Arthritis Treatment: Exercise Treatment for Low Back Pain

One of the most common reasons for a visit to a rheumatologist is low back pain. And one of the simplest and safest forms of treatment is therapeutic exercises.

There are eight exercises that can help. These should only be done after consulting with a physical therapist or your physician.

#1. The first is to lie flat on the floor in a relaxed fashion, bring your right knee toward your chest, and clasp your hands around the knee. Pull the right knee toward the chest firmly and at the same time straighten your left leg. Do 5 repetitions. Repeat the same with the opposite leg. It may help to have a small pillow under your head to prevent neck strain.

#2. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, with your arms at your sides with the palms down. Tighten the muscles of your lower abdomen and buttocks so your low back flattens. Slowly raise your lower back and buttocks off the floor and hold for five seconds. Relax and repeat five times.

#3. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Feet flat on the floor, hands at your sides, with the palms facing down. Tighten the muscles of your abdomen and buttocks so as to push the lower back against the floor. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat five times.

#4. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms at your sides. Bring both of your knees to your chest and clasp your hands around the knees and pull them toward your chest. Hold this position for five seconds and relax. Repeat five times.

#5. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, and arms at your side, with the palms facing down. Raise your left leg up as far as comfortable without overstretching the hamstring muscles behind your leg. Return your left leg to its starting position and repeat five times. Do not jerk! Repeat the same exercise with your right leg five times also.

#6. Lie flat on your back with your arms at your sides, palms facing down. Slowly raise your left leg and bring it towards the opposite side of your body until you feel a stretch. Repeat the same motion with the right leg. Do each side five times.

#7. Lie on the floor with your knees bent. Place your hands next to your ears. Squeeze your stomach muscles and lift your head two to four inches off the floor, while looking at the ceiling. Hold this position for 5 seconds and repeat five times. Do not put your hands behind your neck as this can cause you to strain your neck.

#8. Stand with your hands against a wall and your left leg 18 inches behind your right foot with the heel flat against the floor. Bend your right knee but keep the left leg straight. Slowly bend forward until you feel the stretch in your calf. Hold this position for five seconds. Repeat five times, then do the right leg the same number.

It may be more comfortable for you to use a small pillow to cushion your head. This will also prevent neck strain. Use a yoga mat if you have one.

Vitamin C: Arthritis Cure Or Not?

Vitamin c successfully forms a part of the supplementation plan for many people suffering from arthritis.

There is a lot of evidence from many sources proving that supplementing with vitamin c can benefit diseases involving inflammation. It is also known that vitamin c plays a role in collagen synthesis, the main protein that is found in the joints of the body. Collagen is the main component of tendons, ligaments, cartilage and many other structures of the body. Healthy collagen means healthy joints.

Does vitamin c supplementation benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Vitamin c has been found to be low in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. This is because vitamin c is an anti-oxidant which is used up to detoxify free radicals- something you find in abundance in inflammatory diseases.

A large study conducted between 1993 and 1997 involving 23000 men and women showed some benefit in taking higher amounts of vitamin c through your diet. During the study, which was actually meant to study cancer, the participants had to keep track of what they ate in a diary.

During this period, 73 of the participants developed symptoms that were related to rheumatoid arthritis. Compared to the other participants, the ones who developed rheumatoid arthritis, actually consumed less fruit and vegetables in their daily diets. Of course, fruit and vegetables contain a lot of vitamin c. The participants that ate the least amount of fruit and vegetables had about double the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

How does it work? As we have noted, vitamin c is a major factor in the collagen synthesis, which is the main protein in joint tissue. Remember also, that rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an overreaction by the immune system. Some sources say that vitamin c has a calming effect on the immune system, acting on specific molecules (tenascin-C molecules) that causes and sustains inflammation in the joints.

But, vitamin c is a powerful anti-oxidant and therefore has a role to play in treating cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis, because these diseases are affected by free radicals and enzymes causing inflammation. Free radicals are found in the synovial fluids of inflamed joints, which suggest that free radicals are involved with the inflammation of the joint. Also, low levels of all the anti-oxidants are found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Indirectly then, the suggestion is therefore that patients with rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from increased amounts of anti-oxidants like vitamin c in their diets.

How much do you need? If you suffer from an inflammatory disease, doses can be anything from 3-10g per day. That is a lot of vitamin c compared to typical recommended daily allowances.

MBST - Magnetic Resonance Therapy

Did you know there is a treatment for Arthritis and Osteoporosis, a treatment that can repair cartilage and bone? You will most likely not have heard about this relatively new treatment but you will because it works.

The technology is called MBST which stands for Magnetic Resonance Therapy. The technology is based on MRI technology. It was discovered that patients with joint problems after having a scan reported an improvement in mobility and relief from pain.

