Barry Fox - Arthritis For Dummies

Steroids: Also known as corticosteroids, these are man-made versions of naturally-occurring hormones in the body that help quell inflammation. Although they function as powerful anti-inflammatories, they can also have powerful side effects, including elevated blood pressure, thinning of the bones and skin, weight gain, and an increased risk of infection, even when they are injected directly into the joint.

See Chapter 8for the complete lowdown on arthritis medications.

If pain is interfering with your ability to lead a happy and productive life, you have to take the maximum amount of pain relievers just to get through the day, and you’ve tried all other pain-relieving methods with no luck, you may want to consider surgery. Although joint surgery is complex and not to be taken lightly, some people have enjoyed excellent results, to the point of feeling that they’ve gotten a new lease on life. Surgical techniques can involve flushing a joint with water, resurfacing rough bone ends or cartilage, removing inflamed membranes, growing new bone, or inserting a whole new joint. Turn to Chapter 9to find out more about surgical treatments.

Chances are excellent that you can do much to ease your arthritis-related pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion just by changing certain things you do every day.

The following list goes over some options you may want to consider:

Eat a healthful diet. By this, we mean a diet that includes plenty of fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, with a minimum of processed meats and salad oil (corn, safflower, or sunflower). This healthy, well-balanced diet also has anti-inflammatory effects, which is important as so many forms of arthritis are linked to inflammation. The Mediterranean diet fits the bill perfectly, and has the added bonus of warding off both heart disease and certain types of cancer.See Chapter 11to get the skinny on the elements of a healthful diet and how to make it a permanent and delicious part of your life.

Consider taking certain supplements. Many supplements can help ease the symptoms of different kinds of arthritis, including antioxidants (beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and selenium), boron, vitamin B6, niacin, vitamin D, zinc, grapeseed extract, flaxseed oil, green tea, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, SAMe, bromelain, and others.Supplements for arthritis are discussed at length in Chapter 11.

Exercise daily (whenever possible). Countless studies have shown that exercise can help lubricate and nourish the joints by forcing joint fluid into and out of the cartilage. Underexercised joints don’t get much of this in-and-out action, so cartilage can thin out and become dry. Brisk walking and swimming or walking in the shallow end of a pool may be some of the best exercises for those with arthritis, because they don’t put undue stress on the joints and are easy and fun to do.For a look at exercises that help ease arthritis symptoms, see Chapter 12.

Watch your joint alignment. Making sure to stand, sit, walk, run, and lift correctly can help protect your joints from injury or excess wear and tear.We discuss the best joint-saving techniques in detail in Chapter 13.

Control stress, aggression, and depression. The way you think and feel about your arthritis pain can actually make it worse. So can stress, anger, hostility, aggression, and depression. Luckily, you can reduce your pain just by reducing your stress levels and tapping into your natural potential for relaxation.In Chapter 14, you’ll learn all about positive thinking, biofeedback, controlling your breathing, laughter, prayer, and spirituality — all of which are effective ways of improving your mood, easing your pain, and making you feel better all over.

Organize your life for maximum efficiency. Studies have shown that people who actively manage their arthritis and find new ways to cope with physical problems feel less pain and fatigue.In Chapter 15, we give you helpful tips for managing arthritis on a day-to-day basis. Included are ideas for conserving your energy, getting a good night’s sleep, using assistive devices, making household chores easy, and holding on to your sex life. An occupational therapist and a home health caregiver can you offer valuable assistance with this.

Because there isn’t any one magic bullet that cures arthritis, a great many people look for help from alternative approaches — either as a substitute for traditional medicine or as that “extra something” that may be exactly what they need.

In Chapters 16through 19, we discuss the most popular alternative treatments for arthritis — from herbs to homeopathy, from acupuncture to reflexology, from aromatherapy to hydrotherapy. Included are sections describing the therapy, explaining what it can do for you, and tips on how to find a reputable practitioner.

Does the idea of having arthritis make you feel like you may as well just give up? Well, many people have felt like this, but gone on to live productive and happy lives. Take a look at what these people have achieved while coping with arthritis:

Lucille Ball was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 17, but she went on to live a long and healthy life, enjoying a top-notch career in movies and TV and even running her own TV production studio, Desilu.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the famous French artist associated with the Impressionist movement developed RA in his late fifties but continued to paint, creating nearly 6,000 pictures during his lifetime, many of them great masterpieces.

Paula Abdul, singer, dancer, choreographer and former American Idol judge has both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Yet she recently perfomed for sold-out crowds in Las Vegas and continues to pursue her super fast-paced career. She credits her ability to live a happy, active life to regular workouts based on low-impact strength exercises and Zumba classes.

Carrie Ann Inaba, long-time judge on the popular TV show Dancing With the Stars has rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s, lupus and fibromyalgia. A strong believer in sharing her journey with others, she has a website dedicated to products and other solutions that have helped her cope with this potpourri of joint diseases.

Kathleen Turner, actress, Academy Award-nominee and winner of two Golden Globe awards was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1992. Although the disease temporarily torpedoed her career, she is now back on screen and working harder than ever. She credits twice-weekly Pilates classes to helping her regain her health.

Terry Bradshaw, quarterback for four-times Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers teams, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after pursuing a 14-year pro football career. When his medication caused weight gain, he realized how much he needed and wanted to exercise. He now keeps himself healthy and active, thanks to exercise, a positive attiutde, and an enthusiastc approach to each new day.

Tatum O’Neal, actress, Academy Award winner, and daughter of Ryan O’Neal was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 50 and has since undergone back surgery to improve her condition. She continues to take film and TV roles and credits a healthy lifestyle and Pilates with helping her live an active life.

Grandma Moses had arthritis in her hands at age 76 when she began painting the folksy, whimsical scenes of American life that made her famous. Despite her condition, she created hundreds of paintings, many of which can be found in major museums all over the world.