment should help too. Take a warm bath or apply a hot towel on the joints that hurt. Wait a few minutes and apply a cold compress or an ice pack on your joints. You can alternate these treatments a few times but do not overdo it. You might also find that taking a warm bath is enough to make the pain go away. You should not hesitate to carry some hot or cold compresses with you when you have to go somewhere.

Rest your body so it can heal itself. Even if you do not want to actually sleep, just allowing your muscles and joints to relax can help. It may be difficult to indulge in inactivity, especially if you have important tasks that need to be done. It is best to at least reduce your activity level, and take breaks to sit or lie down often.

Arthritis requires a full-scale treatment approach in order to be managed effectively, and there are many things you can do to take control. Remember the tips and advice you've read here as you work your way towards a much more comfortable life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Symptoms and Treatment

Arthritis is a common term for an illness that covers a broad spectrum that comprises more than one hundred illnesses. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common, while rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common. Rheumatoid arthritis, however, is the most severe form of arthritis.

What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis?

How do you know which type of arthritis you have? There are certain symptoms present for different types of arthritis:

• Paleness


• Appetite loss


• Low-grade fever


• Range of motion is limited


• Numbness or Tingling Sensations


• Redness of skin


• Inflammation of skin


• Hand and foot deformities


• Swollen glands


• Nodules under the skin - round and painless


• Pleurisy - inflammation of the lungs

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can vary - and can include any of the above symptoms or all of the above symptoms. Different symptoms may be apparent at different stages of the disease. Consulting a physician with a list of your known symptoms can help you discover if rheumatoid arthritis is the type of arthritis you have. Active and Inactive Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that can occur in stages. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be active or inactive. When the symptoms are inactive, the patient is in remission - and can have long periods of time with no symptoms present. Signs of a flare-up can include:

• Fatigue


• Aches in muscles and joints


• Stiffness in joints


• Low-grade fever can be present


• Appetite loss


• Joints can become red, swollen, painful, and tender

During a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, your daily routine can become severely limited. Things that you take for granted, like opening doors, opening jars, and sometimes, even walking, become too painful. At times like these, it is important that you understand that it is okay to let others help you. Remission can occur at any time - there is no rhyme or reason. The symptoms can disappear at any time - and they can begin again at any time. Sometimes, the remission may last a few days and others times, it may last a few months. Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

As with any medical illness, you should consult your physician for diagnosis. Once you have shared your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms with your physician, he/she may suggest tests - including blood tests and x-rays of your joints. Your physician uses the results of these tests, along with your symptoms in order to make a diagnosis.

Once a diagnosis has been made, you should discuss your choices with your physician. There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis - but many people have effectively managed to control rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly. It is very important to maintain your overall health - physically and mentally - in order to manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. One very important thing to remember is that even if your rheumatoid arthritis is in remission and you have not shown any symptoms for months, it is important to maintain your healthy way of life. You should maintain your exercise routine in order to keep the muscles around your joints strong so that when your joints need to rely a little more on the muscles, the muscles will be able to carry the load.

Before you use medicine to treat your rheumatoid arthritis, you should educate yourself as much as possible. Learn all you can about the possible side effects, how the medication interacts with other drugs and foods, and how the medication will affect your daily life. For some people, controlling rheumatoid arthritis symptoms with medication may be the answer. Others may choose not to take the risks associated with the medications available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

For those who choose not to take that risk, there are many natural treatments that help to control rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. There are many herbal remedies that can be ingested to help ease the symptoms - and many herbal remedies that can be used as massaging oils and liniments to help ease the pain and inflammation of the joints. Many home remedies have been effective for people for years - the key is to find the one that will work for you.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Herbal Remedies, Causes and Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic or whole body disorder particularly affecting the synovial joints. It may however affect major organs and tissues as well. The root cause of the disorder is still unknown, but it has been noticed by experts that autoimmunity plays a leading role in the progression and development of the disorder. Thus it is often grouped as an autoimmune disorder. When rheumatoid attacks a synovial joint, it actually causes inflammation of the synovium, the membrane secreting synovial fluid. This further causes the development of pannus in the synovium, and enlargement of synovial cells, thereby leading to excess production of synovial fluids.

As the disease progresses, total damage of articular cartilage and ankylosis of joints occur. Apart from synovial joints, rheumatoid may inflict organs like kidney, lungs, heart and blood vessels, also the subcutaneous tissue under skin. It should be checked at the inception, or else it may lead to total loss of mobility or permanent disability. It is common among youths, and females are more attacked by rheumatoid than men. Smaller joints like fingers, wrists, cervical spine etc generally fall prey to rheumatoid arthritis, and the attack of the disorder takes place in a symmetrical pattern. The pain associated with rheumatoid worsens early in the morning just after waking up from sleep, and restricts activity for quite some time.

Causes

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is a subject of research all over the world. Researchers have suspected heredity or genes to be a factor promoting the disease. Also it has been assumed that any infection due to bacteria, virus or fungi, or any other environmental factor like smoking tobacco serves as a stimulant or catalyst making the immune system hyperactive. The hyperactive immune system gets misdirected, and invades the body's own healthy tissues, thereby causing inflammation in the affected area.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

1. Excruciating muscle and joint ache
2. Swelling of joints
3. Stiffness of joints
4. Redness of skin around the affected joint
5. Joint tenderness
6. Low grade fever
7. Fatigue
8. Loss of appetite
9. Anemia
10. Hoarseness of voice
11. Shortness of breathing
12. Chest pain
13. Dryness in mouth
14. Lumps under skin or rheumatoid nodules

Timely aggressive diagnosis of the disorder is necessary. It may be done through blood tests such as rheumatoid factor test, X-rays.

Rumatone Gold Capsules and Massage Oil are breakthrough herbal ayurvedic formula to combat rheumatoid arthritis. A regular course of these supplements for 2 months provides lasting relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid.

Acupuncture and Arthritis Treatment

For centuries, the history of acupuncture treatment for arthritis has been with us. It provides many pain sufferers with an added or alternative form of relief of their pain. Even though it cannot purposefully succeed on its own, nevertheless it is tested and proven to give great relief to those who need it.

