Arthritis
- Thread starter berlowmj
- Start date
I have developed rheumatoid arthritis - what a joy that is! Recently it has affected my bridge hand. Its in the middle joint of the middle finger and it is very annoying. It doesn't bother me when I play because I block it out, but aterwards it is a nightmare. I have also had shoulder problems in the past - bridge arm - caused by improperly placing too much wieght on my bridge arm. Usually a weigt adjustment will alleviate most of the shoulder issues.
Before they are disapointed with their pupil`s stance/stroke ,the pool instructors should ask their pupil whether they have arthritis or similar problems.If the pupil is having such problems the instruction/lesson especially the aiming system ,IF POSSIBLE, should be tailored to the pupil`s needs.
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Enbrel
For those who have insurance covering prescriptions Enbrel can be a minor miracle for some. I inject 50ml twice a week and forget that I have arthritis most of the time. Without it my hands are often unusable and I have other areas including my back, hip, and shoulder affected by arthritis. The idea of using a needle wasn't pleasant but using it twice a week isn't a big deal when diabetics often have to use the same needle two or three times a day.
Hu
For those who have insurance covering prescriptions Enbrel can be a minor miracle for some. I inject 50ml twice a week and forget that I have arthritis most of the time. Without it my hands are often unusable and I have other areas including my back, hip, and shoulder affected by arthritis. The idea of using a needle wasn't pleasant but using it twice a week isn't a big deal when diabetics often have to use the same needle two or three times a day.
Hu
I too am suffering from arthritis I take tyl.#3 with codeine and an anti inflammatory called Naproxen. I have it in my feet, knees and finger joints.
I recently had gout in my toe and thumb. Luckily the angina makes me forget about the arthritis pain. LOL
It sucks getting old, but it beats the alternative.
I recently had gout in my toe and thumb. Luckily the angina makes me forget about the arthritis pain. LOL
It sucks getting old, but it beats the alternative.
old age caught up with me and beat the hell out of me....
Arthritis, asbestosis, fybromyalgia, diabetes, hypertension,....
don't have full use of my left hand and am legally blind in both eyes....
am I complaining ? Hell, yes !
old saying,,,"If I had know that I was gonna live this long, I'd taken better care of myself !" ..........life goes on
Arthritis, asbestosis, fybromyalgia, diabetes, hypertension,....
don't have full use of my left hand and am legally blind in both eyes....
am I complaining ? Hell, yes !
old saying,,,"If I had know that I was gonna live this long, I'd taken better care of myself !" ..........life goes on
From the Cleveland Clinic
This is from a newsletter so I can't post a URL. Some of my friends here on AZB might find it of use. BTW, wear some form of sneakers when playing to cushion the joints. Hope this helps someone.
Yeah, I know, the kids don't call em sneakers anymore -- but we do.
What's New in Arthritis Diagnosis... Treatment... Living Well
John D. Clough, MD
Cleveland Clinic
New developments in medications and improvements in surgery have brightened the outlook for people with arthritis. While most forms of arthritis remain incurable, many can be made bearable or better.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for nearly 100 forms of joint ("arthr") inflammation ("itis") involving warmth, redness, tenderness, swelling, stiffness and pain ranging from annoying to disabling. To complicate matters, many conditions with similar symptoms -- and requiring different treatment -- can masquerade as arthritis.
Examples: Fibromyalgia (muscle pain)... osteoporosis (brittle bones)... side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs with names ending in "statin"... polymyalgia rheumatica, involving pain and stiffness in the hips or shoulders -- common after age 50 (especially in women) and highly treatable with prednisone (Deltasone) but a cause of blindness if untreated.
Surprises: A swollen knee, hip or pain in the spine may signal tuberculous arthritis from tuberculosis contracted years before. Mild, fleeting arthritis can result from rheumatic fever following strep throat.
Ideally, arthritis is identified in its early stages and treated aggressively before irreversible damage can occur. Lab tests narrow the possibilities, but for most forms of arthritis, no single test can confirm the diagnosis.
Best bet: See a rheumatologist -- a physician specializing in diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Later, an internist or a general practitioner given the diagnosis and treatment plan can oversee your care.
To find a rheumatologist, ask your doctor, local hospital, county medical association or a friend for recommendations... or search the American College of Rheumatology Web site, www.rheumatology.org. Look for board certification in both internal medicine and rheumatology.
THE BIG FIVE
Equipped with a diagnosis, learn about your form of arthritis. The vast majority (95%) of Americans with arthritis have one of five types...
