Do You Need Surgery?
Mar 13th
Knee joint replacements
Knee joint replacement surgery may be total where both sides of the knee joint are replaced, or uni-compartmental where only one side of the knee joint is replaced. Separating muscles and ligaments around the knee to expose the knee capsule, and then the inside of the joint performs the procedure.
The ends of the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia) are removed and often the underside of the kneecap (patella) is removed. The artificial parts are cemented into place. The new knee joint will consist of a metal shell on the end of the femur, a metal and plastic trough on the tibia and, if needed, a plastic button in the kneecap.
How long will the joint last?
About 85-95% of total knee replacements are successful for more than 10 years. The major long-term problem is loosening. Loosening is in part related to your weight and activity, and for that reason replacements may not be considered on the very obese or very young.
A loose, painful prosthesis can usually, but not always, be replaced. The results of the second operation are not as good as the first and the risks of complications are higher.
What happens after surgery?
Once you are back in your room after surgery, the rest of your hospital stay will focus on helping you begin to walk again before going home. You will start on a physical therapy program to exercise your knee muscles and regain strength and range of motion in your new knee.
During the next few days you will be asked to wiggle your toes and do other easy exercises to improve your circulation.
You will be given a specially designed program to strengthen your muscles and to start to walk with a walker, then with crutches and then a cane, to help regain confidence and you’re normal walking motion. This program will need to be continued when you get home.
The importance of caring for your prosthesis is the result of many years of research. Like any other device, your new knee’s life span depends on how you care for it.
Precautions after knee joint replacement
• Follow your surgeon’s advice on using crutches or cane to keep weight off your healing knee.
• Keep in mind that your prosthesis is designed for activities of daily living, not sports.
• Before dental work or surgery, let your dentist know you have prosthesis; antibiotics may be needed to prevent infection.
If one experiences increased knee pain, swelling, incision draining, chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms, then they should call their physician immediately.
Arthritis – Do You Have It?
Mar 13th
Live long enough and you can pretty much count on developing arthritis.
Arthritis consists of more than 100 different conditions. These conditions can be anything from relatively mild forms of tendonitis (as in ‘tennis elbow’) and bursitis; to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders; such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are forms of the disease; such as gout, which almost nobody connects with arthritis, and there are other conditions – like osteoarthritis.
It is true that many older people suffer from arthritis; however it does not limit itself to the elderly. Some forms of arthritis affect children; as well as, thousands of people in the prime of their lives. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal pain, which is why they are grouped together as ‘arthritis.’ Often that pain is a result of inflammation of the joint lining.
Inflammation is involved in many forms of arthritis. It is the body’s natural response to injury. The warning signs that inflammation presents are redness, swelling, heat and pain. These are the same kinds of reaction the body has to a sliver in the hand, for example. When a joint becomes inflamed, it may get any or all of these symptoms. This can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of function of that joint.
There are more than 100 joints connecting the body’s 206 bones. Most of the major bone connections in the body are joints designed to allow a broad range of motion. There are different kinds for different functions: ball-and-socket (hips and shoulders), saddle joints (which connect thumb to hand), hinge joints (fingers and knees) or pivot joints (wrists). Tied together by ligaments, the bones of joints are capped with a smooth substance called cartilage. This tough elastic material acts as a shock absorber and allows the bone ends to glide smoothly across each other. If the cartilage is destroyed (as in osteoarthritis), the bones of a joint can grind against each other, causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.
Between the bones is a joint cavity. An elastic type capsule encloses this cavity. The capsule protects the joint against dislocation. The inner lining of this capsule, the synovium, produces a thick fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In many forms of arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed and thickened, producing extra fluid, which contains inflammatory cells. The inflamed synovium and fluid can damage the cartilage and underlying bone.
No one knows what causes arthritis. Physical therapy and certain drugs can be prescribed to manage most forms of arthritis; however, if the disease is not detected early enough the treatments have a less chance of being successful. Hopefully, scientists will find a cure soon.
If you or someone you know suspects that he/she may have arthritis, then it is imperative to see a doctor for a consult.