On every occasion when your joints feel like burning up or when you feel like they're starting to inflame and grow to be tender, start with your acupuncture therapy and see how it can greatly reduces the pain that you feel. Usually, patients who use both medication and acupuncture for arthritis state that they are easily alleviated from the discomfort as compared to that of using the drugs alone. For this reason, both acupuncture and arthritis medication treatment should be considered by the pain bearers.

Arthritis is an illness usually experienced by the aging population. Needle piercing is relatively popular among this age group for the reason that they say that it works best in relieving them of pain. Acupuncture knee arthritis and acupuncture osteoporosis are two of the recognized treatments sought after by the aging group.

Acupuncture osteoarthritis is performed for the purpose not to eliminate the disease but to control its symptoms. Take for example, if successive acupuncture osteoarthritis therapies are instituted, there would be more chances of pain relief. But if done sporadically, there would be smaller chances for you to get symptomatically healed.

Many people may find osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis confusing. To clarify it further, osteoarthrtiris more often than not targets the older age group and usually affects the hips most of the time. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis targets the younger population and points to the small joints as the main problem. Even though both are bone problems, yet they are different when it comes to acupuncture treatment. The placement of the needles is also different for each of the classification, and the number of needles to be used is not the same as well. Besides, the sessions to be performed also vary greatly depending on the severity of the disease and depending on the required time by your therapists. Again, if it is done at regular sessions, there would be greater chances that you will get cured from the painful symptoms of arthritis.

In most cases, the effectiveness of acupuncture lies on the willingness of the person to get cured. If one is strong-minded enough to persevere on to complete the course of acupuncture and arthritis treatment, then it would be a lot easier to get cured from the pains of the disease.

Arthritis Pain - Dysplasia and Bee Venom Therapy in Animals

Labs are loving, people oriented dogs. They are happiest when they are with their owners. Labs tend to be quite patient with children making them wonderful family dogs. They require attention and love as much as food and water. Labradors require plenty of exercise - this is especially true since most Labs love to eat! However, health problems may arise as the puppy ages into an elder dog. One particular issue among this breed is hip dysplasia.

My precious black lab of fourteen years had hip dysplasia which included the following symptoms: ran with a 'bunny hopping' gait, demonstrated stiffness and pain in the rear legs after exercise or first thing in the morning, had difficulty climbing stairs and became less willing to engage in normal daily activities. Eventually the disease made it very difficult for her to arise from a sleeping or sitting position. Owners attribute these changes to normal aging but after treatment is initiated, they are surprised to see a more normal and pain-free gait return. Veterinarians may suggest weight loss and Rimadyl which is anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. The weight loss was an agreeable option to me but the drugs were questionable. Drugs have side effects and Rimadyl is no exception. NSAIDs carry a risk of side effects, or adverse reactions. Most adverse reactions are mild, but some may be serious, especially if the pain medications are not used according to labeled directions. Some reactions result in permanent damage or even death. A search for alternative methods became imminent and one of them was bee sting therapy.

Hillsboro, Ohio is the home of a prominent Apitherapist, Jim Higgins. Jim is a beekeeper and President of the Highland County Beekeepers Association. He is also on the Board of the American Apitherapy Society (AAS) and the Ohio State Beekeepers Association. He studied Bee Venom Therapy under the world master Charles Mraz of Middlebury, Vt., and has visited China twice on the subject of Apitherapy. He suggested bee sting therapy and provided a box of bees and a long set of tweezers for administration of the sting. His instruction was to sting the hip 4-5 times twice a week for a month. The procedure was implemented faithfully and Sonny was observed carefully for clues to its effectiveness. Sonny gradually started walking normal; playing with her toys and sleeping in her box. It was very enlightening! That was 2008. She continues to be in good health and requests to play with her rubber hedgehog daily.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Early Symptoms to Watch Out For

When it comes to an illness like arthritis, without regard for the particular form, one of the most vital aspects is being conscious of the assorted symptoms that may be caused as a consequence of the beginning of the illness, so that if you experience any of the symptoms yourself you may recognize them and seek medical help instantly.

Prompt treatment is critical to recovery from an illness like arthritis, and it is actually vital to get treatment as fast as possible so the arthritis doesn't continue to progress and do more damage. Though there are actually some symptoms that all forms of arthritis share or close to, the fact still remains that each form of arthritis is completely different and thus you want to ensure that you are conscious of the specifics of each different form. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms as an example, are completely different than any other.

When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, these symptoms are commonly way harder to note than in other arthritis sicknesses because they are generally so sophisticated. However, rheumatoid arthritis always has effects on the joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. Rigidity or stiffness is one of the most typically reported rheumatoid arthritis evidence of all, and this alludes to when your joints are not moving as well as they once did, and the range of motion of your joints could be reduced, particularly if the condition is dreadful. This rigidity can be experienced at any time of the day, but is most frequently spotted in the early morning.

Another of the commonest rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is soreness and inflammation. This refers back to the redness, warmth and swelling that frequently arises after the commencement of the illness, and swelling and nodules are frequently accompanying here too. Pain is another rheumatoid arthritis symptom, and pain in this illness basically has some different sources, specifically from the soreness and swelling that you've been experiencing.

You can also experience malaise, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight reduction, and weakness or significant fatigue. At first notice of any of these symptoms, you must arrange an appointment and get in to see them as fast as you probably can, so the illness isn't ready to progress any farther than possible. Fast treatment is needed here, and only after you have sought medical help and had a correct diagnosis will you be in a position to get the proper treatment prescribed to you.

Advanced Arthritis - What You Need to Know

Advanced arthritis has to be diagnosed. A doctor will review your medical history as well as giving you a physical examination of the joints affected by arthritis - sometimes x-rays are also used. Although your doctor can help with this diagnosis, it is usually something that the person affected knows about both on a physical and emotional level.

Don't despair if you have been given the diagnosis of advanced arthritis as there are lots of treatments and options available. You can go and see other health care professionals, such as a rheumatologist (if you have rheumatoid arthritis) or a psychiatrist who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as occupational therapists and even chiropractors.

