The 2 Most Common Types of Arthritis That You Might Be Suffering From

There are millions, perhaps billions, of people throughout the world who are sufferers of a condition that is generally called arthritis, which affects the person’s joints to greater or lesser degrees. However badly one is affected by arthritis, each and every sufferer may tell you at one time or another that it is a debilitating and seriously painful condition which hampers their normal day to day activities and disrupts their lifestyles.

Arthritis is generally categorised into one of two variations of the disease – either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis – although there are many subdivisions of this condition which this article will not address. In general, it can be said that all arthritis sufferers experience, in some or all of their joints, the following symptoms: pain ranging from mild to severe, mild to total stiffness, swelling around the affected joints and the inflammation surrounding the affected joints which is always warm to the touch.

The differences between the 2 most common types of arthritis are as follows.

1. Osteoarthritis is the more common of the two forms of this disease which is deemed to be chronic and degenerative. This means that the pain experienced by the sufferer in on-going and that there is no cure. And it also means that over time, the physical condition of the patient will deteriorate. Osteoarthritis, which is also known as Degenerative Joint Disease, afflicts one in three Americans. In general, it attacks adults from the age of forty years onward, but is most commonly physically noticeable only later in life. The most prominent signs of the disease are commonly seen on the fingers of elderly people, which tend to be misshapen and/or knobbly.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis is distinct from osteoarthritis in that this form of the disease not only causes the same symptoms as those of osteoarthritis, but it is also an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation and damage to one’s internal organs and blood vessels; thus it is clearly the more serious of the two versions of the disease. Statistics show that Rheumatoid arthritis affects more females than males. There are no age barriers as to when it may start affecting patients of either sex, but it has been proven that the earlier the disease takes hold, the faster it develops. It is also a known fact that Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers do not have sore and swollen joints at the onset of the disease; and that they present with such diverse and varied symptoms as fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite; which then progress to morning stiffness (for more than an hour after waking) and generalized muscle pain. The disease then generally progresses to a stage where it causes damage to, or destruction of, the joints of the wrists, hands and fingers; knees, ankles, feet and toes.

There are many and varied forms of treatment for both forms of arthritis, all of which need to be discussed between doctor and patient. They include over the counter pharmaceutical preparations and prescriptions drugs, natural medicines and approaches, specifically acupuncture and various forms of physical therapy.

Chronic arthritis pain isn’t something to ignore: not only can it affect your quality of life, it can also deplete your emotional stores (leading to anxiety and/or depression) and muscle fitness (leading to weakness or complete muscle breakdown).

But whether you suffer from osteoarthritis (“wear and tear” of the joints), rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation in the joints) or gout (excess uric acid that accumulate in the joints), relief from your arthritis pain is available. This article will discuss the pros and cons of over the counter (OTC) medications and supplements for osteoarthritis, focusing on managing arthritis pain and maintaining the ability to use the joint in question.

Arthritis Pain Relief: Acetaminophen

Of the drugs in our list of arthritis pain relievers, acetaminophen is widely accepted as the OTC with the least amount of undesirable side effects and the lowest long-term costs. However, acetaminophen does nothing to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis pain, normally can only treat mild to moderate cases of osteoarthritis and can easily become toxic if mixed with alcohol.

Arthritis Pain Relief: NSAIDs

NSAIDs help sufferers with both arthritis pain and inflammation and are quite inexpensive (like acetaminophen). However, long term usage has been shown to cause upset stomach and other, more serious side effects (such as skin rashes or speeding up the progression of osteoarthritis by interfering with cartilage repair and promoting cartilage destruction).

Arthritis Pain Relief: Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Combined together, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are excellent supplements in the fight against arthritis pain: they are said to increase mobility, reduce osteoarthritis pain and form the building blocks for cartilage growth. However, those allergic to shellfish must avoid glucosamine at all costs (since it’s derived from the shells of shrimp, lobster and crab).

Arthritis Pain Relief: MSM

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) has been studied extensively (for over twenty years) as an arthritis pain relieving supplement. By blocking pain transmitters in the affected nerve, MSM users find similar arthritis pain relief to acetaminophen, but without the potential liver toxicity. Some osteoarthritis sufferers have also noticed a reduction in inflammation of the joints also, since MSM reduces histamine levels (linked to allergy-related inflammation).

Arthritis Pain Relief: SAMe

SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) has been shown to reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis sufferers as much as NSAIDs. However, SAMe takes a longer time to see symptom reduction, but offers less gastrointestinal discomfort than NSAIDs in general. Arthritis pain sufferers should ensure enough B vitamins are ingested along with SAMe to feel the full effects, and expect slow but steady arthritis pain relief.

