Arthritis Painkiller

Arthrits gadgets to make life easier

Arthritis Expert — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:02:39 +0000

Arthritis, or any hand pain, can be very limiting. The muscles and joints in the hand and wrist are very small and precision-oriented, and pain can impair performance on things we do every day, like closing a jewelry catch or fastening buttons on your shirt. Assistant gadgets have less of a stigma than they used to, and they’re actually getting cooler as more people are using them… because they’re just smarter. Here are 10 new really cool and “handy” gadgets that just make routine movements less taxing on our hands. They even make great gifts!

This mitten can help add heat to a selected area of the body. Really affordable product to ease pain Be Well Moist Heat w/ Microbeads Microwavable- Arthritis Mitt

Key Aid Turner Mobility Arthritis OAP Holds 2 Keys Description: Key Aid Key Holder – Blue Holds 2 Keys Mobility, Arthritis etc aid Keys fold into handle when not in use Tightening lever keeps keys in position & simplifies adding or removing keys Oversize handle enables an easier grip

Awesome magnetic Bracelet for Arthritis
* Genuine Wide Hematite bead magnetic bracelet
* Adjustable, Elastic, Stretch Bracelet
* Fits Men and also for Women stretch bracelet
* Magnets are beleived to give you healthy blood circulation and help heal arthritis, and general aches and pains
* Hematite is believed to give you positive energy thus give you happiness and take away depression

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Mindfulness Exercises Help Rheumatoid Joint Disease

Arthritis Expert — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:20:19 +0000

A small study was conducted on the mindfulness activities to help Arthritis pain. The study showed that stress and fatigue is linked to painful rheumatoid joint disease.

Researchers assessed 73 patients aged between 20 and 70 years with painful joint disease due to rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis for a minimum of 12 months. Half of the patients were randomly allocated to receive 10 group sessions of “mindfulness” exercises over a course of 15 weeks, plus a booster session about 6 months following the completion of the course, whilst the other half received standard care plus a CD with similar exercises home use, as and when they wanted.

This study was put on by the P’s Vitality Training Program. They took healthcare professionals who were trained in mindfulness techniques. These techniques help bring out emotions such as joy, happiness and sorrow. So they could see how each effect could have an impact on the arthritis pain in your body.

From 13 participants who scored a high stress score of over 23 in the GHQ-20 questionnaire 11 participants stress level was lower, with only two maintaining their high stress score after just 12 months after the sessions had finished, whilst in the control group 10 participants started out with a high stress score of over 23 with eight reporting lower levels of stress.

The researchers did however note a significant reduction in measured levels of fatigue amongst the intervention group whereas the control group reported no such change.

According to the researchers, earlier attempts of using psychological and educational tactics to help arthritis sufferers cope better with the distressing aspects of their disease tended to be short term.

They say the lasting improvements observed in the VTP course: “indicate that the participants may have incorporated some mindfulness strategies into their daily lives and that these strategies have strengthened their ability to respond to their stressful experience in a more flexible way,” emphasizing that although rheumatoid arthritis therapies have greatly improved, they tend to be less effective in individuals in whom the disease is more established. They continue saying that ultimately the disease can only be controlled in part and that it forces many patients to undertake extremely demanding changes in their style of life.

Credits:

Image: fotographic1980 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Petra Rattue. (2011, December 27). “Rheumatoid Joint Disease – Mindfulness Exercises Help Significantly.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239685.php

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Arthritis pain in the winter months!

Arthritis Expert — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:09:27 +0000

Today I want to talk about some great things you can do for pains you may have when your cold this winter. However there is very little scientific evidence to support Snow’s experience or that of the many arthritis patients who feel worse when the weather is frightful. “In terms of really trying to scientifically study it, [research] is rather sparse and contradictory,” says rheumatologist Bonita S. Libman, MD, an associate professor of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the University of Vermont in Burlington. “A lot of people do feel that weather affects their symptoms.” But this does not compare to the fact almost all of us with arthritis feel crappy when it gets cold or is about to snow.

