Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Don't Rule My Aud Life

A frustrating aspect of arthritis is the fact that what might work and relieve pain for one sufferer may not do the same for another. There is no one remedy for this condition, especially the auto immune disease Rheumatoid Arthritis. But many with osteo-arthritis have found chondroitin to be helpful.

Chrondroitin, along with glucosamine, plays a  part in normal, healthy cartilage. Also known as chondroitin sulfate (chondroitin with mineral salt), chondroitin sulfuric acid or chonsurical; it can be made from natural sources such as shark cartilage, pig or cow cartilage or it can synthetically be made in a laboratory.

Taken together with glucosamine can help restore the cartilage in the damaged joint, therefore possibly relieving pain for the sufferer. With fewer side effects than ibuprofen, this may be a good avenue to take for many arthritis patients.

Like glucosamine, chondroitin comes in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder and sometimes may be already combined as one form instead of taking them separately.

In the research that I have done on chondroitin there have been 2 sides, some sing it’s praises and some say it’s no better than a placebo.

Since I need to be on high amounts of blood thinners, I’ve been strongly advised not to take chondroitin because of possible interactions, but I would love to hear from someone who has experience with this supplement.

I’m very interested if anyone who has rheumatoid or osteo arthritis and has taken chondroitin and/or glucosamine and what they thought of it. Drop me a line!

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When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, the main item on the table is the joints the disease affects. This auto immune disease attacks the body’s own tissues primarily in the lining of the joints and causes a lot of painful damage. Repairing the joint and maintaining healthy movement can be done through taking supplements of glucosamine.

Glucosamine, also called chitosamine, is a natural substance that is found in the covering of shellfish. It is simply a molecule containing glucose and can be in two forms, glucosamine sulphate (mineral salt) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG). The body uses these glucose molecules to form larger molecules that aide in connective tissue and cartilage maintenance and repair.

The primary use for glucosamine is for arthritis; both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. To treat the affected joints, reducing pain and inflammation and improving mobility. The secondary use is for preventative measures against arthritis or age related joint conditions. It is also helpful in quickening the recovery of a sprained or strained joint such as a finger, ankle or wrist.

Taking glucosamine for arthritis can be simply done by taking 1500mg daily and splitting it into three doses. Take it with food or it may upset your stomach and be prepared to take it for a long period of time. It may take 3 to 8 weeks before it starts to show signs of working. Generally, this supplement is safe to take with other supplements but always consult a qualified heath-care practitioner.

There have been no reported side effects aside from nausea if taken on empty stomach; but if you react negatively to shellfish you may not be able to take glucosamine because it is harvested from shellfish. This supplement comes in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder form and can be found at most pharmacies. Once again, before starting any new treatment for arthritis, be sure to consult your health care provider.

Next post I’ll chat about chondroitin, but for now I want to know what opinion is on glucosamine. Do you take it? Has it worked for you?

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I think that one of the most frustrating things about my Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments has been my health care. I have other health issues besides my RA, and really should have a family doctor, let alone a few specialists- but I don’t.

I moved from Ontario in 2001 to Michigan, and left behind doctors I’d had for years. When I moved back in 2006 and notified their offices, they were full and were not taking any new patients. When I told them I wasn’t new, just returning, I was told that I had been away over 2 years and was not considered a patient of theirs any longer and so I was put on a 5 year waiting list (I have 3 years to go).

The city I live in is one of many Ontario centers where there is a lack of doctors, which is very unfortunate. When a blood test or prescription is needed, I go to the doctor on call at the walk-in clinic and wait for several hours with other people who do not have a family doctor as well.

Just a couple weeks ago I wrote a post that included my 7 hour wait with my daughter at the clinic just to have a blood test! I was so stressed that my arthritis flared.

I had a wonderful doctor and Rheumatologist in Michigan and I am thankful for the loads of information they gave me, and because of their encouragement, I sought out other avenues of pain relief and prevention of the damage of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I looked into Naturopath/holistic healing and therapy. I was very, very skeptical at first and wasn’t too keen on the idea. A few years ago my husband tried to get me to try holistic healing, but at the time I was newly diagnosed and really didn’t know a thing about it. But with more research under my belt, along with being exasperated with my symptoms, I booked an appointment and was happy and very satisfied with my results. It did take time, good things always do, but it was worth it and has continued to be a part of my daily life and routine.

I still need to make a trip down to the walk-in clinic at least once a month to have blood tests for coagulation, prescriptions filled, or one of the kids needs medical attention, but I don’t have the angst and concern that I had a year ago. 2 prescriptions, methotrexate and plaquenil, have been eliminated from my list because I have been dealing with the arthritis differently and no longer need to take them for my Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment.

Finding a good, knowledgeable, compassionate doctor is so important to the life of a patient dealing with a serious disease. For me that’s a luxury I don’t have at the moment, but that’s okay because I have a wonderful Naturopath therapist who is doing a fine job filling in.

So you know how I feel about my health care situation, how’s yours?

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Living with constant, chronic pain can leave a person exhausted both physically and emotionally. Not being able to ’see the light at the end of the tunnel’ can really take a toll and most often leads to depression.

A downward spiral begins of ‘pain & depression’ because of the pain you get depressed and this leads to more aches and pains this in turn leads to a deeper depression… and ARGHHH make it stop!

