Rheumatoid arthritis

[TeeDee]

Anyone got any tried and tested suggestions for dealing with R.A??
The missus is starting to get it in her hands and her Mother suffers from it quite badly , so I'm all ears to possible treatments.

I think someone suggest Apple Cider Vinegar, but I don't knwo if there is any truth behind it.

So c'mon , lets have some ideas please.

 

[Lynx]

My mother used to get this badly and I guess I may do eventually as well. I do find that when I go on a high protein diet and cut out sugar that my joints stop aching so that's not a cure so much as an observation. I think RA is why lost of people retire to places like Spain and Tenerife because the UK weather doesn't seem to help things. Not sure if there is any truth in the cider vinegar theory though I'm afraid.

 

[Chris the Cat]

Do not let her over exert herself or try to exercise while in 'flare up' mate !
Not a great help I know, I will wrack my brains and ask around.
Take care.
Chris.

 

[pastymuncher]

A well known author of books on knots told me a little "herb" in his pipe was the best medicine he'd found for his RA.
It allowed him to carry on living on his boat.

 

[v-ness]

One of my collegues swears by nettle stings when she as a flare-up.
Apparently there is something in the nettles that numbs the pain or blocks pain signals.

She literally goes in her garden and touches the nettles with her knuckles (thats where the worst is atm) and after an initial sting she gets a couple of hours relief. The pain doesnt go completely, but it makes it bearable.

I might have to read up on that, or maybe Toddy knows more about it. If nettles work externally, maybe drinking nettle tea would help too. Either to prevent a flair-up or to calm it down. But that needs a bit of research.

The longer you can prevent flare-ups the better though, as each time the RA gets a bit worse and you dont recover to the previous level.

Hope it doesnt get too bad for your missus TD. Some folk are lucky and only get a mild form.

ATB
Ness

 

[JDO330]

I dont have RA, I have psyoriatic (SP?) arthritis in most of my joints. It became a real problem last Sept to the point where I couldnt get dressed, hold a knife or fork, clean my teath or do anything with the kids at all (which was the worst bit). Anyway, I went and got some help and the specialist put me on a series of tablets, one is called Naproxen which is a slow release pain killer (500 mg twice a day) and the other, which to be frank is a horrible drug due to the side effects is Methotrexate. Im now in a position where I can do pretty much what I want (still have really stiff hands so holding a knife tightly can sometimes be an issue) but compared to what I was like Im well chuffed.

Maybe you could talk to your doctor about the above, no idea if its any good for your partners Arthritis or not but it might help. Before you do so, I would suggest you Google Methotrexate first though as you may not think the risk is worth it in the early stages of RA.

I hope this is of some use.

ATB, Jon.

 

[greensurfingbear]

I'm sorry to hear about your missus not nice! My first thought was nettles but its already been mentioned. I came across this site when I was first diagnosed with Gout. Not 100% how effect it is....maybe a massive placebo but worth a shot eh!

http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/arthritis.htm

I've also heard that acupuncture works for some people.

Good luck with it all!

 

[peaks]

Hi,
Sorry to hear that - it is a difficult condition.
Depending how you (+ your missus +your Ma) feel about complimentary medicine............... diet can be a big factor but if you can find a medically qualified naturopath (ie a qualified doctor who combines complimentary + "normal" medicine) they can offer the best in terms of conventional (allopathic) western medicine and the best of a range of complimentary therapies - this can be really beneficial. Clinical hypnotherapy,for instance, can offer a lot in terms of pain management and dealing with the psychological effects of the condition.

hope this gives food for thought
cheers
Peaks

 

[silvergirl]

Sleep.

Or at least rest. I get flare ups if I don't get enough sleep or when I'm feeling stressed.
Another thing I have started using regularly is black pepper and rose essential oil. I rub it into my joints twice a day. Seems to help. But if your hands are sore it really is a sign they need a bit of a break.

Diet can also have an impact, but different theories tell you different things. Certainly cutting out dairy and potato family plants is the usual recomendation, but I love cheese and tomatoes so no hope there.

 

[Toddy]

Well over 10 years since clinical diagnosis

All of the above is good advice.
When the joints are swollen and sore, don't hurt them. That's permanent. They *must* be moved through full movement gently and often though.
There's a very good book called, "Exercise beats arthritis". It doesn't, but it certainly helps, and the exercises in there are a godsend

I find that the long term use of Nsaid's screws up the digestive system, and that's despite the fact that I have never taken anywhere near the amount of pills I was supposed to.
Diet really does help me. No gluten, no dairy, and it eases the aches and allows things to settle. When I am well I can tolerate a little mature cheese, so it's not a total loss now, but an occasional treat

DIY stuff ? Meadowsweet flourish tea and meadowsweet roots crushed and soaked in sweet almond oil. Strain and heat gently to the same temperature that melts a little grated beeswax and mix the two together. This makes a cream that is not only easy to rub in but is an excellent anti inflamatory and pain killer
The nettle stings do help, but I think it's more because when things are bad the body is attacking it's own joints. The nettle stings give it something else to attack instead.

Sorry to hear of anyone else suffering this damned thing.

There is a cure. It's kind of savage though. They kill off the immune system, just as they do in cancer sufferers and when it starts up again it's as though a computer has rebooted without the bug. Problem is that doing that can actually lead to cancer developing

atb,
Toddy

 

[Freddy]

Lo there , i just asked my sister who is a qualified aromatherapist, reflexologist, in anatomy and physiology massage therapist, and she said that there is truth in the cider apple vinegar because it keeps the body in an alkeline state, she said to also bath or soak her hands in epson salts , ginger is also helpful , and you can get bromelain from holland and barret which is very good aswell and if you know an aromatherapist a chamomile cream is very good. The black pepper as suggested is good but depends on what problems she is having. She said she needs to keep the inflammation low now then it will help in later years because the hyaline cartlige in her joints wont be as damaged. Hope some of this helps and feel free to ask for more info if required .



,

 

[TeeDee]

Many thanks for all the advice. It is appreciated people.

Cheers!

 

[No Idea]

Havent got it hope I never do.

However, Ive watched mum go through it with this.

Nasty.

She swears that eating acidic foodstuffs makes it worse - apples, lemons, a pineapple will flatten her for a few days...

Chocolate hurts her too.

Ive sort of watched her with it and wondered if there is something that would sort of lubricate the cartelidge and whether this would help. Sort of thinking along the lines of glucostamine?

Sorry about my appalling spelling. Remember, Im no doctor, so use your own judgement when listening to me.