Juvenile Chronic Arthritis

Arthritis Pain Management

Kate Mullins — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:00:13 +0000

By understanding the methods of arthritis pain management, you will realize that arthritis pain is not as difficult to live with as you might think. The following are tips to assist you with pain management. By using these techniques, you will alleviate the pain and return to the life you were living before.

Massages/Hot and Cold Therapies

Place cold packs on the joints that are inflamed and swollen. This technique will reduce inflammation and soreness, and therefore provide pain relief. The joints can be heated with hot packs. They will provide muscle stimulation and significantly increase blood circulation, leading to pain alleviation.

However, using hot and cold packs should be used every so often. Doing it too often can actually be detrimental to the skin. After apply a pack, look at your skin for burns or redness. If your skin has sores, then you should stay away from them.

Use herbal oils or lotion to massage the areas in pain. Swollen joints shouldn’t be massaged because doing so could actually cause the pain to get worse. Using a massager like lotion or oil is important so you can move smoothly through the joints. If you want to get a professional massage as a part of your arthritis pain management, then you can visit a message therapist. Professional massages can help you get rheumatoid arthritis relief temporarily

Practice Relaxation Techniques

In terms of arthritis pain management, the best relaxation techniques include hypnotism, guided imagery, meditation, yoga, and listening to calming music. During guided imagery, the patient closes his or her eyes, breathes deeply, relaxes, and visualizes colorful, pleasant images.

Surgical Therapies

This arthritis pain management method is one of the more powerful ones. Surgical procedures that are commonly used are Joint replacement, Synovectomy, and Arthroscopy. Doctors can also prescribe medication to help as well.

Exercise Regimen and Physiotherapy

When arthritis pain is gone, then an excellent way to cure arthritis is exercising. Talk to a physiotherapist to learn some exercises that can stimulate the muscles and motion of the joints.

Alternative Treatments

These treatments include acupuncture, ultrasound therapy, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Simulation (TENS). Ultrasound therapy is designed to soothe and relax the joints by using high energy. With an experienced doctor’s supervision, mild electric shock is used on the painful joints during the process of TENS.

Arthritis Joint Pain: Home Remedies

Kate Mullins — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:42:54 +0000

Effectively using home remedies combined with sufficient knowledge about therapeutic measures can help you relieve arthritis joint pain. When you understand what the symptoms of arthritis are, then you will discover which movements lead to join pain and inflammation. You will then be able to prevent pain from occuring by avoiding these movements. The following will discuss home remedies that are simple to use in order to get arthritis joint pain relief.

Effective Home Remedies

Try to do everything deliberately, even if you are being put under tremendous pressure to do otherwise. Plan all your daily activities ahead of time and leave margin for error so you don’t ever feel rushed. Also, you can use remedies that have been around for ages to help those with arthritis joint pain.

Adding garlic cloves or grind mustard seeds with some water will create a paste that can be applied to the areas causing pain. The effect of this can be soothing and bring about arthritis join pain relief. However, if you decide to use garlic cloves in this mix, be careful because skin boils can be induced when applied. This is because garlic cloves are very powerful.

Drink a combination of water and lime juice regularly. Another remedy to get arthritis join pain relief is mixing water with turmeric. Apply coconut oil several times each day on the areas that are most painful. Mix a 2:1 ratio of olive oil and kerosene and massage where needed. Many have talked about how effective this remedy is for some time.

Try consuming a mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey, this has been known to bring relief from arthritis join pain. Therapeutic properties are in fruit juices which can give you great results.

Rasna, guggul, and ashwagandha are herbal remedies that can be used as well. When it comes to joint inflammation and pain relief, they are very effective. Take arthcare oil and massage several times each day. You can also take arthcare in pill form too twice each day. This therapeutic measure has been very popular that fights against arthritis contraction.

Another way to get arthritis join pain relief is by massaging the affected areas with warm salt water and bishop weed. Alfalfa tea has brought about positive results for some people as well when taken each day.

