I'm looking for suggestions to deal with rhuematoid arthritis?
454099
Make sure to follow all of your doctor's directions for medication, etc.  It is a serious disease that causes continuing damage to your joints, which can only be prevented with prescription medication.\n\nThat aside, eating healthy and exercising is the next best thing - work with your doctor to find an exercise program you are comfortable with.  Water aerobics or swimming are great, and even just walking can make a big difference.\n\nVitamin supplements are unproven and generally don't have much effect.  There is very little evidence to support if any of these actually work.  But if you do want to try any of these, do it on top of your regular meds under the guidance of you doctor- don't take anything without consulting him first! They have lots more experience with this disease, and some supplements may actually react with some medications.\n\nNow you also need to deal with this mentally - the best way is to look to your family members for support.  But you can also go to http://www.arthritis.org and visit the RA connect section - they have a message board where you can get lots of emotional support from people who have gone through it too.\n\nGood luck with your treatment!
266864
Yes, I was diagnosed a year ago.  If you need a place to go for more info or to talk to others with RA, go to http://www.arthritis.org - it's been very helpful to me!
161418
green tea infused with sliced ginger root and a bit of honey will relieve some of the symptoms, though not heal you any more quickly. \n\nZicam is awesome, and works well.
652869
ask about surhery. i have a similar problem and im getting surgery to fix it tommorow so i think you could consider that option
319481
Contact the Arthritis Foundation and ask for PACE meetings in your area.  PACE--People with Arthritis Can Exercise.  Non-impact, non-stressful exercises.  No charge.\n\nGood luck!
1023645
I work a lot with arthritis patients in the water.  Aquatics can relieve a lot of the pain as well as strengthen muscles to take the burden off the joints.  \n\nWhen  celebrex and vioxx was being taken off the market my students were worried.  One of the men brought in articles from the University of Michigan concerning their work with tart cherry juice and how it helps with gout and arthritis.  He had been drinking the juice and having good results.  Problem is that people get sick of the juice and it is high in natural sugar.  One of the ladies went on line and did some research and found CHERRYFLEX which is a capsule with cherry pulp in it.  Only 2 carbs a capsule I think.  You can check them out at CHERRYFLEX. com.  They will also gladly speak with you on the phone.  When my students were having good success with the product I decided to stop my Bextra and try it.  Because it is natural it takes at least a month to kick in.  I reduced my Bextra by half and took 1 capsule daily for 2 weeks and then stopped the Bextra completely.  I also take glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM combo.  All I can tell you is my knees are not perfect, but are better than they were on the drugs.  I do work out daily in the water and take the Cherryflex and above combo faithfully.  I can squat and do stairs better than I did 5 years ago.  Keep in mind that not everything works for everyone.  One of my ladies takes 3 Cherryflex a day, but that is what it takes to help her.  As with anything - check with your doctor before taking anything.  And if not in an exercise program - try water - it will make a HUGE difference in your life.   Good luck and feel better.
315228
I too have arthritis in my hands.  I soak them in warm to hot water for awhile then I try to keep them moving and at the same time warm.  Seems to help me alot.
291270
Do you mean rheumatoid arthritis?  In my opinion, it may help improve your overall health by giving you more vitamins, but it won't cure anything.  Get a good doctor.  I've asked my rheumatologist if any supplements/etc would help, and he basically said that if there was something, he would have told me to take it other than pumping me full of meds that can hurt my liver.  If you want to drink it as part of a healthy diet, go ahead, the healthier you are the better you will feel.  But you don't have to buy expensive supplements for this.  Any improvement you hear about will likely be a sales pitch or a placebo effect.\n\n*edit* Yes, I do have RA.  Always just talk to your doctor about anything first!! Also go to www.arthritis.org and to to RA connect, they have a discussion board where lots of people talk RA all the time.  It's been very helpful to me.
136967
My husband has arthritis in his knees and hips from the same reason. Heating pads work for him at night, and aleve works for him during the day. The heating patches he wears to work and he swears by them. Winter makes it especially hard for him due to the cold weather so every night he takes a hot bath. At night we have the thermostat turned up to make our room warmer to ease the pain while he's sleeping...one simple rule of thumb...think heat because it will relieve the pain...as far as pills once again Aleve!
