Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine

Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine

 by
 Rusty Ford

For the past 10 years, studies have shown that early, aggressive treatment for RA can delay the onset of joint destruction. In addition to rest, strengthening exercises, and anti-inflammatory agents, the current standard of care is to initiate aggressive therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Anti-inflammatories use as Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine

Anti-inflammatory agents used to treat RA traditionally included aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), fenoprofen, indomethacin, naproxen (Naprosyn), and others.
These are widely used medicine that are effective in relieving pain and inflammation associated with RA. However, side effects associated with frequent use of many of these medicine include life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.
Similar drugs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are now a mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy because the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is significantly reduced with these drugs. Currently, there are two available -- rofecoxib (Vioxx) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
As mentioned, DMARDs alter the course of the disease. Included in this group are gold compounds, which can be injectible (Myochrysine and Solganal) or oral (auranofin/Ridaura). Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis with good proven effectiveness
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

 by Rusty Ford

RA can begin very gradually, or it can strike quickly. The first symptoms are pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The most commonly involved joints include hands, feet, wrists, elbows, and ankles, although other joints may also be involved. The joints are affected in a symmetrical fashion. This means that if the right wrist is involved, the left wrist is also involved. Patients frequently experience painful joint stiffness when they first get up in the morning, lasting for perhaps an hour. Over time, the joints become deformed. The joints may be difficult to straighten, and affected fingers and toes may be permanently bent (flexed). The hands and feet may curve outward in an abnormal way.
Many patients also notice increased fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and sometimes fever. Rheumatoid nodules are bumps that appear under the skin around the joints and on the top of the arms and legs. These nodules can also occur in the tissue covering the outside of the lungs and lining the chest cavity (pleura), and in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Lung involvement may cause shortness of breath and is seen more in men. Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) may interfere with blood circulation. This can result in irritated pits (ulcers) in the skin, tissue death (gangrene), and interference with nerve functioning that causes numbness and tingling.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

by Rusty Ford

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. However, RA involves an attack on the body by its own immune cells (auto-immune disease). Different cases may have different causes. Infectious, genetic, and hormonal factors may play a role.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes -  Onset

The disease can occur at any age, but it begins most often between the ages of 25 and 55. The disease is more common in older people. Women are affected 2.5 times more often than men. Approximately 1-2% of the total population is affected. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably.
The onset of the disease is usually gradual, with fatigue, morning stiffness (lasting more than one hour), diffuse muscular aches, loss of appetite, and weakness. Eventually, joint pain appears, with warmth, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of the joint after inactivity.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

For the past 10 years, studies have shown that early, aggressive treatment for RA can delay the onset of joint destruction. In addition to rest, strengthening exercises, and anti-inflammatory agents, the current standard of care is to initiate aggressive therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) once the diagnosis is confirmed.
Anti-inflammatory agents used to treat RA traditionally included aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), fenoprofen, indomethacin, naproxen (Naprosyn), and others.
These are widely used medications that are effective in relieving pain and inflammation associated with RA. However, side effects associated with frequent use of many of these medications include life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.
Similar drugs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are now a mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy because the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is significantly reduced with these drugs. Currently, there are two available -- rofecoxib (Vioxx) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
As mentioned, DMARDs alter the course of the disease. Included in this group are gold compounds, which can be injectible (Myochrysine and Solganal) or oral (auranofin/Ridaura). Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis with good proven effectiveness.
Antimalarial medications, such as Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), as well as Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), are also beneficial, usually in conjunction with Methotrexate.
The benefits from these medications may take weeks or months to be apparent. Because they are associated with toxic side effects, frequent monitoring of blood tests while on these medications is imperative.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

 Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your body's immune system attacks and destroys your body's own tissues. In the case of Rheumatoid arthritis the immune system is attacking the joints, organs and other parts of the body.  The joints become swollen, stiff, and painful. In later stages, the joints can become deformed. Other areas of your body can also be affected, including your lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. About 1 percent of the U.S. population suffers from RA. Typically, it strikes between the ages of 30 and 60, but it can occur at any age.

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Osteoarthritis of the Foot 

 by Rusty Ford

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. But when most people talk about arthritis, they are usually referring to the most common form, osteoarthritis ("osteo" means bone). Osteoarthritis develops as we age and is often called "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Over the years, the thin covering (cartilage) on the ends of bones becomes worn and frayed. This results in inflammation, swelling, and pain in the joint.