Before You Exercise – Read This…
Mar 13th
You may think that exercise and arthritis do not go hand in hand. If so, you would be mistaken. It was thought for many years that if you had arthritis you should not exercise because it would damage your joints. Now, however, research has shown that exercise is an essential tool in managing your arthritis.
Regular, moderate exercise offers a whole host of benefits to people with arthritis. Mainly, exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance. But it also helps promote overall health and fitness by giving you more energy, helping you sleep better, controlling your weight, decreasing depression, and improving your self-esteem. Furthermore, exercise can help stave off other health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Starting an exercise program can seem like a daunting proposition. The important thing to remember is to start slow and make it fun. It is always good to start with flexibility exercises, which are basically stretching exercises that will improve your range of motion and help you perform daily activities. Once you feel comfortable you can move on to weight training and endurance exercises such as bicycling. You may be reluctant to exercise because you are in such pain. If this is the case you may want to start with a water exercise program. In the water your body’s buoyancy reduces stress on your hips, knees, and spine.
An exercise program can include anything from walking around the block, taking a yoga class, or playing a round of golf. In this section we’ve attempted to give you all the information you will need on how to start exercising and the proper way to incorporate exercise into the management of your arthritis.
Whatever exercise program you decide on you should always consult with your doctor before starting out. Two other types of health professionals that can help you develop an exercise program that fits your specific needs are a physical or occupational therapist. A physical therapist can show you the proper techniques and precautions when performing certain types of exercise. An occupational therapist can show you how to perform daily activities without putting additional stress on your joints and can provide you with splint devices that can make working out more comfortable.
Over 100 Possible Symptoms
Mar 13th
Arthritis isn’t a one-note story or even a few variations on a single theme; it actually consists of more than 100 different conditions. These can be anything from relatively mild forms of tendonitis (as in ‘tennis elbow’) and bursitis to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are forms of the disease, such as gout, that almost nobody connects with arthritis, and there are other conditions – like osteoarthritis, the misnamed ‘wear and tear’ arthritis – that a good many people think is the only form of the disease.
Who can get arthritis?
True, many older people do have arthritis, but it’s not just a disease of the old. Some forms of arthritis affect children still in nappies, while thousands of people are stricken in the prime of their lives. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal pain, which is why they are grouped together as ‘arthritis.’ Often that pain is a result of inflammation of the joint lining.
Inflammation is involved in many forms of arthritis. It is the body’s natural response to injury. The warning signs that inflammation presents are: – redness, swelling, heat and pain. These are the same kinds of reaction the body has to a sliver in the hand, for example. When a joint becomes inflamed, it may get any or all of these symptoms. This can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of flexibility of the joint.
Anatomy of a Joint
There are more than 100 joints connecting the body’s 206 bones. Most of the major bone connections in the body are joints designed to allow a broad range of motion. There are different kinds for different functions: ball-and-socket (hips and shoulders), saddle joints (which connect thumb to hand), hinge joints (fingers and knees) or pivot joints (wrists).
Tied together by ligaments, the bones of joints are capped with a smooth substance called cartilage. This tough elastic material acts as a shock absorber and allows the bone ends to glide smoothly across each other. If the cartilage is destroyed (as in osteoarthritis), the bones of a joint can grind against each other causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.
Between the bones is a joint cavity, which gives the bones room to move. A capsule that’s flexible, yet strong enough to protect the joint against dislocation encloses the joint space between two bones. The inner lining of this capsule, the synovium, produces a thick fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In many forms of arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed and thickened, producing extra fluid, which contains inflammatory cells. The inflamed synovium and fluid can damage the cartilage and underlying bone.
Treatment of arthritis
No one knows what causes arthritis, though scientists have uncovered a host of clues. Something can be done to manage most forms of arthritis, but it’s very important that a correct diagnosis is established early. Most therapies work best when started early in the disease process. Then proper medication can be distributed to ease the pain of arthritis.
Which Medicines Will Help…
Mar 13th
Arthritis pain relief medicine can seem like a miracle to those who suffer this debilitating disease, but with more and more of the widely prescribed drugs that seemed to be working so well for people, are being pulled from the shelves and recalled because of widespread side effects, many people are turning to alternative medicine for arthritis pain relief.
