Arthritis is a joint disorder affecting the musculoskeletal system of our body. An arthritic joint is inflamed, very painful, stiff, swollen, warm and tender. The joints are actually the union or meeting junction of two or more bone heads. The joints of our body bear the weight of our body even while we are sitting and support the entire body structure. Therefore joints are prone to much wear and tear. When arthritis invades a joint, not only the bone heads but also the adjoining tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected, making mobility painful and in some cases impossible.

Therefore arthritis may be the cause of disability for many. Arthritis may be of a hundred types, of which osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are most widespread. Osteoarthritis occurs due to friction between bone heads at the wearing out or loss of cartilage cushions that could have otherwise protected the bone heads from friction. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of a misdirected immune system attacking healthy joints and tissues. Gout results from metabolic malfunctioning and crystallization of uric acid in joint cavity and between bones. Some causes of arthritis may be listed as follows:

1. Lack of exercise
2. Wrong diet
3. Dehydration
4. Sedentary lifestyle
5. Obesity
6. Degeneration of cartilages
7. Natural aging of joints
8. Joint injury or bone fracture
9. Joint infection
10. Faulty joint alignment
11. Heredity
12. Lack of vitamins
13. Over-active immune system
14. Metabolic disorders.

Natural Arthritis Joint Pain Relief

1. Prickly ash tea effectively eases arthritis joint pain by improving blood circulation.

2. A cup of hot ginger tea daily alleviates arthritis joint pain and inflammation.

3. A cup of tea made from nettle leaves or root sufficiently heals arthritis joint pain.

4. Heating pad or warm, damp towel application relaxes muscles and does away with stiffness and pain.

5. Rubbing ice cubes wrapped on fabric on joints reduces pain and swelling.

6. Massaging aching joint with camphorated mustard oil or coconut oil gives much relief from pain. Olive oil, castor oil, hot vinegar or warm paraffin may also be used for massaging.

7. Application of peppermint oil on aching joints gives much relief.

8. Soaking in warm bath water in tub or adding Epsom salt to bath water also lessens arthritis joint pain.

9. Taking walk in sun without any sunscreen is perhaps the easiest way to treat arthritis joint pain naturally.

10. Practicing gentle stretching around stiff joints as many times as possible through out the day keeps arthritis pain at bay.

11. Intake of alkaline juices like carrot, celery and red beet dissolve that deposits in and around joints, relieving pain.

The condition arthritis can be defined as the inflammation of the joints. The major symptoms of arthritis are pain in joints and inflexibility, which usually become intense with age. These are the two most common types of arthritis osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is generally caused by normal old age and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Other types of arthritis can occur due to uric acid crystals, infections and underlying disease like psoriasis. The pain due to arthritis caused by joint damage. Joints consist of the following parts:

Cartilage

Cartilage is a hard, but smooth coating on the ends of bones, cartilage permits bones of the joint to move smoothly over each other.

Joint capsule

This is a membrane which encloses all the joint parts.

Synovium

This is a thin membrane which lines the joint capsule and produces synovial fluid, which makes the joint slippery and nourishes the cartilage.

The most usual signs and symptoms of arthritis include the joints. Rely upon the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms also include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Decreased range of motion

Treatment options:

Medications

The medications used in the treatment of arthritis alter, rely upon the type of arthritis. Normally used arthritis medications contain:

Analgesics

These types of medications help in reducing pain, but these medications do not have any effect on inflammation. Examples are acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), narcotics containing oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin, others) and tramadol (Ultram, Ryzolt).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treat both pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Few types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are accessible only by prescription. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause stomach problems like irritation, and few may enhance the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also accessible as creams and gels, which can massage on joints.

Counterirritants

Few types of creams and ointments which contain menthol or capsaicin, these ingredients make hot peppers spicy. Massaging these preparations on the skin over the aching joint may obstruct the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are often used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs decrease or stop the immune system from attacking the joints. Examples are hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and methotrexate (Trexall).

Biologics

These are commonly used in combination with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologic response modifiers are genetically made drugs that aim many protein molecules that are included in the immune response. Examples are infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel).

Corticosteroids

This type of drug, includes cortisone and prednisone, and decreases inflammation. Corticosteroids can be used orally or also used in the form of injections directly into the painful joint.

