So your dog has arthritis?

Well, even though it is hard to hear, you must realize that you are not alone. Arthritis in dogs is one of the most common sources of chronic pain the veterinarians treat in their clinics today. Research seems to indicate that one in every five adult dogs is hammered with arthritis and the pain that goes along with it.

If your pet is suffering from arthritis you may see some signs that your pup is favoring one leg more than the other, she may sleep more, or seem to have more trouble standing for sitting. If your dog has arthritis you might also notice that she is more hesitant to climb stairs, run or jump. It may even seem that her joints seem sore or that she has no interest in playing. In some cases, dogs with arthritis also begin to show signs of weight gain.

If you are concerned that your dog may be suffering from arthritis, then it is quite important that you take your pet in to see the vet for an accurate screening and diagnosis. With an appropriate diagnosis, the treatment for dog arthritis is quite similar to arthritis treatment for humans.

For dogs suffering with arthritis, regular exercise is important to help maintain a proper body weight. NSAIDS or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are the most common form of pharmaceutical arthritis treatments for your dog. Over-the counter dog arthritis treatments such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, omega fatty acids and Boswellin may also be prescribed by your veterinarian.

Glucosamine absorbs and releases water with each step, acting as a shock absorber for the joints. It also stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans, important proteins found in cartilage, which helps to slow the deterioration of joints and ease your dog’s arthritis pain.

Chondroitin attracts fluids into proteoglycan molecules which draws nutrients into the cartilage and increases the flow of fluid into the cartilage which adds resiliency. Chondroitin also helps protect existing cartilage from premature degeneration and provides structure and flexibility to the joints. Giving more life to your doggy’s joints.

Other options for medications for arthritis include Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are constituents of fish oils. These fatty acids act as anti-inflammatory agents helping to further reduce the pain from inflammation.

Boswellin may also be recommended by your vet for its ability to improve the blood supply to the joints and maintain the integrity of blood vessels. It is also known for helping to improve mobility in stiff joints by reducing swelling. Less swelling, less pain for your best friend.

While there are varying arthritis treatments for dogs you will need to talk with your vet to determine the best course of action for you’re your pet. Some therapies may take a few weeks to completely work, so don’t get discouraged. Seek the best treatment for your pet, after all isn’t that what they deserve!

Arthritis treatment for your dog is too important to ignore and if your dog is suffering, then she deserves your full attention and the most comprehensive treatment plan that your vet can design.

No dog should suffer needlessly, so if arthritis is slowing your pet down make the call to your vet today to screen your dog for arthritis.

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.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become weak and brittle. Although many individuals get this condition simply as they age, others will face it due to other situations including those like taking arthritis medications. Some medications that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis interact with the calcium in your bones and can cause a weakening in the bones that is significant. If you are taking these medications, it is quite important that you talk to your doctor about your risk of developing osteoporosis.

What Medications Put You At Risk?

Corticosteroid medications are those that are most likely to cause you the development of osteoporosis. In order for this to happen, though, you will need to take the medication for a long period of time, regularly. Some of these medications include cortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, and dexamethasone. As you use them, they slowly cause the bone to become weaker and weaker. They can severely damage the bone if they are not carefully monitored, which most doctors will do.

Does that mean that you should stop taking the medications that are important for treating the rheumatoid arthritis pain you have? Absolutely never stop taking the medications that you are on without talking to your doctor about them first. In addition, you and your doctor should have a treatment plan available that will incorporate regularly monitoring your body’s bone density. In a simple test, your doctor will be able to determine if your bones are being affected by these medications and then can alter them as he or she sees fit. Some doctors will prescribe medications to help treat the osteoporosis and medications that can increase your bone density.

Treatments for osteoporosis and arthritis are important considerations for you and for your doctor. The doctor is not likely to be treating just one of these conditions and therefore should monitor your bone health throughout your care. But, you can and you should ask questions about what the medications you are taking for each of these will do to your body. You should know the risk factors and what they mean to you, personally. In addition, you should have an understanding of what is available to help avoid these risks to the fullest level.

Preventing osteoporosis is something that can be done. Not only will you want to talk to your doctor about these conditions, but you also should take into account the risks that are there. Prevention of osteoporosis should be one of the first things that you and your doctor talk about when you begin taking these types of medications. Prevention usually includes increasing the amount of calcium that your body takes in on a daily basis. You probably will need to increase this amount considerably.

There is no doubt that the medications you take for arthritis are important to your health and well being. They shouldn’t be stopped, in most cases. But, you should talk to your doctor about a prevention plan for osteoporosis, which can be prevented in most cases.