You can get relief almost instantly from arthritis knee pain with paraffin wax dip massaging. Physio-therapeutic exercises and light electric shocks can be tried as well. If you use some of the above remedies, you should be able to get some arthritis join pain relief.

Five Arthritis Pain Relief Alternatives

Kate Mullins — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:45:39 +0000

Arthritis patients are eager to learn about effective remedies that can provide them with pain relief. Exercising daily, along with making any necessary dietary and lifestyle changes can drastically reduce pain. The following are several guidelines that bring relief from arthritis pain in the shortest time possible.

Home Remedies

One can gain arthritis pain relief by utilizing some home remedies that are simple, but effective. One such remedy is massaging coconut oil on the painful joints a minimum of two times each day. Supplements are available that will provide pain relief, slow down degeneration, while also improving range of motion with your joints. Avoid any food items that are anti-inflammatory. Joint inflammation can result from salted nuts, potatoes, fried items, and dairy products. Instead, eat foods such as raw nuts, raw vegetables, and fruits.

Physiotherapy

Participating in physiotherapy each day until you experience arthritis pain relief is an effective technique. You can do this by consulting a physiotherapist so you can learn exactly what you need to do. He or she can design a program that will include the exercises that are right for you. Pain can also be alleviated by using a short term fix in shock treatment. As begin to feel joint pain being reduced, stick with the daily routine that your physiotherapist has outlined so that you can get arthritis pain relief over the long term.

Routine Workouts

You can get great arthritis pain relief by working out if your condition is still in the beginning stages. If degeneration of your joints and cartilage have already begun, then you will have to first reduce the pain and then participate in mild workouts. Your workouts don’t have to be complicated, they just have to get your joints moving. You can Chinese chime balls or putty to accomplish this. Arthritis work outs can be classified into muscle motion, endurance, and aerobic workouts. See your doctor to gain a good understanding of the arthritis you have and get a exercise routine in place that suits your condition.

Occasional OTC Medications

You can gain relief temporarily by taking OTC medications such as ibuprofen and Tylenol. However, it’s highly advised not to take these drugs frequently. If you are dealing with prolonged arthritis pain, then see a medical practitioner to find treatment that is more than just a quick fix and one that can prevent further damage from being done.

Consultation with a Medical Practitioner

Regardless which temporary pain relief method you select, the most important point is that you get something powerful enough to slow down your condition. Not attending to it can lead to more complications. Visit your doctor to gain a better understanding, while also getting diagnosed properly and treated as soon as possible.

What Are The Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Options?

Kate Mullins — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:17:11 +0000

Psoriatic arthritis treatment prescribed by doctors is done so with the purpose of managing the inflammation and stopping further joint destruction. Another intention of the treatment is to improve joint function. If a patient has both skin and joint symptoms, both will be treated at the same time.

Use Of NSAIDs

In the psoriatic arthritis treatment’s initial stages, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed according to doctor’s recommendations. In the long term, suitable pain relief against inflammation and chronic pain are the benefits of taking NSAIDs.

Another treatment option for psoriatic arthritis is is known as corticosteroids. This is an anti-inflammatory medicine that is very powerful and can be taken through injections. Prednisone is a steroid that is another option to consider, though it should be taken with caution and only when absolutely necessary.

Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are another psoriatic arthritis treatment available that is designed to disrupt and slow the advancement of arthritis. The hope is that the patients will regain normal functioning of their joints by slowing the progress of the disease.

An additional psoriatic arthritis treatment is exercising on a daily basis, which will help relieve the stiffness of the joints and relieve pain as a result of psoriatic arthritis treatment.

Water therapy involves doing exercises in a large pool, and is considered to be a very effective treatment option. A patient can experience joint pain relief with the help of water therapy. This occurs when the patient is under water, meaning that some of the weight and pressure on the joints are taken off, providing relief.

Finally, heat and cold therapies are effective psoriatic arthritis treatments. This form of therapy involves the application of heat and cold alternating back and forth, providing pain relief and to the affected areas while also reducing swelling.