Arthritis Pain Relief: Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)

Found in evening primrose and borage oils, GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid said to help lessen arthritis pain, stiffness and swelling. Few side effects have been recorded, however all omega-6′s are blood thinners and may increase the risk of bleeding if taken with NSAIDs.

As with all OTC supplements and drugs, check with your doctor first before starting any arthritis pain reducing regimen on your own. You may also want to monitor your liver and kidney function for most of the medications discussed above since almost all have a slight risk of side effects. Start with the lowest dosage possible to see how your body and your illness tolerate the item, and be patient: you’ll never be sure if a new supplement or medication is actually working if you don’t take adequate time to test.

Natural Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is often confused with Rheumatoid arthritis, but the two disorders have different causes and progressions. Osteoarthritis may affect only a single joint and can be triggered by localized wear and tear resulting in painful inflammation. According to the NIAMS it is estimated that nearly 1 out of 8 Americans age 25 and older suffer from osteoarthritis, but osteoarthritis treatment is most common among adults over 65 years old.

Risk Factors of Osteoarthritis:

• Excessive weight or obesity
• Injury
• Certain careers
• Hormones
• Genetic factors
• Weak thigh muscles
• Congenital or developmental deformities
• Race
• Other diseases which change cartilage structure

Osteoarthritis Inflammation: Osteoarthritis inflammation is characterized by swelling, pain, localized heat, and redness. Inflammation is a process in which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals help protect us from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. In some cases inflammation is triggered by a non infectious event like osteoarthritis and aims at the body’s tissue, causing significant damage.

Natural Osteoarthritis Treatment: The lead researcher of a recent study of Pycnogenol’s natural beneficial effects for osteoarthritis treatment, Dr. Petra Hogger of the University of Wurzburg in Germany suggests that Pycnogenol supplementation inhibits the enzymes involved in the development of pain associated with inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis. Pycnogenol is an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine, consisting of phenolic acids, catechin, taxifolin and procyanidins.

Natural Osteoarthritis Treatment Studies Show: Pycnogenol treatment has shown to inhibit accumulation of inflammatory cells, and reduce the output of inflammatory substances caused by osteoarthritis (Bayeta and Lau, 2001). Natural osteoarthritis treatment with Pycnogenol has also shown to help normalize capillary permeability to prevent the leakage of fluid that causes edema (swelling), and helps by neutralizing free radicals that promote swelling and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis (Blazso et al., 1994, 1995).

Best Source for Pycnogenol: A natural supplement Isotonix OPC-3 (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) is an isotonic-capable food supplement that is made from a combination of bilberry, grape seed, red wine, pine bark extracts and citrus extract bioflavonoids, all found to be potent antioxidants. Isotonix OPC-3 contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol in the world.

The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, remains a therapeutic challenge.

This is a generally felt to be a disease of cartilage. However, osteoarthritis is a complex disease that appears to involve a complex series of pathways that include degradation of cartilage, inflammation of the lining of the joint (synovium), and stimulation of pain pathways through different chemical messenger systems.

While traditional methods including patient education, rest, exercise, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, and physical therapy offer temporizing measures, there is still the need for a better solution.

The goals for managing osteoarthritis of the hip and knee are to reduce pain and restore or maintain function.

A third and even more daunting task is to regenerate new cartilage. There are exciting new developments in this area.

The results of a two-year study of osteoarthritis of the knee assessing the safety and efficacy of orthokine therapy was published in the July-August 2008 issue of “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage”.

Orthokine is a substance derived from a patient’s own blood. Orthokine apparently has significant anti-inflammatory effects. This material is then injected into the osteoarthritic joint.

Researchers at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf conducted a two-year study comparing the effects of injections of orthokine, hyaluronic acid (a standard lubricant used to treat osteoarthritis), and placebo in 310 arthritis patients.

The GOAT study (German Osteoarthritis Trial) was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that included 376 men and women with an average age of 58. The primary entrance criterion was chronic knee pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups that received injections of orthokine, hyaluronic acid or saline (placebo). Treatments were administered as six sessions over three weeks. Patients were evaluated at six weeks, three months, six months (double blinded) and then 24 months (single blinded). Two years later, 310 participants agreed to take part in a follow-up examination.

After two years, patients treated with orthokine scored significantly better than those treated with hyaluronic acid or placebo on measures of pain and joint function.

The results after two years showed that 188 of the 310 patients were still reporting improvements with respect to pain and joint function. The other 122 patients pursued other treatments such as surgery, injections, medication or acupuncture.

