Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Don't Rule My Aud Life

Along with Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are other syndrome’s and conditions that I live with. In 2000, doctors discovered that my sister and I shared a condition called ‘congenital protein C deficiency’; which is caused by a lack of the protein C  in the fluid portion of blood. Proteins C and S are natural substances that prevent blood clots (anticoagulants) and my sister and I are deficient in protein C.

It wasn’t until clots formed (right lung in my sister, and right side of the brain in myself) that the doctors discovered this. I suffered 3 strokes due to the initial forming of the clot and the movement of it. Since then, and for the remainder of our lives, we’ll need to be on high doses of warfarin daily.

The blood thinners are the biggest road block when it comes to treating my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I’m unable to take Ibuprofen and Aspirin because of the negative interactions, and most anti-inflammatory medications are off limits to me as well. When major inflammation occurs, I form large lumps (especially on my knees) which turn into large, ugly bruises. In the beginning of my diagnosis, my Dr. performed a biopsy on one and came to the conclusion that during a flare up, my joint will bruise like a jelly donut inside and the inflammation will squish it out! Mmmm….donuts!

At the same time I was diagnosed with RA, it was also discovered I had Marfan Syndrome which is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue. People with Marfan’s are typically tall, with long limbs and long thin fingers. I am 5′11, with a 6′1” arm span!

The most serious complication is defects of the heart valves and aorta. It may also affect the lungs, eyes, dural sac surrounding the spinal cord, skeleton and hard palate.

Fortunately, my symptoms are mild; a heart murmur, joint hyper-mobility, stretchy skin, slight problems with my eyes and ears, and of course the long, slender arms, legs, fingers and toes.

Since Marfan’s is a connective tissue disease that affects my heart, and that Rheumatoid Arthritis can also have serious affects on the heart, I need to take extra care in my health. Keeping my RA under control is a very important factor and I need to be on top of that.

Do you or some one you know suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and other conditions as well? I’d love to hear your story. Drop me a line!

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I truly believe that a big part of my battle against the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis is my physical activity. I have found that since I’ve been more intensive and  regular with my exercise, flare ups and their duration are at a minimum.

I’m not a work out freak, my daily regimen of exercise consists of simple leg exercises and walking, sometimes swimming (weather permitting). Working through fatigue is my biggest obstacle, not pain as I would have thought a year ago. I’m very stubborn and when pain rears it’s ugly head, it’s its own worst enemy because I work to defeat it; but fatigue… it causes me to be too tired to be stubborn!

My leg exercises are quite low impact and are more of a stretching and light muscle work. I stand on a 1.5 inch high board, feet about 6-8 inches apart, and hold on to a wall with one hand (to keep me from falling over). I stretch my right leg out behind me, with toe touching the floor, then lift slowly, as high as I can, usually a 1′6” to 2′ above the floor. I started out doing a set of 30, now I can do sets of 60 at a time.  Next, I do set with the left leg. After that exercise I stand   feet together with the toes and balls of my feet, on the edge of the board so that my heels are touching the floor, and I slowly lift upwards, going on tiptoes. I started doing a set of 15, now I’m up to 35 lifts per set. I try and do 4 sets of each exercise every day.

The separate leg lifts, done behind the body, have helped my hips and back, (not to mention they’ve toned my glutes). And the together leg lifts have kept my calves strong, which in turn have made a positive impact on my ankles and knees.

I walk every day. I started out on small excursions with my portly Labrador retriever, about a half mile or 10 minutes. Now I can walk longer and do, but not the dog! He’s getting very old and has started to refuse to walk any further than he wants to. So I’ve began a 2 stage walk now, 1st stage is with him for 15 minutes, around the block and into the park, then back home. I drop him off for stage 2, I grab my i pod, and walk for 3 miles. We are both very happy.

Keeping mobile is hard with dealing with chronic pain and fatigue, but it’s crucial. Inactivity leads to lax muscles, the loss of energy the body needs, and of course there is weight gain which will add to more pain and fatigue.

I’m interested to hear how others use exercise as part of their fight against the effects of arthritis. Got any tid bits, advice, things to add? Please feel free to make a comment! 

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Both Rheumatoid and Osteo Arthritis play parts in my family’s life, I suffer from RA, my mother from OA. Discussing the symptoms and causes were quite interesting as we realized the difference and similarities between the two.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a sytemic auto-immune disease. It’s a chronic disorder that cause the immune system to attack the joints, causing inflammation and damage; it can also attack other organs as well, such as the skin, lungs, and heart.

