Arthritis in Children, Teens and Young Adults

The Arthritis Foundation is devoted to serving the special needs of children, teens and young adults with childhood rheumatic diseases and their families. Right now, there are nearly 300,000 children in America with some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease. There are 8.4 million young adults between the ages of 18-44 who have arthritis and millions of others at risk for developing it.

While there are some issues that are shared by everyone with arthritis, its impact on school, social life, family relationships, dating, sports, and almost every other aspect of an active, growing young persons life raises special concerns. New coping skills for living with the everyday challenges of arthritis must be learned. Teens and young adults entering the workforce have new issues to face.

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Traditional Treatment of Arthritis   by Tara Smith

The traditional treatment of arthritis is based on relieving pain and increasing mobility. Since the drug therapies have been around for at least fifty years and surgery has a fairly high success rate the conservative medical community tends to treat arthritis with painkillers and exercise. However, the recent trend is to go for other remedies like dietary supplements.

Painkillers are not the solution to the problem. They mask the symptoms by providing temporary relief and often worsen the disease. Besides, they have side effects; most drugs prescribed for arthritis pain can upset the stomach and cause nausea and diarrhea. Sometimes, these drugs can compromise the wall of the gut and then the antigens leak into the system, enter the bloodstream and end up in a joint.

Once they reach the joint, they will trigger an attack by the white blood cells that are the body’s defense system. The end result is that this causes more pain and inflammation as the white blood cells release prostaglandins and leukotrienes in an attempt to dispose of the enemy. They also release digestive enzymes that begin to attack and digest the actual cartilage, bone, ligament and muscle that are supposed to be saved. This can then become a chronic problem, which is what happens in rheumatoid arthritis especially.

Even simple drugs like aspirin become harmful if taken over a long period; they rob the body of essential vitamins and minerals. Loss of these bodybuilding nutrients, especially the B group vitamins, can cause more pain and inflammation due to the breakdown of cartilage, bone and other important tissues.

Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethicin (Indocid) and ibuprofen and others, give pain relief and reduce joint swelling, but cause stomach problems with long-term use, while the Cox -2 inhibitors like celecoxib (Celebrex) while safer for the stomach, may cause cardiovascular problems.

Steroid medication causes a loss of potassium, but retention of sodium, while penicillamine, often used to treat RA, causes a lack of copper. Gout, the only form of arthritis scientifically shown to have a direct link to diet, is often treated with colchicine, which can cause a loss of vitamin B12. Osteoporosis is one of the long-term effects of steroid. Then other steroids like cortisone are injected into the painful joint to prevent this and other problems.

Disease-modifying and immunosuppressive drugs are sometimes given, but they have serious side effects too, so must be closely monitored. Some of these include: – gold, by injection or orally, methotrexate (Matrex), and anti-malarial drugs to name just a few.

Doctors recommend surgery when drugs fail to work, or the side effects are too serious. Knee and hip replacements have become very common since the success rate is about 95%, and most patients become pain-free. Replaced joint can last for up to fifteen years and when they start to give trouble can be replaced. However, there are a few cases of unsuccessful operations and the artificial joint has to be removed. Their condition becomes worse than before.

Apart from the complete replacement of the joint, there are other surgery options like removing inflamed joint cavity linings, repairing damaged tendons or removing them completely. Doctors have succeeded in removing part of a bone that is causing pain; they have also released trapped nerves, and fused a joint to make it more stable. Therefore, it is advisable that you discuss the line of action or treatment with your doctor thoroughly before going in for any proposed surgery. You must be fully aware of the risks involved.

About the Author

Whether you are looking for renewed strength, energy and vitality in your life, drug-free relief from arthritis and joint pain, or wanting to make a difference in your financial future by becoming a MonaVie distributor, visit MonaVie Acai Berry

Tara Smith is CEO of Work From Home Income Directory

Forms Of Treatment For Arthritis   by Connie Limon

Trying to figure out the best means to relief arthritis pain can be frustrating. You can make your arthritis pain worse with activities stressful to your joints and that require repetitive motion when you already have severe joint damage. If you have only mild joint damage, gentle exercise that includes stretching and muscle strengthening can improve arthritis pain.

Arthritis varies from one person to another. You will need to work with your doctor to determine the right solution and exercise program for your specific situation.

Activities such as jogging and playing tennis that put sudden pressure on involved joints are likely to make the symptoms of arthritis worse. Swelling and inflammation may increase. Exercises that strengthen your muscles protect your joints and reduce stress and joint damage should be of help to arthritis symptoms. Strengthening the muscles on the front and back of your thigh, which are the quadriceps and hamstrings; helps protect your knee and hip joints.

The key is to do what you can to stay physically active while taking into consideration the condition of your joints. You may be able to walk a good 30 to 60 minutes at a comfortable pace, but you probably will have to give up high-impact activities like running that puts a lot of stress on many different joints. Swimming or other water exercise may be a better choice for keeping active until you get toned if your joints are too painful for walking.