All of the above specialists can help with your condition but are there any more natural solutions? The short answer is yes.

There are alternative therapies such as acupuncture as well as certain forms of manipulation and gentle massage. There are also herbal remedies, both herbs used in the west for arthritis but there are also Chinese and Indian herbs that can help. You can visit a doctor who specializes in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as well as an Ayurveda specialist who can help you using certain herbs and spices well known in this ancient healing system of India. Nutritional supplements can also help and they often include glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin sulfate. You could visit a Naturopath who can help you with supplementation. It is wise to consult your doctor if you decide on natural supplements, in case they are contra indicative of any other medication you are taking.

For natural alternatives to pain relief, try honey and apple cider vinegar as this has proved to be very effective in a lot of cases. Other alternatives include cinnamon - either the powdered bark or cinnamon essential oil as well as blackstrap molasses.

You can find out more about these natural remedies for advanced arthritis by simply searching the internet or going to any of the specialists mentioned above.

Treating Psoriasis With Hypnosis

What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition in which skin cells on certain parts of the body are produced much more rapidly than normal, up to ten times faster, causing a build up on the surface of ugly scaly patches, most commonly on the elbows or knees. These can be unsightly and painful. There may be itching, cracking and bleeding even keeping the sufferer awake with discomfort. It is known to be triggered by a number of factors, including trauma, infections, injury, drug reactions, smoking, alcohol and most notably emotional stress. Sufferers normally want to cover up their unsightly rashes during the summer months.

Psoriasis is non-contagious. Its most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white build-up of dead skin cells, called scale. In 10- 30% of sufferers the psoriasis can also present as psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Severe bowel problems can also develop.

There are several different types of psoriasis, but discoid or "plaque" psoriasis is far and away the most common form. It is distinguished by patches of inflamed, scaly skin on the trunk and limbs, appearing particularly on the elbows, knees and scalp. Additionally, a sufferer's nails may become pitted, thickened or separated from the nail beds. Gutate psoriasis is the form most frequently found in children: small patches appear rapidly over a wide area, often after the child has had a sore throat.

When psoriasis occurs the cycle of cell growth is accelerated. In healthy skin the cycle of cell creation to the cell being shed is about 1 month; in skin affected with psoriasis the cycle is reduced to 3-4 days. The skin becomes thickened and red due to an increased blood supply required to support the increased activity and the dead skin cells appear as a white flaky build up. It is believed that it is the immune system that is causing the effect by sending faulty signals.

A genetic link has been suggested. Around 2% of Europeans and Americans contract the disease and it is less common in black and Asian communities. Symptoms usually appear for the first time in those in the 10-30 year old age bracket.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. We have no conscious control over what happens in our skin. Embarrassment or exercise may make our skin become redder and fear or illness may make it go pale. Our unconscious mind controls our skin, as such, hypnosis is also effective for treating wide variety of skin complaints eg acne, eczema, warts, hives, rosacea, pruritis and embarrassing problems such as blushing and sweaty palms.

The Orthodox Treatment of Psoriasis
Orthodox treatment advises exposure to the sun or to an ultra-violet lamp (light therapy) but only in small doses. An emollient (moisturizing cream) can also help. If an attack worsens, it is usually treated with an ointment containing coal tar or dithranol. Other options include P.U.V.A. (a type of phototherapy), corticosteroids and other drugs such as methotrexate. Psoriasis sufferers who experience accompanying arthritis may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N.S.A.I.D.'s), anti-rheumatic drugs or methotrexate and tranquillizer or antidepressant medication in severe cases.

Other forms of treatment include nutrition, detoxification, trichology, homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture, healing and stress management.

The power of hypnosis with Psoriasis
This may be explained by the science of Psychoneuroimmunology which explores the correlation between how good one feels mentally and the strength of the immune system.

The unconscious learnt how to respond to a trigger to cause excessive cell growth. By reprogramming the unconscious to deal with similar triggers in a different way, the symptoms of psoriasis should subside.

Many health conditions where emotional factors play a significant role may be relieved by hypnosis. Why is this? Our emotional states may appear to arise autonomously, in a way that is outside our control. However, while it is true that emotional response is not a conscious behavior, it has been clearly demonstrated that the nature, intensity and duration of such responses can be modified with hypnosis. The skin has been called the "mirror of the mind" and may well be the external manifestation of an internal conflict. Possible emotions may be anger, aggression, frustration or guilt.

Just as blood pressure can be raised or lowered, healing can be sped up, immune response can be strengthened and pain can be reduced or eliminated. Hypnosis is an extremely effective way to bring about such changes by reprogramming the so-called instinctive responses controlled by the unconscious mind.

In some cases, uncovering early memories and removing the association with the memory have lead to a significant improvement in the condition.

The National Psoriasis Foundation, the American charitable body, states that hypnotherapy can be useful in the treatment of psoriasis. They highlighted that hypnosis is a relaxation technique and stress is a well known as a trigger for psoriasis.

It is also believed that psoriasis may be caused by trapped emotion or an inappropriate release mechanism for emotion. The discovery of the emotional cause and development of an alternative method to release that emotion can control the psoriasis. The sufferer may not be aware of the cause. Even those who have suffered from birth can benefit from hypnosis.

A download hypnosis mp3 Psoriasis treatment allows you to attain a much greater level of control over your condition through the use of powerful metaphor and hypnotic visualization. You will soon find yourself not only feeling much calmer, but noticing increasing improvements in your skin and general health. A transformative metaphor is utilized to help the person activate their own unconscious healing processes and relieve the psoriasis.

Scientific Study on the Effect of Hypnosis on Psoriasis
One study, conducted by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., former professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts, which was published in the September/October 1999 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, examined the use of meditation-based relaxation tapes in psoriasis patients undergoing ultraviolet light (UV) treatments. Patients who listened to the tapes during the treatments cleared their skin more quickly (in some cases, twice as fast) than patients who had the light treatment alone.

Hypnotherapy can be of great help to psoriasis patients, according to a new report. Researchers at the Department of Dermatology, The John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA carried out a three month study into the use of hypnotherapy in adults suffering with stable, chronic, plaque-type psoriasis.

Five patients were given specific positive suggestions about their skin. Six were given neutral suggestions. All the patients showed some benefit, but those who were given hypnotic suggestions specifically directed at their psoriasis enjoyed much better healing. The researchers found that the highly hypnotizable patients received far greater benefit than those who were only moderately hypnotizable.

Although only a small scale study, it suggests that hypnotherapy may be a useful therapeutic treatment for psoriasis Tausk F, Whitmore SE: 'A Pilot Study of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Patients with Psoriasis.' Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics 1999;68:221-225 (DOI: 10.1159/000012336)

Further information:
Book: Hartland's Medical & Dental Hypnosis" by David Waxman

What Are Some Measures to Prevent or Reduce Risks of Diseases or Conditions Related to Bone Health

The main concerns of bone health are osteoporosis (including osteopenia) and osteoarthritis. Although several factors contribute to these conditions, measures can be taken to reduce their risk or increase the chances of preventing them.

Osteoporosis is a condition that is characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD). Osteoporosis and ostopenia are different in the sense that if you have osteopenia (also referred to as low bone mass) you have less bone loss than you would if you have osteoporosis.

Since bone is constantly changing, it is noted that in osteoporosis, the osteoclasts cells remove bone faster than the good cells osteoblasts which form new bone. This results in more bone loss since there is no equalization between the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts.

When bone density decreases, there is a marked loss in the strength of the bones which now become fragile. As bones become fragile, there is a greater risk of fractures as well as loss of balance, resulting in falls and other injuries. Bones become more fragile as we age, especially after age 50, requiring regular BMD testing. The relevant measure of BMD is referred to in terms of T-score. T- Score is your BMD measurement compared to the reference mean of a young normal adult. A normal T-score is -1.0 or higher; however, in osteopenia, it is defined to be between -1.0 and -2.5 and in osteoporosis it is defined to be -2.5.

Osteoarthritis (OA) - also known as osteoarthrosis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease:

- can affect not only the joints but also their surrounding tissues [including the capsule (the cover of the joint), ligaments, lining, and muscles];

- can be painful;

- is a degenerative disease;

- is a disease caused by loss of cartilage in the joints;

- is a normal result of aging which often affects the feet, fingers, hips, knees, or spine;

- is a progressive disease;

- is due to wearing away of a joint;

- is not a single disease but the result of several disorders causing the failure of the functioning of joints;

- is the most common of the joint disorders;

- may not always be able to prevent it or cure it but you can take control in order to prevent its development or progression;

- progresses with destruction (obliteration) of the joint space.

Several conditions and factors that may be caused by or can increase the risk of Osteoporosis (and osteopenia) as well as osteoarthritis include:

- Asian or Caucasian race;

- bone cancer;

- calcium deficiency;

- chemotherapy;

- eating disorders (for example, anorexia nervosa, bulimia);

- excessive alcohol consumption;

- heredity;

- injury to a joint (for example, macrotrauma);

- lack of certain hormones (estrogen in women & androgen in men);

- lack of exercise (including weight-bearing exercises) or inactive lifestyle;

- liver disease;

- medications (for example, certain blood thinners, anti-seizure, long-term use of certain medications);

- obesity;

- overuse of a joint;

- overuse of corticosteroids;

- poor nutrition;

- radiation therapy;

- rheumatoid arthritis;

- smoking;

- thyroid problems;

- vitamin D deficiency;

- women (have a higher risk since women start off with lower bone density than men and lose bone mass quicker as they age).

The following are a few of the things that can be done to either prevent or reduce the risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis:

- avoid repetitive stress on the joints whether at home or at work (one example would be to use an ergonomic keyboard);

- adjust your work area in order to avoid stress on your joints;

- avoid overuse of joints (especially painful joints);

- avoid smoking;

- eat a balanced diet;

- eat an all-around healthy diet (for example, eat nuts, fish, and food rich in calcium);

- exercise in water such as swimming;

- exercise to strengthen your bones - including weight bearing exercises;

- get sufficient rest;

- get sufficient sleep;

- maintain a healthy body weight;

- take precautions not to fall such as making sure your home is safe in all areas, having your eyes checked regularly, using walking aids if necessary, wearing safe shoes that offer support;

- take supplements if necessary to ensure that you have sufficient minerals and vitamins in your system for strong bones.

Although it is not always possible to prevent bone health problems, it is always important to try to reduce the risks or to take any preventative measures.

Psoriasis - Emu Oil and Indigo Are a Great Healing Combination

Drugs can help some people with psoriasis, but drugs are not the answer for everyone and drugs are not always the best idea, either. Psoriasis sufferers who've tried the drug route unsuccessfully are learning that they don't have to live with psoriasis any longer. There is a natural product that, with daily application, regulates skin cell growth and takes away any itching at the same time, and with no side effects. That natural wonder is Emu Oil.

This amazing oil works because it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Your skin will return to it's normal state because it helps your skin regenerate new, healthy cells. Because of its' very fine particle size, it is quickly absorbed deep into all layers of your skin to regulate the cells' growth. The oil is odorless, tasteless and anti-bacterial and it is trans-dermal. There is no oily residue unless you've used too much.

And now, scientists have discovered something that gives this healing oil a double whammy against psoriasis. There is an herb that researchers in Taiwan thought might help psoriasis, so they had volunteers willing to try it on half of their bodies, with a control on the other half.

The herb is indigo (indigo naturalis) and the researchers mixed it with petroleum jelly and spread it on one arm of the psoriasis suffers. They spread plain petroleum jelly on the other arm. Seventy-four percent of the participants in the study experienced significant clearing of the psoriasis on the arms treated with indigo.