444875
Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory..I have just found out that yucca is great for arthritis--breaks up calcium deposits and is anti-inflammatory..A natural healer I just saw prescribed large doses (for me 9 caps and 6 of nature's sunshine calcium with vit D --I am overweight so he may have used more??) for rheumatoid arthritis.\n\n.Please use caution with prescription anti-inflammatories..My mother got permanent kidney damage from taking Motrin for arthritis and is now dying and on dialysis.  \n\nAlso try raw apple cider vinegar in sea salt water or with honey (you may not be able to use honey being diabetic)and water --a few spoons and drink few times a day..\n\nI have heard a vegan diet will reverse arthritis.  Also see Dr. Richard Schulze's incurable (save your life) program..it has cured diabetes according to testimonials.  I definitely believe in it.
540490
Treatment\nTreatments for arthritis have improved in recent years. Most treatments involve medications. But in some cases, surgical procedures may be necessary.\n\nMedications\nMedications for rheumatoid arthritis can relieve its symptoms and slow or halt its progression. They include:\n\nNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This group of medications, which includes aspirin, helps relieve both pain and inflammation if you take the drugs regularly. NSAIDs that are available over-the-counter include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). These are available at higher dosages, and other NSAIDs are available by prescription — such as ketoprofen, naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn), tolmetin (Tolectin), diclofenac (Voltaren), nabumetone (Relafen) and indomethacin (Indocin). Taking NSAIDs can lead to side effects such as indigestion and stomach bleeding. Other potential side effects may include damage to the liver and kidneys, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), fluid retention and high blood pressure. NSAIDs, except aspirin, may also increase your risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. \nCOX-2 inhibitors. This class of NSAIDs may be less damaging to your stomach. Like other NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors — such as celecoxib (Celebrex) — suppress an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX) that's active in joint inflammation. Other types of NSAIDs work against two versions of the COX enzyme that are present in your body: COX-1 and COX-2. However, there's evidence that by suppressing COX-1, NSAIDs may cause stomach and other problems because COX-1 is the enzyme that protects your stomach lining. Unlike other NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors suppress only COX-2, the enzyme involved in inflammation. Side effects may include fluid retention and causing or exacerbating high blood pressure. Furthermore, this class of drugs has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. \nCorticosteroids. These medications, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol), reduce inflammation and pain, and slow joint damage. In the short term, corticosteroids can make you feel dramatically better. But when used for many months or years, they may become less effective and cause serious side effects. Side effects may include easy bruising, thinning of bones, cataracts, weight gain, a round face and diabetes. Doctors often prescribe a corticosteroid to relieve acute symptoms, with the goal of gradually tapering off the medication. \nDisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Physicians prescribe DMARDs to limit the amount of joint damage that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis. Taking these drugs at early stages in the development of rheumatoid arthritis is especially important in the effort to slow the disease and save the joints and other tissues from permanent damage. Because many of these drugs act slowly — it may take weeks to months before you notice any benefit — DMARDs typically are used with an NSAID or a corticosteroid. While the NSAID or corticosteroid handles your immediate symptoms and limits inflammation, the DMARD goes to work on the disease itself. Some commonly used DMARDs include hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), the gold compound auranofin (Ridaura), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin) and methotrexate (Rheumatrex). Other forms of DMARDs include immunosuppressants and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. \nImmunosuppressants. These medications act to tame your immune system, which is out of control in rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, some of these drugs attack and eliminate cells that are associated with the disease. Some of the commonly used immunosuppressants include leflunomide (Arava), azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). These medications can have potentially serious side effects such as increased susceptibility to infection. \nTNF blockers. These are a class of DMARDs known as biologic
898487
I have arthritis and take Glucosamine and Chondroiton.(Sorry, I'm not sure of the spelling and spell check was no help.)  You can buy it at any pharmacy.\n\nIt lubricates you joints and they so much better in just a few days!\n\nI hope you feel better soon!
1084464
Arthritis can get worse but there are things you can do to prevent worsening.  Eat a diet low in  cholesterol and fat.   Ask your doctor for anti-inflammatory medications.  If he thinks they will help he will prescribe them.  Exercise the joint that is afflicted the more you move the less you will hurt.   Use ice to reduce swelling or heat to improve movement.\n\nI have had arthritis for over 30 years and a medical assistant for 24 years. This is the advice that I live by.