Considered a last resort for relief if all of the other forms of treatment fail, a possible option is to have surgery.

Getting on the proper arthritis diet is believed to give patients a lot of relief. This is because the condition of a person’s body is impacted by what they eat or drink. Some diets help in disease prevention, while others contribute to having arthritis. Therefore, one should know which drinks and foods should be consumed and avoided.

Should You Avoid Taking Psoriatic Arthritis Medicine?

Kate Mullins — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:58:04 +0000

When discussing psoriatic arthritis medicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are generally prescribed by doctors. While taking psoriatic arthritis medicine will provide relief for the patient, the problem is the potential side effects that comes with using them. Also, stress is known to be one of the primary psoriatic arthritis causes. This means that by making changes to your lifestyle to lessen the amount of stress you experience, you can avoid taking psoriatic arthritis medicine while also reducing your risk levels in the process.

Use Alternative Methods

Alternate psoriatic arthritis medicine can also be used in conjunction with breathing techniques, meditation and prayer, as well as deep breathing and visualization to help cure the condition. Another alternative to psoriatic arthritis medicine is performing yoga. However, for those experiencing a great deal of joint pain, it is better for you instead to try the breathing techniques, meditation, and visualization since some of the yoga poses can be difficult.

Certain foods and inflammatory diseases are potential triggers for psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, in addition to taking medicine for the condition, you will need to avoid certain foods such as the following:

caffeine
alcohol
shellfish
corn
citrus fruits
eggs
soy
dairy products
sugar
wheat

Over-the-counter supplements are another form of alternative psoriatic arthritis medicine that can found in health food and vitamin stores. These will help reduce inflammation that results form the arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondortin are several other alternative medicines/supplements that will assist in pain relief and are safe to use. Fish oil capsules will also help reduce joint inflammation, instead of strictly using psoriatic arthritis medicine. Methysulfonylmethane is another supplement that is worth considering as well.

Much effort and research is continually being done in the area of discovering a cure for psoriatic arthritis. No cure currently exists, which means for patients the best you can do is to receive the best treatment possible in terms of overcoming psoriatic arthritis. Treatment is different for each person since everyone experiences different symptoms.

What Is The Exact Psoriatic Arthritis Cause?

Kate Mullins — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:41:15 +0000

The psoriatic arthritis cause unfortunately is still unknown at this time. However, what is known are some of the triggers for the onset of psoriatic arthritis, which include immunological reasons, as well as environmental and heredity factors. What is also known is that 40% of those with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of it, and those being immediate relatives.

Chromosome 6p Genes

Psoriatic arthritis has also been proven to be closely linked with the Chromosome 6p genes, which falls in line with the hereditary factor. Other genes have also been closely associated with psoriatic arthritis. With all that said, this doesn’t imply that because a family member currently or in the past was diagnosed, that you will be to. What this means is that the likelihood of acquiring the disease is greater.

Other psoriatic arthritis causes include viral and bacterial infections. Getting these infections, along with having a family history, will especially increase the risk level.

One should also be aware of psoriatic arthritis causes that are related to the environment. These include different types of infections, which may predispose a person to acquiring this disease. An onset could be precipitated by traumas as well. This is especially the case with the Koebner phenomenon, which is a condition whereby the victim acquires psoriatic arthritis when going through trauma.

Immunological factors have also been known as a psoriatic arthritis cause. In this case, the patient’s B and T cells, chemokines, and cytokins have been involved in the onset of inflammation. Another immunological cause that has been identified is tumor necrosis. Those with rheumatoid arthritis are the primary victims of the inflammation caused by TNF, or tumor necrosis factor. However, it is closely associated with psoriatic arthritis as those who suffer from it have been known to have present in their bodies great amounts of TNF.

The main point in regards to causes is that those who currently have psoriasis have a greater likelihood of acquiring psoriatic arthritis.