Now, we would recommend that you mix the powdered indigo with Emu Oil instead of the petroleum jelly because this oil, in and of itself, is excellent for returning psoriatic skin to health. It nourishes your skin with omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids and is composed of forty-three percent omega-9 fatty acid, a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent. This wonderful oil also relieves any itching you might be experiencing and the omega-7 in it is an anti-oxidant that promotes the regeneration of healthy tissue.

We do not recommend using petroleum jelly on your skin at all, because it is a chemical and a significant portion of it is absorbed into your body. Some people are allergic to it.

Powdered indigo is available from health food stores, Chinese herbalists or online. We would caution you against taking it internally as it can cause liver and gastrointestinal problems when taken long-term.

People who want to continue taking drugs should know that Emu Oil can enhance the effectiveness of topical medications by carrying those creams deep into their tissues, along with the benefits that the oil itself carries.

Are you also suffering from psoriatic arthritis? If so, this versatile oil is an excellent pain reliever for arthritis because it penetrates deeply through all the layers of your skin down to your muscles and bones and lubricates and gives relief from pain. You can buy Emu Oil products mixed with natural botanicals to enhance the beneficial effects of the oil, at [http://EmuOilNaturals.com/] Check out the Pain Relief and Arthritis pages for products made from the oil.

You can also take this healing oil internally, in the form of supplements, and the healing properties of the oil will speed up recovery from psoriasis and other ailments, the list of which is too long to list here.

Do You Suffer From Osteoporosis or Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Those suffering from osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or infectious arthritis must form a constant routine whereby arthritis pain management becomes a constant routine. Thousands of people worldwide suffer from this debilitating disease and the disease is degenerative and will worsen as times moves on. Arthritis can attack at any time, although it is usually elderly people that suffer from this disease. Arthritis causes the joints to swell which then causes pain as well as inflammation.

Arthritis limited a person's mobility and usually attacks joints in the hands, arms, knees, ankles, fingers, hips, neck and back. The pain can be severe at times especially on the weight bearing joints. People seem to experience far more pain when it is cold or rainy. Pain management techniques is a long process, as just taking prescription medication is not a long term solution due to the side effects. A sufferer needs to find ways I which to control their pain on a daily basis.

It has been scientifically proven as we all know that the food we eat has a tremendous impact on our health and wellbeing. Especially those that suffer from arthritis should eat a well balanced diet. Food such as mackerel, herring, salmon and sardines contain omega 3 fatty acids which help to reduce the inflammation and pain. Foods that are high in fiber also help reduce inflammation. Supplements such as flaxseed oil and salmon oil can be taken daily.

Arthritis pain management is essential when you have arthritis and one should also reduce their intake of saturated fats as well as sugars. If you are obese then you need to reduce your weight as weight puts strain on the hips and knees and will worsen the pain. In addition one can use hot or cold packs which decrease the swelling and reduce the pain.

Arthritis Treatment: Local Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Estimates state that 12% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 75 suffer from osteoarthritis. This figure is expected to rise dramatically in the future because of a number of factors. These include the increasing incidence of the disease with age, the relative lack of effective symptomatic therapies, and finally, the absence of treatments that are capable of restoring cartilage.

Of the many areas that are affected by osteoarthritis (OA), the knee appears to have garnered the most attention.

While oral therapies including various analgesics such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are often recommended and used, these carry with them the potential for systemic toxicity.

So the trend has been to use less toxic therapies. Most of these have local effects.
For example, recent guidelines issued by the American College of Rheumatology support the use of both acupuncture as well as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. (Larger electrical stimulators have also been used. While the data looks good, there has not been sufficient interest to pursue this mode of treatment. Since it is expensive, insurers are reluctant to pay.)

These are local measures that have the aim of pain relief.

The College didn't recommend topical capsaicin although many people do find this mode of treatment to be effective.

Topical NSAIDS have their proponents. The two that are currently available are Voltaren gel and Pennsaid. Both of these preparations contain diclofenac, a commonly used NSAID.

Various patches containing either diclofenac or lidocaine have been used "off-label" by some physicians to treat knee OA.

Finally, injections are frequently used for symptomatic relief for patients in whom other local measures have failed. The two different types of injections are glucocorticoids ("cortisone") and viscosupplemments. The latter are hyaluronic acid preparations that have both lubricating as well as pain-relieving properties. Local glucocorticoid injections should be administered using ultrasound guidance with sterile technique. They should not be given any more frequently than three times per year since there is animal data indicating cartilage damage ensues if glucocorticoids are given more often.

There are a number of different hyaluronates that are used by both rheumatologists as well as orthopedists. These preparations are all about the same as far as symptom relief. Like glucocorticoids, they need to be administered using sterile technique with ultrasound guidance. It cannot be overemphasized, particularly with viscosupplements, that the precise placement of the medication is critical to a good outcome. That is why ultrasound guidance is mandatory.

Arthritis and Himalayan Salt Crystals

We have all heard that salt is not good for you and you shouldn't use so much. In fact table salt is 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals such as moisture absorbents, and iodine. It is refined and processed and has very little to do with the actual salt that is produced naturally.

This highly processed salt stores excess fluid in the body's tissues. For every gram (0.035 oz) of sodium chloride that your body cannot absorb, your body uses twenty-three times the amount of valuable cell water to neutralize this salt. The body then re-crystalizes table salt using animal proteins which is available to your body and these cannot be broken down or eliminated. The next step is that these proteins produce uric acid to get rid of the excess salt. This uric acid stays in the body and binds with sodium chloride to form new crystals which are deposited directly into the bones and joints and this is what can cause different forms of arthritis and gout and also gall bladder and/or kidney stones. The answer to this dilemma can be salt! Not your processed table salt though. Himalayan salt crystals were formed over 250 million years ago under enormous pressure. These natural salt crystals can balance your body and also detoxify it. They are available at health food stores and are relatively inexpensive considering how amazing they are for your body.

One of the most basic applications is to drink one teaspoon of sole (salt solution) in a glass filled with good quality drinking water. Best taken on an empty stomach, I drink it every day upon wakening. The sole (salt solution) is easy to make and maintain. Just put several of the Himalayan salt crystals in a glass container and add good quality water until the container is full. If, after 24 hours the crystals have dissolved completely, just add a few more crystals, until the water can no longer absorb any more salt crystals - i.e. the crystals will sit at the bottom without dissolving. This means that the solution is saturated at 26%. Every day put 1 teaspoon of this solution in a glass of water and drink this on an empty stomach.