What happens if you don’t pay attention to the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that you feel? It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you have going on in your life. Paying attention to the problem at hand, which has to do with your health, is incredibly important. If you don’t take care of your arthritis pain, you could find yourself unable to do the things that you are worrying so much about right now. Do you know what the symptoms of arthritis are? If so, you should also know why its important to listen to your body so that the worst of the complications from the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms you face can be avoided.

What Are The Symptoms?

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are in fact fairly simple. For starters, you are likely to feel pain. The pain is likely to be in joints throughout your body. The most common places for this pain to be in is the smaller joints in your body including your fingers and feet, but it can be felt anywhere. You are also likely to feel aching in those joints from movement. For some, moving your joint after it has been sitting for a few minutes will cause soreness and pain.

In addition to those symptoms, you are likely to experience swelling in the joints which is caused by the inflammation there. The amount of swelling and pain that you have is an indication of just how severe your condition is. Those that have extreme levels of pain are often facing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that are advanced. That can lead to a very urgent need to seek out help. When the symptoms progress, you may have loss of range of motion in that joint that may lead to deformity. You may notice this in knuckles that are no longer aligned or in swollen knees.

The Complications That You Face

As your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms progress, you are likely to see increased amounts of pain and discomfort. The stiffness that you feel can also lead to fatigue in the muscles of that area of your body, which can ultimately limit the use that you can use them for. In addition, some patients end up facing depression from the loss of quality of life that they are used to. But, they don’t stop there. Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis can also develop osteoporosis and some may develop a heart condition that some believe is caused by the arthritis itself. They believe that the inflammation of your joints can cause your arteries and the tissue of your heart to become affected.

Probably the last part of the process of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is that you will find yourself unable to use that joint any longer because the pain and deformity has removed that from you. For some, that means being in a wheelchair and for others that means a treatment like joint replacement. In either case, there are risks that can be important to consider. But, if you listen to your body and get the help you need for the arthritis that you feel, you can severely slow the progression of the condition and even restore some of the motion you need.

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.

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.

One of the difficulties in managing arthritis, an inflammation of the joints, is that there are more and more options for holistic medicine for the treatment of arthritis.

As a whole, holistic medicine has certainly become quite popular and is gaining more credibility among traditional healthcare providers. For those suffering with a chronic disease, such as arthritis, holistic medicine can certainly be a helpful enhancement to traditional therapies.

Aggressive and early treatment of arthritis is necessary in order to try to avoid additional joint damage which can lead to further joint limitations and deformities. Holistic therapy for the treatment of arthritis can provide you with some relief from the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

Holistic medicine is based on the theory that diseases occur from multiple root causes and most often can be positively impacted by treating underlying imbalances within the physical, mental and environmental realms.

Holistic medicine is based on the theory that arthritis occurs from a variety of factors and in order to get the best outcome it takes an approach that looks at every aspect of your life. For example, it could be that your nutritional status is impacting your overall health or perhaps you have an underling infection. Look at the whole picture. Holistic medicine physicians take the time to find the root cause of arthritis and the patient is actively involved with their treatment.

Holistic medicine for the treatment of arthritis draws upon a wide range of therapies to help treat and possibly prevent arthritis. Many western physicians will use a combination of holistic and more traditional therapies in order to cover all the bases and give the patient the best shot at getting the healthiest of all.

Many holistic physicians employ techniques found in Chinese herbal medicine as a basis of their therapy.

These physicians also focus on stress reduction, proper diet and nutrition, detoxification and the repair of nerves and muscles with the use of acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage and exercise. Those with arthritis as well as many other chronic diseases can benefit from this practice as a compliment to more traditional treatment.

The belief of the Chinese medicine is that disease occurs when obstructions impede the flow of energy to the organs. Chinese herbs are used to restore energy and function to your body since Chinese medicine is based on the belief that if your body’s energy is blocked you cannot be in a state of wellness. Some of those who practice holistic medicine believe that a vegetarian diet can help to reduce your arthritis symptoms.

Some other techniques utilized within holistic medicine include relaxation techniques, such as biofeedback and meditation. Holistic therapy is thought to be incredibly helpful with the complex management of arthritis symptoms and has been shown to be effective.

With holistic medicine for the treatment of arthritis, you may find it is the perfect compliment to your conventional therapy. Since arthritis is a chronic disease it requires your on-going attention and focus.