• Therapy

Physical therapy can be effective for some types of arthritis. Exercises can improve the motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints.

• Surgery

If other treatment options do not work so surgery is the only cure.

Joint replacement

In this procedure doctors remove the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. Joints of hips and knees are most commonly replaced.

Joint fusion

This procedure is common for smaller joints like joints in the wrist, joints in the ankle and fingers. It usually removes the ends of the two bones in the joint and then fix those ends together until they heal into one stiff unit.

• Home remedies

Home remedies include the following:

Weight loss

Losing weight will decrease the stress on the weight-bearing joints. This may enhance the mobility and prevent future joint injury.

Exercise

Exercising can help in keeping joints flexible. Swimming is usually a good choice because the buoyancy of the water decreases stress on weight-bearing joints.

Heat and cold

Heating pads or ice packs may help in reducing arthritis pain.

Assistive devices

Using walkers, raised toilet seats and other assistive devices can help in protecting the joints and enhance the ability to perform daily tasks.

Many people who suffer with arthritis use a natural arthritis treatment. Arthritis can be extremely uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. These days there are many herbal remedies that may ease the symptoms of arthritis.

Some of the natural treatments for this are;

Red pepper, this simple food source has many medicinal properties. It is thought to aid the circulatory system when applied externally, also it helps to ease the pains that you may be suffering with as a result of arthritis.

Cayenne pepper, this acts in a similar way to red pepper, you can apply this externally as I mentioned above or you can consume a cayenne pepper with foods. If you consume cayenne pepper it can acts as a stimulant aiding the heart, may strengthen arteries and act as a form of natural pain relief.

Ginger, you can find ginger present in many foods. Include the use of ginger for common ailments such as sickness. Ginger has many anti-inflammatory like properties. Research has conclude that ginger significantly reduces the pains of arthritis.

Garlic, aids the flow of the blood in the body, it has been proven to be very effective in reducing inflammation caused by arthritis.

All of these herbs can be added to your food as part of your daily eating routine. Eating foods with extra garlic, cayenne or red pepper and ginger can give you the required dose of the medicinal properties.

There are other natural arthritis treatments, if you are unsure of the natural treatments on offer your doctor of other health professional will be able to give you more advice.

Other natural treatments include,

Bromelain, this proteclytic enzyme may prevent the inflammation caused by arthritis. It can be found to be present in figs, pineapples and kiwifruit. Adding these to your daily diet may help reduce the symptoms of arthritis, although this will only occur if your regularly consume the bromelain rich foods.

Calcium, this promotes healthy bone structure, found in many milks, cheese, watercress, liquorice, chives and camomile. By adding a flavored tea to your day or simply adding these to your food you may reduce your symptoms after prolonged use.

Marijuana, in countries where this is available on prescription only. Although this does not take away the pain caused by arthritis it can help you to cope with the aches and pains. In most countries this is illegal however it is legal when it is prescribed in some parts of the United States and Amsterdam.

If you suffer with arthritis and you are having trouble coping with the aches and pains, seek advice from your doctor or other health professional they will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Natural arthritis treatment may possibly ease the aches and pains and in some cases may even reduce inflammation, however I do advise that you always speak with your doctor regarding any kind of treatment. There may be much more effective treatments available and these may be more beneficial to you.

Gout is a type of arthritis due to the accumulation of uric acid (UA) crystals in body tissues. This accumulation is due to either an abnormal increased production of uric acid or to inability to excrete uric acid through the kidneys quickly enough.

Over time, as uric acid levels slowly rise, these crystals can accumulate in a number of areas, particularly the joints and the kidneys.

An attack of gouty arthritis is usually the first sign of gout. These attacks may occur in almost any joint but are most common in the toes, the insteps, and the ankles.

The attacks are characterized by severe pain, swelling, redness, heat, and disability. The pain has been described as being so intense that even the weight of a bed sheet is unbearable.

The goal of treatment of a gout attack is to reduce the severity of the attack, relieve pain, and minimize the amount of incapacity a patient is dealing with.

There are three categories of medicines used to treat an acute attack of gouty arthritis. The first group is the non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). They are used by many rheumatologists with reasonably good effectiveness. However, their efficacy is limited by their potential toxicity including gastrointestinal, kidney, and cardiovascular.

