| What
is a joint? |
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If you take the structure of a joint, the
ends of the bones do not articulate directly with each other but are covered
by cartilage which is an extremely smooth, gristly substance which allows
very low-friction movement. Normally, there is only a very small quantity
of fluid called synovial fluid present in the joint. When the joint has
been traumatised or diseased, then an excessive quantity of fluid may
accumulate and cause swelling and this is referred to as effusion.
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If this is large, it may cause pain and weakness and wasting of the nearby
muscles, but usually pain results from inflammation of the soft tissue
lining of the joint, just inside the capsule called the synovium. In osteoarthritis,
it is the joint cartilage which bears the brunt of the disease whereas
in a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, the synovium is inflamed and
this causes damage to the cartilage as a secondary event. In Gout and
other allied diseases the synovial fluid concentration gets altered by
the toxins and salts.
The characteristic symptom of arthritis is pain and swelling of one or
more joints, which can often be warmer than other joints. Stiffness of
the joints on getting up in the morning, or after sitting still for a
while is very common and sometimes the first symptom.
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| What
is Osteoarthritis? |
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Osteoarthritis is generally thought of
as a condition affecting old people and while it is true that all elderly
individuals do have osteoarthritis somewhere, it may also occur in relatively
young persons under certain circumstances. Osteoarthritis is often described
as a 'wear and tear' phenomenon affecting the joints so that they are
envisaged as simply wearing out.
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Heredity
is also known to be an important cause. Women tend to get more after menopause
where the estrogen falls down to impair calcium metabolism. Clinical reports
are more after the surgery of total Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy.
Obesity
is the commonest cause, which makes the weight bearing joints --
Hips, Knees and Ankles -- to degenerate quickly. There may be hard,
bony swelling of the joints and a gritty feeling even with noise when
the joint is moved. Practitioners describe this as Crepitus. X-ray often
brings the report of early osteophytes, degenerative changes and reduced
joint space. |
| What
is Rheumatoid arthritis? |
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Rheumatoid arthritis is another commonest form
of inflammatory arthritis. It is often thought of as a crippling disease
and generally responsible for much of the disability. Rheumatoid
arthritis is actually a family of related disease, not a single entity.
The inherited “Immune Complexes” makes the persistent inflammation of
the joint causing pain, swelling and stiffness of the joint. Any
joint can be affected, it is usually in the small peripheral joints, such
as those in the fingers or wrist, that is first noticed. Often joints
are affected symmetrically.
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Blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor
is always positive. X-ray is seen with the development of pits or erosions
in the joints. Blood study of serum creative reactive protein (CRP) and
ASO titer is also essential to rule out the Rheumatic fever which is prevalent
among younger generation.
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| What
is Gout? |
Gout is a metabolic disorder called as “Purine
Metabolism” in which the sufferers have high uric acid blood levels. Alcoholism
predisposes the attack. The sudden onset of pain on the small joints,
mostly start from great toe jumps one to another. The joints swell
with redness. The symptoms caused by uric acid crystals in the joint.
These are irritating the joint and cause an inflammatory reaction. The
high uric acid level often predisposes for a “Kidney
stone.” There are some patients who develop symptoms even with
borderline uric acid levels.
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Clinically well diagnosed by the presentation of symptoms,
high uric acid level and by the demonstration of uric acid crystals following
an aspiration from the affected joint. The attacks are prevented by lowering
the levels of uric acid in the blood with special diets.
Psoriatic arthritis is suspected if the patient has psoriasis,
but sometimes the arthritis can proceed with the rash. We should differentiate
“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” by its skin rash, mouth ulcers and Alopecia.
It can mimic many other forms of arthritis. The reactive arthritis starts
after an infection such as gastroenteritis, tuberculosis and a sexually
transmitted disease. It usually involves only one or two large joints
such as knees or ankles and may also involve the lower back.
Rheumatic Arthritis affects children that causes fever accompanied
by polyarthritis. Rheumatic fever licks the joints and kicks the heart. Cardiac
ailments are common as a later complication in few patients.
I have pain all over my body. I feel as if I am beaten! Many
people experience pain, which is often diffuse and widespread and associated
with tenderness, which occurs typically at certain sites. Sleep disturbance
is a characteristic symptom and indeed may contribute to pain. It has
been shown that artificial sleep deprivation may cause fibromalgic symptoms.
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| What
about diet? |
My first recommendation is diet. Diet is aimed at Obesity, Allergic
foods and Purine foods depending upon their cause. It is important for
those who are over weight as this may have a detrimental effect on weight-bearing
joints. The diet that supports the health of the joints and dramatically
reduces the destructive activity of inflammatory arthritis offers no
animal products and almost none of fats and oils of any kind.
Animal proteins, especially those from dairy sources, enter the
blood stream and combine there with specific antibodies produced against
them to form these "immune complexes". In most people these complexes
would be "eaten up" by scavenger cells found in the liver, the spleen
and along the lining of blood vessels and would quickly be removed from
the blood stream. However, unfortunate victims of arthritis these complexes
persist and are not removed by scavenger cells. Eventually they are
filtered out of the blood stream by the capillaries traversing the tissues
of the joints. There embedded in the tiny blood vessels of the joint
tissues, these complexes act much like slivers of wood stuck under the
skin, causing severe inflammation of the joints.
There is some evidence that certain foodstuffs may have a detrimental
effect on the symptoms experienced but the picture is not clear-cut.
For some patients eliminating certain highly allergic plant foods such
as wheat, corn and citrus fruits is important. Benefits usually are
seen within a few days. If such benefits are not clearly evident within
three weeks, then I start my patients on elimination diet as in allergic
diseases such as asthma and eczema.
The sufferers of Gout should eliminate Purine-containing foods
which include organ meats such as liver, kidney and dried legumes.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and take plenty of water.
Click here to find diet for Arthritis
Diet for obesity
Allergic foods
Purine
food
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| What
about exercise? |
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"If I have arthritis can I exercise or
will it be harmful?"
A very common doubt.
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The simple answer to this is "No, it won't be harmful." It depends to
some extent on the nature of the condition, the joints affected and the
type of exercise you are contemplating. Inflamed joints as in rheumatoid
arthritis will tend to become more inflamed if they are strained, so rest
is beneficial, at least in the setting of a flare. For instance, lack
of exercise is not good for the skeleton generally in that osteoporosis
is more likely to be a problem in the long term and this is a condition,
which is more likely anyway in arthritis sufferers. Therefore, although
rest is helpful in the short term if joints are inflamed, exercise is
beneficial to preserve general fitness, the range of joint movement and
also in preserving muscle tone. Healthy strong muscles are essential to
protect joints from damage. Certain types of exercises are preferable
to others. For instance, if weight-bearing joints are affected, non-weight-bearing
exercise is probably better. One can go for swimming and cycling!
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| What
is the treatment? |
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Arthritis of any form is quiet amenable to Homoeopathy treatment.
I have treated Rheumatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout and Oesteo
Arthritis with remarkable success. It is not an exaggeration! many have
become alright within a period of three months.
Homoeopathic medicines are wonderful in treating all types
of arthritis. Homoeopathy cures the incurable pains also. A well
selected constitutional remedy will correct your metabolic activity. It
has general action on degeneration, immune complexes and purine
metabolism. Moreover you will lose your extra weight to some extent. There
are no pain-killers as they give you an instant effect on your complaints.
We focus on curative action rather than palliative.
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