I’ve gone through this a few times, especially at the beginning of my diagnosis with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s not only hard for the person who is faced with pain and depression, but also on their close family and friends.

My first step was recognizing the symptoms of depression. I was experiencing more fatigue than usual, losing interest in doing anything let alone the things I really loved doing. I couldn’t concentrate very well, I was very irritable, I didn’t want to do anything, see anyone, I was just plain miserable. This had to be depression.

Great! I have constant aches and pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis and now depression. The cause though, was the way I was relating to the pain of the arthritis. I felt defeated, it was unfair, I felt alone and frustrated. If I felt and thought that way, of course it was going to become reality to me. So, the first step was to change my way of thinking and to find some help.

I accept the fact that I have RA but I do not accept the fact that RA has me. Yeah, it sucks, but why shouldn’t it happen to me? It’s what I have been dealt in life, and I will make the best of it and do what it takes to make my life as full as possible. What’s next?

I went to a Naturopath doctor for some advice on how I was feeling and she gave a lot of great tools and information. First was the fact that common depression is not the cause of a chemical imbalance. Low serotonin (the ‘happy’ chemical) levels are a result, not a cause, of depression. Exercise gets the serotonin pumping, so I walked, and then walked even more. Vitamin D was a major role too. Since I found that winter was tougher than any other season- and who gets a lot of sun light in the winter?- I boosted my Vitamin D intake, which helped immediately. With my energy up, it took very little time to get my feet back underneath me and the depression crept back under it’s rock.

It’s easy to say I’ve got a handle on depression right now, it’s August, I’ve just spent 8 hours in the warm sunshine. But, I know how to recognize it and have the weapons now to send it packing. I’ve made future plans for the Fall and Winter to keep physically active with a close friend, take extra Vitamin D, use my husband’s daylight lamp and even take a sunny vacation. If those things don’t quite fit the bill, I’ll head back to the Naturopath doctor.

If you feel that you suffer from depression, I urge you to talk with a doctor as soon as possible, especially if you have thoughts of suicide. There is a lot of help and information for you. You’re not alone in this.

Do you have any experience or information to add? Please feel free…

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The Chinese and American Indians have been using plants and oils to successfully treat pain and inflammation for many centuries; why is it that modern science is only just now skimming the surface of this deep well of knowledge? I want to add a few more items to the long list of possible natural remedies for managing rheumatoid arthritis.

Boswellia Boswellia, an Ayurvedic medicine, has been investigated for its effects on arthritis. Boswellia is a genus of trees known for their fragrant resin. A double blind study using boswellia found a beneficial effect on pain and stiffness, as well as improved joint function. It showed no negative effects in this study. The herb has a unique anti-inflammatory action, much like the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). But unlike NSAIDs, long-term use of boswellia is generally considered safe and does not lead to irritation or ulceration of the stomach. It also looks promising as a treatment asthma sufferers. Dosage: Take  400-800 mg of extract in capsules or tablets three times per day. 

Celery seeds help clear uric acid from the joints of gout and arthritis sufferers. Uric acid is a waste product formed from the breakdown (metabolism) of substances in food called purines. Most of the uric acid made by your body dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. However, sometimes your body either produces too much or excretes too little uric acid. People suffering from gout or RA usually have high uric acid levels. Boil 1 tsp. of seeds in 1 cup of water for fifteen minutes, strain and sip.

Dandelion dispels uric acid. Take 3 capsules daily, 1 tbsp. juice or 1 cup tea, twice daily for four to six weeks to reduce the frequency and intensity of pain, and to strengthen the connective tissue. Gives me a new outlook on the weeds in my yard!

Dong quai (female ginseng) is good for relieving fleeting muscle and joint pains, especially if they are worse in damp conditions. Take I tbsp. of dried root juice three times daily. A note of caution: this root is also known to be an anti-coagulant (blood thinner).

Feverfew Feverfew has a long folk history in the treatment of fever, arthritis and migraine. Extracts of feverfew have shown greater activity in inhibiting inflammation and fever than aspirin in experimental studies. Feverfew extracts inhibit the synthesis of many pro-inflammatory compounds at their initial stage of synthesis. Feverfew also decreases the secretion of inflammatory particles from platelets and white blood cells. 

Parsley juice is effective in combating and flushing out uric acid from the tissue, which eases painful limbs and joints. Take 1 tsp. of parsley juice three times daily for six weeks. Wait three weeks before taking again.

Sarsaparilla has anti-inflammatory properties that may be helpful for people with rheumatoid arthritis. It’s also thought to be a boost for the immune system. Originally sarsaparilla was used with sassafras, ginger root, and licorice root in the soda fountain at the local pharmacy as a tonic now known as root beer. Unfortunately, today’s root beer manufacturer’s use artificial flavoring, so drinking soda isn’t going to do any good!

Another great anti-inflammatory is fish oil. It contains wonderful levels of omega-3’s (EPA & DHA). The long chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are effective, where as the short chain omega-3 fatty acids from nuts, seeds and vegetable oils are not. Doctors recommend taking 3 grams of omega-3’s daily to reduce joint swelling and morning stiffness.

Again, I want to remind you that before starting any new treatment, please discuss it with your doctor.

Please let me know if you’ve had any success with natural remedies for managing rheumatoid arthritis- I’m always looking for input and more information.

Take care~

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