A German company MedTec Medizintechnik GmbH developed this technology to specifically concentrate on the therapeutic effects of MRI and MBST was developed. Fast forward to today and tens of thousands of patients have been treated across the globe including Europe, Israel, The United States and the United Kingdom.

This technology works by metabolising the bodies natural ability to heal. MBST therapy acts on nuclear spin, it generates an electromagnetic field. This is not to be confused with conventional electromagnetic therapies as this technology specifically works with nuclear spin resonance. Don't worry this is nothing to do with nuclear in the sense you may be used to. In fact this type of treatment has no known harmful side effects.

A typical treatment can take up to an hour and involves sitting or lying with the machine acting on the specific part of the body that need treating. This is a cumulative treatment so up to 9 sessions may be required depending on the condition. The resulting effect is that cartilage re-grows and bone re-grows reducing the pain and limited movement associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

Conventional treatments for such conditions usually entails a ever stronger cocktail of painkillers. Under some circumstances you may require an operation such as a knee replacement operation.

This is still a relatively unknown treatment and in most countries you cannot get this treatment through your health insurance or health system. You can however ask you doctor or physician about MBST. They may not have heard of it but there are several clinical studies carried out by such doctors as Dr. med. M. Krosche, Dr. med. G. Breitgraf, Prof. Dr. I. Frobose, Dr. med Eckey, Prof. Dr. med. Lucker, Prof. Dr. med. C. Melzer and Dr. med. Handschuh who have published clinical studies on the effect of MBST.

You can find a summary of some of these studies at mbst medical which you can print off and show your doctor. This treatment is not suitable for everyone as once cartilage has completely worn you will probably need an operation to replace the affected joint. If you do suffer from osteoarthritis and osteoporosis it is in your interest to seek a treatment that has no side effects rather than waiting for the inevitable on an ever increasing regime of pain medication.

Psoriatic Arthritis Diet

This article will detail a psoriatic arthritis diet approach to management of the condition. After being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis I remember being given a 2 page handout about the medication the doctors wanted me to take to manage my condition. I remember the opening line of the handout saying something along the lines of 'we are not really sure of the mechanism behind how this drug helps psoriatic arthritis, but it does'. Then I remember looking at the list of potential side effects from the medication, it was nearly worse than the psoriatic arthritis itself. For goodness sakes, it recommended that I needed to have regular blood test to check my liver wasn't forming tumors.

I knew taking medicine was not an option. I figured my actions and lifestyle had resulted in my current state and that I could reverse that and get myself out of it. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates once said 'let food be thy medicine'. I definitely acknowledge other factors in psoriatic arthritis, and these are addressed in other articles, but this article will deal with a psoriatic arthritis diet approach. Psoriatic arthritis is classified as an auto-immune disease; the body is hypersensitive and is destroying its own tissue. The cure cannot be to pump it full of toxic drugs and medications.

A basic way to start on a good psoriatic arthritis diet is simply consuming more live foods. This is just eating more fresh food. Food that has not come in a jar, packet, box, carton or packaged on the shelf. Just eat more fruit and vegetables. Things that have a long used by date, forget about them. An easy starting point is to start having salads with your meals. If the thought of that seems difficult, just add salad to your current meals, you don't have to take away anything. Even if you are eating junk at the moment, just eat it with a salad, simply wrap it in the salad. This will get some good nutrient dense food into your system and help you get the taste of real food. Over time you will crave fresh live food and junk food will be seen as the bland nutritionally empty food that it really is.

If you visit any herbalist, nutritionist or naturopath who is experienced at helping a wide range of problems and diseases, you will see that one of the most highly recommended starting points for a diet is the elimination of diary and wheat. This is particularly evident with the management of auto-immune type of problems like psoriatic arthritis. The reason why is because both wheat and diary are the most heavily processed and commercialized food groups today, and this has effective how our bodies cope with them. Also research is showing the actual molecules can cause a lot of issue with the stomach. Whatever the cause, the result is producing inflammation in the body. At first people may freak out a little, because it is possible that every meal of the day contains wheat and diary and you think you are left with nothing to eat. No doubt it is different and takes some getting used to but there are plenty of recipe books and products now available to make it easy for you.

Consuming good healthy protein is key to the psoriatic arthritis diet. Your main sources of protein are probably going to be beef, chicken or fish, so make sure they are clean and healthy. Make sure they are as natural as possible. All of them should be hormone and anti-biotic free. Your beef should be grass fed, like nature intended and not grain fed. If grain fed the meat loses its balance of essential fats. Chickens can also be grass fed and therefore their meat and eggs will be healthier. Do not buy farmed fish. Protein is the building blocks of the body and natural clean sources can make a big difference to the body.