The number of patients requiring further treatment was least in the orthokine group. Two years after treatment, improvement was still measurable in all three groups. A clear difference was seen, however, in scores on the WOMAC, a questionnaire that is used in osteoarthritis clinical trials to measure joint function and quality of life.

The orthokine treated patients scored 58 on the two-year follow-up WOMAC, while the hyaluronic acid and placebo groups scored higher at 88 and 84 respectively. Another measure called the visual analog scale (VAS) that measures pain from 0 (no pain) to 100 (most intense pain imaginable), was also used. The average pain level prior to treatment was 70 in all groups. Two years after treatment, the VAS score of the orthokine group was 30 compared with 39 in the hyaluronic acid group and 37 in the placebo group.

What is interesting about this study is how well placebo did compared with both hyaluronic acid as well as orthokine in relieving pain. Experienced clinicians have known for decades that there is a significant placebo effect in just using a needle when it comes to subjective measures such as pain relief.

However, the important issue is whether orthokine or any other treatment for that matter actually leads to cartilage regrowth.

Much interest has been generated recently on the use of autologous (meaning the patient’s own) therapies in managing osteoarthritis as well as other degenerative conditions. This therapy is very similar to the use of platelet rich plasma, which is currently being used to treat tendon problems. Platelet rich plasma is derived from the patient’s whole blood using a special centrifugation technique.

For osteoarthritis, we have found that combining autologous stem cells – obtained from bone marrow aspirated from the pelvic bone of the patient using local anesthetic- and platelet rich plasma appears to be an effective treatment for the knee and hip. Both the stem cells as well as the platelet rich plasma are injected into the osteoarthritic joint. This combination treatment not only aids in pain relief but there also appears to be stimulation of cartilage regeneration. This treatment is available at the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland located in Frederick, Maryland.

Newly diagnosed arthritis patients can easily become overwhelmed with the myriad of information, treatment options, help and professionals available to them, while still trying to find relief from their disease. In an effort to demystify who does what, this article will point out each of the people you’ll most likely be interacting with during your arthritis treatment and explain their role in helping you find relief from arthritis.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Acupuncturist

Considered foreign to most Americans, acupuncture has become a beacon in the arthritis treatment sphere. By placing small, sterile needles into very specific points on the body, acupuncture is said to relieve stress, increase endorphins and remove blockages that are pain-causing, thus providing relief from arthritis. For a list of fully trained osteopaths who are also acupuncturists, visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture for more information.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Chiropractor

Chiropractors are the hands-on, trained manipulators that actually realign the joints, muscles and tendons that may be out of whack. Although they are not medical doctors, chiropractors may refer their findings to your family doctor or rheumatologist for further investigation. The American Chiropractic Association can give you a better idea as to what exact these professionals can do to help you find relief from arthritis.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Massage Therapist (LMT, CMT)

Relief from arthritis isn’t only found in the bottom of a medicine bottle or at the hands of a surgeon; many arthritis treatment plans strongly suggest a massage therapist as an aide to reduce muscle tension or to increase one’s range of motion. However, not all massage therapists are trained the same: check with the American Massage Therapy Association for certified arthritis treatment specialists in your area.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Orthopaedic Surgeon (MD)

Specializing in the evaluation and treatment of the bones, joints and tissues, orthopedic surgeons usually work on a referral-based system from your family doctor. These types of doctors will determine whether or not your arthritis treatment will focus on surgery, non-surgical options or a combination thereof. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons can answer most of your general questions about surgical arthritis treatment options that can bring relief from arthritis symptoms.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Physical Therapist

Sometimes known as occupational therapists as well, physical therapists help with the daily management of the disease by showing patients practical, hands on tactics to find relief from arthritis. This can include heat/cold therapy, assistive techniques (different ways of doing the same thing so that there is less pain but with no reduction of mobility), introducing tools that can help with day-to-day living and exercises that increase flexibility and mobility. Contact the American Physical Therapy Association for more information.

Arthritis Treatment Specialist: Rheumatologist (MD)

A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of muscle and skeletal problems, such as lupus, osteoporosis and gout. Rheumatologists work closely with your family doctor to ensure your arthritis treatment is specific and specialized. The American College of Rheumatology provides “professional education” to its members and publishes several journals related to arthritis treatment and the relief from arthritis symptoms.

Glucosamine As An Arthritis Medication – Here’s The Real Facts

There are a many different opinions on treatments for arthritis. A commonly used arthritis medication called glucosamine has recently been getting a lot of attention. Lets take a closer look at this interesting product.