Pain medicine for arthritis generally falls into three categories: the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, often sold over the counter), narcotic pain medications, and steroids. While the risks of using steroids long term such as breakdown of bone tissue are generally well known, we are only now learning about the harmful side effects of prescription NSAIDS.
Arthritis pain relief medications such as the popular COX-2 inhibitors Bextra and Vioxx, have been put on hold since evidence that they might be linked to some serious problems, such as kidney and heart failure, hardening of the arteries and increased blood pressure. These are only some of the side effects reported, and are more often seen in the elderly, who were frequently prescribed these pills for arthritis and joint pain.
Narcotic pain medicine for arthritis, such as codeine or hydrocodone (Vicodin) comes with plenty of its own problems, the most serious of which is the potential to get addicted to it after long term use. Moreover, the body has a tendency to build up a resistance to these pain medications over time, which means that the patient must use larger doses of the narcotic to find relief, leading to the possibility of respiratory failure and even death.
Many people are now turning to alternative medicine for arthritis in the hope of getting lasting relief from their symptoms without the risks associated with pharmaceutical arthritis pain relief medication. There are many excellent natural choices that can stand on their own, but for those who don’t have the time or inclination to mix and match ingredients until they find the right combination there are combination supplements which incorporate a host of trusted herbal ingredients to help your body create a natural pain response to deal with pain in the long term.
Alternative medicine for arthritis can also take the form of using supplements to help rebuild and strengthen the stiff or broken down cartilage that results from the disease. Supplements such as MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin are well known for their ability to help the body strengthen and repair joint cartilage, and using the three combined is a powerful “triple whammy” that will help your body replace, rebuild and repair the damage already caused to get you back on your feet.
The pharmaceutical industry has made arthritis pain relief medicine big business, but it seems that in their hurry to get these drugs out on the market, they may have sidestepped some important information. Chronic sufferers claim that using natural pain medicine for arthritis is almost always a better choice, as these remedies have been trusted for years and have few side effects.
Crucial Data About Arthritis
Mar 13th
What is arthritis?
The word arthritis actually means joint inflammation, and that is how clinicians and biomedical researchers use it. In the public health world however, arthritis is used as a shorthand term for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions—a label for the more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround joints and other connective tissue. The pattern, severity, and location of symptoms can vary depending on the specific form of the disease. Typically, rheumatic conditions are characterized by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. The symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. Certain rheumatic conditions can also involve the immune system and various internal organs of the body.
Who is at risk for arthritis?
Certain factors are associated with a greater risk of arthritis. Some of these risk factors are modifiable while others are not.
Non-modifiable risk factors
o Age: The risk of developing most types of arthritis increases with age.
o Gender: Most types of arthritis are more common in women, accounting for 60% of all cases. Gout is more common in men.
o Genetic: Genes have been identified that are associated with a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Modifiable risk factors
o Overweight and Obesity: Excess weight can contribute to both the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis.
o Joint Injuries: Damage to a joint can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in that joint.
o Infection: Many microbial agents can infect joints and potentially cause the development of various forms of arthritis.
o Occupation: Certain occupations involving repetitive knee bending are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
What causes arthritis?
Elevated uric acid levels cause gout, and specific infections can cause arthritis of a joint. The causes of many of the other forms of arthritis are unknown. Scientists are studying the role of factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment on the various types of arthritis.
What are the most common types of arthritis?
The most common form of arthritis in the Unites States is osteoarthritis followed by gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
The pattern and location of symptoms can vary depending on the types of arthritis. Generally, people with arthritis feel pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. The onset of arthritis symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. Arthritis is most often a chronic disease, so symptoms may come and go, or persist over time.
What should I do if I think I have arthritis?
If you have pain, stiffness, or swelling in or around one or more of your joints, talk to your doctor. It is important to keep in mind that there are many forms of arthritis, the specific diagnosis of the type of arthritis you have is necessary to direct the proper treatment. Although there is no cure for most types of arthritis, early diagnosis and appropriate management are important, especially for inflammatory types of arthritis. For example, early use of disease-modifying drugs can affect the course of rheumatoid arthritis. An early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can make a difference in pain and joint damage. The earlier you understand your arthritis, the earlier you can start managing your disease and making healthy lifestyle changes to help your arthritis.
