Arthritis - Coping With This Crippling Disease

Many people would associate arthritis with the onset of old age. Although old people may suffer from arthritis, it isn't only the elderly who are affected by arthritis. Many younger people, including some in their teens suffer from some kind of arthritis. Dictionaries define arthritis as being an inflammation of the joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes. Obviously that can include a large number of different causes of this illness.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and the cartilage of the joints; furthermore it is an ongoing, degenerative disease. This is probably one of the most difficult aspects of the disease to cope with: although today may be painful, the future will possibly only be worse.

There are more than one hundred different types of arthritis. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis, caused by the wear and tear exerted on the joints through a lifetime and rheumatoid arthritis, caused by an autoimmune response in the body. Osteoarthritis is the arthritis associated with getting older. This is the version of arthritis that most people think of when talking about arthritis. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the body is tricked into acting as though there were an infection in the joint. As a result there is swelling, inflammation and pain in that joint as the body endeavors to fight the phantom infection.

The most common medical treatment offered to arthritis patients are NSAID's or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. The drawback with these drugs is that they can cause irritation in the intestinal tract and some researchers believe may even make the deterioration of the joints worse.

Alternative treatments for arthritis include the use of Glucosamine Sulfate, turmeric and fish oils. Studies have suggested that glucosamine helps to build cartilage and therefore rebuild the damage done to joints both from wear and tear as well as arthritis. Turmeric, a yellow spice used in curries and prepared mustard, has anti-inflammatory qualities. One of the compounds in turmeric that is so helpful, called curcumin, can be bought in capsule form. Fish oils, particularly EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), help to fight inflammation. In addition, as omega-3 fatty acids, they contribute to general health in the body.

Coping with arthritis is an ongoing process, given that arthritis tends to get worse over time. Obviously two priorities exist in this coping effort; to help the patient deal with the pain and to aid them in living as independently as possible. The issue of coping with pain will be part of the therapeutic process, using either pain medication and/or alternative methods. Some arthritis gets so bad that surgery is used to affect repair to the joints involved. As far as maintaining independence is concerned, successful therapy will help. If attempts to control the arthritis don't work, then a plan to adjust to limited mobility is called for.

Any degenerative illness like arthritis is a real challenge to the health of the person suffering from it. Not only is the arthritis a painful and crippling disease in the first place; but exercise, something that is necessary for maintaining a healthy weight as well cardiovascular health, can become all but impossible. Although seeking a cure to an arthritic condition may be laudable, a far more effective strategy may be to aim at reducing the pain, healing what can be healed and planning to maintain independent living as long as possible. A cure would be wonderful, but learning to cope with arthritis in the meantime is a good idea.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicine and Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that mostly affects women. It hampers physical activity and movement, and it also affects the general health of those affected. It can cause serious weight loss, fatigue and anemia. The last 40 years of research has brought us many a form of rheumatoid arthritis medicine, and this article seeks to give an overview of some of the most common treatments given to those affected.

The most common medications for rheumatoid arthritis are those associated with taking care of inflammations. These drugs are mostly taken orally and because of this, they cause gastrointestinal problems. They are usually associated with stomach ulcers, liver diseases and renal disfunctions. Because of this, more attention is placed on treatments that attempt to curb the formation of the disease and its progression.

An example of rheumatoid arthritis medicine that has this action is Plaquenil. Under the generic name hydroxychloroquine, Plaquenil was first marketed as an anti-malarial drug, but it was found to have anti-inflammatory properties as well. This drug was used to treat those who were unresponsive to common orally taken drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Plaquenil is also given orally, but is more effective. Care should be exercised when administering Plaquenil, though, as the drug can cause eye problems.

Penicillamine is another drug that is found to have effects on controlling rheumatoid arthritis. This drug is also administered orally. The problem with this drug, however, is that it can cause kidney problems and blood-related disorders.

Because treatments have known side effects, it is always best to consult first with your doctor regarding your condition. The administration of these drugs must be carefully regulated and monitored by a health care professional. Never self-prescribe. It doesn't mean that your friend or neighbour found this drug effective, that you should use it to treat your own condition as well. There are variations in your and your friend's medical history that could spell the differences in the effects of the drugs. Your doctor should be the one to determine which drug or treatment is best for your condition. The doctor will help you monitor your condition, as well as administer tests that will test any forms of toxicity and adverse effects of any drugs that you are taking for your arthritis.

Natural Cures For Rheumatoid Arthritis - Causes and Symptoms

In rheumatoid arthritis, there is an inflammation of joints or there may be an inflammation of tissue around the joint. It may affect the other organs of the body also. It is said to be the chronic inflammation of the joint. It is also said to be an autoimmune disease which means the illness caused when the tissue of the body is by mistake attacked by their own immune system. Sometimes it is said to be the rheumatoid disease because it is associated with the inflammation and it may affect multiple organs of the body. It is also referred as systematic illness. Rheumatoid arthritis lasts for many years as it is a chronic illness. It causes the joint destruction and functional disability also.

All over the world, the cause of the rheumatoid arthritis is a matter of research. It was expected that fungi, bacteria and virus may be its cause but none has be proven as its cause. It may be said that to a great extent it may be hereditary or some environmental factors also plays an important role in its cause like smoking, intake of tobacco etc.

The symptoms depend upon the degree of inflammation of the tissue. The symptoms of this arthritis may come and go according to the inflammation. When there is an inflammation of the tissue then the disease becomes active and when there the inflammation subsides then the disease becomes inactive. In many persons the symptoms disappear and then again come back and this condition is called flare. Common symptoms among the sufferer when the disease remain active are stiffness, muscle and joint ache, low grade fever, loss of energy, fatigue and lack of appetite.

No permanent solution has been established for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. There are some therapies which are very popular among the people. But these therapies are the supplement to the conventional care not the proper replacement of it. Some natural remedies are there which are very effective for it.

1. For thousands of years especially in Africa, people are using devil's claw as a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, stomach and kidneys, improving the skin conditions and the gallbladder also.

2. An herb known as boswellia basically available in India is very effective in the treatment of curing inflammation of tissue.

3. Gamma - linolenic acid basically found in black current seed oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil proves to be very effective in its treatment.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids which are available in fats. So we must intake the food which contains Omega 3 Fatty Acid to overcome from this problem.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments - Simple Strategies that Work

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments are all over the internet. Some work, some don't and some are just plain foolish. But the bottom line is "what price are you willing to pay" to eliminate the pain for one day? one week? one month?

I'm a person who firmly believes in healing yourself from the inside out and if we take as good of care of our bodies as we do our children, then maybe, just maybe we can also eliminate rheumatoid arthritis pain. Ready to learn?

Any good rheumatoid arthritis treatments needs to focus on the "cause" and not the "symptoms". Drugs in my humble opinion and nobody else, are strictly there to stop the pain for the moment. They do not treat the root cause of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis goes way beyond just the pain in your joints. It effects your emotional well being and how you feel about yourself. Take a look at what other things could go wrong with you if you suffer from RA:

• depression


• anxiety


• immune system can't work nearly as well as it used it because of the drugs they have you take


• disbelief that your body is actually failing you


• many sleepless nights


• learning how to deal with the pain

The simple things in life that most of us take for granted no longer exist when a person suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Things like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, getting in and out of a car, trying to turn the ignition key in your car, trying to eat a meal with a fork and knife. Again, I ask you what is the price you would pay to eliminate some of this pain?

Here is what I have done to the best of my ability to stop arthritis pain:

• education-reading anything I can get my hands on that will help me treat the "root cause"


• eating properly


• maintaining a good weight


• exercise to increase the blood flow through my joints


• diet includes a lot of fruits and vegetables


• supplementation of natural ingredients

Not everyone will respond in the same way that I have responded to the above. The list from above was created after many years of research, trial and error. Was it worth it?