This will balance your body. It is only when the body is in balance that it is ready to neutralize disease. This is a great way to ensure that you are doing the best for your body, and it is cheap and easy to do. Another option is to immerse a clean cotton towel into the sole solution, wring it out a little and apply directly to sore joints. Cover this with a dry towel to keep the moisture in. You will find it very soothing for joint pain.

Also the good news is that you can also buy this Himalayan salt ready crushed to use as table salt. You will find it slightly pink in color and it has a great taste. After using this for a while, you will never want to go back to the harsh taste of table salt ever again.

Winning the War Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA is a condition that forces half of patients to become disabled from the work force within five to ten years... and reduces life expectancy by as much as 18 years. RA affects about one per cent of the world's adult population, most commonly women between the ages of 30 and 50.

The good news is that a tremendous amount of progress has been made within the last ten years in identifying patients earlier and treating the disease more aggressively. Patients with RA, if treated appropriately, can lead a relatively normal life. This is in stark contrast to the wheel-chair bound existence common as recently as 20 years ago!

Experts in the field consider early rheumatoid arthritis to be a medical emergency with mortality and morbidity equal to that for diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and other life-threatening conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the joints in a symmetric fashion (both sides of the body affected equally) with the most common areas being the hands, wrists, ankles, knees, and feet. In addition to the swelling and pain, patients with RA often have profound fatigue and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks not only joints, but internal organs such as the blood vessels, lungs, heart, and eyes. Patients with RA are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and lymphoma.

Since many other types of arthritis such as gout, lupus, and osteoarthritis can look like RA a careful diagnostic approach is needed.

Laboratory testing has its pitfalls. The rheumatoid factor, a blood test found to be positive in about 80 per cent of individuals with RA, may also be positive in other disease conditions. Couple that with the fact that 20 per cent of patients with RA will be rheumatoid factor negative, then it becomes clear a diagnosis should not hinge on the results of blood tests alone.

Imaging procedures can also be misleading. Conventional x-rays often miss the erosions found with early disease. Newer imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are much more sensitive.

After the diagnosis is made, there is even more hope for a patient today. In the past, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) used to be considered a cornerstone of therapy. That is no longer true.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) are being used earlier.
Among the DMARDS currently being used are methotrexate, leflunomide (Arava), azathioprine (Imuran), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), cyclosporine, and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). These drugs attack the immune cells responsible for chronic inflammation. While DMARDS alone in combination are effective, they are relatively non-specific. Often, combinations of DMARDS are required.

Biologic Response Modifiers (BRMS) can target the disease more specifically than DMARDS. RA is a disease that is dependent on the signaling that occurs between immune cells. The signaling takes place through the use of special chemical messengers called cytokines. BRMS act at both the cytokine (chemical messenger) as well as the cellular level allowing the disease to be better controlled and in some instances put into remission.

Biologic response modifiers, which include drugs that suppress tumor necrosis factor (TNF), appear to be particularly effective.

Tumor necrosis factor is a protein that is produced by the immune cells. TNF is the major culprit responsible for inflammation-inducing damage. By block the effects of TNF, better control of RA can be achieved.

Three anti-TNF drugs are currently available: etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), and infliximab (Remicade). Another biologic drug, anakinra (Kineret) blocks interleukin, a different cytokine.

These drugs allow patients to have their disease controlled to such an extent that most are able to enjoy a normal work and leisure existence.

Second line biologic agents such as Rituxan and Orencia allow rheumatologists to treat patients who have failed anti-TNF drugs.

On the horizon are other biologic drugs that work at different points in the immune system- on different cytokines and on different pathways- to allow even greater as well as more specific control of disease. Since rheumatoid arthritis is a disease with many different cytokine and cellular mechanisms responsible for damage, attacking the disease at different points makes sense. In the future it may be possible to identify patients through specific tissue signals (called "biomarkers"). These biomarkers will allow physicians to type patients and give patients the specific therapy that will work best for them. Once that is achieved, the possibility of a cure becomes a reality.

Everything, though, starts with early accurate diagnosis. If damage is allowed to occur the chances for remission drop dramatically!

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Cured Through Stem Cell Treatment? Find the Answer!

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known as a painful disease which is potential to lead to crippling. Arthritis can be varied such as stiffness, painful joint, swelling, and also limited movement. The parts of the body which are potential to be attacked by the arthritis include the skin, the joints, blood vessels, and some other organs in the body.

Recent studies show that this kind of disease can be healed by using stem cells. These cells are able to keep on growing and dividing as long as the individual is alive. In addition, they are able to turn into any specific cell types. In this case, these cells are claimed to be able to replace the damaged cells due to arthritis. Thus, they are able to provide healthy cells for healing the disease.

If this kind of disease is abandoned, it is potential to cause the heart disease and even death. However, long life treatment is not able to completely cure this disease. Based on the research from Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands showed that patients with arthritis who were treated with stem cells gained improvement.

This study is supported by another study from an Austrian study. This study took longer time with three patients. This study showed that the significant improvement. All studies found that stem cells are safe and effective to use for this disease treatment.

Umbilical cord contains Messenchymal stem cells which are able to form into another type of cells. These cells are then able to replace the damage cells so that they are able to heal the disease. To use as the treatment, these cells are injected to the affected joints or around it. The most benefits the patents can take are that they don't need to take immune suppression drugs.

Another benefit the patients can take is that they are able to provide them long term remission so that the rheumatoid arthritis can be cured. Unlike the medicine, this kind of therapy is able to replace and stop the damage cells from continuing.

Prevent Arthritis Symptoms With Right Diet

There is a saying "you are what you eat". If you eat the right diet you are simply doing yourself a huge favor of preventing different kinds of diseases. One of these is arthritis. Arthritis, or the inflammation of the joints, is mainly characterized by joint pain, swelling and redness caused by the breakage of cartilage tissues inside the joints.