I first began to notice that both my hands and knees where aching, which is one symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis- this is a symmetrical pattern, pain on both sides of the body.

• Other symptoms include:
• * morning stiffness lasting longer than 20 minutes
• * low grade fever
• * pain in 3 or more joints at the same time                                     
• * flu-like symptoms
• * fatigue or weakness
• * change in weight

RA is usually diagnosed by blood test, finding a factor in the blood called a rheumatoid factor and by performing x-rays.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis can occur suddenly or start gradually and can vary from person to person.

In most cases, the disease will be mild with periods of activity/joint inflammation (flare-ups) and inactivity (remissions). However, in some individuals,  the disease will be continuously active and appear to get worse, or progress, over time. If any warning sign lasts more than two weeks, see your doctor. If your doctor believes that you have RA, it is important to see a rheumatologist right away, to be properly diagnosed and begin treatment. 

In 20% of cases, lumps called rheumatoid nodules develop under the skin, often over bony areas, such as knuckles, elbows, or knees; but can be found elsewhere on the body and even in internal organs. Occasionally, people with RA will develop inflammation of the membranes that surround the heart and lung or inflammation of the lung tissue itself. Inflammation of tear glands and salivary glands (called sicca syndrome) results in dry eyes and dry mouth. In rare cases, Rheumatoid Arthritis causes inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis), which affects the skin, nerves and other organs.

Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is classified as non-inflammatory arthritis, a disease that affects joints in the body. It is the most common form of arthritis. OA can involve any joint, but usually concerns hands and weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees, feet and spine. It is generally caused by a history of injury to the joint or progression of wear and tear.

Cartilage is the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones. In healthy joints cartilage acts as a shock absorber when you put weight on the joint. The slippery surface of the cartilage allows the bones to move smoothly. When a joint develops osteoarthritis the cartilage gradually becomes rough and thin, and there is destruction or decrease of synovial fluid that lubricates those joints, and the bone underneath thickens. The bone may produce form bumps which are referred to as bone spurs. Or, the cartilage may wear away entirely, and bones may rub together.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis include:

• *Gradual worsening of chronic joint pain, that is worsened by exercise or weight-bearing activity.
• *Swelling in the joints.
• *Limited range of motion in the joints.
• *Joints that are especially stiff in the morning.
• *The joints grating during motion.
• *Joint pain that worsens during rainy weather.

It is important for anyone suffering from arthritis to keep as active as possible in order to prevent ligaments from becoming lax and the atrophy of muscles to due inactivity.

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Stress is a major player when it comes to Rheumatoid Arthritis pain. Right now I’m dealing with painful lumps and sore joints in both of my knees because of stress from the day before.

I hate going to the dentist, absolutely afraid of it! Yesterday I left my morning appointment with a very sore mouth. I thought I would brighten up my smile and have my teeth whitened, they didn’t tell me how sensitive my teeth would be until after I had the procedure. It felt like 8 teeth were being drilled- horrible!

Since I am on blood thinners I need to have my coagulation checked regularly, my daughter, Jill, also needed to have a blood test done . I thought, “Well, we might as well get it over with today!” And off we trotted to the hospital. We went in at 1:15 and came out at 7pm. We live in a town that has a shortage of doctors, so we have no family doctor and any tests or prescriptions that are needed to be filled are done at our local hospital’s walk-in clinic. Most often I am there for an hour- but not yesterday.

I sat for 6 hours with  zinging, painful teeth and an 8 year old who clearly did not want to be there. By the time I got home, I was a ball of stress!

This morning I woke up with a happier mouth, but very unhappy knees. By noon I could see bumps starting to rise, and by late afternoon I looked like I was growing extra knee caps.

I know first hand how stress plays a role in arthritis pain. I’ve talked with many other sufferers who also have experience with this as well. The hard thing is removing it. In this day and age everything is fast paced, and so many lifestyles seem to require high stress. It’s imperative that we realize how detrimental it is to our health, and even more important for people with chronic conditions to have this under control.

What I find helpful is to get warm. Today I spent some time in the sun and it did wonders. In the chilly seasons, I will spend quality time with my heating pad. I also try to remember to ask for help. I can be very stubborn (so I’m told) and don’t always want to admit that I can’t do everything. But I’ve found that you get stuff when you ask! So I’ve learned to ask my husband, my children or my mum for help when I need it.

So when stress is creeping in from all sides. Take a break, get comfy and let your body get the relaxation it needs, ask for help. Don’t be stubborn- you deserve to be pain 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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