Bundle up

Though there’s not much scientific data to support the joint pain and weather connection, you can still use these arthritis pain relief tips when your aching joints act up in winter:

Dress warmly and crank the heat up in your house a little. Add layers to places where you are feeling pain like knees and elbows. Light leggings are always a good choice.

Exercise inside- People with joint pain still have to stay active. Bitter winter weather requires an indoor exercise plan. Snow has a treadmill and an elliptical trainer at home. Libman recommends walking the mall.

Warm WaterGo swimming or take hot baths. This will help relieve pain throughout the body.

Supplement vitamin D - Being deficient in vitamin D might make osteoarthritis worse, warns Libman. You are less likely to get enough vitamin D in the winter, so this is a good time to take a supplement or make sure your diet is vitamin D-rich.

Add fish oil- “Omega-3 fatty acids do have some benefit because they seem to reduce the level of inflammation,” says Libman. You need about 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day to get benefits. Make sure to let your doctor know if you try omega-3s, as they can increase the risk of bruising or bleeding.

Get a massage – Yes, you have permission to indulge yourself. “A lot of what’s happening in terms of pain is, some is emanating from the joint and some from the muscles around the joint,” explains Libman. Massage can help ease those cramped muscles.

By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

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How to eat away Arthritis

Arthritis Expert — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:29:01 +0000

Can you eat away at your arthritis?

This book talks about healthy foods that can help your arthritis.

According to the foundation’s rheumatologists (medical doctors specializing in arthritis) the cause of arthritis disease remains unclear. No drug has been found to cure any specific case of arthritis. But could diet be the answer? In this book they will review test results and theory’s on the scope of foods that could help.

Arthritis pain kills most of us!!

Arthritis Expert — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:45:26 +0000

Everyday pain can hurt from arthritis. I really feel it when storms roll in. But there are ways to tell what it is that is really bothering your pain.

Here are some commonly asked questions on Arthritis Pain!

Do arthritis patients vary in how much pain they can tolerate before needing treatment? Does one patient reach for pain medication sooner than another for what would be considered the same level of pain? What accounts for the variance in pain tolerance? Is it a mental issue or a physical issue? Are certain arthritic conditions more painful than others?

One of the biggest mysteries I see as a rheumatologist is the differences in pain perception among my patients. There are some patients with severe deforming rheumatoid arthritis who complain of minimal pain and other patients with non-inflammatory fibromyalgia who have severe disabling pain. There is limited research as to what causes the difference.

Many factors must be involved. Pain seems to be less tolerated during an acute stage of an illness. Some possible explanations include the fact that the pain is new and there is concern as to whether or not it will improve; uncertainty of the cause will often increase anxiety which in turn increases pain. In other words, emotional issues can clearly accentuate the perception of pain. Once patients have an explanation for their pain and treatment plan, many tolerate it better.

One of the best things you can do is just to take medication. To see a doctor on some different medications or creams you can use. Some people say your diet can change some of the pain as well.

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How to make suffering from Arthritis easier!

Arthritis Expert — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:23:34 +0000

How to know how to treat your arthritis is simple.
Arthritis treatment will depend on what joint was affected, what kind of arthritis it is, and the medical history of the patient. As such, there is no tried-and-true formula to treat the condition; instead, each program is devised to fit the unique needs of each patient. However, the goal of all kinds of arthritis treatment is to reduce the pain and inflammation, as well as to prevent lasting damage to the affected joint.
sdf Arthritis Treatment: Available Options for Arthritis Sufferers
Most of the time, treatment is not necessary for mild cases. However, even those that have little or no symptoms may still need to be attended to if the symptoms persist.

What drugs should you take for your Arthritis?

Prescription drugs may also be given to patients in case over-the-counter medication for arthritis treatment does not work. Common medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), naproxen, and dicolfenac, which have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to reduce the pain and the swelling caused by sever rheumatism. Prescription drugs such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate, azathioprine, penicillamine, and hydroxychloroquine can also be given to delay the progression of the arthritis.

For more helpful tips and to find out what might be most affective you should consult with your local doctor.