Can I prevent arthritis?
Depending on the form of arthritis, there are steps that can be taken to reduce your risk of arthritis. Maintaining an appropriate body weight has been shown to decrease the risk of developing osteoarthritis and gout. Protecting your joints from injuries or overuse can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Diagnosing arthritis often includes a detailed medical history of current and past symptoms, physical examination, x-rays, and blood work to determine the type of arthritis. It is possible to have more than one form of arthritis at the same time.
What are the treatments for arthritis?
The focus of treatment for arthritis is to control pain, minimize joint damage, and to improve or maintain function and quality of life. According to the American College of Rheumatology, the treatment of arthritis might involve the following:
o Medication.
o Nonpharmacologic therapies
Physical or occupational therapy.
Splints or joint assistive aids.
Patient education and support.
Weight loss.
o Surgery.
In conjunction with medical treatment, self-management of arthritis pain and symptoms is very important as well. The Arthritis Self-Help Course is an effective self-management education program for people with arthritis developed by Dr. Kate Lorig of Stanford University. The course helps people learn and practice the different skills needed to build an individualized self-management program and gain the confidence to carry it out.
How can I manage arthritis pain?
Medical treatment of arthritis pain and self-management strategies is very important. The Arthritis Self-Help Course (ASHC) is an effective self-management education intervention for people with arthritis. The ASHC, developed by Dr. Kate Lorig of Stanford University, helps people learn and practice the different skills needed to build an individualized self-management program and gain the confidence to carry it out.
How many people in the United States have arthritis?
In 2002, an estimated 43 million Americans had doctor-diagnosed arthritis and an additional 23 million adults had chronic joint symptoms but have not been diagnosed with arthritis. As our nation’s population ages, the prevalence is expected to increase.
How many children have arthritis?
The answer to this question is not currently known with much certainty. Estimates vary and range from 80,000 to 285,000, depending on the definition of arthritis among children, age ranges for children, and the different methods used to find cases. The small size of most studies can also lead to chance variation in estimates.
Is exercise recommended for people who have arthritis?
Recent studies have shown that moderate physical activity 3 or more days a week can help to relieve arthritis pain and stiffness and give you more energy. Regular physical activity can also lift your mood and make you feel more positive.
An activity that provides a slight increase in heart rate or breathing is considered moderate physical activity. Low-impact activities performed at a moderate pace work best for people with arthritis. These include walking, swimming, and riding a bicycle. Everyday activities such as dancing, gardening, and washing the car can be good if done at a moderate pace that produces slight breathing and heart rate changes.
If you are having an acute flare-up of your inflammatory arthritis, it may be better to restrict your exercise to simple range of motion (carefully moving the joint as far as it can go) during the flare-up.
How does body weight influence arthritis?
Weight control is essential, because extra pounds put extra pressure on many joints. Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis and may decrease disease progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of knee osteoarthritis.
Race and Arthritis: How It Affects You…
Mar 13th
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic pain conditions in America, diagnosed in about 21% of the adult population. And yet, study after study illustrates how the experience of arthritis is significantly more debilitating for black Americans. For instance, there is the recent study finding that black Americans more often ranked arthritis as their primary source of physical limitation; black Americans experienced greater pain severity; and black Americans were less likely to see a physician about their arthritis problems. Then there is the Center for Disease Control’s study before that: the study reported a higher rate of physical limitation attributable to arthritis among black Americans even while the prevalence of arthritis was similar between White and black Americans. So what’s going on here? There is a noted racial disparity, but what are we to make of it?
Well, the reasons aren’t entirely known and, given the stakes and sensitivity of the question, there is little jumping to conclusions. But however tentative, any answer starts with a consideration of the chronic under treatment that black Americans are prone to. Primarily, this under treatment is a consequence of inadequate health services, which, in turn, is a consequence of economic disparity. Disadvantaged, often city-dwelling black Americans simply cannot afford regular access to the best and usually most expensive doctors who would reliably know what action to take and what medicines to prescribe. Instead, the alternatives are overworked hospitals and clinics with a lower paid staff and poorer grade facilities.