If there is something else that you can do to improve your overall health and sense of feeling better, then this may be just the thing you are looking for. Seek out a qualified physician and get started now for the sake of your health! Protect your joints no matter how much attention they demand.

It is so worth it in the long run. Holistic therapy can certainly be an excellent augmentation to your current treatment plan.

There are a number of possible complications that can occur in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who is being treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) or biologic therapy. Here is a partial rundown of some of them.

MTX seems to interfere with successful vaccination against pneumococci, the organism that causes most cases of pneumonia. Since pneumonia vaccination is a common procedure, this specific problem should be taken into account in a patient with RA. A limited immune response against influenza antigens has been seen with cyclosporine and azathioprine.

Studies involving TNF inhibitors- drugs that block the effects of tumor necrosis factor- indicate that there should be no interference with pneumococcal infection. Examples of TNF-inhibitors include Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade. Patients undergoing TNF inhibitor treatment indicate that the expected immune response after an influenza vaccine is very good. Vaccination tactics where the use of rituximab or abatacept is planned are currently unclear.

Risks for osteoporosis include smoking, insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, expected ongoing prednisone use, and RA itself.

To reduce the risk for fracture:

• Lifestyle interventions to prevent bone loss should be encouraged

• Calcium and vitamin D supplementation should be prescribed.
oIn addition, blood levels of vitamin D25-OH should be checked to ensure that they are normal.
oLevels < 30 ng/mL suggest supplemental treatment is required.

• Prednisone dose should be minimized.

• Consider bisphosphonate (drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva) therapy. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommends that all patients on chronic prednisone (> 5 mg daily for more than 1-3 months) be considered for bisphosphonate therapy.

• Regular testing for bone mineral density.

o The best method for this is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning.
o Testing should be performed every 1 to 2 years.
o If there is bone loss over time, consider more aggressive osteoporosis therapy.

Prior to starting TNF inhibitors, a chest x-ray and tuberculin skin test should be performed to screen for prior exposure to tuberculosis. Hospitalization and death from serious infections in patients treated with these agents have been reported and these drugs should be used with caution in patients with any susceptibility to infection or a history of tuberculosis. These drugs also should be avoided in patients with significant chronic infections and should be discontinued temporarily in all patients with acute infection.

Risk for latent tuberculosis should be assessed prior to initiation of a TNF-antagonist. A tuberculin skin testing (PPD) > 5 mm or more is considered positive.

What this means in a patient who comes from a country where BCG vaccine is routine is unclear.

Even patients with a negative PPD before therapy initiation have developed active tuberculosis; therefore all patients should be monitored for active disease. PPD tests should be administered annually.

Consultation with infectious disease specialists and pulmonary specialists as well as anti-tuberculosis therapy (usually isoniazid) should be considered before initiation of infliximab (Remicade) therapy in patients with a history of latent or active disease if a history of an adequate treatment course cannot be confirmed.

Those patients who have several or highly significant risk factors for i nfection and negative test findings for latent disease probably also need to be treated. Anti-TNF agents should not be used in patients with chronic hepatitis B infections, although these drugs may be safe in hepatitis C-infected patients.

Local injection site reactions with the subcutaneous drugs during the first month are usually temporary, and serious allergic reactions with infliximab infusions are not common.

Skin reactions with anakinra (Kineret) occur but rarely lead to serious complications. With the anti-TNF agents, development of ANA positivity and lupus-like illness are also rare.

Demyelinating conditions (MS-like disease) have been described. Another complication is aplastic anemia.

Although the incidence of lymphoma is generally increased in RA patients, it is unclear as to the relative frequency in patients receiving anti-TNF agents. So far, it appears that TNF-inhibitors might even lead to a lower incidence of lymphoma.

Heart failure may be aggravated by anti-TNF agents.

In October 2006, the FDA approved hypersensitivity and infection-related labeling changes for infliximab. This agent is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to inactive components of the injectable product or to any mouse proteins. While most skin rashes, hives, shortness of breath, and drop in blood pressure have occurred within 2 hours of infliximab infusion, some serum sickness-like reactions (fever, rash, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, joint pains, edema, and/or swallowing difficulty) have been seen after the second dose and on restarting treatment after an extended period.

After a severe hypersensitivity reaction, patients should not be receive infliximab again.

In December 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert with regard to spontaneous fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) due to JC polyomavirus (Jacob-Creutzfeld [JC] virus) in a small number of patients with SLE who had received rituximab therapy.

Rheumatology referral is strongly recommended for patients being considered for biologic therapy of any sort.

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