Osteoarthritis. By far the most common form of arthritis in the US, osteoarthritis strikes more than half of people over age 65 and 80% of those over age 75.
What it is: Cartilage, which cushions the ends of the joint bones, disintegrates. The bones then rub together and can eventually wear out.
Most often affected: Neck, lower back, hips, knees, fingers, toes. Involvement in the ankle and elsewhere is usually triggered by an injury or surgery.
Osteo sufferers tend to take a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). In large amounts, these effective and seemingly innocuous over-the-counter drugs can be toxic, even deadly. Ask your doctor how much is safe for you.
Easier on the stomach: COX-2 inhibitors, which are selective NSAIDs that block prostaglandins -- hormones that cause joint inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors -- rofecoxib (Vioxx, withdrawn from the market in 2004), celecoxib (Celebrex) and valdecoxib (Bextra, withdrawn from the market in 2005) -- were welcomed with open arms in the late 1990s until a few patients had heart attacks or strokes.
You may still take a COX-2 inhibitor with your doctor's advice and monitoring. Or you may be advised to return to ibuprofen or naproxen.
Glucosamine and chondroitin, sold without a prescription, are among the building blocks of cartilage. Some osteoarthritis sufferers say that these supplements help. With your doctor's approval, you can try them if you want.
When meds no longer quell osteoarthritis pain, a trade-in may be the answer. Hip and knee replacement surgery, performed for more than 30 years, has advanced dramatically. Shoulder replacement has long been a possibility, as has elbow replacement -- although the latter is not usually as successful.
On the horizon: Wrist and ankle replacement. Meanwhile, many people with osteoarthritis of the ankle are getting good results with ankle fusion, in which some ankle joints are fused together. The ankle contains so many joints that range of motion remains good.
Rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system goes haywire, attacking joints throughout the body.
Results: Pain, deformity and disability.
The most exciting developments in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis and some other forms of arthritis are new drugs that fight inflammation. The remarkable tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors block a type of protein called a cytokine that triggers inflammation when present in large amounts.
TNF inhibitors are expensive but covered by Medicare Part B. They include infliximab (Remicade), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1999, and adalimumab (Humira), approved for use in advanced rheumatoid arthritis in 2002 and in psoriatic arthritis and early rheumatoid arthritis in 2005. Remicade is given intravenously in a health-care facility every six to eight weeks. Humira is self-injected every two weeks.
Another effective TNF inhibitor is etanercept (Enbrel), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1998 and in psoriatic arthritis in 2002. Etanercept requires an injection under the skin that can be given at home.
Gout. Remember Jiggs, from the comic strip "Bringing Up Father," whose hassock-supported, bandaged foot radiated lightning bolts of pain? He had gout, a form of arthritis in which uric acid accumulates in the blood and crystallizes in a joint -- often, but not always, the ball of the big toe -- causing excruciating pain.
The best drug for lowering uric acid is allopurinol (Zyloprim). Anti-inflammatories such as indomethacin (Indocin) and, in chronic cases, drugs such as probenecid (Benemid, Probalan) that reduce the level of uric acid in the blood do wonders for gout.
Diet may help. Restrict foods containing high levels of purine, a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound that produces uric acid crystals. Limit alcohol... organ meats (liver, kidneys,)... game fowl (duck, goose)... dried legumes (lentils, chickpeas)... and some seafood (scallops, sardines, shrimp, herring). For a free brochure called "Gout," with a list of food to avoid, contact the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org, 800-568-4045).
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies. These half dozen conditions involve the spine.
Among the most common: Ankylosing spondylitis, which causes back pain and stiffness, worst in the early morning... psoriatic arthritis, which is developed by about 20% of people with psoriasis and which responds well to TNF alpha inhibitors and to the cancer drug rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Arthritis is the primary symptom of lupus, a dysfunction of the autoimmune system.
Relief: Prednisone, a corticosteroid... cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), a cancer drug... and several other medications. These allow many lupus patients to live fairly normal lives with minimal problems.
GET MOVING
Formerly, because it hurts to move, people with arthritis sat still and got steadily worse. We now know that inactivity is a mistake. For most people with arthritis, careful exercise is recommended to keep limbs limber.
Physical and occupational therapy have an important part.
This is from a newsletter so I can't post a URL. Some of my friends here on AZB might find it of use. BTW, wear some form of sneakers when playing to cushion the joints. Hope this helps someone.
Yeah, I know, the kids don't call em sneakers anymore -- but we do.