Absolutely, anything beats arthritis pain

I can honestly tell you that if I forget to take my supplements for a week, it is almost a guarantee that I will not be sleeping very well at night because my knees hurt so bad. The result is the fact that my body needs a lot of calcium/magnesium, glucosamine and many of the other natural ingredients found in the supplements I take daily. It usually takes a couple of days to restore my body of the nutrients it needs to help fight the effects of arthritis pain.

I'm working extremely hard to stay away from rheumatoid arthritis and so far so good. Like I said in the opening statement: These simple strategies work and they work because of education, trial and error. I highly recommend you start using some of these strategies to help you eliminate or reduce arthritis pain. These rheumatoid arthritis treatments have been used by several of my friends and one of them has their rheumatoid arthritis in remission and all of us are keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't come back.

Make it a pain free week.

Arthritis Treatment: What to Do About Trochanteric Bursitis

Bursae are small sacs that contain minute amounts of fluid. They are located around most joints and are responsible for cushioning. When they become inflamed, the condition is referred to as "bursitis."

One of the most common causes of hip pain is trochanteric bursitis. It is an affliction of middle-aged to elderly people and tends to affect women more often than men. Patients are often overweight.

The primary symptom is aching pain located on the side of the hip at an area called the "greater trochanter". The pain sometimes radiates down the side of the thigh.

The pain is aggravated by walking, climbing stairs, and lying on the affected side. The pain tends to come on gradually and can become so severe the patient has difficulty walking. In some cases, trauma plays a role and can cause a more acute onset of pain.

On examination, there is tenderness located over the lateral hip. The pain elicited by examination can be excruciating. Having the patient lift their leg laterally (to the side) can also bring out the pain. There may be a noticeable limp.

The condition is almost always accompanied by tendinopathy, meaning the tendons overlying the bursa are diseased or damaged. The two tendons that are most often affected are the gluteus minimus and gluteus medius.

Some conditions can predispose to trochanteric bursitis. These include scoliosis as well as leg length differences.

The diagnosis is suspected clinically and can be confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another condition that can mimic this problem is sciatica.

The treatment initially can be conservative with stretching of the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus tendons as well as the iliotibial band, a long ligament that stretches from the greater trochanter of the hip down to the knee. Non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can provide symptomatic relief as can ice packs or moist heat.

Patients who are overweight should be counseled regarding weight loss.

In stubborn cases, ultrasound guided injections of glucocorticoid ("cortisone") may be useful. These injections should be used sparingly because they may cause more tendon degeneration.

Patients who continue to have symptoms will require a procedure called ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy accompanied by platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

The theory here is that using a small gauge needle to poke holes in the area of degeneration will induce an acute inflammatory response. This causes the release of active growth and healing factors from the platelets in the platelet-rich plasma. This procedure will lead to healing of the diseased bursa and adjacent tendons.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment: Alternatives And Medication

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment is a necessary yet complex process. There are many aspects that need to be taken into consideration in this fight against your own body. The first step is to see your doctor. There are several forms of arthritis, one of them being rheumatoid, that can lead to more serious complications including the inability to use your joint to its full function. What is important to know is that there are many rheumatoid arthritis treatment plans that can work for you and improve your overall well being, minimize your pain as well as slow the progression of the arthritis.

Standard Treatment Options For Arthritis

It is essential for you to seek out the help of your doctor. He or she will design a course of action to help treat your condition. Most of the time, this will include several types of medications. One of the first medications you will take includes a pain relief formula. Because arthritis is an inflammation of the joint's lining, medications can help to lessen the swelling that happens there. It will take a few tries to get the right dosage down, but pain relief can be found. In addition to this, your doctor is also likely to give you a medication that will slow the progression of arthritis. By telling your body to stop attacking itself, the medication can slow down how fast arthritis envelopes your joint completely. This is critical as the progression can cause devastating results if left untreated. The combination of medications is vitally important.

Alternatives Are Out There, Too

By either using these alternative methods in combination with the rheumatoid arthritis treatment that your doctor described or doing them alone, they can be helpful in relieving some or all of the pain associated with arthritis. Some of these treatments include massage, nutritional supplementation which usually includes the compounds of glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as homeopathy. In addition to these, acupuncture, wearing copper jewelry and magnets have been shown to help stimulate the healing within the body, including helping to relieve the pain caused by arthritis inflammation.

Should you consider these alternative therapies for the treatment of your arthritis? Some doctors do not believe that they can provide you with the help you need while others do. The ultimate decision will be yours to make but many find that these therapies can be expensive and may only provide a certain level of benefit to your overall health. On the other hand, there are some that believe that things like acupuncture really can stimulate the healing in your body including helping you to improve your overall experience with arthritis. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor and do more research about each option.

The most important thing for you to do in regards to rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to seek out the help of a qualified doctor or even a specialist in the field. From here, develop a plan that is all inclusive and tells you everything that you need to know to better your daily experience with arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - Get Started Early

There are several symptoms which can develop due to rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. A common sign most people are aware of, is the swelling in joints and tendons. And this is when sufferers will initially begin to look into the causes of the disease, as well as what rheumatoid arthritis treatment is available to them.

RA usually affects multiple areas, most often, the hands, knees, feet, shoulders and spine. The condition can not only cause extreme pain, if and when the condition worsens, but can ultimately become disabling; the disease causing serious damage to tissues and tendons. Sometimes causing anemia and other highly problematic medical conditions. Initially your medical physician will be able to diagnose the condition, not only from the visual signs, but with blood tests and x-rays.

However, if the disease is in the early stages, ie. has been developing for less than a year, this test will often have a negative result. Usually the disease builds over time, meaning eventually the patient will show as 'positive', as the RA progresses. Once diagnosis has been established, a Rheumatologist will normally be assigned to the patient to aid with long term management and treatment. A Rheumatologist is a trained specialist in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, as well as other diseases which can occur, connected with the joints, tendons and other connective tissues.

Initially, anti inflammatory drugs, painkillers and steroids might be prescribed to suppress and control the development of the disease. Much depends on the seriousness of the condition. Occupational and physiotherapy might also be considered a necessary and suitable drug free treatment.

If the RA is considered more serious, 'Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs will be prescribed, which are highly effective at preventing damage on a long term basis. New research is introducing newer biological drug treatments all the time. In the long term, the disease can cripple joints and also affect various vital organs in the body. This is true for almost a quarter of sufferers. Sometime these problems are caused by the drugs used for the treatment. Therefore, wherever possible, natural treatments are preferable.

For rheumatoid arthritis it is suggested the patient use anti-inflammatory herbs, for example turmeric or ginger. It is also believed that certain foods can aggravate the condition and should be eliminated or reduced in the diet. For instance, some grains, like wheat and corn, plus sugar, dairy products and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Reducing refined foods, with chemical additives, is also advised.

Food specific diets are not as successful with rheumatoid arthritis, as they are with osteo arthritis. However, that is not to say there are no benefits. There is a combination of ways to deal with RA. Which RA treatment suits you best, ultimately, will be for you and your doctor to decide.

Effective Arthritis Pain Relief - Tips And Treatments

I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain forever by doing one single thing - read on. There is a little-known natural solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain that I discovered several years ago.

Arthritic joints appear to be larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic - it does not spread through the entire body.

Joints are designed for normal and painless movement and are primarily supplied by the synovium and cartilage. Cartilage contains chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen; chondrocytes are the basic cartilage cells and are necessary for balance and function. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement.

Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. It's generally thought that inflammation plays a minor role in osteoarthritis and is more likely to be a result, not a cause, of arthritis. As chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis.

Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc. Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.