People with rheumatoid arthritis often have stiffness after rest. Movement tends to diminish some of the symptoms. If you experience excessive stiffness after sitting for a long time you can try adjusting your sitting position often to help prevent or lessen some of this.

You should call your doctor if new pain or persistent pain lasting more than several days occurs. Arthritis symptoms are often more effectively controlled if caught early. If your symptoms are most likely due to overdoing it and they disappear in a few days you probably do not need to call your doctor.

Medications for arthritis are relatively safe and well tolerated by most people. Keep in mind there is no medication that is completely free of possible side effects. If you experience regular arthritis symptoms you need professional advice from your doctor about which medications to take and how much.

Medications available include:

*Tylenol *Aspirin *Ibuprofen *Advil *Motrin *Aleve *Naproxen *Other anti-inflammatory drugs

Most of the above drugs can be purchased over-the-counter and many of them do bring relief of minor and occasional arthritis pain.

A weekend tennis player, gardeners and other people with mild osteoarthritis can overcome some of the stiffness by taking an over-the-counter NSAID tablet for one or two days. I experienced some hip pain shortly after beginning a new walking routine. My doctor advised taking Ibuprofen just shortly before each work-out, which did alleviate the pain considerably.

If symptoms are prolonged and severe, joint involvement may be more advanced. Your doctor is the best source to decide the dosage that is right for you.

Alternative treatment for arthritis pain:

Heat, massage and stretching help relieve arthritis symptoms for many people. The best of these treatments should have your doctor or physical therapist’s approval. These treatments have also been standard treatments and not so much “alternative” treatment for arthritis pain.

Many alternative preparations have not been adequately studied. Herbal treatments, for example, taken on a day that you might have felt better anyway, may convince you that the herb made you better. Arthritis treatments studies show as many as 30 percent of people taking an inactive substance improve at least temporarily.

Quality standards for over-the-counter alternative drugs do not exist.

It may take years to find an effective and safe medication for your particular arthritis pain. If you try a shortcut standard practice it may lead to harmful effects and wasted money, time and effort.

Botox Injections:

It is unclear at this time whether or not Botox injections improve pain and function in people with arthritis. Much more research is needed to evaluate the findings of a very small study that suggested injections with Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) may improve pain and function in people with arthritis.

The study reported improvements in pain and function in all participants, however the duration of these benefits varied from three to 12 months. The results were promising and there were no adverse reactions reported. There will need to be much larger, controlled and randomized trials to determine the safety and possible benefit of Botox injections for arthritis.

Antibiotics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:

Researchers continue to study the possibility that rheumatoid arthritis may be brought on by some form of infection. If this is true, it may be possible to prevent or stop the progression of the disease with antibiotics. Studies of the usefulness of antibiotic therapy have produced mixed results.

Effects of long-term use of antibiotics are unknown. Antibiotics have many potential side effects, some of which are very serious. More research is needed to determine if antibiotics can be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 4-2007.

About the Author

Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weekly nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit http://www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superior quality, safe and effective products inspired by nature, informed by science and created to improve the health of people, pets and the planet.

Green Tea May Help Rheumatoid Arthritis   by Joshua Daly

Green tea is already proven to fight cancer and make for a healthier heart, now some believe that it might also sooth rheumatoid arthritis.

The new study that was conducted at the by Salah-uddin Ahmed, an investigator at the University of Michigan Health System, in Ann Arbor. According to Forbes.com,

Ahmed isolated cells called synovial fibroblasts from the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These cells form a lining of tissue surrounding the capsule of the joints.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this lining is inflamed, leading to long-term joint damage and chronic pain. About 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Ahmed’s team next cultured these cells and exposed them to the active ingredient in green tea, a compound named epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Next, the cells were stimulated with a protein of the immune system known to play a role in causing joint degradation in rheumatoid arthritis. The protein is called cytokine interleukin-1 beta or IL-1B.

“IL-1B is a major player in mediating cartilage degradation,” Ahmed explained.

In an earlier study, Ahmed’s team found that fibroblasts pretreated with EGCG and then stimulated with cytokine IL-1B were better able to block IL-1B’s ability to produce damaging proteins and enzymes. Those proteins and enzymes can infiltrate the joints and cause the cartilage breakdown seen in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

In the more recent study, the researchers focused on whether EGCG had the ability to block the activity of two potent molecules, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which also play a role in breaking down bone in an RA joint.

The two molecules were suppressed by the EGCG, Ahmed’s team found. While he said it is difficult to quantify exactly the effect of the suppression, the EGCG “blocked them significantly,” he said.

According to Ahmed, it is still too early to recommend green tea to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but it is definitely a good base of information to support further exploration. Ahmed also recommended drinking 3 to 4 eight ounce cups of green tea a day to keep blood levels more constant.