Reading and learning about psoriasis psoriatic arthritis will help since it is so closely related to psoriatic arthritis. Fortunately, psoriasis cannot be passed on from one person to another since it is not contagious.

An Overview of Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis

Kate Mullins — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:25:31 +0000

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis definitely have a connection between them. The fact is 10-30% of those who have been diagnosed with psoriasis also have acquired psoriatic arthritis. Inflammation of the joints occurs when psoriatic arthritis has developed. Moreover, this is a condition that will persist for the rest of a patient’s life and leads to stiff joints and pain. Medications are recommended to prevent your joints from becoming deformed.

Know The Connection

When discussing the link involved with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it should be told that the condition of psoriasis forms on the scalp and nails of a person. When developed on the scalp, silver-while scales are formed and often misdiagnosed as dandruff. A dermatologist has to examine the skin, scalp, and nails in order to properly diagnosis psoriasis. Skin biopsies are often used in the diagnosing process.

Meanwhile, psoriatic arthritis refers to joint inflammation and not scales on the skin, which is one of the key differences between the two. Also, people who suffer from psoriasis are more likely to get psoriatic arthritis. The hands and feet are some of the joints affected by psoriatic arthritis. One is also at risk for experiencing inflammation in a few of the larger joints, including the hips, knees, and elbows. The tendons can also be affected by the inflammation, causing even more pain.

In Great Britain, five in seven people that have psoriasis are estimated to also have acquired psoriatic arthritis. As you can see, the connection between these two are firmly established. As far as gender is concerned, both men and women are affected equally by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. While affecting people of all ages, it primarily affects people in the age range of 35 to 55 years old.

In approximately 70% of the cases, those who suffer from psoriasis will also develop psoriatic arthritis. Also, 15% of patients will be victims of both skin and joint ailments simultaneously.

The medication for psoriatic arthritis commonly includes corticosteroids, biological modifiers, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Also prescribed are analgesics, which include anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs. If psoriatic arthritis is severe, medications that provide pain relief while improving stiffness, including analgesics, are prescribed.

Is There a Rheumatoid Arthritis Cure?

Kate Mullins — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:01:05 +0000

Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling condition affecting approximately 1% of the U.S population and is classified as a autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system initiates an attack on itself. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, it attacks the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and damage. There is no cure at this time for rheumatoid arthritis or any other autoimmune disorders for that matter. Therefore, those who are diagnosed will have it for the duration of their lives. Even though no cure exists, rheumatoid arthritis can be treated effectively to manage symptoms and slow down the advancement of the disease.

Managing Pain

Medication is one alternative to a cure for rheumatoid arthritis that will reduce inflammation and pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may be the first medication taken. If over the counter medications such as this are ineffective, a stronger dosage may be prescribed. Rheumatoid arthritis therapy, as well as home remedies such as heating pads and warm baths, have provided relief for some patients from painful symptoms. Quite often, a mix of home remedies and medication provide the best form of treatment.

Slowing Disease Progression

Slowing the advancement of rheumatoid arthritis to prevent joint damage is another alternative to a cure that can be effective. With the new medications available, this process of slowing it done has become less difficult. For this purpose, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are an excellent choice. Trexall and Plaquenil are the commercial names that these medications are under, depending on which ingredients are included. Many doctors encourage the patient to begin taking this type of medication as soon as possible to limit further progression as much as possible.

Suppressing the Immune System

Suppressing the immune system to prevent it from attacking the joints might be as close at it gets to having a cure. This is performed using DMARDs mentioned above, in particular Remicade and Enbrel which are biologic response modifiers. While obviously not a cure, as long as the patient decides to take this medication he or she will slow the disease down. The two downfalls with biologic response modifiers is that they must be injected and can be expensive.