If your osteoarthritis is affecting your load-bearing joints, keeping your weight within a normal range is important. Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost -- no one will ever know. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

A study in Great Britain touted the beneficial effects of cod liver oil on osteoarthritis; relieving pain and stiffness, and reversing the destruction of joint cartilage within 24 hours. Watch your diet closely - load-bearing joints are affected by excessive weight; they are the hips, knees, feet and spine.

I eat a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds) to relieve my arthritis pain and this should be tried for at least 30 days, thus eliminating any foods that might be culprits. If you're not already doing so, make a big effort to watch your diet.

To be on the safe side always seek your doctor's advice before starting or changing your exercise program. Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Use Taiji health balls, with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints: hold two balls, move in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try counterclockwise and do throughout the day.

Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television. Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible.

Be aware that the use of NSAIDs or Cox-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten the onset. If you're planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor. At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take.

Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it. Your treatment plan should include an anti-arthritis diet, exercise, and a positive mental attitude.

Medical Treatment For Arthritis

Medications aimed and alleviating arthritis symptoms and treating arthritis' debilitating effects and deterioration processes are being continuously developed.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It may involve damage to the joints in the knees, hip and wrists. Although usually diagnosed in the elderly, people as young as 25 can develop osteoarthritis in any joint.

There is no cure for this disease and medical treatments may provide relief of symptoms and improvement in quality of life. This disease takes its toll on physical functioning leading to disability and handicap while more and more the patient is dependent on others to walk and climb stairs.

For effectively reducing pain and inflammation in the affected joints the conventional medical treatment is with Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs known as NSAIDs. These drugs are not steroids however patients should be warned that long term treatment with these medications has been found to cause serious side effects as internal bleeding, hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure (heart attack) and damage to the kidneys.

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are chronic joint diseases. Medications for treating these more severe types of arthritis are aimed at stopping, preventing, and even reversing bone and cartilage changes occurring as the disease worsens.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an example of a destructive arthritis. This progressive disease causes swelling of the joints. A continuing process of inflammatory attacks on the bones membrane causes bone erosion often leading to irreversible joint damage. This inflammatory condition can lead to considerable disability and severe degrees of joint pain. The severity of this structural bone damage can be predicted according to the severity of the inflammation, the number of swollen joints, or the duration of morning stiffness. Bone and cartilage damage is rapid and dynamic after disease onset. In most patients this structural bone damage occurs within the first year of the disease. Therefore the key to effective treatment begins with early diagnosis.

To treat this process, by effectively controlling the inflammation and reversing the structural damage to the bones, a specific medicine was developed. These are known as conventional Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs.

Ankylosing spondylitis another chronic joint disease involves inflammation in the sacroiliac joints and the spine. As the disease progresses the patient suffers from ongoing back pain stiffness. Medical treatments for Ankylosing spondylitis are physiotherapy and medication as Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Psoriatic arthritis patients in addition to the inflammatory arthritis process also suffer from psoriasis on their skin. In most cases they first suffered from psoriasis which later worsened to psoriatic arthritis however in some patients the psoriasis symptoms occurred after the development of the arthritis disease. In addition to joint inflammation and psoriasis on their skin these patients often also have changes in their nails as pitting or ridging. This disease also leads to severe damage to the joints and handicap overtime.

The latest medications developed for treating these three chronic joint diseases Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing spondylitis are called Tumor Necrosis Factor α blockers (TNF α blockers). These are biologically specific therapies which have essentially revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory arthritis diseases by effectively controlling disease symptoms and progression.

Depending on the case the patient can be treated with TNF α blockers alone or in what as known as combination therapy together with Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). Although TNF α blockers are very effective in treating the disease especially if the treatment begins in the early stages of the disease, this treatment often causes side effects as the development of serious infections requiring hospitalization.

Arthritis Treatment: How to Treat Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PA)is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis. Like its not so distant cousin, rheumatoid arthritis, PA is a systemic autoimmune driven form of arthritis. It is most common in people who have an extensive amount of psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of people with psoriasis will develop PA. Interestingly, patients may develop the arthritis before they have clinical psoriasis.

Most patients with psoriatic arthritis, if joint symptoms are minimal, usually see a dermatologist before realizing they have PA. Symptoms include swelling, heat, redness, and pain involving not only the joints but the entheses (tendon attachments into the bone) as well. In addition, tendon sheaths in the fingers and toes can swell, causing what is termed a "sausage" digit. Stiffness in the morning is usually present.

Patients with PA can have variants of the disease. Some patients have more involvement of the spine than others. PA is typically non-symmetric as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis which tends to be symmetric in presentation. It is this asymmetry that can be useful for suspecting the diagnosis.

In addition to the typical rash of psoriasis, patients may have nail pitting or lifting up of the finger or toenail.

Like other autoimmune forms of arthritis, there is a systemic component to this disease. In particular, patients with PA can develop eye inflammation.

Imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help confirm the diagnosis. Specific changes at the entheses are characteristic of PA.

Treatment starts with making the diagnosis. Diseases that can be confused with PA are rheumatoid arthritis, gout (the serum uric acid can be elevated in patients with PA), fibromyalgia, pseudogout, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, Lyme disease, and Reiter's disease.

The aims of proper therapy are to slow down the progress of the disease and restore function. A combination of an anti-inflammatory drug and a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) is the usual starting point of treatment. While methotrexate is the DMARD of choice for rheumatoid arthritis, it may not work quite as well in PA. Options include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), leflunomide (Arava), and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).

In patients who do not respond within eight to twelve weeks, biologic therapy using a TNF inhibitor is the next logical step. Among the options here are etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and golimumab (Simponi).

Patients with a single inflamed joint or tendon may respond to steroid injection.

Natural Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

About 2 million people wake up in the morning with red, swollen, stiff joints. The pain persists on into the day making it hard if not impossible to take care of the activities of daily living, or hobbies that make your life rich; washing the dishes, making bread, sewing, gardening, playing with the children or grandchildren; are no longer enjoyable, your mood suffers and desperation sets in as you try to find something; a magic pill, a diet, anything that will take this pain away. This is the life of a person suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA.

RA is an inflammatory autoimmune disease, if which the cause is unknown. What is known about the disease is that it affects women more than men and Caucasian's more than any other race. Rheumatoid Arthritis can strike at any age but is most commonly diagnosed from the ages of 20 to 40.

The onset of RA is usually marked with fatigue, weakness and sometimes fever. Some report a loss of appetite and, subsequently, weight. The hallmark of RA is joint stiffness in the morning that gradually improves throughout the day and that is symmetrical, in that it affects both sides of the body. For example both of your hands will be stiff, red and swollen, not just one hand or one joint as is typical in osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is so painful that many people seek unproven and sometimes unsafe methods of dealing with the pain. There is no cure for RA. So many sufferers will risk addiction to opioid analgesics, or risk damage to other systems just to gain some relief from the pain. While the outlook is bleak for these individuals, there are some lifestyles and diet modifications that can reduce, if not temporarily eliminate, the pain of RA.

Some physicians suggest a monitored fast. This should be done under the supervision of a physician and should be done at a reputable facility. The reasoning behind the fast is to cleanse the body. Think of it as starting from scratch. The next step is to gradually add foods back, but the diet will be different from before. For instance; the sufferer should follow a low animal protein, high carbohydrate diet - in addition to leaving out milk and milk products and products made with polyunsaturated and partially hydrogenated oils and fats. The diet should be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in fish and walnuts. In addition to omega-3, the diet should consist of fresh vegetables; especially green leafy vegetables that contain vitamin K. Also include asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions, which contain sulfur that is needed for the rebuilding and repair of bone and cartilage. Although acidic fruits are not recommended fresh pineapple which contains an enzyme known to reduce inflammation may be consumed, along with whole grains. Iron supplements or multi vitamins containing iron should be avoided. Substitute foods rich in iron instead; like blackstrap molasses, or broccoli.

