What’s The Best Osteoarthritis Treatment For You?

Osteoarthritis might be the most common form of arthritis, but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle. Those tell-tale signs of aging joints – stiffness, pain and aches – can be hard to deal with every day, and they can get worse with each passing year.

So what’s the best osteoarthritis treatment?

There’s actually a variety of treatments, and sufferers can try several to see what works best. The progression of the disease (the wearing on joints) varies from patient to patient, depending on weight, genetics, exercise and more. So it makes sense that treatment success varies also.

The most common osteoarthritis treatments include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications – These can be over-the-counter or prescription; oral or topical. Anti-inflammatory medications include acetaminophen, ibuprofen and more. But oral anti-inflammatories act on pain all over your body (called “systemic” action), which can increase risk for other problems such as ulcers and stroke, so most doctors recommend only taking them for 1-2 weeks and under a physician’s care.
• Tools – Comfortable shoes, canes, or braces can help relieve some pressure on joints, especially for knee and hip problems.
• Working out – Although it seems counterintuitive, exercise can actually help relieve joint pain. Working out can strengthen the “big muscles” – especially the abdominal and back muscles – which, in turn, can support more of your body and put less strain on joints. Talk to your doctor about which exercises would be best for your osteoarthritis. Swimming, yoga, and tai chi are popular.
• Steroid injections – If these simpler solutions aren’t working for you, your doctor might recommend steroid injections, which decrease inflammation.
  Want more ideas?

Visit Lifescript.com to find the osteoarthritis treatment that will work best for you.

Also, be sure to check out Lifescript’s new online Osteoarthritis Health Center for more osteoarthritis information.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Best Exercises For Arthritis

When you’re suffering from arthritis pain, moving more may seem a bit counterintuitive, but movement and exercise can decrease arthritis pain if done the right way. One study showed that walking as exercise was able to relieve knee pain in sufferers as much as taking an ibuprofen.

A second benefit of exercise for arthritis sufferers is that it keeps weight down, and the less weight on your joints, the better.

So how do you get started? And what are the best exercises for arthritis?

First, if your joints are already extremely swollen, and it seems difficult to even start exercising, you should see your doctor. There are new medications that can bring the swelling down to a point where natural exercise can take over.

Next, discuss your exercise plans with your doctor. Your physician will most likely endorse your exercise goals, but he or she might have some specific recommendations for your particular level of arthritic pain, as well as the location of your arthritis.

Then start slow. If you overdo the workout at the beginning, it could trigger more inflammation in your joints the next day. (If this happens, decrease the time you work out OR work out more gently.)

Then, get started!

What are the best exercises to start with?

• Walking – Walking is the ultimate exercise for almost everyone: It’s cheap, it’s easy, it can be “taken” on vacation or a business trip, and – best of all – it’s gentle on joints.  (Although, if you have severe knee or hip arthritis, check with your doctor first.) The Arthritis Foundation recommends starting with 10 minutes, 3-5 days a week.
• Water aerobics – The water’s warm, which helps relax all your muscles; plus the water’s buoyancy keeps the weight off your joints.
• Indoor cycling – You don’t need to worry about balance while making turns, yet you get a great cardiovascular workout without stress to joints.

For more information and tips for how to get started with these exercises (plus a couple more), visit Lifescript’s story on Pain-Relieving Exercises for Arthritis.

Also, be sure to visit Lifescript’s new online Arthritis Health Center for more arthritis help.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Fighting Back Against Arthritis

I received a phone call to say my father was having problems with his knees, but it did not prepare me for the sight of him on crutches. He went through the system quite quickly and was operated inside months – not years as is so frequently the case.

The surgery was not a great success. We thought my father was fit and healthy so it was a surprise when things turned sour.

Instead he had a mild heart attack in surgery and subsequently had issues during the recovery stage with infection and issues eating etc. Depression was not really  something we had in no way associated with my father nor was it something I had ever expected as a byproduct of this surgery.

He has recovered now but it was these experiences that lead me to research Arthritis and now I want to share this with as many people as I can.

Not only have I learned more about Arthritis, but I have also found how to minimize the risk of getting Arthritis by using a more holistic medical approach known as Ayurveda.

Arthritis is simply known as joint inflammation. (arth = joint, ritis = inflammation). Inflammation is the way the body uses to respond to injuries or to the presence of diseases such as viruses or bacteria.

During this reaction, many cells of the body’s defense system (called the immune system) go to the injured area to wipe out the cause of the problem, clean up damaged cells, and repair tissues that have been hurt. When the inflammation reduces the area becomes healthy again.

Many forms of arthritis the inflamed area does not go away as it should and instead the inflammation continues to damage otherwise healthy tissue causing a long-term cycle of more inflammation and more damage. The result may leave scars which over time build up to cause problems.

