arthritis-index.html

This web site was created by me, my name is Rebecca, for the purpose of explaining in laymen language Rheumatoid Disease, how debilitating this can be for anyone (infant, child, adult) who was diagnosed with this chronic killer illness. No one really understands how the immune-system just goes haywire and attacks its own immune-system.

Mentioned below are some of the Arthritic Conditions, then you will understand what Rheumatic Disease is comparable to Arthritic Conditions.

They are both very different illnesses. One attacks your immune-system, the other just cripples you with time, but you won't die from it. You can still lead a normal life even though some of your joints start to curdle up and get so hard that you can't move your fingers or toes because of the deformity it involves with your body, but that can be fixed.

Why do I call RA the killer disease, because it is? It’s a daily disease that never disappears. It stays and lingers on with you 24/7. There are days when the flare ups are so pronounced that you are unable to tolerate the joint pain along with the constant itching and burning of the skin that you just want to take yourself and go right into the ocean.

Yes, there are good days and very bad days. What I interpret as a good day, would be that I can lift myself out of a chair, get up and think about taking that first step to start me walking. Some people are affected so many various ways when it comes to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Did you know that Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Rheumatic disease? The reason why they say its Arthritis is because they compare it to Osteoarthritis which is a crippling of the joints. RA also cripples your joints but it attacks the tissue and cartilage surrounding the bones. Nothing gets in the way when RA attacks the knees, ankles, fingers, elbows, actually every joint in the body, but the damage it can really do is attack the heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, brain, liver, all of the organs which keep you alive.

But a person, who suffers from Osteoarthritis, can at least think about having a joint replacement because it is not an auto-immune illness that slowly eats away at your body.

Below is the link connection to the Arthritis Foundation Donate for a Cure. Donate what you can, even one dollar would help to continue the research to find a cure for this dreadful disease.

What Are the Types of Arthritis?
There are several types of arthritis. The two most common ones are osteoarthritis (AH-stee-oh-ar-THRY-tis) and rheumatoid (ROO-mah-toyd) arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This condition usually comes with age and most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Or someone might fall or be injured in a car accident. Then, years after the individual’s knee has apparently healed, he might get arthritis in his knee joint.

Rheumatoid Arthritis happens when the body’s own defense system doesn’t work properly. It affects joints and bones (often of the hands and feet), and may also affect internal organs and systems. You may feel sick or tired, and you may have a fever.

Another common type of arthritis, is Gout, which is caused by crystals that build up in the joints. It usually affects the big toe, but many other joints may be affected.

Arthritis, Rheumatic Diseases, and related conditions include over 100 disorders that typically affect the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Some Rheumatic diseases also can involve internal organs.

What Are Some Examples of Arthritis, Rheumatic Diseases, and Related Conditions?

What Causes These Conditions?

A combination of things may cause Rheumatic Diseases. A person could be born with the likelihood of getting a disease, but something happens to get the disease started. A cold, flu, or other type of virus could trigger a Rheumatic Disease in some people. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking and family history.

No one really understands how the immune-system just goes haywire and attacks its own immune-system.

Below is a link to Ice Wraps, this is a great product to reduce inflamation of almost any part of your body. Click on the picture link to see what kind of wraps will suit your needs. I believe in the Ice Wraps as I feel that when you apply one of these wraps to your inflamed joint or any other part of your body, it relaxes you and relieves the inflammation and your able to relax and then the pain disappears. You might just find it, to be better than using pain patches.

Get elbow joint pain relief now at IceWraps.net!

These are the best Ice Wraps for any type of Arthritis. I have several in my freezer for my lower back and around my neck. I use them on my arms to relieve the itching, burning and stinging from flare up on my skin.

Some people living with RA might show visible signs of joint damage, or may use assistive mobility devices. However, in many cases of rheumatoid arthritis the illness is invisible. Many people show no visible signs of RA. So once again, if you want to compliment someone on their good looks, go ahead. (But please don't forget, people with RA don't necessarily "look sick".)

Osteoarthritis may be caused by wear and tear on the joints or by an injury to a joint. Being a woman may make a person more likely to get some of these conditions. Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, and Fibromyalgia are more common among women. This could mean that hormones or other differences between men and women play a role in the development of these diseases.

Who Is Affected by These Conditions?

People of all races and ages can develop these conditions. Some are more common among certain groups of people. For example:

Did you Know? An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States have RA—that’s almost 1 percent of the nation’s adult population. There are nearly three times as many women as men with the disease. In women, RA most commonly begins between the ages of 30 and 60. It often occurs later in life for men.

I have many people who asked me; how I developed severe RA at the age of 65, well the answer is, the doctors were not knowledgeable to know that I was suffering from RA and they thought it was just in my mind. You see, most doctors who are not well versed with the Rheumatoid Disease have no other excuse but to tell you that it's all in your mind, your pain and suffering. That's the time to do your homework and research on the internet the credentials of other physicians who specialize in Arthritis.

Don't be afraid to ask questions when you call a doctor's office to find out about the doctor's credentials and how long they have been practicing RA medicine. Make sure that the doctor is Board Certified. It's extremely important that if you are feeling joint pain, burning and painful feet, itching of the skin, eye dryness, throat dryness, difficulty breathing, stomach upsets, nerves, anxiety from pain, some joint deformity.

