arthritis treatment options

Learn more information about arthritis treatment options at the top arthritis resource online: Arthritis-Wiki.com

Q: what are treatment options for psoriatic arthritis when the arthritis is only in the sternomanubrial joint?
I'm a 58 y/o woman, healthy, eat right, active, etc. Just have pain in my chest which 2 CAT scans confirmed this condition.

A: I think you should consult your rheumatologist, because he can estimate with accuracy your overall condition and quantify the degree of inflammation and activity of the disease. If you are asking for a second opinion, I would go with NSAID for up to 14 days and re-estimate the condition

Q: What treatment options are available for someone with both rheumatoid arthritis and advanced ulcer disease?
I am interested in finding out what medications will not exacerbate my ulcers.

A: I'd recommend prayer and fasting in honor of Our Lady of Good Health. Then I'd probably make a daily request of her for healing of the arthritis.

"Trust in Mary and you will know what miracles are." -St. John Bosco

God bless!
Rob

Q: What are the treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis?
My mom has it and refuses to take medication. She had tried methotrexate, but the side effects were bad (particularly reduced mental function), so she stopped taking it. Her mom takes a different medication (I don't remember what it's called), and she won't try that one because you have to stop taking it if you get an infection and then you feel even worse than before, from what my grandma says.

The only "treatment" she's willing to try is follow this super strict diet that a holistic type doctor gave her, but I'm not sure how effective it is, and she never follows it very well for very long anyways.

I'm worried about degeneration. Are there any good treatment options that don't generally have such negative side effects?

A: You will like this I think. I was diagnosed with crippling arthritis a couple a years ago. On record at local hospital. A friend came to my house with a little miniature bottle filled with DMSO (not approved by FDA) only available at health food stores. Not all though! Cautiously, I used it twice a day, and as advised, when pain subsided only use when pain is felt again. In a month I got to that stage and only used maybe tree times a week. Then the next thing I know was that I had stopped using it completely. Only a few drops on the hand and rub the area in pain. Do not buy the large bottle 8 oz. unless like me you start giving small amounts away to your friends.

Q: What are treatment options for someone who has twisted their knee numerous times and now has arthritis?

A: Stop doing what ever that was hurting your knee to start with, then go to a good orthopedic surgeon who specialize in the knee, have a scope done, he will be able to tell you the internal damage done and what treatment he could offer; I guess start taking some medication that help with healing of joints will help a little too.

Q: What is the best treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?
My husband is 44 and was just diagnosed. He just completed additional bloodwork and xrays. At his next appointment in one week we are suppose to discuss treatment options. Any advice?

A: Treatment
The American College of Rheumatology has defined (1987) the following criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis:
* Morning stiffness of >1 hour.
* Arthritis and soft-tissue swelling of >3 of 14 joints/joint groups
* Arthritis of hand joints
* Symmetric arthritis
* Subcutaneous nodules in specific places
* Rheumatoid factor at a level above the 95th percentile
* Radiological changes suggestive of joint erosion
At least four criteria have to be met to establish the diagnosis, although many patients are treated despite not meeting the criteria.
Pharmacological treatment of RA can be divided into disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics. DMARDs have been found to produce durable remissions and delay or halt disease progression. In particular they prevent bone and joint damage from occurring secondary to the uncontrolled inflammation. This is important as such damage is usually irreversible. Anti-inflammatories and analgesics improve pain and stiffness but do not prevent joint damage or slow the disease progression.
Please see the web pages for more details and images on Rheumatoid arthritis.

Q: What treatment options for RA do I have other than drugs?
I am 24 years old and I just found out that I have RA (rheumatoid arthritis). I don not want to take medications for the rest of my life and am just wondering if I have any other approaches for treatment options.

A: Your answer is food !

Medical researchers have found that there are some foods that promote inflammation (bad - do not eat) and other foods that reduce inflammation (good - eat these).

Top of the list of foods that promote inflammation and must be avoided are of course processed foods. Anything in a packet or box with additives.

Anything white - white bread, white rice, white pasta, white flour...

The alternative is of course wholemeal. Wholemeal bread, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal flour...