These potential toxicities need to be taken into account since most patients with gout have other disease conditions such as chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, elevated blood lipids, and obesity.

Colchicine is another type of drug that is used to head off acute attacks during the first 24 hours. It used to be available as a cheap generic drug but is now only available as a n expensive brand name preparation called Colchrys. It is effective but must be used within the first 24 hours of onset of an attack to be effective. Colchrys also has toxicities associated with its use. It can lead to abdominal cramps and diarrhea which leads to dehydration and to worsening of gout.

Glucocorticoids- steroids- are the third category of drug used to treat acute attacks. Steroids can be given either orally starting with a dose of 30 mgs of prednisone or its equivalent as a single morning dose with a slow taper or as an injection into a joint if the attack is limited to a single joint. The advantage to injection is that it also allows for withdrawal of fluid from the joint which is helpful in confirming diagnosis.

Use of local anesthetic along with ultrasound needle guidance makes this procedure relatively painless.
The use of steroids must be tempered with the thought that many patients with gout also have diabetes and they should be counseled that their blood sugars may rise temporarily.

A new drug in development is canakinumab, a biologic drug that blocks interleukin 1. It is very effective for attacks but is also extremely expensive. IL-1 TRAP is another drug that blocks the effects of interleukin-1 and is also in the investigative phase of drug discovery.

One of the most common areas for the development of osteoarthritis (OA) is the base of the thumb.

This joint is called the carpo-metacarpophalangeal joint. It consists of a bone in the wrist called the trapezium that forms a shallow groove or saddle in which the base of the metacarpal bone (thumb bone) rests. Each of these bones is covered with a layer of hyaline cartilage.

This joint is particularly prone to developing OA because of its extreme mobility (one of the most mobile joints in the body) as well as the forces it must withstand during the course of a day’s activity.

It has been estimated that the force multiplier effect is about 12 times the actual force applied by the thumb. Over a long period of time this causes the cartilage to undergo wear and tear. This wear and tear is complicated by the presence of local inflammation which accelerates the destruction of cartilage.

Prior injuries to the joint or to the ligaments supporting the joint also can make it more prone to developing OA.

OA at this site is more common in women than men. (Callinan N. Arthritis Self-Management.2011; 12: 8-15)

The diagnosis is made clinically and supported by x-rays. There is poor correlation between symptoms and extent of disease.

While early management consisting of medication, hand therapy, joint protection and exercises can be of assistance, the course of the disease in this location is inexorably downhill.

Thermal modalities such as ice or heat may help. One method of delivering heat is a paraffin (hot wax) bath.

Hand stretching and strengthening exercises under the supervision of a hand therapist may offer temporary respite.

Splints can also offer a modicum of relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or oral analgesics can help in milder cases. However, their effectiveness is limited by their potential toxicities. Topical NSAIDS may be helpful and cause less overall toxicity.

Patients may require injections with either corticosteroids or viscosupplements. These injections should be done using ultrasound guidance and be followed by at least three days of splinting to rest the joint. No more than three corticosteroid injections should be administered per calendar year.

Arthroscopic debridement followed by viscosupplementation has been demonstrated to be of some benefit. (Wei N, et al. J Clin Rheum. 2002; 8: 125-129).

End stage disease will require surgery.

A hand surgeon will use a tendon from the forearm to act as a spacer inside the joint. Less commonly, the joint may require fusion.

There is a good chance that you know at least one person who has some kind of arthritis, which is one of the most common ailments today. According to the CDC there are 50 million people who have been diagnosed with a type of arthritis in the United States. With those odds there is also a pretty good chance that you may end up with one of the many kinds of arthritis.

The term arthritis covers many different variations of joint inflammation and rheumatic diseases that involve not only the joints but also the tissue around the joints. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis arthritis is where the joints are worn down leading to damage. Although certain types of activities such as dancing and sports lead to osteoarthritis it can also be inherited. Rheumatoid arthritis is more to do with inflammation and it usually affects women more than men. It is considered an autoimmune disease which causes problems for healthy cells.

What are the basic treatments for arthritis?