What's New in Arthritis Diagnosis... Treatment... Living Well
John D. Clough, MD
Cleveland Clinic
New developments in medications and improvements in surgery have brightened the outlook for people with arthritis. While most forms of arthritis remain incurable, many can be made bearable or better.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for nearly 100 forms of joint ("arthr") inflammation ("itis") involving warmth, redness, tenderness, swelling, stiffness and pain ranging from annoying to disabling. To complicate matters, many conditions with similar symptoms -- and requiring different treatment -- can masquerade as arthritis.
Examples: Fibromyalgia (muscle pain)... osteoporosis (brittle bones)... side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs with names ending in "statin"... polymyalgia rheumatica, involving pain and stiffness in the hips or shoulders -- common after age 50 (especially in women) and highly treatable with prednisone (Deltasone) but a cause of blindness if untreated.
Surprises: A swollen knee, hip or pain in the spine may signal tuberculous arthritis from tuberculosis contracted years before. Mild, fleeting arthritis can result from rheumatic fever following strep throat.
Ideally, arthritis is identified in its early stages and treated aggressively before irreversible damage can occur. Lab tests narrow the possibilities, but for most forms of arthritis, no single test can confirm the diagnosis.
Best bet: See a rheumatologist -- a physician specializing in diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Later, an internist or a general practitioner given the diagnosis and treatment plan can oversee your care.
To find a rheumatologist, ask your doctor, local hospital, county medical association or a friend for recommendations... or search the American College of Rheumatology Web site, www.rheumatology.org. Look for board certification in both internal medicine and rheumatology.
THE BIG FIVE
Equipped with a diagnosis, learn about your form of arthritis. The vast majority (95%) of Americans with arthritis have one of five types...
Osteoarthritis. By far the most common form of arthritis in the US, osteoarthritis strikes more than half of people over age 65 and 80% of those over age 75.
What it is: Cartilage, which cushions the ends of the joint bones, disintegrates. The bones then rub together and can eventually wear out.
Most often affected: Neck, lower back, hips, knees, fingers, toes. Involvement in the ankle and elsewhere is usually triggered by an injury or surgery.
Osteo sufferers tend to take a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). In large amounts, these effective and seemingly innocuous over-the-counter drugs can be toxic, even deadly. Ask your doctor how much is safe for you.
Easier on the stomach: COX-2 inhibitors, which are selective NSAIDs that block prostaglandins -- hormones that cause joint inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors -- rofecoxib (Vioxx, withdrawn from the market in 2004), celecoxib (Celebrex) and valdecoxib (Bextra, withdrawn from the market in 2005) -- were welcomed with open arms in the late 1990s until a few patients had heart attacks or strokes.
You may still take a COX-2 inhibitor with your doctor's advice and monitoring. Or you may be advised to return to ibuprofen or naproxen.
Glucosamine and chondroitin, sold without a prescription, are among the building blocks of cartilage. Some osteoarthritis sufferers say that these supplements help. With your doctor's approval, you can try them if you want.
When meds no longer quell osteoarthritis pain, a trade-in may be the answer. Hip and knee replacement surgery, performed for more than 30 years, has advanced dramatically. Shoulder replacement has long been a possibility, as has elbow replacement -- although the latter is not usually as successful.
On the horizon: Wrist and ankle replacement. Meanwhile, many people with osteoarthritis of the ankle are getting good results with ankle fusion, in which some ankle joints are fused together. The ankle contains so many joints that range of motion remains good.
Rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system goes haywire, attacking joints throughout the body.
Results: Pain, deformity and disability.
The most exciting developments in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis and some other forms of arthritis are new drugs that fight inflammation. The remarkable tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors block a type of protein called a cytokine that triggers inflammation when present in large amounts.
TNF inhibitors are expensive but covered by Medicare Part B. They include infliximab (Remicade), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1999, and adalimumab (Humira), approved for use in advanced rheumatoid arthritis in 2002 and in psoriatic arthritis and early rheumatoid arthritis in 2005. Remicade is given intravenously in a health-care facility every six to eight weeks. Humira is self-injected every two weeks.
Another effective TNF inhibitor is etanercept (Enbrel), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1998 and in psoriatic arthritis in 2002. Etanercept requires an injection under the skin that can be given at home.
Gout. Remember Jiggs, from the comic strip "Bringing Up Father," whose hassock-supported, bandaged foot radiated lightning bolts of pain? He had gout, a form of arthritis in which uric acid accumulates in the blood and crystallizes in a joint -- often, but not always, the ball of the big toe -- causing excruciating pain.
