Gout - Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatment and Complications

Gout is a very painful, intermittent type of arthritis brought about by a malfunction of the body's metabolism which results in elevated blood levels of uric acid causing the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. It can occur in any joint but is most common in the big toe and while episodes are almost debilitating when they occur, there can often be long periods between attacks.

Gout strikes about 4 times as many men as women with symptoms appearing in men around the late 30s or early 40s and in women usually after menopause.

Causes and Incidence of Gout:

There are two types of gout, primary and secondary, the latter occurs in older people and is usually associated with diseases such as; diabetes, obesity, hypertension, renal failure and psoriasis. Usually only one joint is affected when gout is first diagnosed but in about 10% to 20% of cases patients can present with polyarticular gout where several joints are involved. Polyarticular gout is usually only seen in elderly patients.

There is a suggestion that a genetic factor causes the over production and retention of uric acid in primary gout.

Risk Factors:

Obesity, high alcohol intake, rich foods, red meat, organ meats, sardines, anchovies, peas and lentils, fish and shellfish have all been implicated in gout attacks. Some medications can also exacerbate the condition. Other risk factors include high blood pressure and poor kidney function.

Signs and Symptoms of Gout:

There are four stages of gout;

1. Asymptomatic gout where serum urate levels are elevated but there are no symptoms.

2. Acute gout when a sudden and very painful attack occurs usually only involving one joint. The joint will present as inflamed, red and will feel hot and sometimes a low grade fever is present. Attacks may only last a few hours but can last weeks.

3. Intercritical gout is the period between attacks which can vary between a few months and 10 years. The longer the period between attacks, the more likely it is that the attacks will be more severe and will involve more joints.

4. Chronic gout is usually polyarthritic with constant pain, fever, loss of appetite, swelling and the involvement of tendons, synovial membranes and soft tissue. Joint surfaces are commonly damaged and the joints are deformed. Tophi which are painless deposits of uric acid crystals in areas such as the ear lobes, elbows or the Achilles tendons are present in a significant number of cases.

Diagnosis of Gout:

Serum uric acid is an indicator but of itself this may be deceptive, white blood cell levels may be elevated and there are indications that thyroid hormone levels may be abnormal but the main indicator is the presence of monohydrate crystals in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint. X-rays will show displacement and deformities of the joints as the disease progresses.

Treatment of Gout:

A multi-faceted treatment regime aimed at reducing pain and uric acid levels, preventing recurrence and complications is advocated. Dietary changes to reduce weight, reduction of alcohol intake, rich foods and fructose containing drinks are recommended as a start. Rest, immobilization of the joint and heat or cold packs can be useful. Pain relief can be achieved with analgesics, colchicine, NSAIDS and corticosteroids although care needs to be taken because of the possibility of serious side effects with long term administration of these medicaments. Recently the application of acupuncture pain patches has also been found to produce a drug free and instant reduction in pain levels. As with so many health problems, it is advisable to increase the amount of water the patient drinks.

There are also many natural products available for reducing gout symptoms, how effective they are is difficult to predict as there is very little in the way of serious published trial material available.

In severe cases joint replacement may become the only option to reduce pain and recover some mobility.

Complications:

Treatment can be complicated by the presence of infections, kidney stones, peptic ulcers, gastritis, hypertension or other medical conditions.

Arthritic Knee Braces - What Are the Best Ones?

How will you know if you have knee arthritis? There are so many different forms of arthritis, the causes are likely to vary. Scientists are currently examining how the roles of major factors including genetics and lifestyles affect the development of arthritis.

You may not notice the pain from this arthritis immediately. Arthritis pain usually develops slowly over a long period of time. You may notice that your knee is stiff and swollen. You may find it difficult to bend or straighten it. You may feel pain and weakness in also. You may especially feel pain after walking, climbing stairs, or kneeling.

You can only know for sure if you have arthritis if you get a thorough medical examination. This can include physical tests, lab tests, x-rays and from studying medical history. This examination can also determine the type of arthritis it is.