Eating habits and dietary practices have a major role in prevention of this one derailing disease. But even though prevention is better rather than cure, those who are already suffering from arthritis can likewise find relief when they manage to supply their body the right nutrients from certain food groups.

Becoming sensitive of arthritis symptoms can adequately help in first hand diagnosis and treatment. It is important to know the following to be able to recognize if you are already suffering from arthritis or not:

1. If you are feeling chronic pain around your body joints, mostly in the hands, elbows, back, neck, knees and feet
2. If those body parts are swelling and tender
3. If those body parts are seen with redness and rashes
4. If you easily gets tired and exhausted even just by doing simple things
5. If you are having difficulty in moving your body joints
6. If you have fever
7. If you cannot sleep comfortably

Considering you are experiencing the above mentioned symptoms, or better if not, it is very important to accompany it with the right diet. Following are the foods to eat and foods to avoid for healthy joints:

Foods to Eat

• Foods high in vitamin C such as pineapple, tangerine, oranges, potatoes
• Other fruits such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, cherries
• Green vegetables such as celery, spinach, cabbage
• Low-fat dairy products
• Whole grain food like breads, cereals, pasta, rice
• Foods rich in omega-3 like tuna, salmon, nuts, seeds

Foods to Avoid

• Caffeine and chocolate
• Yeast
• High in fat dairy products
• Night-shade vegetables
• Sugar and salt
• Red meats
• Chemical additives and preservatives

It is always better to prevent diseases like arthritis as it still has no certain cure for the moment. What you can do is provide yourself the right nutrition and stay healthy. But for those who are already suffering from joint pain and inflammation, right diet is likewise an arthritis treatment that can pave the way for relief.

Visit http://www.ultimatejointmobility.com on how to avoid joint pain and find alternative arthritis treatment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Triggers Rheumatoid Arthritis?

One of the most prevalent types of arthritis afflicting people of different races and of any age is Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The disease appears earlier than osteoarthritis at anytime of a persons life from infancy to old age but it usually upsets people in their 20's to 40's. Women are more prone to acquire the disease than men although this is evened out when the men reach their 50's.

The most familiar place for this kind of arthritis is in the foot, hands, wrists and lastly the ankles. But most cases are found in the foot where more joints are put under a lot of pressure. As a joint disease, it is also symmetrical in which it affects both joints of the body involved.

An acute illness accompanied by high fever with intense inflammation of the joints could mark the start of a rheumatoid arthritis. But the cause of the disease is unknown and its existence among children known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis has been dubbed as a mystery.

Several views have been provided to explain the occurrence of the disease. One such view postulates that the body's antibodies, produced to fight against infection, actually attack the joints which results in swelling and redness. The cartilage and bone may eventually be damaged as the inflammation spreads to the tissues around the joint.

The study of genetics has found a certain chemical marker among those positive with rheumatoid arthritis leading to the belief that a virus or a bacteria actually triggers its development. Some say that sudden and traumatic injuries like ankle sprains would eventually have the affected joints to be vulnerable to the disease in the future. Symptoms may also develop through severe stress, obesity that aggravates most arthritic conditions and bowel disorders like colitis.

Treatment for the disease does not include its cure as there is no existing cure for it. But treatments are available to relieve pain and discomfort. Drug therapies are available to control the spread of the disease which in its severe form could affect other parts of the body. Aspirin and ibuprofen as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used.

Cortisone shots or steroid injections may also be helpful to relieve intense pain. Drugs known as DMADs are also available if NSAIDs does not work. Surgery is sometimes the last resort if all the other traditional means are ineffective to ease the pain and the progression of the disease.

Among children, the disease is outgrown while older people get stuck with it for a long time. Children are afflicted around 5 to 16 years old where diagnosis is quite difficult because they could easily find ways to ignore the pain. Even if they do get treated for the disease or the disease may go away, the chances that it will come back in later years is high. Its treatment is different from that of the adult rheumatoid arthritis especially on its drug medications.

Children or adults afflicted with the disease are encouraged to do exercise to strengthen their bones and help them move but it should be guided by a therapist. Proper treatment of the disease and any other alternative plan of action after the diagnosis should be discussed with your doctor.

Arthritis Knee Treatment

Whilst there's no denying that arthritis can be an extremely uncomfortable condition, the good news is that there is a wide variety of treatments available today that will provide arthritis pain relief. These range from surgery on hips and joints, to steroids, injections to acupuncture. However, they are also simple, easy actions you can do, to provide relief on a day to day basis.

Before you start your arthritis treatment, get the correct diagnosis from your doctor. There are over one hundred different types of arthritis, including; fibromyalgia, gout, lyme arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to name a few. Each different condition requires a different type of arthritis pain relief, so it is important that you know which one it is you are suffering from before beginning treatment.

The first step to arthritis pain relief is to protect your joints by avoiding placing extra stress on them. Using walking aids like sticks to remove pressure from your knees and hips and replace a shoulder bag (which encourages you to walk lopsided) with a satchel or wheelie bag, which will distribute the strain more evenly. Staying close to your ideal weight will also help to relieve your joints of unnecessary weight and strain.

Exercise is crucial to lessen the pain from arthritis; as keeping your body fit will in turn will help naturally combat the condition. Flexible joints and supple muscles are less brittle so less susceptible to cartilage deterioration and bone wearing. Talk to your doctor about special strengthening exercises you can do to strengthen the bones and muscles. If you're fond of water, why not take up swimming, as it's very good for relaxing the muscles and strengthening your body without the high impact of other aerobic sports.

If you want to find the best arthritis treatment to suit you, then it is important to educate yourself about the condition. Learning about arthritis will help you both to come to terms with the diagnosis and find a solution that works for you and enables you to live a normal, pain-free life.