299758
my fiance has an issue with her shoulder.  What I usually do is have her stretch it out (or I do it for her if it hurts too bad) Put a heating pack on it to relax the muscles.  \nIf some one can message it for you that would be of help to you as well.  \nWhat you also might want to try is cream with st. johns wart or hot pepper.  i know it sounds crazy but both have anti-inflammitory properties and pain relieving properties as well.  One thing you could try is to mash a hot pepper.  take a cold cream, hand lotion or the like.  Take the mashed pepper and add some a little at a time til its pink. (not red because it will irritate the skin due to the fact that its too strong for our skin to handle in that amount.) and rub the now pink cream along the effected area.  \nSt Johns Wart added to almond or olive oil also works great.  Add st johns wart ot the oil.  let stand for a few hours strain and apply.  make sure when you use this method you completely relax the area so it can work.  I hope this helps you out.
334232
As someone who has had JRA since age 14, and OA since 35, my best advice is exercise and rest.  There is no cure for RA, and it is a mysterious disease, even to doctors.  It is known as an autoimmune disorder, where the body attacks itself, thinking there is an infection, when there is none.  \n\nI truly believe there is a VERY strong correlation between physical, and mental stress, and RA symptoms.  I have had different blood test results at different times, and it didn't always agree with my symptoms.  \n\nTry hot and cold packs for relief without side effects.  Heat draws blood to the joint, and is good for stiffness.  20 minutes maximum, min 10 minutes or until relief is felt.  Ice draws blood away from the joint and is good for when the joints are inflammed, meaning literally hot to the touch.  Ice can provide great relief where prescription medicines fail.  \n\nHave her read a book called the Mind Body Connection, by John Sarno.  There is a great deal of medical evidence that symptoms of asthma and arthritis are directly related to stress and how the body reacts to stress.  \n\nBelieve me, I'm not saying it's in your mind.  These are very real symptoms.  I have spent months on crutches due to its debilitating power.  But I have NOT received any significant or long-term relief from any pill.  Find the root of the cause, and why.  Deal with how you react to stress, and change it.\n\nAgain, as a sufferer of arthritis and asthma for most of my life, I know that doctors will profit from your suffering, but have little to offer in relief.  She needs to think of why this would happen now.  I'm sure the baby has a lot to do with it.  Obviously, or it would never have cropped up.\n\nDo NOT take her to a chiropractor, unless you want to be at their mercy for life.  Good luck and don't forget to breathe!  Breathing delivers oxygen to the tissues and joints, and lack thereof creates pain and injury.
96398
There are a few different types of arthritis but the one you have is probably "osteoarthritis". Osteoarthritis is inflammation due to degenerative changes from excessive loading of the articular surfaces of the joint. In your case, this has most likely occured due to your prior injuries, which places more stress on the cartilage in your knee, leading to degeneration and pain.\n\nThere is no true cure for this disease, however various surgical and medical means exist that may relieve your symptoms or slow progression.\n\nSurgery: If ligaments or the meniscus were torn in your old injury, surgical repair can restore some measure or congruity to the articular surfaces thereby reducing the progression of osteoarthritis. More drastic surgical measures include total knee replacement or osteotomies.\nMedical: Various types of anti-inflammatory drugs are worth trying and can relieve pain as well as reduce swelling. Newer drugs called glucosamines have come into the market which claim to slow the degeneration or even promote repair of the joint lining, although concrete evidence for these claims is controversial.\n\nThe best thing you can do now is to avoid straining your knees too much. Exercise can strengthen the muscles around the knee and improve your condition. However, take care to avoid high impact activities such as long-distance running etc. Swimming and cycling are very good alternatives to consider.
1072110
Treatments for rheumatic diseases include rest and relaxation, exercise, proper diet, medication, and instruction about the proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy. Other treatments include the use of pain relief methods and assistive devices, such as splints or braces.\n\nAt this time, the only type of arthritis that can be cured is that caused by infections. Although symptoms of other types of arthritis can be effectively managed with rest, exercise, and medication, there are no cures.