What types of Arthritis affect the knee? There are three common types of arthritis that can affect your knee. Osteoarthritis is the first type. The cartilage in your knee joint slowly wears away when you have osteoarthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis.

The second type is called rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis will cause inflammation which can destroy knee cartilage. Post-traumatic arthritis is the third type of arthritis. If you fractured your knee or had some kind of ligament surgery, you may develop this kind of arthritis.

Will a brace help my Arthritis pain? Knee arthritis often occurs because your knee is misaligned. These misalignments are known as varus (bow legged) or valgus (knock-kneed). Varus alignment causes more stress on the inside of the knee, and valgus causes more stress on the outside of the knee.

Damage to the cartilage in your knee and joint damage can be as a result of this stress. To make sure that you do not have unnecessary stress on your knees, you may want to use a brace. Arthritic knee braces can help you make sure your knees are properly aligned. Proper alignment can ease pain.

Arthritic braces include braces like: the Ossur Express Arthritis Brace, the DonJoy OA Adjuster Brace, and the Bledsoe Thruster RLF Arthritis Brace. Arthritic knee braces like these help to lessen your pain and improve the joint function.

These three arthritic knee braces are level IV braces, which means they provide the most support. These arthritic knee braces cost $550.00, $669.95, and $669.95 respectively. Based on customer reviews, the DonJoy OA brace seems to be the most well liked of these three arthritic knee braces.

These prices have been referenced from Braceshop.com.

Naturally Treat Osteoarthritis - 6 Tips To Cure Arthritis With No Medication

In America alone, an estimated 70 million people suffer from the debilitating effects of some form of arthritis or joint pain. Most of the sufferers will seek out expensive medical treatment offering nothing more than harsh side-effects but millions will allow the disease to run its course and make life miserable. But living with it does not have to leave you unable from doing the things you love. In fact, I have 70+ year old customers who write me every week and share how their arthritis is not a problem anymore. But just how did they do it and what's their secret?

Osteoarthritis- Is it ruining your life?

There are many different forms but the most common form is called osteoarthritis. The most common form affects over 60 million Americans. Osteoarthritis typically effects people who are 35 years of age and older. As a person becomes older, the pain appears after years of wear and tear on the joints between the bones, which is why it is called the 'degenerative joint disease'. Due to the repeated movement and weight upon the joint, the cartilage begins to break down causing inflammation and pain. Because of the nature of the problem, symptoms become worse and worse over time with use of joints. Normally, it begins at the knees and works its way up to the hips, fingers, spine and more (typically any joint bearing weight or strain).

Does this sound like you and your experience? If so, there is hope to treat it and actually rebuild the cartilage between the joints.

Stop Taking Medication

Medication and treatment varies from patient to patient, and is often a band-aid for the ailment. Let me explain! Doctors often prescribe expensive medications for the sufferer to hide the pain. The problem with hiding the pain is that the degeneration of the joint cartilage continues to occur even if the brain does not register the pain because of the meds. As the pain is hidden, the joint becomes more and more damaged and disfigured. The band-aid of medication is simply a remedy for disaster.

But you can start to naturally treat osteoarthritis with your nutrition, vitamins, supplementation and simple exercises. And you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year in the process.

Naturally Treat Osteoarthritis with 6 tips!

Researchers have been studying numerous primitive tribes who live solely off the land. Perplexed by their extraordinary health, researchers are studying why these tribes have better health than developed countries? These tribes have documented no heart disease as well as it being unheard of. In fact, members of these communities will work right up to the day of their death (usually around 100 years of age). How could this be? Could it be because members of the community have never eaten a bite of processed food? These natives have NOT eaten one additive in any of their meals. (An average American eats hundreds of additives each day.) In fact, all of their meals are fresh and spoil in weeks if not eaten. And finally, they live an active life. And you can do the same thing... even if you are 70 years YOUNG!