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About the Author

Joshua Daly is the author of many health related articles as well as the President of ePharmacies.com. Joshua’s goal is to help consumers save money and make better informed decisions. Click here for more information on ordering from discount online prescriptions.

Hot And Cold Arthritis by Richard Heft

The body is not one structure and function but many that work together to produce greater structure and function, health and longevity. All structure and function is largely controlled through diet, as the body digests, transforms food, nutrients into blood into structure into function.

Arthritis is a disease of the joints which not only involve the bones and cartilage but also the ligaments (hold bones together), tendons (attach muscles to ligaments), muscles, nerves and blood.

All structure and function are built, fueled, cleansed, cooled, moistened and warmed by blood. Blood deficiency and stagnation, in the extreme, tend to cause arthritis.

1. COLD ARTHRITIS: A decrease in the supply, amount of blood, tends to cause heat, dryness, inflammation, cold, pain, weakness, numbness and or shaking, depending on the severity of deficiency. It is generally caused by blood deficiency (anemia), poor circulation and or medication. The first body parts to suffer blood deficiency and or poor circulation are the extremities, hands and feet.

Blood deficiency generally tends to occur more so in women than men. Women tend to eat anemic diets, low protein and low fat, high carbohydrate. They also tend to menstruate. This combination tends to cause blood deficiency (anemia, thin skin, hair, nails and bones; infertility, miscarriage, short term pregnancy, fear, depression) which in turn can dry, inflame and pain the joints, bones, muscles.

2. HOT ARTHRITIS: Blood stagnation in the form of high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis and cirrhosis tends to reduce the circulation of blood, which in turn, dries and weakens the joints, causing arthritic symptoms.

All blood passes in and out of the liver. The liver stores, cleanses (filters excess protein and fat) and distributes the blood. A clogged liver tends to swell with blood so that more blood passes in than out, which in turn. reduces the amount of blood circulated to the extremities.

This type of arthritis is more common among men than women. Men tend to eat too much fat and protein, building foods and not enough cleansing foods, carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables and grains; which in turn, tends to clog the liver, arteries and veins, which in turn, reduce circulation to the extremities, joints causing pain, weakness, inflammation, etc. Protein and especially fat (includes oil) are thick sticky nutrients that tend to stick and clog the arteries, veins, liver, etc.

There is also another popular cause: medication, especially blood thinners. Blood thinners not only thin the blood of excess cholesterol and fat, but also thin the bones, skin, hair, etc. because when you thin the blood you thin everything else.

There are three types of arthritis: osteo (bone on bone), rheumatoid (autoimmune) and gout (uric acid). OsteoArthritis can not be improved through diet or herbs. You can not grow cartilage (separates and cushions the bones) where there is none.

You can grow cartilage where there is some. Glucosamine sulfate ((1500 mg./ day, check with your doctor before using) and other supplements have been shown to grow cartilage. Solgar, Solaray, Enzymatic Therapy, Twin Lab and Natures Plus are high quality companies that not only manufacture and distribute but also research.

I owned and operated a small health food store, Food and Thought, Hollywood, Fl (1984-2001). I sold a lot of Glucosamine Sulfate and never heard a complaint, just praise. Check with your doctor before making any changes.

Dietary cures for blood deficiency and blood stagnation are relatively simple.

Blood deficiency requires more protein and fat (red meat, chicken, turkey, etc.), cooked foods and spices. Spices (cardamon, cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, cayenne, etc.) aid in the digestion of protein and fat. They also act like blood thinners in thinning the blood of excess fat and protein. Reduce cold and or watery foods: raw vegetables, salads, tropical and citrus fruits, bitter herbs (laxatives, liver cleansers) and or cold drinks to improve digestion.

Digestion is a fiery process (acid and enzymes) transforms food, nutrients into blood. Cold and or water, in excess dilutes and decreases digestion, absorption. blood, energy, etc. This is a general rule for who suffer from blood deficiency.

Blood stagnation (clogged arteries, veins, liver, etc.) is also simple but timely to cure. It is a disease of excess. The first solution is eat less, skip meals (especially dinner), space the meals (gives body extra time and more to digest) and don’t eat late. The second solution is reducing animal protein and fat. No more than one time, meal per day, never at night. I like turkey. More vegetables (cabbage0, raw and cooked, more fruit (apples), peppermint tea, etc. Avoid alcohol. Bitter herbs (golden seal, gentian, etc.) may also help. Check with your doctor first.

Hot salves for reducing pain are also effective. You can any hot balm.

Thank you

About the Author

Richard G. Heft: Author, Hot and Cold Health: Acupuncture Physician (FL 1992-2002): owner, operator, Food and Thought, health food store, Hollywood, FL (1984-2001): questioning and counseling 30,000+ people: “What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?”; Web: http://www.hotandcoldhealth.net