The picture below shows that the middle joints on the fingers and the knuckles which are swollen is Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Well then it's ttime to seek out the proper medical attention you require. Early, aggressive treatment is key to slowing or stopping its progression.

RA's Toll on the Body

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)

Juvenile RA is the most common type of arthritis in kids. Like adult RA, it causes joint inflammation, stiffness, and damage. However, it can also affect a child's growth. Juvenile RA is also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. "Idiopathic" means no known cause.

If RA is suspected, your doctor may order blood tests to check for markers of inflammation in the body. Other common tests are for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), which is present in most people with RA.

Diagnosing RA: Imaging Tests

X-rays are helpful in diagnosing RA, to provide a baseline for comparison later as the disease progresses. An MRI or ultrasound may also be done to help detect joint damage and inflammation.

RA Medications

Medications used to treat RA include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which include biologics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and pain relievers. DMARDs slow progression of disease and are usually used with NSAIDs and steroids in treatment.

Is Surgery an Option?

After significant joint damage has occurred or when pain or disability becomes unbearable, some people choose surgery to improve function and relieve pain. Joint replacement is the most frequently performed surgery for RA patients -- with the knee and hip joints most often replaced. Other types of surgery, such as arthroscopy (inserting a tube-like instrument into the joint to see and repair abnormal tissues) and tendon reconstruction, can be performed as well.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Get the information you need about osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile inflammatory arthritis, as well as gout, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia and more.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is loaded with fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, legumes, and fish. Those foods are rich in nutrients that are good for you.

However, many other things also affect your health. A good diet is key, but it's not an RA cure. Your RA treatment plan should include traditional medicine, as well a healthy diet and other good habits.

What Vitamins and Minerals Are Important for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Below is a link to Nutri-Health Supplements

A very important vitamin to take on a daily basis = Flora Source Multi-Probiotic for Women, this vitamin promotes: *Healthy vaginal flora and urinary balance. It actually helps with yeast problems.

For those of you experiencing sleep desperation and extreme anxiety due to your pain generated from your 24/7 Rheumatoid Arthritis, why not try Sleep Wave Rest & Relax.

Folic acid, or folate, is a B vitamin that helps your body make red blood cells. If you take the drug methotrexate, folic acid may help you to avoid some of the drug's side effects.

Supplementing your diet with bone-boosting calcium and vitamin D is important, especially if you take corticosteroids (like prednisone) that can cause bone loss. Bone loss is more likely in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Check with your doctor to see how much calcium and vitamin D you need to get daily through foods, supplements, and sunlight.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout; walnuts; tofu and other soybean products; flaxseed and flaxseed oil; and canola oil. They may help curb inflammation.

Fish oil supplements also contain omega-3 fatty acids. Some people with RA report less pain and joint tenderness when taking fish oil, according to the American College of Rheumatology.

You may not notice any benefit at first from taking a fish oil supplement. It may take weeks or months to feel a difference.

Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. Your doctor can check on the dose you need, since the dose used in medical studies was much higher than what you'd get from a normal supplement without a prescription.

Alcohol and Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you take any RA medication, ask your doctor if it's OK for you to drink alcohol. Avoid alcohol if you take methotrexate, because liver damage could be a serious side effect.

People suffering with SLE Lupus should consider changing their diets to better avoid the inflammation of getting out of hand. I know it's very hard to change certain habits that we are all adapated to, but when a person becomes inflicted with such a disease as Lupus, that's the time to make the changes in yourself and handle your sickness on a positive note.

Alfalfa seeds and sprouts should be avoided because they contain an amino acid called L-canavanine. This amino acid can aggravate the symptoms of lupus.
Animal meats, dairy, eggs, nori seaweed, and peanuts contain arachidonic acid. When used excessively, arachidonic acid can actually be destructive to the body.
Beans and mushrooms, though tasty, contain amines and hydrazines, which increase lupus symptoms.
Cured meats like hot dogs are bad because they contain components that have been proven to trigger lupus symptoms.
Eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and white potatoes (also known as nightshade vegetables) should be avoided because they contain solanine, an agent that triggers inflammation and pain common to lupus sufferers.

Fat reduction can reduce up to 25% of the aches and pains of a lupus patient.
Herbs like andrographis, Echinacea, eleutherococcus, garlic, ginseng, and Panax should be taken with caution since they are known to increase autoimmunity.
Dietary supplements for iron could promote joint destruction, pain, and swelling. Foods containing iron, however, are okay.
Oils like corn, poppy seed, safflower, and sunflower actually encourage lupus episodes, called "flares." You should replace salt with herbs. It is important to learn how to read the nutrition labels on foods you buy and also remember to stay away from excessive salt.

Any Questions - Please write to my email address below and I will answer most questions regarding the arthritic conditions. If anyone who is having problems reading the text, let me know and I will make it larger.

The site will be updated with new reference information regarding RA, Lupus (SLE), Sjogrens' Syndrome, COPD, Fibromyalgia, Diet, Exercise, Smoking, etc.