This article is just a brief introduction into some starting concepts about a psoriatic arthritis diet. A cure for the disease is a strong word, but I feel it is a better solution than masking your symptoms with medication. The body has an innate wanting to be healthy, there may have been some roadblocks that got in the way, if you remove the roadblocks it will want to restore itself back to a health optimal state. Diet and nutrition may only be a small piece of the puzzle for some. For more information on the other pieces of the psoriatic arthritis puzzle that includes diet, nutritional supplements and stress reduction please check out my other articles.

Home Remedies for Arthritis - Cure Arthritis at Home

There are many ways to treat arthritis. Many people control arthritis pain with medications. However, there are many who do not wish to risk the side effects and drug interactions that can result from this type of pain management. To avoid these risks, many people choose arthritis home remedies as a natural alternative to medications. There are many different home remedies for the treatment of arthritis pain.

Some common home remedies for overall health include:

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  Maintain a vegetarian diet - studies have shown that reducing the amount of saturated fat intake and increasing the amount of unsaturated fat can help to alleviate the pain caused by arthritis. A vegetarian diet almost eliminates the intake of saturated fat.


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  Eat fish - fish such as salmon, herring, and sardines have been found to be rich in Omega-3 and can help alleviate the inflammation associated with arthritis.


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  Dehumidifier - keeping the air in your home at a steady level of humidity can decrease the pain of arthritis that is caused by an increase in humidity and a decrease in air pressure - such as when a storm is approaching.


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  Maintain a balanced mental health - avoiding stress and depression can help in the prevention of bouts of arthritis and help to maintain a healthy overall mental state.

There are many arthritis home remedies that involve the ingestion of certain teas and vegetable drinks.

These arthritis home remedies are used to cure arthritis:

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  Alfalfa tea - twice a day.


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  Lemon juice and Honey - mix two teaspoons of lemon juice, one teaspoon of honey, and one cup of warm water. Drink twice a day.


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  Turmeric Powder - half a teaspoon mixed with warm water.


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  Guggulu - eat half a teaspoon twice daily.


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  Bathua - drink two teaspoons of tea made from fresh leave twice daily.


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  Cod Liver Oil - one tablespoon added to the juice of an orange and drank daily.


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  Garlic - one clove fried in castor oil or ghee.


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  Walnuts - eat 2-3 daily on an empty stomach.


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  Eggplants - fried in castor oil and eaten once a day.

There are also several arthritis home remedies that can be used to relieve symptoms:

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  Black Sesame Seeds - soak overnight in water; take first thing in the morning with the water.


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  Pineapple juice - drink one cup to relieve swelling and inflammation.


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  Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey - dissolve in water and take once or twice a day.


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  Fruit Pectin and Cranberry Juice - mix a tablespoon of fruit pectin into a glass of cranberry juice and drink daily.


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  Blackstrap Molasses and Cranberry Juice - mix four teaspoons molasses into cranberry juice and drink daily.


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  Beets and Berry Wine - slice four raw beets and soak in wine for twenty-four hours; drink three times a day before meals.

Along with the many popular remedies, there are also many liniments and oils that can be used to soothe the pain of arthritis:

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  Hot water - gently exercise the affected joints while immersed in a tub of hot water.


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  Olive Oil and Kerosene - mix two parts olive oil with one part kerosene and bathe affected joints.


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  Hot vinegar - use as a rub for affected joints.


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  Sandalwood Powder Paste - add water to the sandalwood powder to form a paste and rub on the affected joints.


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  Arthcare Oil - herbal oil that can be massaged onto the affected joints.


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  Epsom Salt - Add Epsom salts to a tub of water as hot as you can stand it and soak for thirty minutes; add hot water as needed to prevent the water from getting cold.


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  Emu Oil - rub onto the affected joints.


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  Camphor and Coconut Oil - mix coconut oil with several pieces of camphor and massage the affected joints. Mustard oil can be used in place of coconut oil.


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  Oil of Ginger - mix five drops of essential oil of ginger with twenty drops of wheat germ or almond oil and massage the affected joints.

Glucosamine Supplements for Hounds

Numerous animal owners do not know that their furry friends could also develop osteoarthritis like humans do. I was among them. Joint disease results whenever there is inflammation in one or more joints. Cartilage covers the end of a bone where a bone meets another bone. Cartilage material permits gentle motions of bones against one another. The synovial fluids which are present around the joints act as a cushion as well as as lubricant whenever the joints move. After a mongrel eventually becomes arthritic, its joint cartilage material is damaged and the synovial fluid eventually becomes thin and that's why there is less shock absorption and lubrication. This results in bones rubbing versus each other and inflicts pain.