Arthritis drug may lead to heart risks, uh oh!

Arthritis Expert — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:41:47 +0000

I know sometimes we get to post the horrible news! But we want to give you some better news today! The Toronto Star reports that frequent use of the COX-2 Inhibitor Vioxx can increase the risk of congestive heart failure. The headline however is misleading.

According to Dr. Arthur Bookman, chair of the medical advisory committee of the Arthritis Society Vioxx won’t put anyone with a normal heart at risk.

Dr. Bookman stated:
“The worst thing that could happen is if people who are in pain and agony are throwing out these pills because they don’t understand”

As I read on feeling very concerned and scared considering I can’t physically function without my daily 25 mg Vioxx pill I learned that this study was exclusively using the elderly as examples. So I assume young folk like myself don’t have anything to worry about….yet. We of course have no idea what the long term affects of Vioxx is. I wouldn’t even need it if my damn HMO would approve me for Remicade already.

So ill have to live with Vioxx for a little longer. Ill share any new developments I get on this medication when they happen!

Holistic Arthritis Treatments that Treat Underlying Factors

Arthritis Expert — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:08:29 +0000

Holistic Arthritis Treatments

What is holistic arthritis treatments? It’s tue science has given us the gift of drugs but holistic arthritis treatments are still used. People using holistic arthritis treatments are reporting that natural remedies are working more efficiently and, of course, that they are cheaper. Holistic arthritis treatments ar based on the knowledge of thounsands of generations of all of the earth’s cultures.

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Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis Expert — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:10:37 +0000

Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis

A concise video discussing the medication methotrexate for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis

Duration : 0:7:3

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to “seek and destroy” invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.

While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, meaning it can last for years, patients may experience long periods without symptoms. However, rheumatoid arthritis is typically a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

See original here: Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis

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World Arthritis Day…133-26-32

Arthritis Expert — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:09:53 +0000

Happy World Arthritis Day, y’all!

In honor of our fabulously “blue day,” this onset story post is written as part of the IAAM World Arthritis Day Blog Event, an event with participants from MANY other blogs, support groups, non-profits, and major advocacy groups. How awesome is it when this fabulous community of ours puts together a united front! Because, honestly, that’s what we HAVE to do in order to make changes for the better. If you’re a blogger reading this and want to know how to participate, email me (or comment) and I’ll send you the scoop. Also, I encourage you to visit the IAAM Facebook page to see other blogs participating AND (if that’s not enough), post your own onset stories in my comments and not only will I approve the comment, I will also repost your comments in a seperate post so that all may read it.

So…enough instructions right? On to the story!

Some of you may have seen some recent press and advocacy efforts in response to some absolutely ~~assinine~~ socially irresponsible comments made by Dr Phil on two seperate occasions. According to Dr Phil, obesity causes rheumatoid arthritis. Yep, you read that right. And even better, this was said by a man whose dissertation was entitled “Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Psychological Intervention.” So perhaps his psychological intervention would be to throw carrots and rice cakes at us patients?

I have a hard time writing about my onset so bear with me if this is a bit choppy and rambling.

I grew up dancing. I was best at ballet- I’ve always been long and lean and best at the graceful stuff- but I loved tap because it was LOUD and jazz because it was always to fun music. I danced competitively in high school and then continued dancing at frat parties in college. (Sorry Mom and Dad.) After college, I got super into group exercise classes and then running.

In the six months before things really got bad for me, I dealt with the following events in a very short period of time: a brother deployed to Iraq, some serious job drama, a suicide in my family, a lot of family in-fighting due to the suicide, and a pretty severely broken heart. Family who may read this, please don’t take what I said above the wrong way. It is simply a fact that we all had different opinions, reactions, and ways of dealing with it. Nothing wrong with that.

So what did I do to deal? I controlled everything I could about myself because it was the only thing I felt that I had any say in. I ate very cleanly and I worked out incessantly. Ironically, one of the worst situations I’d ever been in propelled me to live the healthiest I’ve ever lived in my entire life.