What essentially happens is the damage that occurs can change the bones and other tissues of the joints, sometimes affecting their shape and making movement hard and painful which ultimately can lead to the need for joint replacement such as hip and knee replacements – now a very common form of surgery.

These are only two of the types of Arthritis but there are over 100 kinds of arthritis that can affect many different areas of the body. And it is not just the joints that can be afflicted with Arthritis; it can affect other parts of the body too. It is also common for someone to have Arthritis in more than one part of the body. Arthritis does not select it’s victims on any age based selection process and can just as easily affect children and young people.

This is not some strange or an out of the ordinary problem. The fact of this is that about one in every three of every American suffers some form of joint paid or Arthritis. Currently there are 46 million (over 20%) Americans living with arthritis and it is estimated that over 795 million people endure from arthritis worldwide.

The two most common types of Arthritis discussed are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis – this is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis results from an overuse of joints. This could be from obesity, aging or from sports related stresses and injuries. Ultimately the cartilage covering the end of the bones will gradually wear away.

The friction of bone to bone occurs when the protection of the cartilage is not there, and this causes friction which leads to pain and inflammation causing the swelling. Osteoarthritis typically will affect the hands and weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip and facet joints (in the spine) but it can occur in any joint in your body. Often it starts with a small irritation which is linked to an injury.

Women will often get Osteoarthritis in the hands and this is frequently inherited. Since osteoarthritis time and again occurs when the cartilage breaks down, or degenerates with age, it is sometimes called a degenerative joint disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – often found in the hands, wrists, and knees but can affect any part of the body. With rheumatoid arthritis, some of your body’s cells recognize a protein as an intruder. The exact protein involved in an onset of rheumatoid arthritis has not yet been ascertained. Some experts consider the immune system becomes “mixed-up” after infection with a bacteria or virus and begins attacking the normal joint tissues. Immune cells called lymphocytes are stimulated to react to this protein. The reaction causes the release of cytokines, which are chemical messengers which then trigger more inflammation and destruction. This battle between the body’s chemicals occurs mainly in the joints and causes the joint lining to swell. The inflammation may spread to the surrounding tissues, and can eventually damage cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas of the body, such as the skin, eyes, and nerves.

Being diagnosed with Arthritis will often mean you will be prescribed a cocktail of drugs or if left until it becomes serious enough then surgery will be recommended.

We almost all would prefer not to use drugs on a regular basis as they will almost always have detrimental side effects and are costly. It is my opinion that drugs may aid nevertheless I would prefer to deal with the underlying cause of the problem so I can eventually get of any medication.

Considering our families experience with surgery it is something that I can say I would only have as a last resort.

null Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs – Ridaura, Imuran, Sandimmune, Neoral, Myochrysine, Plaquenil, Arava, Rheumatrex, Trexall), Biologic Response Modifiers (Orencia, Humira, Kineret, Enbrel, Remicade, Rituxan, Simponi), Glucocorticoids (Celestone, Deltasone, Meticorten, Orasone), Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs – Celebrex, Voltaren, Ecotrin, Relafen, Naprosyn, Colchicine, Motrin, Advil), Analgesics (Tylenol, Faverall, Tempra, Ultram, OxyContin, Roxicodone) and Corticosteriod / Steroid Injections.

The combined COMMON side effects of these drugs include abdominal pain, absence of menstrual periods, acne, agitation, anxiety , back pain, bronchitis, burning sensation, clumsiness, confusion, constipation, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry skin, gas, general unwell feeling , hair loss, headache, heartburn, increased hair growth, indigestion, inflammation of the eye, mouth or skin, joint disorder, loose stools, mild nausea or vomiting, mild stomach pain, mild tiredness or weakness, nausea, ringing in the ears, runny nose, sinus infection, sleeplessness, stomach upset, stuffy nose, texture change in nails, tremor, twitching, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, vomiting, weakness, and weight loss.

The combined SEVERE side effects of these medications include bleeding disorder, blisters on the inside of eyes, nose or mouth, blood in the urine, bloody or black, bluish discoloration of the skin or nails, change in the amount  of urine produced, chest pain, clayed-coloured stools, confusion, congestion, dark urine, decreased urination, depression, excessive tiredness, fainting , fast or irregular heartbeat, fever, chills or persistent sore throat, hallucinations, hearing loss, Hives, increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness and seizure, increased sensitivity  to light , infertility, Itching, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), lightheadedness, loss of appetite, low fever, metallic taste, mental and mood changes, muscle cramps, including leg cramps, night sweats, numbness of an arm or leg, numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, one-side weakness, pale skin , pinpoint bruises, pneumonia, purple blotches or unusual skin spots, purple spot on the skin, and/ or seizure (convulsions), Rash, red, swollen, or blistered, or peeling skin, seizures, severe headache or dizziness, severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea, severe vomiting, shortness of breath, slurred speech, sudden or unexplained weight gain, swelling of hands, legs or feet, swelling of the mouth, face and lips or tongue, swollen glands, symptoms of liver problems , tarry tools, thickening of the tongue, tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, trouble sleeping, trouble walking, unusual bruising or bleeding, unusual joint or muscle pain, unusual lumps or masses, unusual skin lumps or growths, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision or speech changes, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, wheezing, white patches in mouth or throat, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