Basically there are many medications that can help ease the pain of arthritis. Since inflammation is one of the key problems involving arthritis, medications called NSAIDs have provided relief for many years. They are also used to kill pain and reduce fevers. Make sure to ask your doctor about any side effects that might occur due to taking these drugs.

Another type of medication that deals with the pain killing is analgesics with the most common one containing acetaminophen which is found in over the counter drugs like Tylenol and Excedrin. There are also other medications that require a doctor’s prescription such as codeine and oxycodone.

Steroids have been used over the years to also help relieve the pain of arthritis. Corticosteroids are made of a hormone called cortisol. At first use some 60 years ago this type of treatment was considered very promising unfortunately over time the side effects from steroid injections has scared some folks away from using it. Prednisone is one the most common types of steroids used.

Creams are also a way to help lessen the pain of arthritis. Most of them are sold over the counter and are usually only used for minor arthritic pain.

There is a growing popularity in using natural herbs, plants or supplements as a way to ease the inflammation of joints and tissue due to arthritis. Ginger, ginseng and rosemary are just a few of the herbs that have helped some folks with the pain of this disorder. Foods such as celery and cherries are reported to also have healing powers as well.

Another unconventional treatment that deals with how the arthritis sufferer controls pain is meditation. Various types of meditation can be used to relieve stress that in turn helps to the sufferer handle pain. Biofeedback techniques can also be used to help relax muscles.

As with all the treatments mentioned it is important to talk to your doctor about what types of arthritis treatment are right for you.

Platelet-rich plasma or PRP as it is often referred to, is becoming more popular as a potential treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.

So what is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma is an ultra- concentrate of whole blood. Normally blood consists of a large number of red blood cells, a smaller number of white blood cells, and an even smaller fraction of platelets.

For example, normal blood contains about 94% red blood cells and white blood cells. The remaining 6 % are platelets. When platelets are concentrated, the numbers are reversed with platelets constituting 94% of a specimen of platelet-rich plasma.

Each of these cell types has a different function.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin. They are responsible for oxygen transport from the lungs to the various tissues. White blood cells are integral participants in the normal immune response. They are responsible for fending off infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses.

Platelets have a dual function. They are responsible for the initiation of a clot as well as for providing assistance for future healing.

Platelets are relatively small but they contain alpha granules. These alpha granules are loaded with multiple growth and healing factors. Examples are platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and so on.

These growth factors, when released, rush to the site of injury where they form an initial clot that acts as both a barrier to infection (hemostatic barrier) as well as serving as a scaffold for other cells responsible for healing to cling to.

By releasing various protein messengers as well as the growth factors, platelets are able to attract white blood cells, red blood cells, and autologous mesenchymal stem cells. These are stem cells every normal person has in their bone marrow. The growth factors from platelets attach to surface receptors on the stem cells and cause the stem cells to multiply and divide.

So… to reiterate, this whole sequence of events is what leads to the formation of a hemostatic barrier (clot), inflammation, tissue regeneration, tissue remodeling, and eventual healing.

What is particularly attractive about what platelets are able to do is to significantly shorten the length of time for this healing cycle to take place.

Since articular cartilage and tendons lack sufficient blood supply to allow healing, the use of a vehicle such as PRP makes sense as a potential healing tool when these tissues undergo injury. This is particularly crucial when the problems relate to degeneration which is the usual problem in “:maturing” Baby Boomers.

Although a cure for rheumatoid arthritis has not yet been discovered, rheumatoid arthritis treatment plays an integral part in managing this medical condition. Characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, this autoimmune disease is a progressive illness that causes a variety of symptoms. These include severe aches and pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, stiffness, and a lack of energy.

Unfortunately the disease develops gradually, so it is not always possible to determine exactly when it began. Some people find that the disease is active constantly, while others show signs of symptoms intermittently. The specific symptoms, and the severity of pain and discomfort, depend entirely on the individual and can be worse if a person is inactive for a long period of time.

The main goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis is to manage the pain, maximize the functioning of joints, and reduce inflammation. The prevention of joint damage and deformity also forms part of treatment. Since the severity of the symptoms varies according to the case, treatment needs to be tailored to the needs of each patient. Generally factors, such as age, occupation, overall health, the types of joints that are inflamed, and whether the disease is active or not, are all taken into consideration when deciding on a course of treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment usually consists of a combination of medications and non-drug therapies. The types of drugs used include anti-inflammatory medications and drugs that promote remission, as well as slow down the progression of the disease.

Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as cortisone and aspirin are used for pain management and to reduce inflammation. Hydroxychloroquine, gold salts, sulfasalazine and methotrexate are commonly used to slow down the progression of joint destruction and promote remission. In cases where joint deformity is severe, surgery may be necessary.

Non-drug therapies include physical therapy and specific exercises to relieve pain and stiffness. Besides reducing inflammation, physical therapy can be used to address particular effects of the disease and preserve the structure of joints. A combination of relaxation techniques, finger splinting, ultrasound, and hot and cold therapies are used to achieve optimal results. A dietary plan is often recommended to ensure patients receive plenty of essential nutrients, especially during periods when there is a loss of appetite. To help with fatigue and restore energy, individuals are encouraged to rest.

In order for rheumatoid arthritis treatment to be successful, a patient needs to work closely with a medical health care provider. Anyone who continuously follows an effective treatment plan designed for their particular case will have a better chance of improvement.

Arthritis is a common issue when it comes to horses. This might sound surprising to some, but the fact that a horse has joints means it is susceptible to the illness. This is why a lot of enthusiasts have flocked online wanting to know the symptoms as well as the best horse arthritis treatment available.

Before you proceed into fixing the problem, however, it is imperative that you first make sure that there is a problem in the first place. One way you can tell if your horse is suffering from arthritis is observing its movement. Since arthritis is a disease that comes from the cartilage between joints wearing away, the most common part of the body it affects is the knee joints. This means you need to check if your horse is favouring its knees as well as watch out for signs of swelling or stiffness in the mentioned joints.

If you’ve established that your horse has arthritis, you then need to decide what course of treatment you want to take. One common horse arthritis treatment is exercise. This will help your horse improve its muscle strength as well as its cartilage and joints. Another treatment you can consider is medication. A combination of hyaluronic acid and a corticosteroid can help lessen the swelling of the horse’s joints as well as delay additional deterioration. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are also good options. When you decide to go with medication, there will be a need for your horse to take a rest for as short as a week to as long as a few months. The length of time needed for the animal’s rest, the diagnosis of its illness, as well as the appropriate treatment should be decided by an equine veterinarian.

As usual, however, the best cure is prevention, and if you’re wondering what the best preventive measures are when it comes to horse arthritis, the answer is pretty much the same as with a lot of other illnesses: good diet and exercise. Make sure your horse gets enough workout as this will ensure his bones and joints stay strong. Also invest on health supplements, especially ones that focus on strengthening the joints. You can find different options on different websites, but the best option is still consulting with your veterinarian as you don’t want to pick out a supplement online that will turn out to be harmful for your horse.

Arthritis in horses is a serious problem, but not one without a solution. Having your horse checked out and treated by an equine veterinarian is a step in the right direction. Make sure you help out as well by making sure your horse gets the exercise it needs as well as the right food and the supplements necessary. It might not seem like much but taking some preventive measures to help delay the disease can make a huge difference in the health of your beloved horse. It will also be more cost effective in the long run compared to supporting an expensive horse arthritis treatment.

Canine arthritis is most common in older dogs, though it is not limited to the older generations. For those who have pets, it can mean a long time on pain meds with a lot of additional expenses. Trips to the vet are not cheap, and neither are most of the medicines that they can prescribe. Some can be fairly priced, but most often they are rather expensive. With the economy the way it is now, people just don’t have the extra for additional expenses.

The do not want to watch their pet suffer through canine arthritis either, but many have begun looking for different alternatives to just pain medications. Recent years have seen different supplements and such come about for treating arthritis. Modern technology has allowed us ways of testing different things to see if they actually work, and with that we have found a few different things that will actually help joints.

There are a number of these products available now, and many of them are made with natural ingredients as well. That would be the major shift we are seeing with medicine. As modern medicines become more expensive and cause so many side effects; more people are looking for natural cures for themselves and their pets. A lot of them are have tremendous success with it.

If you cannot afford those high-priced medicines that your dog could be taking for a long time, try not to feel too badly about it. I am not saying that you should not get care for your pet, but there might be a more efficient, and cost-effective way of doing it.