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Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Arthritis of the knee is most often osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease where cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. In rheumatoid arthritis, which can also affect the knees, the joint becomes inflamed and cartilage may be destroyed. Arthritis not only affects joints, it may also affect supporting structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

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Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Like other joints that carry your weight, your hips may be at risk for "wear and tear" arthritis (osteoarthritis), the most common form of the disease. The smooth and glistening covering (articular cartilage) on the ends of your bones that helps your hip joint glide may wear thin. Your first sign may be a bit of discomfort and stiffness in your groin, buttock or thigh when you wake up in the morning. The pain flares when you’re active and gets better when you rest.
If you don’t get treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip, the condition keeps getting worse until resting no longer relieves your pain. The hip joint gets stiff and inflamed. Bone spurs might build up at the edges of the joint. When the cartilage wears away completely, bones rub directly against each other. This makes it very painful for you to move. You may lose the ability to rotate, flex or extend your hip. If you become less active to avoid the pain the muscles controlling your joint get weak, and you may start to limp.

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Osteoarthritis Medications

Patients with mild OA may be treated only with pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or propoxyphene (Darvon). Most patients with OA, however, are given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These include compounds such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), ketoprofen (Orudis), and Ibuprofen (Ansaid). The NSAIDs have the advantage of relieving inflammation as well as pain. They also have potentially dangerous side effects, including stomach ulcers, sensitivity to sun exposure, kidney disturbances, and nervousness, depression or death.

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Osteoarthritis Prevention

Osteoarthritis results from deterioration or loss of the cartilage that acts as a protective cushion between bones, particularly in weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. While it is not totally preventable there are three things you can do to limit your chances and mostly limit the severity if you do develop it.

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Osteoarthritis Causes

For most people, the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, but metabolic, genetic, chemical, and mechanical factors play a role in its development. It is associated with the aging process and is the most common form of arthritis.
It may first appear without symptoms between 30 and 40 years of age and is present in almost everyone by the age of 70. Symptoms generally appear in middle age. Before the age of 55 it occurs equally in both sexes. However, after 55 the incidence is higher in women.

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Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Physical exam can show limited range of motion, grating of a joint with motion, joint swelling, and tenderness.
X-ray of affected joints will show loss of the joint space, and in advanced cases, wearing down of the ends of the bone and bone spurs.

Physical exam used in Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

The two most important diagnostic clues in the patient's history are the pattern of joint involvement and the presence or absence of fever, rash, or other symptoms outside the joints. As part of the physical examination, the doctor will touch and move the patient's joint to evaluate swelling, limitations on the range of motion, pain on movement, and crepitus (a cracking or grinding sound heard during joint movement).

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Osteoarthritis Treatments

The goals of treatment are to relieve pain, maintain or improve joint mobility, increase the strength of the joints, and minimize the disabling affects of the disease. The specific treatment depends upon the affected joint(s).
Treatment of Osteoarthritis patients is tailored to the needs of each individual. Patients vary widely in the location of the joints involved, the rate of progression, the severity of symptoms, the degree of disability, and responses to specific forms of treatment. Most treatment programs include several forms of therapy.

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Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is a disease that is caused by normal wear and tear on joints as well as trauma to a joint or joints. As time goes on constant use of a joint causes wear on the cartilage inside the joint. The purpose of the cartilage inside the joint is to provide shock absorption and to provide a smooth surface for the joint to move on. As the osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to brake down the surface inside the joints becomes rough which causes bone damage and inflammation.  Inflammation causes cartilage and bone are further damaged as the bones rub together.

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Camp Arctic: Where Kids with Juvenile Arthritis Can be Kids

By Caslon Hatch Channel 2 News

9:15 a.m. AKDT, June 26, 2013

ANCHORAGE, Alaska— 

 

Summer camp is a place where kids just want to be kids -- but when you’re a kid with juvenile arthritis, summer camp activities also mean struggling through joint pain.
Camp Arctic is not your average summer camp, it’s a place where families can come together, specifically families with children who suffer from juvenile arthritis.
Camp Arctic encourages kids to reach their full potential no matter their challenges and to live beyond the boundaries of arthritis.
Rebecca Williams’s daughter, 13-year-old DaiJenae Townes, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis just a few months ago.
“Through four years of blood doctors and rheumatologist and OPA doctors we were diagnosed March 22^nd with juvenile arthritis,” Williams said.

Read the rest of the story here


More about Juvenile Arthritis

Your Health: Bunions, arthritis can plague the big toe causing pain and change in gait

 Your Health: Bunions, arthritis can plague the big toe causing pain and change in gait

The big toe – most formally called the hallux – plays a large role in our daily activities. Without it, or with a poorly functioning big toe, our gait becomes less efficient, we might have pain and we have limited function. There are two very common problems that affect the big toe, and thus affect many lives.

For more information about bunions

 http://arthritis-symptom.com/a-c/bunion.htm

New study shows sugar injections can help with arthritis pain.

UW researchers find another way to ease arthritis knee pain – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

   In a study published in the May/June edition of the Annals of Family Medicine, UW-Madison researchers tested the efficacy of a practice known as prolotherapy with a form of sugar known as dextrose for knee osteoarthritis. Prolotherapy involves the injection of a nonpharmacological solution into tender spots on the body to relieve pain at those injection sites. It is generally used for a variety of skeletal conditions, including arthritis, as well as overuse tendon disorders and back pain.

Read the entire article here

Lack of vigorous activity linked to decline in those with arthritis – Toronto NewsFIX

Lack of vigorous activity linked to decline in those with arthritis – Toronto NewsFIX

A study shows that lack of vigorous physical activity is linked to disability in those with arthritis.

They followed a group of nearly 6,000 men and women with arthritis and found that over two years, 14 per cent of them became increasingly disabled. This decline was linked to many different factors including added ailments, such as diabetes or stroke and, above all, lack of regular vigorous physical activity.

More information at

Lack of vigorous activity linked to decline in those with arthritis

We have updated several sections of our Rheumatoid arthritis section of our site.

Symptoms	Treatment	Diagnosis	Medication
Resources	Causes	Picture	Drug-Induced

Study finds rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from massage therapy – Teatro Naturale

 Additionally, the study found that rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced perceived greater grip strength and greater range of motion in their wrists and large upper joints, including elbows and shoulders, after receiving moderate pressure massage ...
New research suggests massage therapy as powerful tool for pain reliefChiropractic Economics
Massage Envy for the Weekend WarriorPR.com (press release)

Ibuprofen  may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke when taken in regular prescription size dosages.

 A new study by the University of Oxford of 320 thousand men taking prescription dosage of Ibuprofen taken daily were 40 percent more likely to have a heart. The study found that the cardiac side effect were similar to that of Vioxx which was taken off the market for increased risk of heart attack.

For those taking Ibuprofen as well as other NSAIDs were also found to double the risk of heart failure and complications such as bleeding ulcers when taken in high quantities.

The research shows that, when used in high doses,  ibuprofen increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, on average causing about three extra heart attacks a year in every 1,000 patients treated.

For the patient this is a risk verses benefit choice. The severe pain of diseases such a rheumatoid arthritis may be well worth the risks involved. The risks of bleeding ulcers which can lead to death if not treated should not be a problem if the patient is educated and monitored by their physician.

People taking NSAIDs occasionally for pain have never been found to be at higher risk for arthritis. 

Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

 by Rusty Ford

People with rheumatoid arthritis can develop gout. There is a long standing myth that people with rheumatoid arthritis can not develop gout. This has long been known not to be true by most in the medical community. A new study of 813 rheumatoid arthritis patients over a 27 year period of time shows that they can indeed develop gout but at a lower rate than the rest of the population. One of the difficulties with RA patients is many times gout flare ups are seen as RA flare ups. Rusty Ford Editor http://arthritis-symptom.com/

New Study about Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis

 by Rusty Ford

A new study shows that rheumatoid arthritis and depression may be deadly. Study notes 530 participants average age 60 average years diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 19 years Depression is common in people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis as with any chronic condition. The study lasted 7 years. During that time time 69 people died and twice as many people who died were suffering depression. The study also found that men with depression were 5 times more likely to die than women. The sad thing is that depression is a treatable condition. Depression only makes a any chronic condition worse. If you suffer from any form of arthritis or other chronic disease talk to your doctor about depression. Not only may you save you live but you will surely make it a happier one. Rusty Editor http://arthritis-symptom.com/

 About me
 by Rusty Ford

I have been known for the hundreds of articles I have written over the years about arthritis and other health related topics. I have moved from that path and published my first book. It is about community outreach. It is geared toward how churches can reach their communities but most of the ideas in the book can apply to many non profits. The book tittle is Dynamic community outreach. You can read more about the book at Dynamic Community Outreach http://community-outreach.com/