GARDENPlants and seeds

Living With Pain

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone – watching both parents suffer the pain of Arthritis followed by knee replacement surgery.

It was my mother who is quite a bit younger that was first to go under the knife and her surgery was well overdue after enduring years of pain due to Arthritis. Her condition had got so bad that her posture had changed so she was hunched over and walked in a pigeon toe manner. She was also suffering back problems due to bad posture and the drugs were causing mild depression amongst other problems which were not discussed with me.

Now my mother has recovered and is back to her normal self. I am glad she had health insurance otherwise she may be better but broke.

One day my father was fit and healthy and the next day he was almost a criple – his knees colapsed so quickly. My father was able to get into surgery more quickly in another town where my sister lived.

The surgery could not be deemed a great sucess. After my mother’s experience the family thought that my father would be out of hospital within a few days and would recover quickly – he was fit and healthy – or so we thought.

Instead he experienced a mild heart attack in surgery and subsequently had issues during the recovery phase with infection and issues eating etc. I had always thought of my father as a positive type, and was therefore surprised and felt somewhat helpless in dealing with his depressed state of mind.

With my father back as the head of the family, I now believe I owe it to both my father and mother to make sure I share this with as many people as possibe – hence me writing down my story and my findings. The internet is great for researching and enabled me to learn more about a way to minimize the risk of getting Arthritis by using a more holistic medical system known as Ayurveda.

Arthritis is defined as joint inflammation. (arth = joint, ritis = inflammation). The inflammation is the way the body responds to an injury 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 inflamation subsides the area resumes its healthy state again.

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. It may be that when we think the inflammation has gone down there has been a small amount left, something we don’t really notice as we feel like we have fully recovered.

What actually 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.

We couldn’t address ever kind of Arthritis as there are over 100, so we are looking at two of the most common ones. Arthrities is not limited to the joints and can often affect other parts of the body too. People of all ages, including children and young adults, can develop arthritis.

WOW – the numbers of Americans suffering joint pain or Arthritis are estimated at being 1 in every 3 people – that is as many as 70 million! Currently there are 46 million (over 20%) living with arthritis in the United States and it is estimated that over 795 million people suffer from arthritis worldwide.

Two of the most common types of Arthritsis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis – this is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis results from overuse of joints. This can be a consequence of age, of obesity or from sports that have been played and/or sports injuries. Eventually the cartilage covering the end of the bones will gradually wear away.

Without the protection of the cartilage, the bones begin to rub against each other and the resulting friction leads to pain and 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 gets Osteoarthritis in the hands and this is frequently inherited. Since osteoarthritis often occurs as the cartilage breaks down, or degenerates, with age, it is sometimes called degenerative joint disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – this is a long-lasting disease that can affect joints in any part of the body but most commonly the hands, wrists, and knees. With rheumatoid arthritis, some of your body’s cells recognize a protein as a foreign intruder. The exact protein involved in rheumatoid arthritis has not yet been discovered. Some 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 battle between the body’s chemicals occurs mainly in the joints and causes the joint lining to swell. The inflammation then spreads to the surrounding tissues, and can eventually damage cartilage and bone. In more severe cases, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas of the body, such as the skin, eyes, and nerves.

After being diagnosed as having Arthritis your doctor will often prescribe drugs or if serious enough then surgery may be recommended. Most of us would prefer to avoid drugs on a regular basis as they almost always have detrimental side effects and are costly. My opinion is that drugs may help with the symtoms but I would prefer to deal with the underlying cause of the problem so I can eventually get of any medication.

My families experience with surgery demonstrate that it is something you should only have as a last resort and that is assuming I can afford it or that my health insurance would cover the cost. It is not cheap!

Here is a list of 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 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 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. Your treatment plan may involve more than one of these options.

You are probably a bit worried now – I know I was.

But you are able to act 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.

The following is a list of changes you should be considering. Start by adding two supplements to your diet and then introduce the other ideas over time.

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, and relaxing and toning muscles.

Omega-3 is known 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 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 can contribute to systemic inflammation. Adding ground flax seed (which is also high in omega-3 fatty acids) to many of your favorite recipes, smoothies, shakes, and salads. Also try coconut flour which is 58% fiber!

Try eating fruits rich in Vitamin C when fresh and available. These fruits help relieve 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 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 suffer from coexisting 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. Foods rich in vitamin D include mercury-minimal tuna, sunflower seeds, and wild-caught salmon. Also, moderate exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D production, which helps the body absorb calcium.

Make sure you include in your cooking some of the 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 exerciase cannot be underestimated. While it may sound painful to exercise with arthritis, 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 (weight training) help keep or increase muscle strength. Good strong muscles will help support the joints affected by arthritis. Aerobic or endurance exercises (bicycle riding, swimming) 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. There are studies which show that aerobic exercise can reduce inflammation in some joints. Your healthcare professional 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.

You probably want to know more about Ayurveda; (the science of life, prevention, and longevity) This is the basis of these lifestyle changes and is the oldest, the most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its 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 help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual’s body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. It has been around for a while… and it is a tested concept that has been proven; 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 Arthmender today and then next time you are buying food, take an extra look at what you are buying.

This took a long time to put together so I hope this has been helpful and maybe it will save you from living with pain.

 

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