Relief From Arthritis

People all over the globe, of differing nationality, age and gender are affected by the crippling pain of arthritis and comparable related conditions. The most vital thing to be aware of is that you are not without help in this pain. A lot of other people suffer just the same as you do even though it may regularly feel like you are on your own. However, with some support, you can meet and talk to other people that are copeing with the same pain of arthritis conditions. Discovering one of the many separate arthritis support groups will help you feel better about your situation and give you a better outlook on life.

The Arthritis Foundation is one of the non-profit organizations that have been created for those that have arthritis. This foundation along with many others, have worked hard to meet the needs of people suffering from the many hundreds of conditions simmilar to arthritis. They work as an advocate for the sufferers giving out free information about the conditions. In the hope of one day finding a cure the foundation raise money and sponsor medical research. The Arthritis Foundation will join in with many other businesses and agencies to bring sufferers the service that they require. Those who are suffering, their family and acquaintances can learn more about how they can help support and donate capital towards arthritis study by visiting the organizations website pages. By joining the different member’s services of an online organization you too will benefit.

If an online group is not your thing and you would prefer something on a more face-to-face personal level, talk to your health professional about finding a local arthritis group. Generally hospitals will sponsor these types of support groups and help people deal with different diseases and pain, arthritis is no different.  You can meet here with other local people and get feedback on how they cope with arthritis in their daily life. These community groups are going to be lasting friends and you can find out to live better and be more optimistic. Other places you can find out about local support groups are on public community notice boards, in the local newspapers or by searching on the web. You can even start your own group, especially if no support group exists in your town; there may be a huge need for someone to head up this type of project.

A support group is an imperative way for children that are suffering from arthritis as well.  Arthritis is a condition that is usually more widespread with age; many children will feel cut off because they have it at such a young age. The children’s wing of your local hospital may be able to help you find a support group. At the end of the day, you can benefit greatly from being part of a support group no matter what age you are. I am offering this support and guidance to you as it was something which was of major benefit to me. I hope it helps in some way.

I want to say a big thank you to all the people who have sent me there best wishes and thanks for setting up this website and blog. To those of you who have already subscribed to my newsletter I hope you will continue to find the advice sent to you informative and helpful so that you too can quickly find the Relief From Arthritis that I now enjoy. If you have not yet subscribed to the newsletter then you can find out more information by clicking on the subscribe page above in the site directory or simply by filling in your name and email address in the fields on the sidebar and clicking on the blue subscribe button. Don’t forget to leave your comments on the posts in the blog as your comments will help me to help you with the information you want to hear.

Best wishes,

Richard

When Arthritis takes a hold of you it is easy to get caught up in the cycle of pain, depression and stress. This can lead to inactivity and shutting out the world and everything else around you. Making that decision to become an active participant in managing your pain will break that cycle and help you to overcome these barriers to recovery. Understanding what is happening in your body leads to making calm clear-headed decisions about how best to tackle the problems.

The more you know and understand about your particular type of Arthritis, the greater the chances of overcoming the pain and the limitations it imposes on you.

First lets go over the basics, how your body’s movement system works.

Bones are connected to each other at joints. These are classed as either fixed joints (known as sutures – e.g. between the bones in the skull), slightly movable joints (E.g. between the bones in the spine which although held firmly in place allow some movement) and freely movable joints (also known as synovial joints e.g. hips, knees, elbows, fingers and of course the shoulder). It is the freely movable joints that are more often the location for most types of arthritis, especially the two most common, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The two bones form the main part of a synovial joint. The ends of these bones are ‘capped’ with articular cartilage ( a rubbery tissue) that provides a smooth surface for the bones to move easily without grating against each other. This movement is aided by a reservoir of slippery synovial fluid that bathes the joint contained inside the surrounding synovial membrane. The articular cartilage not only allows this smooth movement but also works as your body’s shock absorbers. Think about your knee joint (Tibiofemoral joint), when you walk the extra weight and pressure compacts the spongy, rubber-like articular cartilage squeezing the synovial fluid out (like water out of a sponge) and as you take the weight off the joint the synovial fluid soaks back into the articular cartilage. It is this regular and repeated bathing of the cartilage tissue in the nutrient rich synovial fluid that strengthens the tissue and maintains its health. It is the same for all synovial joints. The joint capsule is a tough covering that’s made from interwoven bands of collagen fibres and the synovial membrane is the lining in this capsule. It is this membrane that contains the cells which produce and release the synovial fluid. The Joint is then held firmly in place with ligaments (flexible bands of tissue that stabilise and bind the joint together) and the tendons and muscles. The tendons attach the muscles to the bones of the joint and the muscles provide the force to empower the movement.

What is Osteoarthritis (OA)?

Because ‘osteo’ is the Greek word for bone, you might think that Osteoarthritis is a bone disorder, however the condition relates mainly to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. It can occur in any of the joints in the body but usually in the knees, hips, lower back, neck and fingers. Where it occurs in the wrists, elbows and ankles it can usually be traced back to injury or repeated stress. In OA the cartilage doesn’t function properly and for a variety of reasons it begins to break down.  This resulting ‘wear’ as the cartilage erodes means the joints no longer move smoothly and can feel or even sound creaky.

It can be broken down into two categories. Primary OA which means that the cause of the cartilage break down isn’t known and Secondary OA where the cartilage damage can be traced to a physical injury of the joint,  inflammation due to Rheumatoid arthritis or a misalignment of the bones.