Additionally, there is the black American’s increased risk of obesity. As a definite precondition to arthritis, this increased risk reveals the same force of economic disadvantage. Walk along any city block and compare the price of milk and eggs to the price of a can of coke and a bag of chips. The sad fact is it is far cheaper to eat poorly. Alongside limited medical resources, this nutritional deficit may go a long way to explain why arthritis comes with greater severity and with greater physical limitations.
Beyond socioeconomic trends, chronic under treatment might also spring from an indifferent doctor-patient relationship. Under treatment operates at many levels and both ways: just as a good doctor knows what the correct diagnosis is and what the proper treatment should be, the patient must be willing to volunteer the information of what hurts, when it hurts etc. Both appear to be lacking for black Americans. A telephone survey recently found black Americans to be less participatory during doctor’s visits especially when the doctor was white. The study found the same decrease in participation for white Americans with a black doctor. Comfort ability and trust seem to be at issue here and unlike the ideas of “resources” and “access”, this problem turns on a more personal dynamic, perhaps seated in larger ideas of diversity and multiculturalism.
At the same time, the question of arthritis’ differing impact doesn’t appear to have a viable genetic component not yet at least. Remember, there was a similar prevalence of condition that suggests a similar genetic risk in all races. Furthermore, a team of scientists studied the genetics of four major racial/ethnic groups (Black, White, Hispanic and East Asian) to find only “modest” genetic differences between the four. Of course, this isn’t to say genetics won’t play a part in treatment pending future scientific discoveries. But for now, the cultural and economic challenges seem the most glaring factors in this important disparity
Exercise – Yes Or No?
Mar 13th
Yes. Studies have shown that exercise helps people with arthritis in many ways. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance. It also helps with weight reduction and contributes to an improved sense of well being.
How Does Exercise Fit Into a Treatment Plan for People With Arthritis?
Exercise is one part of a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan. Treatment plans also may include rest and relaxation, proper diet, medication, and instruction about proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy (that is, not waste motion) as well as the use of pain relief methods.
What Types of Exercise Are Most Suitable for Someone With Arthritis?
Three types of exercise are best for people with arthritis:
• Range-of-motion exercises (e.g., dance) help maintain normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. This type of exercise helps maintain or increase flexibility.
• Strengthening exercises (e.g., weight training) help keep or increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect joints affected by arthritis.
• Aerobic or endurance exercises (e.g., bicycle riding) improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control can be important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints. Some studies show that aerobic exercise can reduce inflammation in some joints.
Most health clubs and community centers offer exercise programs for people with physical limitations.
How Does a Person With Arthritis Start an Exercise Program?
People with arthritis should discuss exercise options with their doctors and other health care providers. Most doctors recommend exercise for their patients. Many people with arthritis begin with easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics. People with arthritis can participate in a variety of, but not all, sports and exercise programs. The doctor will know which, if any, sports are off-limits.
The doctor may have suggestions about how to get started or may refer the patient to a physical therapist. It is best to find a physical therapist that has experience working with people who have arthritis. The therapist will design an appropriate home exercise program and teach clients about pain-relief methods, proper body mechanics (placement of the body for a given task, such as lifting a heavy box), joint protection, and conserving energy.
How Often Should People With Arthritis Exercise?
• Range-of-motion exercises can be done daily and should be done at least every other day.
• Strengthening exercises should be done every other day unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints.
• Endurance exercises should be done for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints. According to the American College of Rheumatology, 20- to 30-minute exercise routines can be performed in increments of 10 minutes over the course of a day.
What Type of Strengthening Program Is Best?
This varies depending on personal preference, the type of arthritis involved, and how active the inflammation is. Strengthening one’s muscles can help take the burden off painful joints. Strength training can be done with small free weights, exercise machines, isometrics, elastic bands, and resistive water exercises. Correct positioning is critical, because if done incorrectly, strengthening exercises can cause muscle tears, more pain, and more joint swelling.
Are There Different Exercises for People With Different Types of Arthritis?
There are many types of arthritis. Experienced doctors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists can recommend exercises that are particularly helpful for a specific type of arthritis.