Supplements associated with easing the pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis are very popular, but should be taken with caution and under the supervision of your physician or homoeopathist. One of the most common supplements for overall joint health is chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine; these work together to form and strengthen joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is usually combined with the aforementioned, due to its anti-inflammatory and joint repair properties. Some other supplements to include in the list are bromelain, found in fresh pineapple; sea cucumber, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium plus copper, vitamin D3 and zinc.

Herbs associated with joint and bone health are; alfalfa, kelp, boswellia, cat's claw, feverfew, cayenne, nettle leaf, turmeric willow bark and yucca. These can be used in combination, as poultices and rubs. A very effective combination is a mixture of wintergreen oil and capsaicin the mixture might sting at first, but most people report a lessening of pain and more flexibility.

There is no need to suffer from the pain of RA. All that is needed is knowledge and a willingness to modify the lifestyle to include healthy, natural foods that aid the body in defending itself against inflammation and pain. There may not be a "cure" for RA, but management of the symptoms can increase the quality of life.

Best Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis

To keep up with the ever changing active lifestyle of today's generation, we need our healthiest and most active self to go with it. However, this is hindered by bouts of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It is a good thing that treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is now readily available to alleviate the pain and discomfort.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that results to a chronic inflammation of the joints and tissues that surround the joints. This is categorized as an autoimmune disease because basically, autoimmune diseases occur when the tissues in our body are attacked by our own immune system.

The cause for rheumatoid arthritis and the reason why our own immune system attacks our own body is still elusive. Even with many years of research and studies, experts have only found out some potential causes. These potential causes are genetics and environmental infections.

In this disease, the immune system does not just attack the joints and the tissues that surround the joints but it can also affect some of the vital organs of your body such as the lungs and the liver. Many experts also believe that excessive tobacco smoking can trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

Depending on how severe the inflammation is, the symptoms of rheumatoid vary. When the tissues in our body are inflamed, this is the time that this disease is most active. The symptoms can also include chronic fatigue, lack of energy, lack of appetite, fever, and muscular and joint pains and stiffness.

There is remission when the tissues ease up and do not cause pain and discomfort. This can happen when there is religious treatment of this condition. These symptoms disappear and feelings of well being are promoted.

To make remission possible, there are a number of conventional treatments that a person can utilize. Generally, the use of drugs is involved on the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. However, the use of potentially addictive drugs causes many people to shy away from this treatment.

It is a good thing that natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is available now and patronized by many people suffering from this condition.

One of the most popular natural treatments is the use of an herb called Devil's claw. The root of this herb can help reduce the inflammation of the tissues that connects our joints. In doing this, it drives away uric acid that causes inflammation.

Dandelion is also popular because it can also help banish the presence of uric acid and strengthen the tissues. You can take this in tea, capsule or juice form.

The juice of Dong Quai root can also relieve muscle and joint pains most especially during cold and damp season where the pain is more intense.

Conventional Medical Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signs and Symptoms

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

Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)

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

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

Anemia

Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

Conventional Medical Treatment

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

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

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

Arthritis Inflammation Symptoms, Treatments

When you suffer from arthritis, you experience severe inflammation in your one or more joints. Injuries, fractures, dislocations and the resurfacing of old injuries are the factors that can lead to joint inflammation.

While injuries and infection may trigger inflammation, the most common cause is arthritis. There are hundred kinds of arthritis but not all types cause inflammation. The most common arthritis types associated with inflammation include:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the joints causing painful inflammation in joints. The most common symptoms are joint pain, swelling, stiffness, tiredness, depression, and anaemia. Some patients also develop flu-like symptoms, such as feeling ill, feeling hot and sweating.

Some less common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include inflammation in the eyes, rheumatoid nodules and weight loss. In rare cases inflammation may occur in other body parts, namely lungs and blood vessels and the membrane around your heart.

The initial treatment options available for rheumatoid arthritis are physical therapies and anti-rheumatic drugs- painkillers (analgesics), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and steroids.

In cases where body joints give severe pain, stiffness and immobility replacement surgeries like knee replacement hip replacement may be needed.

Psoriatic Arthritis

This arthritic condition causes painful inflammation in and around body joints and tendons. Symptoms of this condition include inflammation in your spine (spondylitis) causing stiffness in back or neck, swelling in and around your fingers or toes (dactylitis), buttock pain, inflammation where tendons attach to bone (enthesitis) causing pain and swelling in your heels, knee, hip bones and chest.

NSAIDs and DMARDs are most often used to treat psoriatic arthritis. In very rare occasions, surgery is used to repair damaged tendon. The joint that has been long damaged by inflammation is best treated with joint replacement surgery.

Gouty Arthritis

Gout is considered as the most painful form of inflammatory arthritis. The symptoms of gout are caused by abnormally high level of uric acid that builds up and forms crystals in the joints, which can lead to recurring attacks of joint inflammation. Gout most commonly affects the small joint at the base of the big toe but it affects other joints as well, including the ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows.

Symptoms of gout usually include intensely painful and swollen joints, redness and warmth on the affected joint and red or purple skin around the joint.

Treating the gout usually involves either anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids that can help reduce the pain and inflammation of gout attacks. Some certain medications decrease the level of uric acid in the bloodstream. Many gout patients turn to natural methods to reduce the risk of future gout attacks. In order to prevent gout flares you should modify your diets- avoid overindulgence in meat, seafood and alcohol; and drink more water- consume beverages that contain more water. Losing weight, following a moderate exercise regimen and taking supplements can be of great help.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Also referred to as Lupus, it is an autoimmune disease in which the body's natural defense system attacks healthy body cells and tissues. This inappropriate response of body's immune system causes inflammation which in turn leads to pain, swelling and tissue damage throughout the body.

Some lupus sufferers develop only mild symptoms, including tiredness, joint pain, swelling (arthritis) and fever. In some cases skin rash, hair loss and mouth sores can also occur. The times when symptoms get worse the patients may experience problems with the heart, kidneys, blood cells, lungs, or nervous system.

Lupus can be best treated by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and applying medicated cream for rashes. Taking proper rest, avoiding the sun and regular exercise can help you cope with the condition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - Non-Dairy Sources of Probiotics Supplements

Rheumatoid Arthritis is not inevitable, no matter the particulars of your family history or genetics. Some people have genetics that make them more susceptible, but something must still trigger the disease process. Likewise, it is usually possible, even after the rheumatoid arthritis has been triggered, to "untrigger" it by reversing its underlying causes.

One underlying causes of rheumatoid arthritis is a disruption of healthy gut bacteria. This can happen because of any number of stressors: taking antibiotics, losing a job, losing a loved one, having a loved one seriously ill or injured, divorce, your home going into foreclosure, surgery, taking a board exam, traveling in a third world country, getting some other illness, working long hours without enough rest and more. Even joyful events like the birth or a child, a job promotion or, moving to a new house can cause stress that can trigger RA.

This is because for most people stress has a strong impact on the gut. Once gut flora gets out of balance it can stay that way for years and years, until something helps it to rebalance itself.

This rebalancing of gut flora is one way to help "untrigger" rheumatoid arthritis.

One way to do this is by reintroducing healthy bacteria everyday through your diet.

Most people know about the benefits of eating live culture yogurt because of the healthy bacteria it contains. Most people don't realize the almost infinite number of other sources of probiotics. Many can be made in your own kitchen without much effort and easily incorporated into your everyday diet.

If you can eat dairy, it is easy to get probiotics through yogurt, kefir, and the many commercial probiotics supplements grown on a dairy base.

If you can't eat dairy, you may not realize how easy it is to still get enough probiotics.