Wheat is not tolerated well by some people, so if that is you find an alternative bread such as rye or spelt bread...

Dairy milk products are another inflammation promoter. Cheese, cream and butter are the worst as the milk is concentrated. Natural potset yoghurt made with no fruit is the best as it is already partially digested by the billions of good bacteria it contains.

Omega 3 oils found in oily deep sea fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna are inflammation reducers. They are also found in almonds, linseed oil and other foods.

Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants which are also very beneficial for you. Blueberries, raspberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, artichoke...

All this information and more is in a book written by Immunologist and Toxicologist William Joel Meggs in his book "The Inflammation Cure".
These foods and all the information in the book will benefit any autoimmune condition as well as some heart conditions and cancers, Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, obesity and 'Fibromyalgia'.

The book can be read online at Google Books. Chapter 9 deals with diet starting at page 101.

Q: Is Humira safe for the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis?
My mom has had severe and debilitating rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years. Her dr. wants to try Humira. Does anyone know of a different and safer treatment option. It hurts me to see her hurt and would really appreciate some help.

A: I really don't know about Humira, but I do know that Remicade as done wonders for a friend of mine. She could hardly walk and now she can even go to the mall for short trips.Good luck to you hope this helps, my prayers are with you and your mom.

Q: What can rheumatoid arthritis lead to in the future if left untreated?
Are there any treatment options?. if so, what are they?? (This is for a project i have so long answers are PERFECT haha)...thank you:)

A: precious- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease affecting about 2.1 million people, and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Several features make it different from other kinds of arthritis – such as generally occurring in a symmetrical pattern. This means that if one knee or hand is involved, the other one also is. The disease often affects the wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand, but it can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with increased frequency in older people, children and young adults also develop it. Like some other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently in women than in men.
Today, research in animal models of arthritis and on tissue from patients undergoing joint replacement provide remarkable insight into the disease process. Additionally, better understanding of the inflammatory process identified several molecules to be studied for new drug development. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a molecule involved in immune-system regulation, was found in
high levels in the blood and joints of animals and people with arthritis which blocks the disease in
animals. As little as a single dose of these agents can seem to be a “miracle drug” to patients – eliminating symptoms, increasing energy and decreasing inflammation. Even more striking is the ability of these molecules to halt the progression of joint destruction and even repair bone and cartilage.

Q: What are options for someone who has degenerative arthritis in the neck and back? what are treatments?

A: The options are from the simple to the extreme. The simplest is to use ice on the area for fifteen to twenty minutes or if that is not tolerated mild heat. Massage is another one but unless you have someone willing to do that it can get expensive. Stretching and exercising if you know what to work on and how. Acupuncture is helpful but again this gets expensive. Medication and that can be expensive and has never been shown to do anything other than mask the symptoms and have a ton of side effects. Physical therapy with the use of modalities and exercise. Lastly surgical intervention which is usually fusing the areas. You could also try aqua therapy at a local Y or in a therapy office.

Q: does anyone know anything about Psoriatic arthritis? plz help!!?
Does anyone know about treatment options for Psoriatic arthritis? I need to know to help someone I love in my family. Any information will help and if anyone recommends any physicians.

Thank you

A: Generally, the treatment of arthritis in psoriatic arthritis involves a combination of anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and exercise. If progressive inflammation and joint destruction occur despite NSAIDs treatment, more potent medications such as methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), corticosteroids, and antimalarial medications are employed.

Exercise programs can be done at home or with a physical therapist and are customized according to the disease and physical capabilities of each patient. Warm-up stretching, or other techniques, such as hot shower or heat applications are helpful to relax muscles prior to exercise. Ice application after the routine can help minimize post-exercise soreness and inflammation. In general, exercises for arthritis are performed for the purpose of strengthening and maintaining or improving joint range of motion. They should be done on a regular basis for best results.

Q: Anyone pregnant and have arthritis, or anyone who was just diagnosed with RA?
I am 13 weeks pregnant and was just diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was hoping to hear of someone else who has gone through this, or just anyone who has RA, and what treatment options have worked and what haven't? Please help!

A: My son had RA and a good cleanse relieved most of his symptoms.