What is it? – Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is naturally found in the human body and in other animals. Commercially it is produced from the shells of crustaceans. It is widely held up as being of use to patients who suffer from osteoarthritis. This is a condition where the cartilage covering the ends of bones in a joint becomes worn down. This results in inflammation, pain and swelling. It is estimated that there are over 20 million sufferers of osteoarthritis in the US.

How does it work? – It is believed that glucosamine works by helping to restore damaged cartilage. This is important because cartilage provides protection and shock absorption in a joint. It may also have an anti-inflammatory effect. The product is commonly used in combination with chondroitin.

How is it taken? – For arthritis medication, glucosamine is taken in either a liquid or tablet form. It is recommended that around 1500mg per day is taken. This maybe achieved by taking a 500mg tablet 3 times daily. This has been found to be effective in clinical trials. Some products provide considerably less than this figure so it is worth checking before making a purchase.

Is it licensed? – Glucosamine is not licensed by the FDA for use as a medical product in humans. However, it is currently classed as a dietary supplement and can be marketed provided that no specific claims to treat a specific condition are made.

Is it safe? – Glucosamine id taken internally as a food supplement. There have been numerous studies carried out that have concluded that the taking of glucosamine is safe. Because it is derived from the shells of crustaceans, those with a seafood allergy may want to proceed with caution.

Does it actually work? – There have been a number of scientific studies to evaluate the effectiveness of glucosamine. A growing number have concluded that there is a clear benefit of using glucosamine especially if it is used in combination with chondroitin. Other studies have failed to show a benefit over placebo.

Where can I get it? – Glucosamine is available for a number of suppliers including health food stores, online retailers and mail order supplement suppliers. Ensure that you use a reputable company to obtain the product from. Some products have very low levels in them and others have poorer quality ingredients.

I want to try it – If you would like to try glucosamine, speak to your doctor first. Do not think of it as a miracle cure, but as an addition to a sensible treatment plan that also includes suitable exercise, good diet and weight reduction (if needed). The recommended dose to take on a daily basis is a tablet containing 500mg of glucosamine and 400mg of chondroitin, three times each day. Do not stop taking any medication that your doctor has prescribed for you to take, as glucosamine is only intended as a supplement.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint syndrome (DJD), is the most common form of arthritis and by far the most prevalent form of joint inflammation. More than half of adults over age thirty suffer some form of it. In fact, it affects about 16million Americans. Osteoarthritis results from the breakdown of the cartilage between the bony surfaces that form affected joints. T

his degeneration leads to bony growths (‘spurs’) next to affected joint. Cartilage in joints deteriorates from stress, overweight, or injury and typical trouble spots include the fingers, feet, knees and hips. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness. These symptoms can be greatly minimized by the eating habits or diets of its sufferers. There are different types of food you can incorporate into your diet to help you fight the scourge. They are categorized as follows:

1 Antioxidant-Rich Foods Antioxidants help in fighting free radicals in the body. The free radicals roam about the body, attacking and destroying healthy tissue, including the tissue found in the joints. Vitamins A, C and E, as well as the mineral Selenium, are powerful antioxidants and they are readily available.

Vitamin A, beta carotene and the carotenoids are found mostly in apricots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, mangoes, papaya and dark-green leafy vegetables. It is also found in liver, turkey, and milk.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant in many fruits, such as grapefruit, papaya, kiwi, pineapples, tomatoes and red peppers. Fruits and vegetables should be as fresh as possible. Only cook or microwave them for a short time if you have to, because vitamin C is heat-sensitive and easily destroyed by cooking or processing. Cutting these foods after cooking those (rather than before) helps to maintain the vitamin C content

The primary sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils such as sunflower and safflower; sunflower seeds, nuts, avocadoes, wheat germ, whole grain breads and cereals, peaches, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, dried prunes and peanut butter.

Selenium has been proved to help keep the immune system functioning properly, apart from its antioxidant activity. Good sources of selenium include salmon, tuna, swordfish, sunflower seeds, oysters, shrimp, and cracked wheat bread. T

he mineral Boron also possesses some antioxidant properties although it is not considered a true antioxidant. It is important in maintaining overall health and helps to keep some cells from releasing free radicals. Studies have shown that people whose boron intakes are low have more risk of developing osteoarthritis. Good sources of Boron are apples and cauliflower with their skins. If you choose to take these antioxidants as food supplements, the recommended daily doses are as follows: Vitamin A- 5000IU Vitamin C- 500- 4000mg Vitamin E- 100-400 IU Selenium- 55-200mcg Boron- 3mg for adults

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