Here is partial list of the many non-dairy probiotics-containing foods you can eat and drink:

1. Commercially available cultured coconut milk


2. Homemade cultured coconut milk, soymilk, rice milk or fruit juice made using kefir grains


3. Unpasteurized sauerkraut


4. Unpasteurized kim chee


5. Sour pickles


6. Other vegetable ferments, such as sour beets, sour turnips, fermented radishes, etc.


7. "Potato cheese" - cooked potato fermented with brine from live sauerkraut culture


8. Brine from ferments used as a digestive tonic and Soup Stock


9. Fermented chutney


10. Miso


11. Miso Pickles


12. Tempeh-soy


13. Ferments made from other beans such as pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, etc.


14. Rejuvenac-made from sprouted grain


15. Kombucha-a tea fermented with a special kombucha culture


16. Porridge-fermented overnight before cooking to increase digestibility

These probiotics-containing foods start with either an already established culture which you can buy or someone can gift you (yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh and other bean ferments and kombutcha) or capture wild bacteria from the air (sauerkraut, kim chee, sour pickles, other vegetable ferments, brines, rejuvenac and porridge.)

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - How a Deer Can Help Rebuild Cartilage and Cure Arthritis

Did you know that rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most debilitating forms of arthritis because symptoms make everyday tasks nearly impossible? Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition which causes the joints to throb and eventually become disfigured. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include: inflammation; pain; little movement; and joint disfigurement.

Though the cause of RA is unknown, there is an effective arthritis natural treatment which allows arthritis suffers to reduce the pain, reduce the inflammation and rebuild the cartilage between the joints. If you suffer from arthritis, you should immediately begin simple remedies to reduce the symptoms and rebuild the cartilage.

Why You Shouldn't Choose Prescription Medications

It might be important to consider why you want to rebuild the cartilage between the joints. Normally, arthritis sufferers take some form of medication reducing the inflammation and eliminating the pain. However, the problem with this remains that the joint is still aching but the brain is not registering the pain. Therefore, the unaware arthritic patient goes on hurting the joints and cartilage more and more while severely damaging the joints and existing cartilage.

The equivalent of this would be putting a piece of tape over the car's 'check engine oil' light and hoping you can finish the road trip. Though you might make it back to your house, the engine will eventually blow up without oil. You must put oil in your engine and you must rebuild cartilage if you wish to use your joints the rest of your life.

And above all that, you might want to safe your liver from the harsh drugs?

How to Reduce Arthritis Pain and Rebuild Cartilage

If you have ever been around deer you might notice something miraculously astounding about bucks (male deer). The male deer can naturally regenerate its antlers in months! In fact, a deer will grind its antlers on a tree, and completely strip the velvet off. However, months later, the deer antler velvet regenerates itself completely.

This isn't the end of our science lesson though. Russian scientists discovered after isolating compounds in deer antler velvet; they could use the compounds to rebuild cartilage between human joints. In fact, this natural remedy has been used for hundreds of years first starting with Asian countries.

How does this relate to you? This is one simple natural treatment to cure arthritis and not only hide the pain!

Other Simple Cures for Arthritis

Did you know that you can treat and cure arthritis with other simple cures? In fact, by eating a proper diet, drinking the correct fluids (water), doing the correct breathing exercises daily, getting an adequate amount of low-impact exercise, reducing stress and taking the correct vitamins and natural supplements you can actually eliminate almost 100% of arthritis NATURALLY (No Drugs and No Surgery Needed)! To discover what thousands of arthritis sufferers already have, please visit our Natural Cure for Arthritis Website.

Naturally Cure for Arthritis

Ayurveda Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis

All rheumatic disorders are classified as 'Vata disorders' in Ayurveda. Rheumatoid arthritis which is described as "Amavata" in Ayurveda is a joint disorder which affects multiple joints a various sites. 'Ama' means toxic which is produced in the body due to weakening of digestive fire- Jataragni. This 'Ama' is then carried by 'Vayu' and travels throughout the body and accumulate in the joints, which is the seat of 'Kapha' As this process continuous, all the joints are gradually affected, which results in severe pain and swelling in the joints. When 'Pitta' also gets aggravated, it causes burning sensation around the joints.

Treatment:

(a) Diet - Vegetarian food to be consumed. Dairy products, sweets, oily foods, junk and fast foods, salty and sour foods, jaggery, black gram, fish, cold drinks and ice creams are to be avoided.

(b) Life style- One should avoid cold breeze and excessive wind. Warm water bath is recommended. Take a gentle walk after consumption of food.

(c) Medicines- Guggulu is the most effective drug in treating 'Amavata'. Also herbal preparations of Ashwagandha, Haritaki, Rasna, Sunthi, Pippai and Trivrut are helpful.

(d) Panchakarma Therapy - This is purification process by which toxins are eliminated from the body

Snehana: Internal and external oleation to the body / affected parts is given as a preliminary process.

Swedana: This is done by application of steam on the affected parts. It helps in reducing inflammatory conditions in the body.

Virechana: By the process of Virechana, the 'Ama' is eliminated from the body. Also the bowel is cleansed, which results in absorption and assimilation of the medicinal preparations properly.

Vasti:This is done by administration of herbal enema. It is helpful in chronic cases.

Along with treatment, physiotherapy, organized lifestyle, vegetarianism, suitable physical exercises, yoga and meditation should be practiced. Ayurvedic treatment, a holistic approach for Rheumatoid Arthritis has been designed identifying the fact that the power of mind can overcome any physical aberrations.

Dr Rajesh Nair is a Web writer and ayurvedic researcher. Check out his favorite sources for ayurvedic medicines

You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name and URL remain intact.

Arthritis Symptoms: Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms in Women

The first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be swelling and morning stiffness or just a general aching of the joints. In 90 percent of women, the first areas affected by rheumatoid arthritis are the feet and hands. The disease often affects the wrist and the finger joints closest to the palm, as well as joints in the jaw, neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and toes. Any joint in the body can be a target.

Inflammation can cause body wide symptoms such as low grade fever, flu like body aches, and a general feeling of not being well. You may also lose your appetite, lose weight, and feel like yo have no energy. Fatigue is a very common symptom of RA and may first overtake you in the afternoon. Fatigue may also be a symptom of anemia, which often accompanies RA. Inflammation can affect the tear producing glands in the eyes and saliva producing glands in the mouth, so you may experience dry eyes and dry mouth. You can have muscle pain and stiffness after sitting or lying in one position for a long time. Depression is also common.

At first, these symptoms may not add up to much. Often a women will complain of joint pain to her doctor, and all that can be seen in a puffiness of the hands, with no obvious redness or warmth. About one-quarter of women with RA develop raised, firm lumps called rheumatoid nodules. Rheumatoid nodules are actually abnormal accumulations of cells, much like the synovial cells that we see accumulating within the joint, but they commonly occur just under the skin. Nodules often appear in an area where there is repeated pressure, such as on the elbows where you lean them on a table, or the finger joints. Because rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, nodules can show up in other places, such as the eye, the heart, the lungs. They can be very destructive, very damaging, interrupting whatever is in their path of growth. And they can be disfiguring and disconcerting to patients.

Up to half of RA patients can develop inflammation in the linings of the chest and lungs, causing pain on taking a deep breath and breathlessness; rheumatoid nodules can also appear in the lung tissues itself, not just the lining. Inflammation can also affect the sac around the heart, producing fever, chest pain, a dry cough and difficulty breathing. Blood vessels can also be inflamed; a common sign is tiny broken blood vessels in the cuticle area of the nail bed.

You may first notice the symptoms of RA during the winter, and symptoms often feel worse during the cold months and improve in warm weather. While RA develops gradually in about 50 percent of women, with symptoms coming and going for months, a more continuous pattern eventually emerges. This disease needs to be diagnosed very quickly and treatment needs to be started quickly. So that increases the importance of having women recognize the signs and symptoms.