Doctors and therapists also know specific exercises for particularly painful joints. There may be exercises that are off-limits for people with a particular type of arthritis or when joints are swollen and inflamed. People with arthritis should discuss their exercise plans with a doctor. Doctors who treat people with arthritis include rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, general practitioners, family doctors, internists, and rehabilitation specialists (physiatrists).
How Much Exercise Is Too Much?
Most experts agree that if exercise causes pain that lasts for more than 1 hour, it is too strenuous. People with arthritis should work with their physical therapist or doctor to adjust their exercise program when they notice any of the following signs of strenuous exercise:
• Unusual or persistent fatigue
• Increased weakness
• Decreased range of motion
• Increased joint swelling
• Continuing pain (pain that lasts more than 1 hour after exercising)
Are Researchers Studying Arthritis and Exercise?
Researchers are looking at the effects of exercise and sports on the development of musculoskeletal disabilities, including arthritis. They have found that people who do moderate, regular running have low, if any, risk of developing osteoarthritis. However, studies show that people who participate in sports with high-intensity, direct joint impact are at risk for the disease. Examples are football and soccer. Sports involving repeated joint impact and twisting (such as baseball and soccer) also increase osteoarthritis risk. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of sports injuries and complete rehabilitation should decrease the risk of osteoarthritis from these injuries.
Researchers also are looking at the effects of muscle strength on the development of osteoarthritis. Studies show, for example, that strengthening the quadriceps muscles can reduce knee pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis. One study shows that a relatively small increase in strength (20-25 percent) can lead to a 20-30 percent decrease in the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis. Other researchers continue to look for and find benefits from exercise to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, systemic lupus erythematosus, and fibromyalgia. They are also studying the benefits of short- and long-term exercise in older populations.
Easing The Pain Naturally
Mar 13th
Glucosamine:
Glucosamine helps to rebuild cartilage and it’s useful for people who suffer pain from cartilage degeneration (osteoarthritis). Another benefit from it is that it can reduce inflammation and thus it’s sometimes recommended for other forms of arthritis too. It can take long to have effects, even up to six months or so, and one has to continue taking it in the future.
Chondroitin:
Chondroitin works similar to glucosamine and is helpful against inflammation and cartilage degeneration.
Fish oils:
There is evidence that fish oils (omega 3 fatty acids/dha & epa) have anti inflammatory properties. The best way is probably by taking them through a glucosamine product which also includes omega3. You can buy them separately, the end results should be the same. Like glucosamine, it doesn’t have serious side effects, it’s a natural substance for our body, and basically it’s just a cartilage material.
Msm nutritional supplement:
It appears to be very safe; however, long- term research is not completed.
Bromelain:
Bromelain is a protein-digestive enzyme that was found 1957. Bromelain supplements are made from pineapple stem.
Shark’s cartilage:
Sometimes Sharks cartilage is used as a source for chondroitin sulfate.
Cmo:
Cmo to treat arthritis, is cetyl myristoleate a good treatment/remedy for rheumatoid/osteoarthritis.
Herbs for arthritis:
Herbs for arthritis pain and inflammation are the following:
Cats claw, Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), Willow bark, Yucca, Boswellia Serrata Boswellin, Chamomile, Dandelion root, Quercetin, Black cumin, Ginger, Myrrh, Olive leaf and Turmeric.
Arthritis vitamins:
Vitamins for arthritis also minerals and other nutrients are the following: Vitamin C, D, E, Boron,Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, Bromelain, Beta carotene, Alpha lipoic acid, Precursors to CoQ10, Tocotrienols, L-carnosine, N-acetyl cysteine
Natural remedies for arthritis:
Apple cider vinegar (AVC) is considered to be harmless non-proven remedy for arthritis. The theory behind this is that acid crystals harden the joints and cause stiffness and that AVC prevents this.
Emu oil is used as a remedy for swollen joints and pain in Australia. It’s claimed to have analgesic and anti inflammatory effects.
Cetyl myristoleate is believed to cure arthritis in laboratory tests given to animals.
The ‘True’ Arthritis Wonder Cure?
Mar 13th
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are two natural substances that are found in normal joint tissue and have produced tremendous results in reducing the pain and discomfort caused by arthritis. These two substances are the foundation for the natural arthritis program recommended by Jason Theodosakis, M.D., M.S., M.P.H. in his best selling book “The Arthritis Cure”. According to Dr. Theodosakis, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, when taken in supplemental form, have been shown to reverse damage in joint cartilage, are extensively used and studied throughout the world and are proven effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis since 1959.
What kinds of treatments are available for Arthritis?
Most conventional physicians today treat arthritis with drugs designed to minimize inflammation and attempt to control or manage pain. A Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) will most likely be prescribed. Available over-the-counter drugs include ibuprofen, Motrin, Naprosyn, Clinoril and others.
Although these NSAIDs are affective in managing the effects of Arthritis, they do not come without considerable risks and/or side effects of their own. They are rapidly becoming a concern in the medical and health communities
Studies show that NSAIDs deteriorate the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. According to the National Institute of Health, consistent use of NSAIDs over prolonged time periods increase the incidence of hospitalization for stomach ulcers by six and a half times.
The most serious problem from taking NSAIDs is their degenerating effect on cartilage; NSAIDs actually prevent the growth of collagen in the joints.
When researchers added aspirin to normal and osteoarthritic cartilage cultures from animals and humans, they found that the synthesis of proteoglycans (the water absorbing cells in cartilage) slows down significantly. The doses used in lab-dish cultures equaled the usual doses taken by arthritic sufferers for pain. This means that aspirin, when taken internally prevents cartilage from repairing itself- and speeds up the progression of osteoarthritis! In similar experiments with animal cultures, other NSAIDs inhibited cartilage synthesis.
In an ironic twist of medical fate, the only NSAID that stimulates proteoglycans is benoxaprofen, now banned for causing liver and kidney damage related deaths.
Further potential damage caused by the use of NSAIDs is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, memory loss, inability to concentrate and allergic reactions.
What is a pain sufferer to do?
A growing number of very exciting studies pouring forth from research centers and hospitals in Europe and Asia have forced health practitioners to look at specific nutrients that many feel can reverse arthritis. These nutrients have been shown in studies to provide the raw materials for cartilage regeneration. The names of these three nutritional supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and gelatin.
GLUCOSAMINE
Glusosamine is made of glucose, the sugar that the body burns for fuel, and an amino acid called glutamine. Glucosamine is an important part of the mucopolysachiarides, which provide structure to the bone, cartilage, skin, nails, hair, and other body tissues. It is a major building block of the water- loving proteoglycans, one of the substances that cartilage needs in order to thrive. Without these water-attracting molecules in place, there is cartilage damage. With cartilage losing its ability to absorb shock, it becomes more susceptible to cracking, fissuring, and possibly wearing through completely.
Glucosamine is an all-natural source that helps relieve arthritis symptoms and reconstruct cartilage health by forming the proteoglycans that healthy cartilage must have.
CHONDROITIN SULFATE
The second nutrient that works synergistically with glucosamine to enhance cartilage health and bring further relief of pain is chondroitin sulfate. Also called the “water magnet” or “liquid magnet”, this supplement draws in precious depleted fluid, while protecting existing cartilage from premature breakdown. This function is crucial because the more fluid that flows into cartilage, the more shock absorbent it will become; like a dehydrated sponge that you pour water over, the cartilage becomes more cushioned.
GELATIN
Gelatin is a source of collagen. One of the functions of collagen is to assist the body in the regeneration healthy collagen fibers. Studies in Europe now show that gelatin provides building blocks of cartilage; effectively providing nutritional support required for cartilage regeneration. Cartilage is largely made of collagen fibers. The entire structure flexibility and strength of cartilage is due to collagen fibers. The absence of collagen fibers to hold cartilage in place as buffers would result in bones grinding against each other.
A study published in Therapiewoche by Adam ET. Al. (1991), using randomized double-blinded crossover trial of 52 patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, found that gelatin supplements improved symptoms related to joint pain compared to a placebo.
Another study in 1994 by Beuker and Rosenfeld, using a randomized blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 92 geriatric patients, found that gelatin appears to have a significantly positive affect on joint health by reducing the sensation of pain and enhancing mobility compared to a placebo.