Effective forms of treatment are available fortunately to control rheumatoid arthritis. While having a cure would be better, with early diagnoses and the right treatment, a patient can live a relatively pain free life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy: Physical and Occupational

Kate Mullins — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:56:06 +0000

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes a great deal of pain and will forever affect the lives of patients. While no cure is available at the moment, patients can receive treatment that will help relieve pain and limit joint damage. Occupational and physical therapy are two of the more common treatments used to fight this disease. The different kinds of rheumatoid arthritis therapy and how they are effective will be discussed in in the rest of this article. This applies for those who have had the disease for many years as well as children who have junior rheumatoid arthritis.

Physical Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Physical rheumatoid arthritis therapy is used to help maintain the functionality of joints, muscles, and bones. Therapy is usually done with a physical therapist, but the patient will have the option of performing the exercises on their own time as well. Physical rheumatoid arthritis therapy can be done regardless of what stage the disease is in.

The only only stipulation is that the process be supervised by a professional. The components of the therapy could include the application of hot and cold to the areas affected, exercise, and massage techniques. Exercising will generally focus on flexibility, aerobic, and strength training depending on the level of fitness and abilities the patient has.

Occupational Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Occupational rheumatoid arthritis therapy is primarily focused on the patient being able to cope with everyday activities in spite of the disease. A therapist will demonstrate how to move around the office or house in order to allow the patient to have as much independence as possible. The patient will learn from the therapist how to efficiently use their energy in day to day activities and completing tasks. The patient may even learn how to use a cane or railing in the bathroom, in some cases.

Occupational rheumatoid arthritis therapy will teach the patient how to do certain activities and tasks that he or she may not be able to do as well since being diagnosed.

The right mix of rheumatoid arthritis therapy will help keep patients independent and active as much as possible. They can remain active by going through physical therapy, using the muscles and joints impacted by the disease. Massages, applying heat and cold, and exercising will reduce symptoms and maintain the function of joints. Occupational therapy helps patients continue to be active and enjoy their favorite tasks and hobbies by demonstrating new ways of doing them without bringing out symptoms. One’s quality of life can be maintained for a long time with the knowledge and experience of therapists.

What is Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Kate Mullins — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:24:38 +0000

Junior rheumatoid arthritis is characterized as an autoimmune disorder that impacts children 16 years old and younger. In North America, approximately 300,000 children are affected by it and is the most prevalent type of arthritis among children. Autoimmune diseases, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, result when the body’s immune system begins to attack itself, specifically joints. This causes inflammation, pain, and ultimately damage. Unfortunately, no known cure for junior rheumatoid arthritis exists. Symptoms appear and disappear during the life of the patient.

Symptoms

Joint pain is one of the junior rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that starts off bad in the morning and gets better as the day progresses. Also, the child may display a temper and experience fatigue, while possibly in the evenings have a fever. Other common symptoms include rashes and swollen lymph nodes. You should take your child to the doctor to get diagnosed as soon as possible, if he or she shows any of these symptoms. The symptoms can be typically managed more effectively when treated early.

Types of Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis

The type of treatment and the diagnosis of junior rheumatoid arthritis can get complicated sometimes because of many types that are out there. Pauciarticular JRA is one type and is the most common, it’s described as pain in several of the bigger joints, such as the knees. Another type is polyarticular JRA, which affects smaller joints such as the feet and fingers. Only one side of the body is affected by this type of arthritis.

Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the last type, and is also known Still’s disease. Internal organs and joints are affected by this illness, and is considered to be the least common form of junior rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatric arthritis can also occur in some cases, and it involves a skin condition that is located on top of the join damage.

Treatment Options

Medication is the most commonly used treatment for junior rheumatoid arthritis and is designed to provide pain relief and disrupt the progress of the disease. While some children may only need medication to relieve pain, others who have more severe forms of arthritis may need to take other medication to slow the disease down and suppress the immune system.

Physical therapy has also shown to be effective in many cases, as it helps with proper functioning of joints, muscles, and bones. Occupational therapy helps children learn to complete tasks and be involved in activities in spite of the disease.

As mentioned, there isn’t a known cure at the moment for junior rheumatoid arthritis. However, getting it diagnosed early in the process and receiving effective treatment can provide relief for children and help them live a quality life.