Real Help for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a crippling inflammatory condition that causes deterioration of the joints, especially of the hands, feet and knees. It generally affects both sides of the body simultaneously. Persons can be known to be fine one day in an area, yet be troubled by that joint the next day. Now there is real help with alternative healing methods.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are varied:

-aching and stiffness in a joint

-loss of range of motion in the affected joint

-the muscles near the joint are weakened

-joint deformity as the joint deteriorates

-rheumatoid nodules that form under the skin near the joint

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease resulting from a weakened immune system, resulting in the tissues and joints being attacked by the persons own body. If left untreated the joint breaks down and becomes destroyed over time. The need for joint replacement surgery is about the only thing that a person can do if this happens.

Alternative medicine for rheumatitis can help to rebuild and restore damaged joints and also remove the pain of inflammation that is caused by too much arachidonic acid in the body. A small change in diet, according to Dr. Floyd Chilton in his book entitled "Winning the War Within" which includes a minimum of 4 to 5 servings of the right seafood or cold water fish a week, along with enough omega 3 oil;(at least 600mg.) and 600 mg. to 1000 mg. borage oil per day will help eradicate this debilitating condition. The condition, if left untreated, will only get worse. Joints will continue to deteriorate until bone is touching bone; the pain becoming unbearable.

Fortunately there is real help out there for arthritis sufferers. As you can see, there are many natural food supplements that can help with this condition and perhaps leave you pain free.

Psoriatic Arthritis - More Than Just Joint Pain

What could be worse that this awful joint pain and stiffness, you wonder as you try to will yourself out of bed. While the pain and fatigue that goes along with rheumatoid arthritis can be excruciating and is without a doubt a possibly debilitating condition, there is actually a form of arthritis that is worse. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of the disease that affects not only the joints, but also the skin, and possibly the tendons, eyes, spine, heart and lungs.

In most people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis, the first sign that something is wrong is the inflammation of the skin. Patients can develop psoriasis on their elbows, knees, scalp, and area around the navel and around the anus or genitals. Psoriasis causes red, raised areas of scaly skin. The signs of the skin disease are first seen in the forties or fifties and generally precede joint pain by several months to years. Once the joint pain starts, it generally involves the joints in the feet, ankles and knees. Inflammation can cause the joints to become red, hot and swollen. Often toes and fingers swell so badly they can resemble sausages. Psoriatic arthritis can also affect the spine.

In addition to skin inflammation and joint pain, psoriatic arthritis also attacks the ligaments and tendons of the body. One of the most common tendons to become affected it the Achilles tendon. This Achilles tendonitis causes the patient to have pain when walking and when climbing steps. Along with affecting the tendons in the heels, the arthritis can also inflame the chest wall and the cartilage that links the breast bone and ribs. This inflammation can cause chest pain and shortness of breath.

Along with the joints and tendons, psoriatic arthritis can also affect the major organs of the body such as the heart and lungs. The lungs can become inflamed causing both shortness of breath and chest pain, especially with deep breathing. If the heart becomes inflamed by the disease, the aortic valve can leak. This leak could result in breathing trouble as well as heart failure.

In its rampage on the body, psoriatic arthritis can also damage the eyes. Redness and itching are common results of the condition. The iris or colored area of the eye can also become painfully inflamed, especially when exposed to bright light. Often the only way to relieve this irisitis is to inject cortisone directly into the eye.

Psoriatic arthritis can often be difficult to diagnose especially in the early stages. One common symptom of this form of arthritis, however, is the pitting of finger or toe nails. Sometimes the disorder can cause the nails to turn loose and fall off completely.

Like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis results from the body's own immune system turning against itself. Unlike the rheumatoid variety, however, psoriatic arthritis can affect not only the joints, but also the skin, eyes and many of the major organs of the body. Left untreated this disease can progress until it become debilitating and sometimes even life threatening.

Arthritis in Hands: Best Treatment for Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis

There are two main types of arthritis in hands, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid is the most disabling while osteoarthritis is the more common.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hands

This type of arthritis specifically targets the synovium tissue. These are the cells that lubricate the joints in the fingers that when this disease kicks in, they swell up forcing the ligaments and tendons supported by the joints to deform and weaken.

Most prevalent in the knuckles and wrist, the bone and cartilage will begin to decay making them feel hot and sore, and rheumatoid arthritis in the hands tends to be symmetric- therefore if one hand's affected so will the other.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hands

This disease is to date incurable so your only means of fighting it is to slow its progression.

Treated on a number of fronts, it's a collaboration with your rheumatologist, hand therapist, hand surgeon and your primary care physician.

The rheumatologist will advise you of which particular medicine to take while monitoring you along the way, with your hand therapist instructing you on the movements that will relieve stress and pressure on the joints and advising you of ways to protect them.

They may also provide splints or devices to help you cope better with certain activities.

Surgery in certain cases may be advised. This can involve removing new bone known as "spurs", extracting nodules, joint fusion and removing inflamed tissue.

Osteoarthritis in Hands

Like osteoarthritis that occurs in the cartilage of hip and knee joints, it is the deterioration of the cartilage - the protein that helps support the connection between the two bone endings in the joint - that inflames the bones causing them to grind and occasionally form spurs.

These spurs can sometimes become dislodged and surgery may be required, but this more often occurs in larger joints.

In the case of the hands, referred to as Herbenden's node, early development of this can be detected by the visual appearance of the smallest joint at the end of each finger looking knobby.

These knobs - or nodes - can also begin to take shape in the middle joint, known as Bouchard's node and while the development of these nodes may not be that painful, they may restrict the fingers movements.

If however there is some discomfort the following treatment may be prescribed:

Treating Osteoarthritis in Hands:

Troubling little pains in the joints of the fingers can be dealt with through one or a combination of methods.

NSAID's or prescription anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relieving medications may be prescribed, but these may put you at risk if they are being used long-term, as the jury's still out over the affect they have on the liver, kidney and heart, so don't be afraid to seek a second opinion if these are prescribed.

The preferred treatment now however is using a combination of medications.

Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or natural food supplements which include capsaicun, omega-3, reishi and tongkat ali, combined with topical creams and cold/heat pads are argued to provide a much safer, sustainable, natural and more effective treatment plan, and most of which can be bought over the counter - OTC - and/or online.