Doggies of much older age, specific pedigrees for instance bigger breeds, chronically overweight, have low-grade daily diet as well as nutrition and have had joint trauma or were likely born with problems such as hip, knee and elbow dysplasia are inclined to osteoarthritis. In the event your mutt gets arthritis the joints are inflamed and swollen and results in soreness as well as uncomfortableness. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease and irreparable. Pups with osteoarthritis will likely show signs like difficulty sitting and standing up, stiffened and hurtful joints, uneager to hop, run or maybe climb steps, siding with a limb and snoozing more. In the event that your pup shows pretty much any such syndromes take him or her to an animal medical practitioner straight away. Through physical examination, X-ray and blood tests, a vet will be capable to tell if your pet has osteoarthritis. You can ask your vet to recommend some glucosamine supplements in the event that your pup is diagnosed with arthritis.

Glucosamine supplements are currently the recommended health care for dog osteoarthritis for the reason that it is natural and safe. It is not a pain killer like the non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can cause a few serious side effects if used long term. NSAIDs can only lighten the pain however, can not help in repairing the damages caused by dog osteoarthritis. Glucosamine taken by mouth has actually been demonstrated to be assimilated by the body and carried to the joints to restore the glucosamine which is no more adequately produced in the joint cartilage of much older pooches. Glucosamine is a precursor to the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan which is needed to repair injured cartilage material and build fresh ones. Glucosamine also has anti-inflammatory effects and can decrease the inflammation and swelling in your dog's arthritic joints.

Glucosamine supplements come in many forms and types. They can be purchased in liquid, chewable tablets and powder form. Glucosamine supplements are manufactured from crustacean exoskeleton for instance shells of crab, shrimp and lobsters. For individuals as well as pets who are allergic to prawn and seashells, there is now glucosamine supplements made from fermented wheat or corn.

Two of the best and most effective types of glucosamine supplements for dogs are glucosamine sulphate and glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine chondroitin is also given to arthritic dogs. Apart from glucosamine, chondroitin is yet another molecule that is located naturally in the joints and its major function is absorption of fluids in the connective tissues and to stop harmful enzymes from destroying the joint cartilage material.

The Pros and Cons of Arthritis Injections

In the treatment of musculoskeletal problems, cortisone injections may be extremely effective. Also called corticosteroid injections, they provide a focused anti-inflammatory effect aimed at providing pain relief for patients that is coming from a joint problem, such as osteoarthritis, or a soft tissue problem, such as lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

The medication in a steroid shot contains some of the same hormones that the human adrenal glands produce. These hormones, corticosteroids, perform vital functions in the body, such as being released and providing anti-inflammation when stress is experienced.

These injections into either joints or soft tissues provide pain relief, but it is not permanent. The effects wear off after a few weeks to months, and it may actually take a few days for the pain relief to kick in. Typically some numbing medicine is included with the steroid to give immediate relief.

Patients frequently ask if the cortisone will help with cartilage restoration. Steroid injections are not disease altering treatments, they are simply symptom altering and meant to decrease pain.

So what are the benefits of a steroid injection?

1. Pain relief - This is the main benefit, as the injection of steroid doesn't alter the course of arthritis. But it does make life more tolerable by decreasing pain for what may be quite a few months.

2. Low Risk - Compared with surgery for a musculoskeletal condition, an injection maintains a much lower risk profile.

3. Low Cost - Also compared with surgery, an injection cost exponentially less.

4. Focused Injection - The steroid is injected into either a joint which is a confined space or into a soft tissue area where the medication stays predominantly local.

5. Outpatient - The injections are done either in the doctor's office or as an outpatient procedure. No overnight stays necessary.

6. Can delay the need for surgery - If a patient is in his 50's and has terrible osteoarthritis, doing a knee replacement may only last for 15 years. This may lead to the need for a revision surgery which typically has a less satisfactory result. So the injections may provide an impressively tolerable delay for years.

7. Can be placed in multiple joints - If a patient has pain and arthritis in multiple joints, such as the knees, shoulders, and spine, steroid injections may be placed in a few joints (with appropriate care not too many at once)

What are the risks of a steroid injection?

1. Temporary blood sugar elevation - this is most common in diabetics and may raise blood sugars temporarily for 24-48 hours. It would be unusual for this to be an actual clinical problem, but people should be aware of the potential temporary issue, especially diabetics.

2. Cartilage damage - It's unclear in humans if this is clinically relevant. In animal studies there has been shown cartilage alterations with repetitive injections. The key here is moderation with the amount of injections administered to each joint.

3. Adrenal gland suppression - this type of complication may occur with oral steroid medication on a repetitive basis, it would be extremely unusual for a focal steroid injection to end up with this complication.

4. Infection - with appropriate sterile technique obtaining an infection after a steroid injection is rare, much less than 1%. Prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary.

For most individuals, cortisone injections represent an excellent pain relief option for musculoskeletal conditions. The key is moderation.