Treatment and Management Options For Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

It is a disorder of the body system involving inflammation and degenerative changes principally in the small and large synovial joints. This is often associated with a lot of systemic disturbance and extra-articular disease. It usually pursues a chronic course that is life-long, with intermittent exacerbations and remissions with highly variable severity of symptoms and signs.

What is the cause?

The cause of the disease is unknown but autoimmunity plays a major role in its chronicity and manifestations and it is often considered to be a systemic autoimmune disease.

What are the signs and symptoms for diagnosis?

Most patients experience at least four or more of the following symptoms and signs of the disease by the time they present themselves for treatment at the clinic:-

- Morning stiffness (> 1 hour)

- Arthritis of hand joints

- Symmetrical Arthritis

- Arthritis of three or more joint areas

- Rheumatoid nodules

- Rheumatoid factor

- Radiological changes seen on X-ray of joints

- Problem has been on for more than 6 weeks

Most commonly patients present with a gradual onset of arthralgia (often symmetrical) and synovitis of the small joints of the hands, wrist and feet. In some, onset may be paindromic, with recurrent acute episodes of joint pain and swelling which may last from a few hours to days. Whatever pattern of presentation, most sufferers have evidence of morning and inactivity stiffness and stress pain.

It is to be noted that RA is a systemic disease and other extra-articular areas of the body may be affected. These include:-

· The Muscles and Tendons

· The blood vessels and Lymphatic's including Lymph nodes

· The Lungs

· The heart

· The Nerves and nervous system

· Amyloidosis

Treatment Options and Management:

In the U.S.A. about 1.3 million people are affected by the disease, being three times more prevalent in women especially during the post-partum and breastfeeding periods. Age of onset is usually between 40 to 50 years but it can occur in any age group.

For the majority of patients, the aims of management are:-

- To educate the patient

- Control pain

- Optimize bodily functions, especially that of the joints

- Modify the disease process in such a way that will most benefit the patient

Since there is a wide variety of treatment modules, the expertise of a number of health professionals working synergistically together may be required for most patients. The patients' symptoms and signs change with time and will usually require adjustments of the treatment modules. There is no cure for RA. Medications help to reduce joint inflammation, pain, and slow down joint damage, while occupational and physical therapy teach on how to protect the joints and how to make use of adaptive utensils where there is joint deformity causing limitations of movement. Severely damaged joints by RA may require surgery to regain some appreciable functionality back.

Type of Medications in Use:

The following are the various drugs used to treat RA. Most patients require a combination of drugs to get the most beneficial effect:-

Steroids:-

These help reduce the inflammatory process and slow down the damage to joints. It cannot be used for long term treatment because of its undesirable side effects. Most of the time it is prescribed to relieve the acute symptoms of the disease. Those usually prescribed include Prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol).

Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs):-

These are drugs that act to slow down the auto-immune destructive processes of RA, thus saving the joints and other tissues from permanent damage. Among the common one's often prescribed are: Minocycline (Minocin), Methotrexate (Trexall), Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)

TNF-alpha Inhibitors:

These inhibit a destructive substance, Tumor necrosis factor alpha, produced in the body causing severe inflammatory activity in various body tissues. Use of these drugs help to reduce morning stiffness, and painful swelling of the joints. They include; Infliximab (Remicade) and Adalimumab (Humira).

NSAIDs:

These are Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs and are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They include Ibuprofen (Advil), and Naproxen sodium (Aleve), which are off the counter drugs (OTC). Stronger ones in this group are prescription only drugs.

Immunosuppressants:

These are drugs that try to correct the abnormal behavior of the immune body system in RA. Examples include Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), Azathioprine (Imuran) and Cyclosporine (Neoral)

Other Medications:

There are some other inflammatory substances produced by the body in RA. These act as targets for some other drugs used in the treatment of RA. They include Abatacept (Orencia), Rituximab (Rituxan) and Anakinra (Kineret).

Exercise and Occupational Therapy:

Occupational therapists play a very important role in the treatment and management of RA patients. They teach them basic exercise movements that will help affected joints not to become stiff. They also help them to find different methods to approach everyday tasks in ways that take stress off painful joints and also teach and encourage the use of assistive devices to make their work easier.

Surgery:

This should be a last resort when all else has failed and there is evidence of damage to joints.

The different types of Surgery performed for RA are as follows:-

- Total joint replacement (Arthroplasty)

- Tendon repair

- Removal of the joint lining (Synovectomy)

- Joint fusion (Arthrodesis)

Author: Ola Suyee

Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis

A successful treatment for rheumatoid arthritis involves a close ongoing working relationship between you and your doctor, and possibly an occupational and/or physical therapist.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease that causes progressive chronic inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. This chronic inflammation damages the joints and surrounding tissues, which results in decreased mobility and possibly deformity. The etiology is unknown. It is thought to be genetically inherited, and can affect people of all ages. RA can not be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the outcome.

Symptoms may come and go, but the underlying disease process is always present. Whenever it is active, or flared up, individuals may experience a number of symptoms including: low-grade fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, along with muscle and joint aches. The joints can become swollen, red, and painful, making simple everyday tasks difficult or nearly impossible.

Treatment is individualized. There are several factors that need to be considered before and effective treatment plan can be put into place. Severity of the disease, types of joints and tissues involved, your age, occupation, and overall health are just a few examples of things that need to be considered by your health care provider.

Early and aggressive management and treatment are the key ingredients necessary to stop damage of the joints and increase their function and mobility.

Two general classifications of medications are used when treating rheumatoid arthritis. There is the fast acting, often referred to as the first line medicines, which are used to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation, and the slow acting, or second line medicines, which promote disease remission and help prevent further progressive joint destruction. These drugs may be used alone, or in combination, depending on the severity of RA present.

In addition to medications, regular physical exercise is necessary. This is effective in relieving stiffness, and strengthens the muscles around the joints for improved motility. Swimming is an excellent exercise for people with RA because it strengthens the muscles with minimal stress on the joints. An occupational or physical therapist can recommend specialized exercises that will also be greatly beneficial.

Overall, early diagnosis, aggressive treatment and management, along with a close working relationship with your health care team will provide you with the best outcome.

Arthritis Treatment: A Primer on Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

Of the inflammatory forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common. It affects about 2 million Americans, about 60% of whom are women. It is no respecter of age since it can occur in children as well as in adults.

RA is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints which causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. What is not generally appreciated is that it affects not only joints but internal organs as well.

RA can cause permanent joint damage leading to deformities and loss of joint movement. As a result, many people with RA experience limitations on their ability to perform daily activities which has a major impact on quality of life.

Data has indicated that early aggressive treatment of RA can limit joint damage. RA is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Mortality rates among people with RA are twice that of the general population and disease severity is an independent risk factor of mortality regardless of comorbid conditions.

People with RA are twice as likely to develop congestive heart failure is compared to those without RA.

RA is the most common cause of disability in the United States and the third leading cause of work limitations. Medical and indirect costs due to lost wages are estimated at $3 billion annually and fewer than 50% of working age adults with RA are still employed 10 years after onset of the disease.

The cause of RA is unknown, but multiple genetic and environmental factors (infectious agents, reproductive status, and smoking) are thought to be involved. What is also known is that the immune system plays an important role.

When it comes to treatment, the primary goals are to relieve pain, swelling, and fatigue; improve joint function; slow down or stop joint damage; and prevent disability and disease-related morbidity. RA is a complex disease. There are many cells, molecules, and processes involved in the genesis of RA.

CD4+ T cells mediate joint damage both directly and indirectly by driving non-T effector cells to release inflammatory cytokines. Also, B cells play a role in RA pathology by producing autoantibodies and triggering cytokine secretion by T cells as well as by acting as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to trigger T-cell activation. This entire machinery is driven by multiple cytokines.