One of my last memories before starting to have problems is taking a kick boxing class with one of my guy friends at the gym. I wanted to try it and he, a former collegiate athlete, warned me that it was a hard class.

Oh, I should probably mention that I’m competitive.

I was in great shape. I was working out with a personal trainer 3 times a week, running, lifting weights, RUNNING STAIRS, and even wind sprints. I was also keeping a food diary and forcing myself to eat protein bars and shakes. I do not miss that part. When I worked out like that, I felt good about myself. Hell, where I was at emotionally, it felt so good to feel good about ANYTHING.

I remember being totally exhausted halfway through the class, looking over and seeing him still going, and thinking oh hell no am I going to let this boy outdo me in something this close to a dance class. That gave me the energy I needed to keep going.

Towards the end of the class, they had us pair off and air punch each other. I gave him one hard right upper air hook, slung a whole bunch of sweat in his face, and grinned. He looked at me, shocked, and started laughing so hard, he had to stop.

AJ-1 Former collegiate football player- 0

And yes, that felt GOOD. As did the long, hot shower I took afterwards.

I started having problems with my feet a few months later. Quite literally, my left foot had been sore for a couple of days and I took a run on a treadmill at the gym. Okay, okay. So the real story is that I was really angry at a boy for being a douche so I took an anger run which, for me, was usually a longer, harder run that normal. But jerky boys stress me out and my choices were run it out or say something I would later regret. I ran for probably 40 minutes. Headphones on. Anger mix playing- if you’re ever interested in good tunes for an anger mix, I highly recommend Christina Aguilera’s Fighter and Linkin Park’s In The End. Suffice it to say, I was pounding my feet in a way that I definitely shouldn’t have been. When I stopped and stepped off the treadmill, I was in so much pain that I almost hit the ground. I remember thinking great, I should’ve just said what I was thinking because now I’m going to hate him forever for breaking my foot.

My x-ray the next day revealed nothing. No break. I was told that it was probably a stress fracture and that they would redo the x-ray in a couple weeks at which point we would probably see scar tissue to confirm it. I was also told to stay off of it…which I didn’t after it started to feel better a few days later.

A week later, the other foot started hurting in the same place.

I continued working out with my trainer and mentioned the pain to her. She told me it could be due to having shoes that weren’t supportive enough.

I took myself to an expensive shoe store in town and got a pair of customized running shoes. Seriously customized. They put me on a treadmill in a pair of shoes with sensors so that they could see where I put my body weight when I ran and walked. They selected a pair of shoes for me based off of that and put additional support in them for me based off of the sensors.

Those were not cheap.

I continued working out in my new shoes and the pain continued, duller but persistant.

I went back to the doctor and had both feet xrayed. Nothing showed up on either. It was very frustrating. They ran all sorts of blood tests and by chance, looked at my rheumatoid factor based on a history of severe and chronic allergies that had required shots for several years. I remember thinking surely, SURELY, I don’t have yet another autoimmune thing going on. That would be crazy.

The pain continued with my left foot significantly worse than my right.

I was at work a couple days later when I heard my cellphone ring. I didn’t have time to answer so I figured I’d just deal with it later. A few minutes later, I had email to my work account from the nurse at my doctor’s office asking me to call her immediately.

I wish I’d kept that email. Because that literally was an email that started this whole ball rolling.

My diagnosis was confirmed several weeks later.

Someday, I will have the courage to blog about the place that diagnosis sent me when all of a sudden, it took away the only thing that made me feel good at the time. You can probably imagine that it wasn’t pretty.

You’re probably wondering what those numbers at the top are. They are a direct response to Dr. Phil.

133- my approximate weight at diagnosis

26- my age at diagnosis

32- my current age

To raise awareness, please post “your numbers” on your blogs, Facebook, and twitter. Feel free to use the metric system if you like it better or your BMI. Do not post what the numbers are, just that those are your numbers. We are asking everyone to do this and then to reveal what your numbers mean at the end of the day.

Take that, Dr. Phil!

See the rest here: World Arthritis Day…133-26-32