Here is a list of tips to naturally treat osteoarthritis!

1. Did you know that 80% of the world's population is walking around dehydrated? Instead of drinking water we have become consumers of soda, tea, coffee, juices or anything with flavor. Unfortunately, most of these drinks (containing caffeine) cause your body to lose water and create a vicious cycle of dehydration and poor health. As water drains the toxin and impurities of your body, it will also begin to naturally treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis. You should start drinking at least 10-12 tall glasses of water a day.

2. A body flush! Did you know that fasting and flushing the body is biblical. It is actually commanded to routinely fast for spiritual and physical purposes in the Bible. And it will also greatly help you in your struggle. It would be recommended to take a monthly fast (drinking only water or natural juices) to naturally flush the body of arthritic causing alkalines. Your body will thank you!

3. Your nutrition! Your diet is the biggest factor contributing to whether you will struggle or be free of it. A good rule of thumb is to always eat fresh, raw foods with as little of processing as possible. You should be eating as much water-soluble fiber as possible which includes: fresh fruits and raw vegetables.

4. Foods that Hurt! These types of foods will create havoc to your pain and inflammation. Stay away from fast foods, processed foods, sugars and desserts. Do your best at finding healthy foods and you will notice a difference in 2 weeks.

5. Breathing! I know it sounds goofy to focus on your breathing but oxygen heals. And unfortunately, most people are not getting enough of it because of improper posture and stress. To learn some simple breathing exercises you can do at work, please check out our website which will lead you to our step-by-step report.

6. And exercise! If you are serious about treating arthritis; we guarantee that you will be feeling good enough to start exercising in three weeks. And exercise will eventually take stress off of joints by building muscle mass.

What is Your Choice?

Are you serious about treating your osteoarthritis? Do you want to feel like you are 30 again? Do you want to know what supplement can actually rebuild your joint cartilage so you feel like a 20 year old?

If you are ready to naturally treat osteoarthritis, please visit our website to see how our step-by-step natural treatment might be a right solution for you. And if you are in the least bit hesitant, we will also guarantee our treatment to treat it or you do not pay a cent. So stop paying hundreds to the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry which gives you a band-aid. Start curing it naturally by visiting our website and joining the thousands who have discovered the cure!

Top 5 Exercise Tips For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Let's admit it! Even if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or not, exercising is one of those hardly liked activities for many of us unless we become addicted to it and have plenty of time to spare at a gym. Ordinary people with busy lifestyles tend to come up with a million excuses not to exercise as opposed to the healthy requirement of needing regular exercise.

The biggest excuse for such ordinary people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is to think that exercises are not a healthy option for their joints. If you are one such person, making the same excuse; you are not to be blamed as it is quite reasonable to fear about your joints. But the truth of the matter is, regular exercise is a dire need, even for those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. However, not every type of exercise will save your day! So let's explore the top 10 exercise tips that will make you fit without causing further damage to your body:

Tip 1: Stretching is the foremost safest type of exercise for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Starting your day off with stretching and progressing on to other types of physical exercises will boost your physical energy in a systematic way. Furthermore, stretching allows you to prepare your body for other types of exercises that will follow.

Tip 2: Similarly, Yoga has been recommended for a series of chronic illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis. Yoga helps you improve in posture, introduces proper breathing techniques and allows flexibility. However, it is recommended to follow through a physician's advice on what type of yoga that you should practice as some postures may not support your current condition.

Tip 3: Tai Chi is one of the most effective alternative means of exercising recommended by the Arthritis Foundation that helps you improve mobility, relaxation and overall quality of life. This ancient methodology of using slow movements coupled up with mental concentration and breathing techniques are known to be very effective in relieving stiffness in arthritis sufferers.

Tip 4: Aerobics, commonly known as an aggressive method of exercise has now been formulated in to low impact movements to facilitate people suffering from arthritis. These movements put a very low impact on the joints and muscles therefore; people with rheumatoid arthritis can gain just the right amount of exercises needed. Low impact aerobics include riding on stationary bicycles, slow motion aerobic dances, water exercises and some walking.