In the past the traditional treatment pyramid for rheumatoid arthritis was to start with anti-inflammatory drugs, move onto mild disease-modifying drugs (DMARDS), step up to more aggressive disease-modifying drugs if they didn't work, and finally use powerful immunosuppressive drugs as a last resort. The treatment approach now is to stand the pyramid on its head and use more aggressive therapies in concert with methotrexate to effect remission as soon as possible.

A newer approach is to "treat to target." This means that a specific goal of remission is aimed for and adjustments in medications are made regularly in order to achieve it.

Anti-inflammatory drugs- either non-steroidal drugs or low dose corticosteroids are an adjunctive therapy but are not considered as important as remission-inducing drugs. These drugs are initiated at the start of treatment to give the patient some relief. Full therapeutic doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or prednisone in doses ranging from 5-10mgs/day are helpful for symptoms. Side effects related to an increase in cardiovascular events as well as gastrointestinal issues must be balanced against benefit.

Remission-inducing agents (DMARDS) are started at the same time or shortly thereafter. Besides methotrexate, other DMARD drugs include hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), azathioprine (Imuran), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), and leflunomide (Arava).

By far, the most commonly used DMARD is methotrexate.

Treatment options including biologic response modifiers, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and combinations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have been used as our knowledge of the different pathways involved in the RA process has deepened.

Therapeutic agents including TNF antagonists and IL-6 inhibitors were developed to block cytokine-mediated processes. Other anti-cytokine drugs are also being developed to target specific "bad guys."

Co-stimulatory pathway T-cell drugs were developed to inhibit T-cell mediated processes. Elucidation of the role of B cells in the inflammation cascade has provided the rationale for the institution of B-cell targeted therapies.

Biologic drugs have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and have permitted rheumatologists to achieve remission in many patients with RA.

Examples of biologics include the following: TNF inhibitors consist of Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Cimzia, and Simponi. Anti-interleukin 6 drugs are represented by Actemra. The primary T-cell drug is Orencia and the B-cell drug is Rituxan. Many other drugs are in the pipeline.

In addition to the existing biologics, new oral kinase inhibitors (JAK and SYK) are exciting new drugs.

While complementary therapies such as dietary fish oil, flax seed, etc. may help, they are usually not effective by themselves. The role of diet also is not well understood.

Objective measurement of remission include reduction in joint swelling and pain scores, improvement in health assessment and activities of daily living, reduction in blood measures of inflammation, and cessation of disease activity by magnetic resonance imaging.

Newer measurement criteria that will ensure uniformity of definition of remission are also being created.

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.

Hand Arthritis - Symptoms and Treatment

Arthritis in the hand or wrists is common, but can be very debilitating. We use our hands for the vast majority of our daily living activities, from washing and dressing to more intricate tasks such as typing or threading a needle. When the joints in the hand and the digits are affected by arthritis, day to day living can be very difficult.

What causes hand arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is one of the main causes of hand arthritis. The hands and wrists are made up of many small bones and joints, which interact with each other to provide the range of motion needed. The joints are protected by a layer of cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber and provides a smooth surface for the bones of the joints to glide over easily. However, over time cartilage can become worn or damaged due to disease or injury. As we age, our cartilage is less able to repair itself, and eventually the smooth, pain free motion of the joint is lost. As the bones begin to rub against the rough surfaces of the worn cartilage and eventually against each other, they can lose their normal shape and become disfigured.

Synoval fluid is naturally produced by the body as lubrication for the joints, but when cartilage becomes damaged, the body will often produce more synoval fluid in an attempt to cushion the joint. However, this can cause swelling within the joint, and reduce motion.

An injury to the hand or wrist, such as a fracture or dislocation, can make the joints more susceptible to arthritis, especially if the surface or the joint has been damaged.

Hand arthritis can also occur as the result of disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which affects the whole body, so it is likely that other joints will also be affected, and other symptoms, such as fever, fatigue and general stiffness, may also be experienced.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of hand arthritis are general joint pain or a burning sensation in the affected area. This is likely to occur after repeated use, such as heavy lifting or prolonged typing. Stiffness of the affected area, particularly first thing in the morning, is also a common symptom.

These symptoms will increase in severity as the disease progresses. Sensations of pain may be present constantly, not just when the hands are in use. Swelling of the affected joints is likely to occur, which can make them appear larger, and the area may be red and appear warm to the touch. The motion and use of the joints is likely to be affected, and daily living tasks will become increasingly more difficult.

Crepitus may be experienced; crepitus is the grating or clicking sensation experienced by the damaged cartilage surfaces rubbing against each other. If the end finger joints are affected, small cysts can develop.

If rheumatoid arthritis is the cause, subcutaneous nodules can develop under the skin and can be accompanied by joint damage and deformity.

Arthritis caused by osteoarthritis can be diagnosed by X-ray or bone scans if the disease is in the early stages. Rheumatoid arthritis can generally be detected by blood tests.

Treatment

There are a range of treatments available for hand arthritis, consisting of non surgical or surgical options.

Non surgical treatments work by relieving pain and inflammation, and preventing further deterioration of the joints. Anti-inflammatory medications are likely to be prescribed.

Cortisone Injections may also be used, which contain a long lasting anesthetic to reduce pain. Although these injections can provide pain relief for several weeks, their use should be limited as they can cause side effects such as infection and tendon and ligament weakness.

Some patients experience relief by using heat and ice packs on the affected areas, and gently exercising or massaging the joints and fingers can help to maintain joint mobility.

A splint can also be applied to affected joints to support the area during times of use. A splint should only be worn when stress is likely to be placed on the affected area or when pain is experienced, as prolonged use can cause muscle wasting.

If non surgical treatment does not relieve symptoms, or if the condition is advanced, then surgical treatment may be considered. There are several different options for surgery, including joint fusions, joint reconstruction or joint replacement. Your doctor should be able to advise on which option would be best for you based on the progression of the arthritis, your age and your lifestyle.

Although hand arthritis cannot be cured, the range of treatments now available can minimize your symptoms and help you to continue to live a full and active life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication and Treatment Options

About Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Arthritis is a common issue for many people in the United States, especially for those over the age of 40. In fact, an estimated 52.5 million American adults have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis by their doctors, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicting this number to expand to 60 million Americans by 2030. One common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that typically targets the smaller joints of the body, such as in the hands and feet. The condition generally results in swollen and stiff joints due to chronic inflammation.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

One of the most common complaints regarding rheumatoid arthritis is pain. As an autoimmune disorder, arthritis attacks the tissues that line your joints. The body responds to this attack by increasing inflammation in the affected area. Chronic inflammation eventually results in bone erosion and joint deformation, but more immediate impacts are felt on the nerves. As inflammation develops, chemicals are released that stimulate nerve endings in the affected area resulting in nerve sensitivity. This sensitivity translates in the brain as pain. Pain can be controlled either by numbing the nerve cells or reducing the inflammation, or a mixture of both.

Medication and Physical Treatments

Arthritis treatments vary by case, but typically involve a mixture of medications and physical therapy. Physical therapy helps strengthen the affected joints as well as helps you maintain both flexibility and free movement. For pain, many physicians recommend over-the-counter medications, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which both reduce inflammation and help with pain. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger medications, such as prescription strength NSAIDs and steroids. In more severe cases, drugs that impact the immune system directly are prescribed, such as immune-suppressants, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and TNF-alpha inhibitors.

Topical Creams for Rheumatoid Arthritis

While various forms of prescription medications for arthritis come in pill form, you can also request prescription grade topical creams for easier application directly to the sites that are affected. Steroids in particular commonly come as a topical cream for easier application, and in most cases these topical creams are covered the same way as other prescription in your health insurance plan.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common condition, but left untreated it can result in serious complications, including an increased risk for carpal tunnel, osteoporosis and heart problems. If you suspect you're showing signs of arthritis, make an appointment with your primary care physicians.

