Natural Remedies For Wrist Arthritis Inflammation

Want natural remedies for wrist arthritis inflammation? Fish oil supplementation can help support the body's health and its efforts to provide natural relief from pain.

If you are among the millions of people who would like natural relief from the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis in the wrist or in other parts of the body, there are a few things you probably know by now. One of which is that natural remedies for wrist arthritis and inflammation really do exist.

For many decades now, the only relief we have known for joint inflammation and pain is through anti-inflammatory drugs. However, taking powerful pills on a regular basis can potentially bring about many health problems. These can range from simple gastrointestinal disorders to serious heart conditions. In fact, taking NSAIDs and being dependent on these drugs for pain relief can potentially bring your overall health more harm than good in the long run.

If you want natural remedies your wrist arthritis inflammation, why not try the following:

Rest your wrist.

Rest is most important during active inflammation of the wrist. Make sure to rest your wrist and avoid physical tasks requiring you to use your hands.

Add more fiber to your diet.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seeds and other foods rich in fiber have anti-inflammatory properties. They also stimulate the blood to flow to relieve inflammation. A diet rich in fiber is considered part of an "anti-inflammatory" diet.

Add in some spices.

Spices such as ginger, turmeric and black pepper have been found from Ayurvedice medicine to have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Add some spices into your regular meals and see how it relieves the pain and lessens the inflammation.

Take fish oil supplements.

Of all the natural remedies for wrist arthritis and inflammation, this is probably most well studied. Your doctor may tell you that if you want long term relief from wrist arthritis and inflammation, make sure to have enough omega 3 fish oil in your daily diet.

It has been proven from various research studies that omega 3 fish oils contain important fatty acids that can help stimulate the body's natural production of chemical hormones that may help to inhibit inflammation.

Specifically, DHA and EPA in omega 3 fish oils once ingested in the body are believed to then be converted to a chemical called Resolvin D2. This chemical may have a helpful effect on the inner linings of the blood vessels, which in turn can assist the body in preventing inflammation.

Where to get fish oil

Fish oil is found abundant in fish such as salmon, tuna, hoki and similar types.

But for health benefits to be enjoyed, ample amounts of fish should be consumed - which brings out the problem of fish contamination.

For long term, natural relief from wrist arthritis problems, it is much safer to take top quality nutritional supplements. Look for fish oil supplements from reputable health companies that are pure, safe and potent to bring out the most anti-inflammatory benefits possible.

The anti-inflammatory properties that fish oil supplements provide will not only provide natural remedies for wrist arthritis inflammation but would also nourish your body's veins, heart and brain for maximum healthy living. Ask your doctor about the benefits of taking this amazing health food supplement.

These statements are not medical advice and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

The 2 Most Common Types of Arthritis That You Might Be Suffering From

There are millions, perhaps billions, of people throughout the world who are sufferers of a condition that is generally called arthritis, which affects the person's joints to greater or lesser degrees. However badly one is affected by arthritis, each and every sufferer may tell you at one time or another that it is a debilitating and seriously painful condition which hampers their normal day to day activities and disrupts their lifestyles.

Arthritis is generally categorised into one of two variations of the disease - either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis - although there are many subdivisions of this condition which this article will not address. In general, it can be said that all arthritis sufferers experience, in some or all of their joints, the following symptoms: pain ranging from mild to severe, mild to total stiffness, swelling around the affected joints and the inflammation surrounding the affected joints which is always warm to the touch.

The differences between the 2 most common types of arthritis are as follows.

1. Osteoarthritis is the more common of the two forms of this disease which is deemed to be chronic and degenerative. This means that the pain experienced by the sufferer in on-going and that there is no cure. And it also means that over time, the physical condition of the patient will deteriorate. Osteoarthritis, which is also known as Degenerative Joint Disease, afflicts one in three Americans. In general, it attacks adults from the age of forty years onward, but is most commonly physically noticeable only later in life. The most prominent signs of the disease are commonly seen on the fingers of elderly people, which tend to be misshapen and/or knobbly.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis is distinct from osteoarthritis in that this form of the disease not only causes the same symptoms as those of osteoarthritis, but it is also an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation and damage to one's internal organs and blood vessels; thus it is clearly the more serious of the two versions of the disease. Statistics show that Rheumatoid arthritis affects more females than males. There are no age barriers as to when it may start affecting patients of either sex, but it has been proven that the earlier the disease takes hold, the faster it develops. It is also a known fact that Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers do not have sore and swollen joints at the onset of the disease; and that they present with such diverse and varied symptoms as fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite; which then progress to morning stiffness (for more than an hour after waking) and generalized muscle pain. The disease then generally progresses to a stage where it causes damage to, or destruction of, the joints of the wrists, hands and fingers; knees, ankles, feet and toes.

There are many and varied forms of treatment for both forms of arthritis, all of which need to be discussed between doctor and patient. They include over the counter pharmaceutical preparations and prescriptions drugs, natural medicines and approaches, specifically acupuncture and various forms of physical therapy.

Arthritis - Symptoms and Treatment

What is arthritis?

The word arthritis originated from the Greek word arthro which means "joint" and itis which means "inflammation". Arthritis thus literally means inflammation of the joint. A joint is an area of our body where two or more bones meet. Joints connect the various bones within our skeleton. The ends of our joints are covered with cartilage, a soft and pliable material which acts as a cushion between the bones of the joints. When the cartilage breaks or wear and tear because of age, disease, injury and excessive activity, one may suffer arthritis.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis symptoms vary from person to person but generally, they include: joint pain, deformity, swelling, redness and warmth, limited function of the joint, muscle and joint stiffness, loss of appetite, fatigue or exhaustion, fever, unexplained weight loss and crepitus (also known as creaky joints, popping joints, snapping joints).

Persons afflicted with arthritis would experience pain usually in the joints of the hands, knees, hips and spine. They would have difficulty in writing, holding an object, getting up from a chair, walking, bending, or kneeling because of joint pain. The areas around their affected joints would become red, hot and swollen. Sometimes, their fingers and toes would look like sausages. Their joints also become stiff for hours. When they stand or get out of bed, a crackling noise would be heard. The creaking may occur with or without pain. Person with arthritis would experience weakness, fatigue and exhaustion because of their limited physical mobility. They would also lose appetite. When their condition worsens, they would contract fever.

What is the treatment for arthritis?

Arthritis treatment would depend largely upon the type of arthritis a person has. It is thus necessary to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and correct treatment.

Treatment for arthritis includes hot pack and cold pack application, lifestyle change, medication, physical and occupational therapy, dietary supplements, splinting, injections and surgical operations.

Cold pack is applied to an inflamed joint while hot compress is to used address joint pain and stiffness. Lifestyle change which includes weight loss and exercise is suggested to reduce stress on the joints and to improve joint function. Physical therapy is recommended as it has been shown to delay surgical operation in advance cases. Exercise helps improve muscle strength, endurance and flexibility. Occupational therapy teaches ways and techniques on how to minimize stress on the joint from everyday activities.

Medications used to treat arthritis include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Ibuprofen, Aleva) and pain relievers (Celebrex, Tramadol). Medications usually start with drugs that have few side effects and shift to stronger ones as the disease advances. Dietary supplements like Glucosamine and Chondroitin are also used to treat arthritis. Such supplements ease pain of arthritis. Injection of hyaluronates (gel-like substance) into the knee joint to supplement the viscous properties of synovial fluid is prescribed in knee arthritis. Joint surgery is resorted to when the damage is severe and when all the other treatments failed.

What Is the Best Arthritis Pain Reliever?

In most cases, someone using an arthritis pain reliever in the form of recognized drugs only gets short-term pain relief. Nevertheless, experts have developed certain dietary supplements using the advances treatment of the illness, to provide long-lasting pain relief. Medical experts normally give anti-inflammatory drugs to patients suffering from joint inflammation especially in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs have been categorized into two groups as either the steroid kind or non-steroidal kind of anti-inflammatory drug. There are significant differences between the two categories. Understanding these drugs better can lead to effective treatment or management of arthritis.

Anti-inflammatory drugs that are non-steroidal in nature much more generally known as NSAIDs are probably the most widespread type of medication for treating arthritis. One can get these drugs through a doctor's prescription but they are also available over the counter. Common examples of these anti-inflammatory drugs are ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin, which act fast as effective pain relievers. Over thirty drugs that fall under the class of NSAID are in use. Every drug has a different chemical structure that works as an arthritis pain reliever, and react differently to different people. It is best for a patient to visit a doctor to get an appropriate pain reliever for his or her particular situation.

Nevertheless, medical professionals have discovered that long term use of anti-inflammatory medicine that is non-steroidal in nature causes various side effects. One of these effects is stomach irritation that could further cause allergic reactions, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, gas formation and even miscarriage in pregnant women. Aspirin, which is the most cost effective NSAID that people commonly use to relief arthritic pain has been known to cause many side effects, such that most medical experts now want its use to be reviewed. In the meantime, majority of people are still using this drug.

The most potent anti-inflammatory drugs are Corticosteroids. These cortisone-based drugs are life savers when it comes to asthma attacks. Even so, the only offer short-term relief when used as arthritis pain medication, and they have to be given in high doses. Mostly, medical experts prescribe these drugs to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups in the swollen and red-hot joint. Since there are various side effects of using these drugs, patients resort to them only as the last option. In addition, because the drugs have to be given in high dosage to be effective, using them for long-term treatment might trigger tolerance or dependence. Some of the negative effects of the drugs are glaucoma, osteoporosis, weight acquire, high blood pressure, cataracts, stomach irritation or bleeding and frequent infections.

Arthritis Treatment: Another Cause of Knee Pain - Medial Plica Syndrome

Knee pain is one of the most common problems patients come in with to a rheumatologists office. There are multiple causes of knee pain ranging from arthritis to bursitis to tendonitis and so on.

One type of knee pain that is rarely mentioned is the pain from an inflamed medial plica. This is considered an arthritis condition.

In order to understand this type of knee pain, it's important to have an understanding of basic knee anatomy.

The knee is a joint consisting of four bones, the femur (upper leg bone), tibia (the larger of two lower leg bones), the fibula (the smaller of the two lower leg bones), and the patella (the knee cap).

All the articulating (interacting) surfaces of the knee bones are covered with a thin layer of hyaline cartilage, a tough type of gristle, that helps with cushioning and shock absorption.

This entire system is enclosed inside a joint capsule. The capsule is lined with synovium, a type of tissue that provides nourishment and lubrication for the joint.

On occasion, the synovium can form a fold of tissue. This fold can occur above the knee cap, below the knee cap, and between the knee cap and femur, along the inside part of the knee.

When the fold occurs along the inside part of the knee between the patella and the femur, it can cause problems. This is called medial plica syndrome.

Pain in the region of the patella is the most common symptom. A person may also note snapping, clicking, locking, and even a sense of instability. This latter symptom is relatively rare.

Inflammation of the knee capsule, as may occur with arthritis, or trauma can aggravate the pain. In addition, bending and straightening the knee (eg. Stair climbing) can also aggravate the pain of a medial plica.

The diagnosis can be suspected clinically by the history. On examination, the patient may complain of pain located over the medial (inside) part of the joint. A sensation of snapping may be felt when the knee is flexed and straightened.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning.

Usually, a patient will undergo arthroscopy (insertion of a telescope inside the knee joint). At the time of arthroscopy, the medial plica will appear to be thickened and inflamed. The treatment is also rendered arthroscopically.

By introducing a motorized trimmer, the arthroscopist can carefully trim the inflamed plica so it no longer becomes trapped. This procedure is usually curative. We have seen a number of symptomatic medial plica cases that were essentially cured by this arthroscopic approach.

Gouty Arthritis Treatment - 8 Steps For Acute Gout Management

Better gouty arthritis treatment is a major concern for gout sufferers throughout the world. British rheumatologists have completed some guidelines for the management of gout.

The aim of those guidelines is to:

develop concise, patient-focussed, evidence-based recommendations for the management of gout for doctors and allied heath professionals in primary care and hospital practice in the UK, which will also provide a useful resource for patients.

As gout patients around the world know, the quality of gout management is often poor in all countries, so these guidelines are a welcome standard that you can measure your care by.

The most important guidelines relate to the management of acute gout. This is the stage of gout where you experience painful swelling in one or more joints. It is usually the point where you are first aware that something is wrong, and the point where most gout patients first seek medical attention.

Other guidelines relate to lifestyle changes after this acute stage, and management of later stages of gout. All these guidelines are supposed to be evidence based, but the report notes the lack of strong evidence in many areas of gout management. As they say, and we know to our cost:

Gout is a common disease both in primary care and hospital practice... many of the recommendations for treatment are based on expert consensus rather than research evidence and audits of practice suggest that treatment is very variable.

Most guidelines are graded according to the quality of evidence supporting them. The grades are:

1. At least one randomized controlled trial


2. At least one non-experimental descriptive study (eg comparative,
   correlation or case study), quasi-experimental study, or non-randomized controlled study


3. Expert committee reports, opinions and/or experience of respected authorities

The acute gout management guidelines are:

1. 
   Rest the affected joints (C) and take analgesic, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs for 1-2 weeks (A).
   
   


2. Maximum doses of fast-acting oral NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) are the best if you can tolerate them(A).
   
   


3. If you have an increased risk of peptic ulcers, bleeds or perforations, your doctor should also prescribe gastro-protective agents, following standard guidelines for the use of NSAIDs and Coxibs(A).
   
   


4. 
   Colchicine can be an effective alternative but is slower to work than NSAIDs (A). In order to diminish the risks of adverse effects (especially diarrhea) it should be used in doses of 500 µg, twice to four times per day (C).
   
   


5. Do not start taking allopurinol during an acute attack(B), but if you are already taking allopurinol, it should be continued and the acute attack should be treated conventionally(A).
   
   


6. 
   You can take opiate analgesics as well as anti-inflammatories(C).
   
   


7. Corticosteroids injections are highly effective in acute gout in one joint(B) and corticosteroids injections and tablets can be effective if you cannot tolerate NSAIDs, or nothing else seems to work (A).
   
   


8. 
   If you take diuretic drugs for hypertension, discuss alternative blood pressure lowering therapies with your doctor, but if you have suffered heart failure, diuretic therapy should not be discontinued (C).
   
   

If you are having, or have recently had, an acute gout attack, it is crucial that you review the bold guidelines (A) and make sure that you have received appropriate gouty arthritis treatment. If not, make an appointment with a specialist on the worldwide listing of rheumatologists.

The two (B) graded guidelines (5 and 7) are also important, and if they are relevant to you, discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible.

The italicized guidelines (C) are still very important, but they might not affect you, or your doctor might hold a different opinion. If you have any doubts about these issues, you must still discuss them fully with your doctor, or seek a consultation with a rheumatologist.

Are Those Aches and Pains a Sign of Arthritis

At some point in time, you will suffer from nagging aches and pains - we all do. Whether you suffered an injury, slept the wrong way, or just woke up one morning feeling a little stiff - everyone has experienced pains at some time or another, but when are daily pains a cause for concern? When is it time to call your physician? Are those aches and pains a sign of arthritis or should you ignore them hoping it will go away?

Arthritis can produce many different symptoms, as there are several types. If you are suffering from nagging aches and pains, take a look at a few examples of various types of arthritis and the common signs that accompany them. Your minor aches may be the beginning stages of arthritis.

Bursitis

This form of arthritis normally affects the elbow, hip, and shoulder area, but it can also affect the knee, heel, and even the big toe. Athletes, such as golfers, baseball players, and tennis players are generally affected by bursitis, but those who have poor posture or attempt to exercise after long periods of inactivity are also susceptible. A common sign of bursitis is pain in the joints. The affected area may also become swollen and/or warm to the touch.

Osteoarthritis

This form of arthritis is most common among older individuals and it can be brought on by long term normal use leading to cartilage damage to the joints. In the beginning stages osteoarthritis may not be noticeable, but the affects of cartilage loss can clearly be seen on x-rays. Osteoarthritis involves the joint, muscles, bone, and ligaments. It can affect the fingers, hips, knees, and spine. Symptoms of arthritis can include aching pain and stiffness even at rest. The pain can get worse with overuse.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Inflammation of multiple joints; this form of arthritis affects the joints and soft tissue around the spine. It can involve other parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and even the eyes. Common symptoms are hip and low back pain and stiffness, pain in the affected area (neck, shoulders, knees, and ankles). There may also be difficulty expanding the chest as well as a low grade fever, weight loss, and fatigue.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This form of arthritis is caused by an overactive immune system. The symptoms commonly start out as minor pain and stiff that comes and goes, but as the arthritis gets worse, the pain becomes more frequent.

Gout

When your body has excessive uric acid, you may develop gout or gouty arthritis. The symptoms of gout are intense pain in the joints as well as the affected area being swollen, red, and warm to the tough. Gout can occur in the ankles, knees, and writs. The symptoms may come and go with inactive periods that last for years. If left untreated, the crystals formed from the uric acid can cause bone deterioration.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is suggested that you seek medical attention. What seems like a minor annoyance, could be the beginning stages of a more serious medical condition and it's better to be safe than sorry.