The best drug for lowering uric acid is allopurinol (Zyloprim). Anti-inflammatories such as indomethacin (Indocin) and, in chronic cases, drugs such as probenecid (Benemid, Probalan) that reduce the level of uric acid in the blood do wonders for gout.
Diet may help. Restrict foods containing high levels of purine, a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound that produces uric acid crystals. Limit alcohol... organ meats (liver, kidneys,)... game fowl (duck, goose)... dried legumes (lentils, chickpeas)... and some seafood (scallops, sardines, shrimp, herring). For a free brochure called "Gout," with a list of food to avoid, contact the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org, 800-568-4045).
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies. These half dozen conditions involve the spine.
Among the most common: Ankylosing spondylitis, which causes back pain and stiffness, worst in the early morning... psoriatic arthritis, which is developed by about 20% of people with psoriasis and which responds well to TNF alpha inhibitors and to the cancer drug rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Arthritis is the primary symptom of lupus, a dysfunction of the autoimmune system.
Relief: Prednisone, a corticosteroid... cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), a cancer drug... and several other medications. These allow many lupus patients to live fairly normal lives with minimal problems.
GET MOVING
Formerly, because it hurts to move, people with arthritis sat still and got steadily worse. We now know that inactivity is a mistake. For most people with arthritis, careful exercise is recommended to keep limbs limber.
Physical and occupational therapy have an important part.
ShootingArts said:
Yes Hu these drugs are remarkable.
My good lady is 39 and was diagnosed with pretty bad rheumatoid arthtritis about 5 years ago at 34. This involved seizing up of hips, toes,wrists, knees, shoulders and even the jaw. It seemed to move from joint to joint for a few days at a time and often disappeared completely for weeks at a time before flaring up again. She had various cortisone injections at first but was then put on a combination of methotrexate and Remikaid (which is part of the same family of drugs as Enbrel). It was not covered by any insurances and the cost of the drug was in the region of US$ 3,500 per month. She had remarkable results for 3 months then suddenly out of the blue had an allergic reaction to the Remikaid injection which resulted in a severe form of anaphelactic shock called an 'anjay adima'( not sure if that's spelt right but it is a heating up and swelling of the head to about twice its size and she nearly died).
We then switched her to another drug in the family called Humira which also worked very well until she had a minor allergic reaction after about one and a half years.
We have now switched her to Enbrel injections in conjunction with Methotrexate injections and she has practically zero rheumatoid symptoms. She goes to pole dancing exercise classes, swims and is generally fit as a fiddle.
Throughout all of the three treatments her rheumatiod problems have been minimised. To make us even happier about it she is now being treated entirely at the cost of the Govt of United Arab Emirates. As the drugs alone are about US$ 4,000 per month, you can guess this is a much appreciated gesture to a non muslim British couple who at the end of the day are no more than working guests in their country.
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that is great!
That is great news! (The success of the medication and your hosts covering it.) It sounds like your lady is doing super.
I do take glucosamine and chondroitin along with MSM which are cheap supplements that I started taking long before the Enbrel. They take several months to be effective but I could tell within a few weeks of quitting taking them that they had been of benefit. I also take about 1800-2400mg of Ibuprofen a day which has some effect on the inflammation but is actually to deal with other issues. I wouldn't recommend adding Ibuprofen unless it wasn't an option but you might research and evaluate the glucosamine and chondrotin along with MSM. No side effects that I am aware of and it actually does some joint repair. These supplements are very inexpensive.
Hu
That is great news! (The success of the medication and your hosts covering it.) It sounds like your lady is doing super.
I do take glucosamine and chondroitin along with MSM which are cheap supplements that I started taking long before the Enbrel. They take several months to be effective but I could tell within a few weeks of quitting taking them that they had been of benefit. I also take about 1800-2400mg of Ibuprofen a day which has some effect on the inflammation but is actually to deal with other issues. I wouldn't recommend adding Ibuprofen unless it wasn't an option but you might research and evaluate the glucosamine and chondrotin along with MSM. No side effects that I am aware of and it actually does some joint repair. These supplements are very inexpensive.
Hu
memikey said:
Arthritis in thumbs and fingers of both hands but worse in my left. Cannot make a tight bridge anymore. Am going to open bridge and a new learning process. Bone spur in left shoulder that is slowly shredding my rotator cuff. These are the things that are really affecting what little game I have and bother me more than the cancers. Growing old is definitely not for sissies but pool still has moments that make one forget the bad.
I know the feeling. I am 41, but was diagnosed with rheaumatoid arthritis about 7 years ago. I don't think there is another disease that can make you feel 25 years older other than arthritis.ShootingArts said:
It is a very dibilitating disease, which I would not wish upon anyone.