Tip 5: Not quite so surprisingly, swimming is also good for rheumatoid arthritis, as it is for many other chronic conditions. In fact, swimming is one of the most effective means of exercise that you can practice because water supports your body while swimming giving away the lowest possible impact to muscles and joints.

Additionally to the top five tips presented herewith, stretching exercises are also recommended to stay healthy with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the type of stretching and the intensity up to which you exercise should be pre-agreed with your physician and a trained physiotherapist or trainer.

Doctor...Tell Me about Boswellia and Arthritis

Boswellia is also know as Indian frankincense, salai guggal, and boswellin. The proper botanic label for boswellia is Boswellia serrata. It is derived from the resin of the bark of the Boswellia tree. While it grows in other parts of Southeast Asia, it is found abundantly found in the Indian subcontinent.

Boswellia is available in either pill or capsule form. The dose for most people is generally 300 mg to 400 mg taken three times a day.

For a product to be effective, it should contain at least 60 per cent boswellic acid. It is the boswellic acid that contains the active ingredient. A number of nutritional supplements now contain boswellia. Look for a reputable manufacturer.

The condition for which boaswellia has had the most supporting evidence for a beneficial effect is arthritis.

The most convincing study was published in 2003 (Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7) when a research study examined thirty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Half of the patients received daily supplementation with 333 mgs of Boswellia. The other half received placebo. After the first intervention, washout was given and then the groups were crossed over to receive the opposite intervention for eight weeks. All patients receiving boswellia reported decrease in knee pain, increased knee flexion and increased walking distance. The frequency of swelling in the knee joint was decreased. Radiologically there was no change. The observed differences between drug treated and placebo being statistically significant, are clinically relevant. Boswellia serrata extract was well tolerated by the subjects except for minor gastrointestinal symptoms.

The conclusions were: "Boswellia serrata extract is recommended in the patients of osteoarthritis of the knee with possible therapeutic use in other arthritis."

Other studies have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Diseases that have been studied where good results have been reported include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and bursitis.

Arthritis Pain Medication: What's Best For You?

Individuals who happen to be tormented by arthritis often are looking for effective arthritis pain medication and also discover how to be able to obtain effective and safe arthritis pain relief. That's the reason why it's absolutely necessary to find out where to start.

Arthritis is usually handled with an effective arthritis pain medication and treatment methods. And considering the fact that there are a lot of great bargains for arthritis pain reliever in the market to consider, it's really important to determine your options and select the very best arthritis pain reliever.

In terms of getting the finest arthritis pain medication you only need to identify what arthritis pain you might be going through.

Arthritis pain medications are available in a few classes and they are generally useful in handling arthritis symptoms, preventing joint damage, and in addition strengthening mobility and body function.

In most cases, there are 5 classifications of arthritis pain medications and these include:

* NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

* Analgesics (painkillers)

* Corticosteroids

* DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs)

* Newer biologics

As mentioned previously, it is vital that you educate yourself with regards to the drugs in each category and know your choices.

NSAIDs appear to have been widely used as a treatment solution for arthritis for more than thirty years. These medications possess analgesic or painkilling, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-pyretic or fever-reducing properties. In view that these drugs are observed to possibly cause significant negative effects patients should consider benefits along with the risks of taking NSAIDs.

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones and therefore are drugs that are closely associated with cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. These were found to offer striking results and spectacular improvements that it was believed to be a discovered "cure" for arthritis. The utilization of corticosteroids expanded over the years and has now been found to have considerable side effects. Until now, they're still widely used orally and through injection to help reduce inflammation.

DMARDs are known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs which appear to decrease inflammation however they are not specified as anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines do not relieve pain immediately, don't lower production of prostaglandin and even do not help reduce fever. However they slow down the disease process by way of modifying the immune system.