The goal of Osteoarthritis treatment is to provide some pain relief and increase joint mobility and strength. Treatment options can include medication, some exercise, heat/cold compresses, the use of joint protection and surgery. Types of surgery could include Arthrodesis (fusion of joints), Arthroscopy (replacement with artificial joints), Total Knee Replacement, and Total Hip Replacement. Treatment plans may involve more than one of these options.

Does this all seem a bit too spine-chilling – it should!

But you are able to do something now to manage the onset of Arthritis or to manage your existing Arthritis so that you minimise the chances of needing drugs or surgery by using a combination of health supplements, changes to your diet and a bit of exercise too.

Joint Mender is a supplement which releases hundreds of phytonutrients that act at the molecular level to restore joint suppleness and flexibility by reducing inflammation and pain, eliminating toxins, curtailing free radical activity, counteracting autoimmunity, improving circulation, supporting cell production and repair, shrinking inflamed tissues, preventing excessive blood clotting, lubricating and smoothing joint structures, improving calcium absorption, and relaxing and toning muscles.

Omega-3 will help to shrink inflammation. Step-up your intake of Omega-3 by taking fish oil, ground flax seed, minimal-mercury tuna, wild-caught salmon, and sprouted walnuts. Also look at decreasing your intake of polyunsaturated oils in your diet that contain Omega-6 such as sunflower, safflower, soybean, and corn oils.

Olive oil in moderation is healthy monounsaturated oil that is used in the Mediterranean diet (a diet praised for its anti-inflammatory effects on the body). These monounsaturated fats can also be found in raw almonds, cashews and avocados.

A low-fiber diet will help deal with systemic inflammation. You can liberally add ground flax seed (which is also high in omega-3 fatty acids) to many of your favorite recipes, smoothies, shakes, and salads. And try to buy some coconut flour which is 58% fiber!

Try eating fruits rich in Vitamin C when fresh and available. These fruits are helpful to relieve inflammation. Choose any of the following fruits which are good; blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon, and anti-inflammatory fruits like apples. Citrus fruits can be too acidic and irritating, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.

When you’re at the supermarket, just remember this rule of thumb: the deeper and richer the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more antioxidant power it has. Colorful fruits and vegetables in the produce aisle to benefit from powerful antioxidants. Vibrant choices include blueberries, red grapes, mangos, pomegranate, dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), brussel sprouts, red cabbage, broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash.

If you suffer from arthritis, you may also suffer from other bone conditions. Some foods will be naturally high in calcium such as mustard greens, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, and turnip greens and these assit with bone health. Look for other foods that are rich in vitamin D such as tuna, sunflower seeds and wild-caught salmon – yummy too. Then moderate exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D production, which helps the body absorb calcium.

Adding anti-inflammatory spices and herbs such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic have intense anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that naturally help boost the immune system.

And yes exercise will help too. It may sound too painful to exercise with arthritis but there are techniques that you can use to keep yourself flexible. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are three types of exercise that are best suited for people with arthritis: Range-of-motion exercises help maintain normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. Strengthening exercises (or weight training) help keep or increase muscle strength. Stronger muscles will help support and protect joints affected by arthritis. Aerobic or endurance exercises (biking, swimming etc) improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control is important for people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints. There have been studies which show that aerobic exercise can reduce inflammation in some joints. Talk to your healthcare professional who may recommend physical therapy to help create a low-impact exercise plan that is tailored for your level of physical ability and you may wish to use the natural weight loss supplement Yogic Slim which restores balance within your body to ensure that fat molecules are not made.

The focus of physical therapy should be to protect the joints, while at the same time increasing strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

And most people want to know more about Ayurveda; (the science of life, prevention, and longevity)

This is the basis of these small lifestyle changes and is the oldest, the most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Ayurveda fundamentals can be found in old Hindu scriptures called the Vedas – the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses some inherent principles of nature to maintain health in a person by keeping the individual’s body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. It is not something new; it is not an unknown or an untested concept; Ayurveda is a comprehensive system that has been developed to treat the underlying causes of health problems rather than waiting for the symptoms to develop.

You owe it to yourself, to your body and to your family to make some changes and I suggest you can start by getting some Joint Mender today and then next time you are buying food, take an extra look at what you are buying.

 

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