Q: Ok I went to the pain&spine specialist and he says I have facet arthritis.? Is anyone familiar with that?
He wants to do injections. I was wondering if anyone else has facet arthritis or knows of any other effective treatment options? Besides meds. I'm not interested in using pain meds.

A: The facet is actually a small joint on the spine. It is the bone that looks kind of like little wings. The facet joint is one of the few bones in the body that actually have nerve ending associated with them.
The injections are a steroid medication and is usually a set of three spaced about two weeks apart. Some people respond very well to them, some aren't quite as lucky. There are several other procedures available. One is referred to as denervation. It is using a radio frequency to kill the nerve endings in the facet joint.
It is no biggie, I have had it donee several times. Work with your doc, ask a lot of questions, what else is there, is it inasive, does it hurt, does it have to be repeated, are there other alternatives. Arthritis does not mean an end to life as you knew it, just a few small changes and you will be good as new, or at least slightly used. Good Luck.

Q: I am looking for alternative treatments for Reumatoid Arthritis?
I was diagnosed with RA 6yrs ago, I am currently taking Methotrexate and Humira. They are maintaining a low level of comfort, but it's better than nothing, I am just curious what some other people are trying. Is anyone using a herbal remedy that is working, a certain diet that is helping them. My current treatments work, but it would'nt hurt to have some more options.

A: I'm 35, female, have had AS and RA since about 10 yrs. old. I have been on methotrexate, and lots of other things through the years that I can't even remember. I am doing really super, right now, and am on NOTHING prescription. 2 years ago I had a total hip joint replacement and have occassional achiness, nothing to comoplain about. I started out seeing a naturopathic dr. years ago and she got me on track with supplements. Now I see an accupuncturist and have an occassional massage. However, the best thing by far that I have done is yoga. I love it. It makes me feel strong and limber and gives me energy. I feel better now than I did as a child. I've been doing it for 4 years, both at class and on my own. I attend a class that is for Level 1, beginning, and have a really good insntructor that takes her time in teaching you modifications for if you have neck, back, knee problems. It can be done in a very gentle way and is very adaptable for if you have a disability. I would recommend starting out with a class if you are interested. On your own would be hard, to start with. I do supplements, most all are ones commonly known to help with arthritis. Glucosamine, condroitin, fish oil, cal, mag, potass,vit. e, b complex.. Also, I try to steer clear of sugar. That's a big help for me, but we are all different. Most of all, I just live by the motto: move it or lose it. Also a note on methotrexate. My aunt who is 68 has been on it for almost 20 years. She has severe lung problems associated with it. Reoccurring pnemonia, bronchitis, cough that never goes away. Over all it has probably not helped prevent any of her disfigurement. Her hands and feet are horribly crippled. It has helped with the pain, of course, but she wishes that she had been doing more of what I am doing when she was younger. She feels it is too late now.

Q: rheumatoid arthritis?
My mom went to the doctor this morning, and they suspect that she has rheumatoid arthritis. Auto-immune disease runs in our family, so its not a huge shock, but no one in our family has RA. She is 61 yrs old, and has pain in her finger and wrist joints. We are waiting to hear back on the blood test. If it is in fact RA, what kind of prognosis is there for a woman her age, with her symptoms? What kind of treatment options are there?

A: For newly diagnosed people there are so many new frontier meds coming out. The prognosis is subjective to how severe the case is. Good luck!

Q: What are alternative treatments for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis besides medication?
I have a moderate case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and have been on pretty strong medications for it since I was 2 years old. I currently have a 3 1/2 month old and am breast feeding so I can not take any medication. I am in a lot of pain but do not want to sacrifice the breast feeding so I am looking for another option. Example: a special diet or anything???

A: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (Still's Disease)

Chronic, inflammatory, systemic disease which may cause joint or connective tissue damage & visceral lesions throughout the body characterized by fever, rash, hepato-spleenomegaly & arthritis in children.

It is a persistent inflammatory arthritis (> 6 weeks) that begins before age 16 for which no specific cause can be found.

Homeopathic Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

Please visit the following web-site and choose the medicines that are relevant to your symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are perfectly safe even while you are breast-feeding.

http://www.hpathy.com/diseases/juvenile-rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp