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Suffering With Arthritis

Both of my parents have suffered (and I mean suffered!) from Arthritis over the past few which in both cases led to knee surgery.

My mother had her knee replacement surgery first. We knew she needed treatment due to her getting so bad that her posture had changed so she was hunched over and walked in a pigeon toe manner. The problems she had with her knees led to other problems too – a hunched back and mild depression due to the pain and medication.

We were glad that she had medical insurance as the surgery was quite expensive and may have been something she could not afford.

I had 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. Due to the severity he was pushed through the system quickly and was operated within a few months – not years as is so often the case.

They couldn’t say the surgery was a success. My father was thought to be fit and healthy – so it was a shock when things turned sour.

Instead he experienced a mild heart attack in surgery and subsequently he had issues during the recovery phase with infection. Depression was something we had never associated with my father nor was it something I had ever expected as a byproduct of this surgery.

He is a lot better 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. I learned more about Arthritis and I have also found how to minimize the risk of getting Arthritis by using a more holistic medical system known as Ayurveda.

Arthritis is quite simply known as joint inflammation. (arth = joint, ritis = inflammation). Inflammation is the way the body responds 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) rush 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 subsides the area becomes healthy again.

With many forms of arthritis the inflammation 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 will often leave scars which over time build up to cause problems.

What actually happens is the damage that occurs changes 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 forms of Arthritis but there are over 100 kinds of arthritis that can affect many different areas of the body. Not only the joints that can be afflicted with Arthritis; it can also affect other parts of the body too. It is also common for a person to have Arthritis in more than one part of the body. Arthritis does not select victims on an age based selection method and can just as easily affect children and young people.

This is not an uncommon problem. About one in every three of every American suffers some form of joint pain or Arthritis. Currently there are 46 million (over 20%) humans living with arthritis in the United States and it is estimated that over 795 million people suffer from arthritis worldwide.

The two most common forms of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

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

The rubbing 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 discomfort which is linked to an injury.

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

Rheumatoid Arthritis – most commonly 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 a foreign intruder. The exact protein involved in rheumatoid arthritis hasn’t yet been discovered. Experts believe the immune system becomes “confused” 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 that trigger more inflammation and destruction. This conflict between the body’s chemicals occurs mainly in the joints and causes the joint lining to swell. Then the inflammation spreads to the surrounding tissues, and may eventually damage cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis affects other areas of the body, such as the skin, eyes, and nerves.

Being diagnosed with Arthritis can mean you will be prescribed a cocktail of drugs or if serious enough then surgery will be recommended. Most of us do not like to use drugs on a regular basis as they almost always have detrimental side effects and are costly. My opinion is that drugs will offer short-term help but I would prefer to deal with the underlying cause of the problem so I can eventually get of any medication.

After my families experience with surgery it is something that I can state I would have only as a last resort and that is assuming I can afford it or that my health insurance would cover the cost. And surgery is expensive too.

Here are some commonly prescribed medications; 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 COMMON side effects of some 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 can include bleeding disorders, 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 pain relief and increase joint mobility and strength. Treatment options include medication, exercise, heat/cold compresses, use of joint protection and surgery. Types of surgery 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 sound a bit too scary – it really 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.

You should now be concerned. Here are a few tips on how you can make some positive changes – and they are not too hard… Any one of these changes will help, but the more you can do the better.

Arthmender 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, plus relaxing and toning muscles.

Omega-3 assists to reduce inflammation. Increase your intake of Omega-3 with fish oil, ground flax seed, minimal-mercury tuna, wild-caught salmon, and sprouted walnuts. You should 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 a healthy monounsaturated oil which is used in the Mediterranean diets (a diet praised for its anti-inflammatory effects on the body). These monounsaturated fats also can be found in raw almonds, cashews and avocados.

A low-fiber diet will contribute to systemic inflammation. Add plenty of ground flax seed (which is also high in omega-3 fatty acids) to many of your favorite recipes, smoothies, shakes, and salads. And purchase some coconut flour which is 58% fiber!

Eat fruits rich in Vitamin C when fresh and available. These fruits help reduce inflammation. Any of the following fruits 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 shops you need to 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 suffer from other bone conditions as well. Some foods are naturally high in calcium such as mustard greens, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, and turnip greens and these assit with bone health. Look for foods that are rich in vitamin D such as tuna, sunflower seeds and wild-caught salmon – yummy too. Also, moderate exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D production, which helps the body absorb calcium.

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

And exercise will help too. It may sound quite 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 plus relieve stiffness. Strengthening exercises (weights etc) will help keep or increase muscle strength. Stronger muscles will help support and protect joints affected by arthritis. Aerobic or endurance exercises (bicycle riding, swimming) improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control is important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints. There have been studies that 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. The focus of physical therapy should be to protect the joints, while increasing strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

And you probably want to find out more about Ayurveda; (the science of life, prevention, and longevity) This is the basis of the lifestyle changes which is the oldest, the most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Ayurveda’s fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas – the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to maintain good health in a person by keeping the individual’s body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. This is not something new; it is not an unknown or 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, your body and to your family to make some improvements and I suggest you can start by getting some Arthmender today and then next time you are buying food, take an extra look at what you are buying.

Arthmender is one herbal product that is available and I’m sure there are others too; however this is one that I know works really well. And it is not an expensive drug, instead it can be purchased online and is quite cheap.

This took me quite a long time to put together so I hope this has been helpful and maybe it will give you the motivation to change your life – to strive for Good Health & Wellbeing.

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