How Does Cold Laser Work For Arthritis?

Arthritis affects almost 70 million Americans. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease in which the cartilage wears away, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune inflammatory condition. Also, there are other conditions that fall under the "umbrella" of arthritis including bursitis, tendonitis, low back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and so on.

The common symptom of most forms of arthritis is pain. Pain develops as a result of multiple factors including inflammation with stimulation of neural peripheral pain sensors due to either biochemical factors such as cytokines or to mechanical factors- joint deformity. Arthritis pain may be accompanied byother problems including loss of range of motion and disability.

While medicines, injections, and surgery all have their place and are valuable, there is still a need for potentially useful adjunctive modalities that might speed up recovery and reduce pain faster.

Low level therapeutic laser, better known as phototherapy, is a relatively new form of treatment. Its premise is that certain wavelengths of light have effects on living tissue. This effect is termed "photobiomodulation."

Phototherapy has been shown in experimental settings to stimulate cell growth, increase cell metabolism, improve cell regeneration, induce an anti-inflammatory response, reduce edema, reduce fibrous tissue formation, reduce levels of substance P, stimulate production of nitric oxide, decrease the formation of bradykinin, histamine, and acetylcholine, and stimulate the production of endorphins. These effects are felt to be what reduce pain.

Most cold lasers in use today use a combination of light emitting diodes and infrared emitting diodes.

The beneficial effects of cold laser were first noted in wound healing in rats (Mester E, Spy T, Sander N, Tito J. Effect of laser ray on wound healing. Am J Surg 1971; 122: 523-535).

Subequently, laser was found to be beneficial in a number of animal models and is till being studied as a possible tool for cartilage regeneration and healing (Lin Y, Chai CY, Yang RC. Effects of helium-neon laser on levels of stress protein and arthritic histopathology in experimental osteoarthritis. Am J Phys Med Rehab. 2004; 83: 758-765).

Data regarding the usefulness of cold laser on different conditions seen in a rheumatology office include:

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (Brosseau L, Welch V, Wells G, Tugwell P, de Bie R, Harman K, Shea B, Morin M. Low level laser therapy for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. J Rheum. 2000; 27: 1961-9);

Elbow tendonitis (Simunovic Z, Trobonjaca T, Trobonjaca Z. Treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis- tennis and golfer's elbow- with low level laser therapy: a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on 324 patients. J Clin Laser Medicine Surg. 1998; 16: 145-51);

Fibromyalgia trigger points (Simunovic Z. Low level laser therapy with trigger points technique: a clinical study on 243 patients. J Clin Laser Medicine Surg. 1996; 14: 163-167);

Neck arthritis (Ozdemir F, Birtane M, Kokino S. The clinical efficacy of low-power laser therapy on pain and function in cervical osteoarthritis. Clin Rheumatology. 2001; 20: 181-184);

Carpal tunnel syndrome (Naeser MA, Hahn KA, Lieberman BE, Branco KF. Carpal tunnel syndrome pain treated with low-level laser and micro amperes transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation: a controlled study. Archives Phys Med Rehab. 2002; 83: 978-988);

Shoulder tendonitis (England S, Ferrell AJ, Coppock JS, Struthers G, Bacon PA. Low power laser therapy of shoulder tendonitis. Scand J Rheum. 1989; 18: 427-431);

Low back pain disorders (Tasaki E, et al. Application of low power laser therapy for relief of low back pain. Ninth Congress of the International Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine. Anaheim, CA. USA. November 2-6, 1991; Tuner J, Hode L. The Laser Therapy handbook. Prima Books. 2004. Sweden, p. 81).

Adequate clinical assessment is vital to determining whether a patient is a good candidate for laser therapy. Also, laser is a complementary therapy; it should be used in conjunction with other therapies as well. Concurrent medications, etc. should not be forgotten.

Phototherapy is FDA approved for a number of applications and has been deemed safe. It also requires relatively little time to perform. Established protocols and tissue dosages have been established that make clinical application relatively easy.

The number of sessions required varies according to disorder, length of time the disorder has been present, and the severity of the disorder.

Contraindications include pregnancy (use of the laser over the pregnant uterus), thyroid exposure, over a pediatric epiphysis, transplant patients, directly on a an active cancer, on an are where there has been a recent (within 24 hours) steroid injection, or on the chest of a patient with a pacemaker.

While cold laser is considered by some to be unproven, it appears so far to be a safe, effective mode of therapy for many rheumatologic disorders and is worth trying before subjecting a patient to more invasive and dangerous procedures.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment and Cure

Most people, especially doctors, will tell you that there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yet, what if I were to tell you that scientific studies conducted over the past 30 years have shown that hundreds - YES hundreds - of people have been able to get off all medications and control their pain and inflammation using only dietary methods alone?

Well not only have I studied the scientific literature and seen these papers first hand, but I have used what I have learned and applied it to myself to completely eliminate my own Rheumatoid Arthritis. I want to share with you below the essential things that need to happen if you are to ever eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis to restore faith to those who are suffering and who are seeking some serious results.

1. Believe that it can be done.

If you remain skeptical about there being a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis then you will never be able to overcome the disease. Faith is required that this is possible, and faith is gained by seeing others who have done it.

2. Discipline is required

Nothing of great value is ever achieved without effort. However, we have two types of pain in our lives - the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I know which one I prefer, and I'm sure most people would opt for the pain of discipline also if they were thoroughly convinced of the effectiveness of an alternative path.

3. A diet change is required

Although overly-academic people will tell you there is little to no link between RA and diet they should be ignored like any ill-informed person should. Rheumatologists are not taught nutrition and rarely does a Rheumatologist ever actually know anything about the disease first-hand. After suffering for 5 years with RA, I know that it's like a living hell and that most people with RA would do anything it takes to cure the disease if only they had the right information.

Well, a dietary change is required because Rheumatoid Arthritis stems from an underlying poor digestive system. A 'leaky gut', a depleted intestinal mucosa, an overgrowth of candida and 'bad bacteria' and and over acidic body all contribute to the autoimmune attack on the joints. This is coupled with food sensitivities, meaning that several foods will cause a worsening of symptoms for sufferers of RA. If you don't believe me, don't eat for 3 days. Just drink vegetable juice (cucumber and celery only) and watch most of your pain disappear. I'm not kidding.

4. Animal products cause the most pain

Food sensitivities tend to trigger an autoimmune response up to 48 hours after eating. Thus, it is tough to work out which foods are causing the inflammation in each person. However, as a general rule, animal products tend to cause the most long-term problems for RA sufferers because animal products cause each of the intestinal disorders outlined in bullet point 3.

In addition to animal products, cereals and soy products are also recorded as being the most common allergens for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

5. The best diet is a low-fat, sugar-free, plant-based diet with lots of leafy greens

What does this kind of diet look like? Buckwheat, Quinoa, Amaranth, Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes and Lentils and Beans of all types. These heal the intestinal environment. Leafy greens such as Romaine Lettuce, mixed greens, baby spinach and so on are extremely alkalising and detoxing for the body and also aid in the digestive process when eaten with the meal (taking pressure off an already compromised gut).

6. It takes time

It took me 2 months of eating like this to get of my 20mg/week of Methotrexate and I've been drug free ever since. As long as I eat as per above I get no joint inflammation and my CRP blood reading reads less that 3mg (well inside normal limits) month on month. If you have had RA for more than 10 years it might take longer. The body can only heal at the pace that nature allows - but healing is healing, and when you're inflicted with RA then healing is not a word you hear very often so you take what you can get.

Clint Paddison

Previous Sufferer and author of the ultimate Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment 'Clint's Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis'