Newly diagnosed? resources for living with arthiritis

If you are newly diagnosed with arthiritis or been suffering from arthiritis for a while, I will discuss here some natural remedies for arthritis and some other resources which could help you with the joint pains. But first I will discuss the causes of arthiritis.

Arthiritis is a condition that is causes pain and inflammation to the cartilage in the joints of the body. It can be split into two types – rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis – it is where the immune system attacks the body joints. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the lining, the synovial membrane of the joints causing swelling and resulting in aching and throbbing joints, and eventually leading to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis effects three times more woman than men and occurs generally between the ages of 40 and 60.

Osteoarthritis – is known as the wear and tear arthritis and again this effects woman more than men. Osteoarthritis is where the normally smooth cartilage at the joints becomes rough and brittle. There are various factors that can cause osteoarthritis, such as age, weight affecting the knee joints, and injury which can cause problems later on in life.

Natural remedies for arthritis

There are a few natural remedies that you can try like JointEase Plus, this is a natural remedy that is contains herbal and dietary supplements that are chosen particularly for joint and cartilage health. One is Glucosamine which is a natural pain relief for arthiritis and also has the ability to repair cartilage and help with mobility of the joint. Another is Boswellia, particularly known for its natural anti-inflammatory qualities.

Another one is Artrosilium which is a gel that you rub into the effected area. My mother-in-law has used this and found it to be very effective for her knee arthritis. It is a silica gel containing meadow sweet, known for its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and blackcurrant. It is best used for up to three weeks and then stopped for one week and then repeat. Also I have been told that storing it in the fridge and use it cold has been found to be effective.

Other resources

For more information and advice for arthiritis
http://www.arthritis.org/

http://arthritis.about.com/mpboards.htm

http://www.arthritisforum.org.uk/ - a forum for you to ask questions on and find support from other sufferers.

Exercise for natural pain relief

Gentle exercise such as swimming, water aerobic, and Tai Chi can help with pain relief because it helps bring blood to the joints, build stronger muscle and ligaments, so helping to prevent injury. Stretching and moving the joints through their movement range will help the joint not stiffen up and remain flexible. Applying heat and cold to the painful area will provide temporary pain relief.

It is vital that you listen to you body and never do movements that cause pain and also to check with your physician before starting any exercise plan. Stress can also be caused to ankles, knees and hips if you are overweight so maybe following a weight loss plan could be something to look at.

Keep your body moving, walk around every so often and avoid staying in the same position for any length of time. Try and avoid any unnecessary stress on the pain affected areas by using canes, crutches etc.

Books that might be of interest are:-