Biologic Drugs or Biologic response modifiers are medications that re-establish the immune system's ability to have the ability to deal with disease or infection.

Natural Remedies or well known as alternative and natural treatments are actually gaining popularity and are mostly preferred because they act as complement to traditional therapies. A few of these treatments have gained little respect in terms of their effectiveness for the reason that there are claims to have little scientific research to back it up and moreover warnings for potential drug interactions and adverse reactions. Hence, before attempting to try any treatment it is recommended to seek the advice of your physician and become well-informed pertaining to any treatment.

Topical arthritis treatments or products are recognized as preparations placed on the skin. They can be found in the form of over-the-counter arthritis cream. These work well in soothing minor arthritis and muscle pain. Some arthritis creams may come with salicylate as the active component while a few may contain capsaicin or menthol which gives a pain-relieving effect.

Joint surgery, more often is considered as the last and final option to apply treatment to patients with arthritis particularly if there is damage to the joints that experts claim greatly interferes with mobility and function. Joint replacement surgery is proven to offer impressive arthritis pain relief for numerous arthritis patients. Ahead of taking surgery as a possible option, it's vital that you are aware of what to prepare for before, during, and following the procedure.

Clearly, arthritis is generally painful and may impair you from performing your normal day to day activities. You need not sustain painful arthritis for the reason that help and relief are invariably attainable. All that's necessary is to talk with your doctor immediately.

Knee Arthritis Treatment And Pain Relief

Knee arthritis can also be called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is essentially the wearing down of the cartilage surrounding the knee which occurs simply as people age. Another common form of knee arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis, which results in swelling within the joint and damage to the cartilage. Not only do these forms of knee arthritis affect the joints and cartilage, they can also have a serious impact on the surrounding ligaments, muscles and tendons.

Osteoarthritis is often the result of increased strain on the joint due to weight, or repeated injury or damage. Knee arthritis is definitely more common in middle aged to elderly persons. A younger sufferer of knee arthritis has usually inherited the condition- it does have a genetic disposition, or it can be the after affect of a serious knee injury- more common in sports men- specifically footballers. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in younger people for this reason.

There are various warning signs for potential sufferers of knee arthritis- these could be restricted knee movement, localized swelling or inflammation and discomfort and pain. The most key indicator however is stiffness- when the knee has not been moved for a period of time, and then movement is not fluid- this is a possible indicator of knee arthritis. Another warning sign is a clicking sound coming from the joint when it is extended- this can be cause by other knee conditions other than knee arthritis however. Whatever the potential symptom, the patient will always need to have an X-Ray before any sense of a diagnosis can be performed by the recommending physician or doctor.

There are less related methods of testing for knee arthritis as well. The main one is simply a blood test- doctor's will be able to see deficiency in the blood results. An arthroscopy will also most certainly confirm the diagnosis of knee arthritis, however this will only be recommended if there is an intention to fix the knee arthritis.

Here are the 4 main treatments for knee arthritis:

Exercise - It has been proven that one of the most significant factors in causing knee arthritis is being overweight. If the sufferer can begin a gentle exercise regime in combination with a healthy diet, there is every chance that the knee arthritis symptoms will ease.

Physical therapy - There are sets of exercises which a physician or doctor can recommend. These exercises benefit the knee arthritis by focusing mobility in certain parts of the knee where the stiffness is occurring, thus easing the symptoms of the knee arthritis.

Medication - Often sufferers of knee arthritis will be administered basic pain killers such as Aspirin, but also Acetaminophen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Surgery - Surgery on knee arthritis needs to be carefully considered and evaluated by your doctor before being pursued as a treatment option for knee arthritis. Certain factors such as health, weight age all need to be considered before deciding it is the best method to take. Usually all other methods of knee arthritis treatments will be exhausted before surgery will be considered.

Knee arthritis like most forms of arthritis can be easily managed and the symptoms controlled. It is crucial to diagnose as early as possible, as this will lead to a greater chance of curing the knee arthritis.