Treating and Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Can I be cured?

As of yet, and excepting genetic factors, there is no known cause of rheumatoid arthritis, and likewise, there is no known cure. As the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, there is no real way to prevent rheumatoid arthritis from occurring.

To manage rheumatoid arthritis you will have make changes to your lifestyle. You can do simple things, such as staying active and maintaining a healthy diet to help relieve your symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse.

What if I change my diet?

Yes, diet can play a key role in reducing your symptoms and preventing those painful flare-ups. Both Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to help reduce inflammation.

Foods rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits (oranges, limes, grapefruit), cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed oil, and coldwater fish such as sardines, anchovies, salmon, mackerel, and herring.

Adopting a "good-health attitude" and healthy habits, such as eating a nutritious diet (low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt and high in fibre and complex carbohydrates - whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables), maintaining a healthy weight, and getting enough sleep, will make you feel better and allow you to stay active.

People who have rheumatoid arthritis also have an increased risk of heart disease. But healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a balanced diet, may reduce your risk of heart disease.

What are my treatment options?

Like osteoarthritis, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of treatment is to relieve pain, overcome symptoms, prevent the destruction of joints, and stay happy and functional. Here are some options to help manage your condition:

• Plenty of rest. When you are experiencing a flare-up, it is important to rest to avoid straining and inflaming the already sensitive joint.
• Regular exercise. The pain and even the fear of pain may make you less willing to exercise. This is dangerous. Lack of exercise can lead to muscle atrophy. A popular, invigorating, and effective form of exercise for osteoarthritis sufferers is swimming. Tai chi involves gentle exercises and stretches combined with deep breathing. People use tai chi to relieve stress in their lives. Some studies have found tai chi may reduce rheumatoid arthritis pain, though more study is needed. When led by a knowledgeable instructor, tai chi is safe. Talk to your doctor. But don't do any moves that cause pain. Do avoid any exercise that puts unnecessary strain/stress on the joints.
• Cold wrap therapy. Apply a cold compression wrap. Cold compression wraps interrupt pain signals and reduce inflammation. Arthritis immobilizes your joints by inducing swelling in the surrounding tissue. The deep cold provided by cold compression wraps/braces slows this process. Cold wraps numb the nerves to reduce the pain.
  
  In the early moments or hours of your flare-up, controlling inflammation is extremely important, especially because inflammation also strains the surrounding tissue causing more pain and damage.
  
  If you don't have a cold compression wrap for managing your arthritis pain, an important and safe treatment method is being ignored. Our MendMeShop store contains a wide selection of cold compression wraps.

  Combine heat therapy. To increase blood flow and circulation, try combining heat therapy with cold compression. We offer hot packs/wraps for our wraps as well.

  
  
• Ultrasound Therapy. Ultrasound therapy is a great option to decrease inflammation, pain, tension and soft tissue damage experienced with gout. You can administer your own therapy using a portable, home ultrasound device or see a physiotherapist. The treatment is easy, painless, safe, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear).
  
  These waves send vibrations deep into your body and raise the temperature of your soft tissue. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and medicinal conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the affected area. You may experience a slight tingling or warm sensation during the process as a result of the gel; this enhances the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (phonophoresis). You deserve specialized, professional care. Get your own ultrasound kit from MendMeShop.
• Radiant Energy. When your joint is inflamed, it needs the blood flow to promote recovery. Since you can't work your swollen joint without excruciating pain, you need to stimulate the blood flow another way. A very effective way of doing this is with radiant energy.
  
  Radiant energy penetrates the body. As it is absorbed it stimulates blood flow and warms the inner tissue. It is perfectly safe, natural, and very effective. Our radiant energy therapy systems are medical devices registered with the FDA and Health Canada as a true therapeutic and pain relieving device. You can order a system from MendMeShop to be sent to your home today!
• Massage. Pain relief can be obtained through massage, though painful joints should not be massaged and you should provide the details of your condition to the therapist.
• NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). NSAIDs include ASA (Aspirin), ibuprofen, or naproxen. NSAIDs are used to control pain and may help reduce inflammation. They do not control the disease or stop it from getting worse.
• DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). DMARDS can slow or sometimes prevent joint destruction. Generally, they are recommended early in the course of the disease.
• Cortisone therapy. A corticosteroid injection can be an effective way to reduce inflammation, resulting in pain relief. However, its negative long term effects are thought to outweigh the beneficial effects.
• Medication. There are numerous medications for reducing inflammation and relieving pain, including Arava, Enbrel, Remicade, Kineret, and Humira. It is important to note that none of these medications comes without side effects though.
• Wrist and finger splints. Splints can help to maintain joint alignment and reduce inflammation/swelling.
• Canes, braces, shoe inserts. Using these mobility aids can reduce the strain and stress on painful joints.
• Surgery. Joint surgery or replacement can relieve disabling pain and restore enough motion to allow you to complete daily activities, but it will seldom restore the joint to normal.

How can I cope with this disease?

The degree to which rheumatoid arthritis affects your daily activities depends in part on how well you cope with the disease. Talk to your health professional about coping strategies. In time you'll find what strategies work best for you. In the meantime, try to:

• Keep a positive attitude. With your doctor, make a plan for managing your arthritis. This will help you feel in charge of your disease.
  
  Studies show that people who take control of their treatment and actively manage their arthritis experience less pain and make fewer visits to the doctor.
• Know your limits. Rest when you're tired. Rheumatoid arthritis can make you prone to fatigue and muscle weakness. A rest or short nap that doesn't interfere with nighttime sleep may help.
• Connect with others. Keep your family aware of how you're feeling, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Also, connect with other people who have rheumatoid arthritis — through a support group in your community or online. You may feel like your friends and family can't understand what you’re going through. Other people with the disease can offer unique support during these times.
• Take time for yourself. It's easy to get busy and not take time for yourself. Find time for what you like, whether it's time to write in a journal, go for a walk, or listen to music. Use this time to relieve stress and reflect on your feelings.

Although there's no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, with proper treatment, a strategy for joint protection and changes in lifestyle, you can live a long, productive life.

Do you have more questions?

We encourage you to contact our office directly with any questions you may have regarding joint pain. We will do our best to answer your questions in a thorough and courteous manner.

Feel free to email us at info@AidMyJoints.com. Emails will be answered promptly during business hours.

Alternatively, for those located within the US or Canada, you may contact us on our toll free number 1-866-237-9608. If you live outside of these countries, call our local number at 1 (705)445-3505

Our Office Hours

Monday and Tuesday 8:00am to 9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 7:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Saturday 12:00pm to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)

Please contact us for more information. Will this product be able to control my pain and inflammation? There is a great possibility it can. All you need to do is call or email.

We wish you a great day and we look forward to hearing from you.