What causes OA?

What initially causes primary OA is not known. What we do know is that the process begins when destructive enzymes damage the network of collagen fibres that make up the structure of the cartilage. With its main structure damaged, the cartilage swells with water becoming softer and more venerable to stresses that wear it away.

Can it be cured?

As yet there is no cure for the disease but cartilage can be prevented from further damage and to some extent can be repaired. Once seen as a natural consequence of the ageing process it is now known that cartilage is a living tissue. It is constantly being both produced and broken down. Maintaining the production of healthy new cartilage faster than it is broken down is the key to solving this problem. There are ways in which this can be assisted too. The dietary supplement, Chondroitin Sulphate (made from cow tracheas) may help to rebuild cartilage by suppressing enzymes that destroy cartilage, thus allowing the body’s natural production to ‘catch up’.

There are other things that you can do to prevent the progression of OA. Exercising to build strength in the muscles, ligaments and tendons supporting the joints. Losing weight helps a lot too. If you are carrying those couple of extra pounds you are increasing the amount of stress on the joint’s (especially the knee and hip) and by losing the weight you are lessening the burden those joints have to bear. If you work in an industry or job where there is a lot of heavy lifting required or repetitive bending then look to ways in which you can lessen the stress this causes on your joints, either by adopting correct manual handling techniques or by moving to ‘lighter’ duties. Watching your diet and making sure you take in the right nutrients is a great benefit and something that I will be going into much greater detail about in other blog posts. Of course there are medical drugs, steroids and even surgery for extreme cases but before you check into hospital consider some of the other alternative treatments. These range from further dietary supplements, stretching techniques, massage, neuromuscular therapy, Shiatsu, Feldenkrias, yoga, joint manipulation, acupuncture, herbal solutions, magnet therapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or even hypnosis. I will be explaining each of these in my future posts but if you are hungry to find out more and can’t wait for my slow typing then click here to find out more ways you can prevent further pain now.

Best wishes,

Richard

Here are my 10 tips to ease your pain explained in more detail. As always I must stress that types and conditions of arthritis and joint pain vary. For each person some techniques will work better than others. You must always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making dietary changes or entering into an exercise program.

1. Drink plenty of water.

Cartilage in your joints works as shock absorbers and osteoarthritis leads to the deterioration of that cartilage. Since this material is made up of 70 percent water, you can improve the health of it by always drinking at least 64 floz. (1.9 l) of water per day.

2. Increase your calcium intake.

Make sure you have a diet rich in dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt. If you are lactose intolerant, supplement your diet with non-dairy foods that are rich in calcium, like broccoli, salmon, spinach, black beans, peanuts, almonds, tofu, sardines and sesame seeds.

3. Increase your vitamin intake.

Vitamins C and D have been shown to support healthy joints. Unfortunately, people who do not get direct sunlight or live in northern climates may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. Vitamin D helps calcium to be absorbed into the body and bones. You can also eat foods rich in vitamin D, like salmon, tuna, fortified orange juice or milk, yogurt, eggs and beef. Other supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM and boron may also help your joints to at least a small degree. They have been shown in some studies to prevent cartilage deterioration. Always ask your doctor before taking any dietary supplements. Overdosing on supplements can put you at risk for other ailments.

4. Maintain your weight.

Increased weight on the load-bearing joints like knees, ankles and hips makes you highly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Luckily, losing weight cuts the risk of arthritis. Studies have shown that obesity also hurts the renewal process cartilage. When damaged cartilage is not replaced quickly enough by new cartilage, it leads to the onset of osteoporosis.

5. Exercise regularly with both cardiovascular and light weightlifting exercises.

Not only can exercise reduce your weight, but it keeps your muscles strong and your joints flexible. A sedentary lifestyle leaves you far more susceptible to arthritis as you age.Choose your exercise carefully. Heavy weight lifting and repetitive motions like running can cause undue stress on your joints and increase the likelihood that you will get osteoarthritis. Make sure that you are incorporating low-impact exercise like swimming, biking, elliptical use or Pilates into your routine. Ensure you have proper footwear when you walk or do other low-impact activities. Whenever possible, choose asphalt or natural ground over concrete.

6. Practice yoga or simple stretching.

These exercises strengthen the muscles around joints. When these muscles are strong, they lift some of the weight burden from the joint. Stretching also improves and maintains range of motion as you get older.

7. Treat injuries adequately.

Repetitive injuries, such as ankle sprains can lead to arthritis in the nearby joints in later years. Make sure you give the joint time to heal properly and train with a physical therapist after serious injuries.

8. Reduce repetitive motions in your daily life.

Work, sports and other activities can often include harmful repetitive motions. These motions can lead to micro trauma in surrounding joint tissue, which can then lead to osteoarthritis. Pay attention to your biomechanics, such as posture in your daily routine. Improper knee bending, squatting, bending over and kneeling can cause the repetitive stress and micro trauma. The younger you are when you fix your posture, the more healthy your joints will be. Sitting still for long periods of time is considered similar to a repetitive motion because it causes more stress on your joints and spine. Stand up every 30 minutes, if you work at a desk job.

9. Quit smoking.

It weakens bone health and structure.

10. Avoid excess alcohol consumption.

This habit is similar to smoking as it weakens vitamin absorption and bone structure.

The information in this website is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult a qualified healthcare provider. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease yourself. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

Best Wishes, Richard