However, with the right medication, it can become non-existant. I took methotrexate for a while, which was effective, but I didn't like the potential side affects to my liver. Therefore, I changed to Enbrel. Enbrel has been just as effective without the other complications that can occur with methotrexate.
Potassium deficiency has been said to cause rhuematoid arthritis. You can buy pure potassium chloride and mixed potassium and sodium chloride salt now in some stores. You are supposed to get much more potassium than sodium, at least 4 to 1 or greater from what I understand. Look at food labels and you'll see that unless you buy nothing but raw foods you are probably potassium deficient.
unknownpro
http://www.alternativehealth.co.nz/vitamins/Potassium.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis.html
unknownpro
http://www.alternativehealth.co.nz/vitamins/Potassium.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis.html
JoeW said:This is from a newsletter so I can't post a URL. Some of my friends here on AZB might find it of use. BTW, wear some form of sneakers when playing to cushion the joints. Hope this helps someone.
Yeah, I know, the kids don't call em sneakers anymore -- but we do.
What's New in Arthritis Diagnosis... Treatment... Living Well
John D. Clough, MD
Cleveland Clinic
New developments in medications and improvements in surgery have brightened the outlook for people with arthritis. While most forms of arthritis remain incurable, many can be made bearable or better.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for nearly 100 forms of joint ("arthr") inflammation ("itis") involving warmth, redness, tenderness, swelling, stiffness and pain ranging from annoying to disabling. To complicate matters, many conditions with similar symptoms -- and requiring different treatment -- can masquerade as arthritis.
Examples: Fibromyalgia (muscle pain)... osteoporosis (brittle bones)... side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs with names ending in "statin"... polymyalgia rheumatica, involving pain and stiffness in the hips or shoulders -- common after age 50 (especially in women) and highly treatable with prednisone (Deltasone) but a cause of blindness if untreated.
Surprises: A swollen knee, hip or pain in the spine may signal tuberculous arthritis from tuberculosis contracted years before. Mild, fleeting arthritis can result from rheumatic fever following strep throat.
Ideally, arthritis is identified in its early stages and treated aggressively before irreversible damage can occur. Lab tests narrow the possibilities, but for most forms of arthritis, no single test can confirm the diagnosis.
Best bet: See a rheumatologist -- a physician specializing in diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Later, an internist or a general practitioner given the diagnosis and treatment plan can oversee your care.
To find a rheumatologist, ask your doctor, local hospital, county medical association or a friend for recommendations... or search the American College of Rheumatology Web site, www.rheumatology.org. Look for board certification in both internal medicine and rheumatology.
THE BIG FIVE
Equipped with a diagnosis, learn about your form of arthritis. The vast majority (95%) of Americans with arthritis have one of five types...
Osteoarthritis. By far the most common form of arthritis in the US, osteoarthritis strikes more than half of people over age 65 and 80% of those over age 75.
What it is: Cartilage, which cushions the ends of the joint bones, disintegrates. The bones then rub together and can eventually wear out.
Most often affected: Neck, lower back, hips, knees, fingers, toes. Involvement in the ankle and elsewhere is usually triggered by an injury or surgery.
Osteo sufferers tend to take a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). In large amounts, these effective and seemingly innocuous over-the-counter drugs can be toxic, even deadly. Ask your doctor how much is safe for you.
Easier on the stomach: COX-2 inhibitors, which are selective NSAIDs that block prostaglandins -- hormones that cause joint inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors -- rofecoxib (Vioxx, withdrawn from the market in 2004), celecoxib (Celebrex) and valdecoxib (Bextra, withdrawn from the market in 2005) -- were welcomed with open arms in the late 1990s until a few patients had heart attacks or strokes.
You may still take a COX-2 inhibitor with your doctor's advice and monitoring. Or you may be advised to return to ibuprofen or naproxen.
Glucosamine and chondroitin, sold without a prescription, are among the building blocks of cartilage. Some osteoarthritis sufferers say that these supplements help. With your doctor's approval, you can try them if you want.
When meds no longer quell osteoarthritis pain, a trade-in may be the answer. Hip and knee replacement surgery, performed for more than 30 years, has advanced dramatically. Shoulder replacement has long been a possibility, as has elbow replacement -- although the latter is not usually as successful.
On the horizon: Wrist and ankle replacement. Meanwhile, many people with osteoarthritis of the ankle are getting good results with ankle fusion, in which some ankle joints are fused together. The ankle contains so many joints that range of motion remains good.
Rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system goes haywire, attacking joints throughout the body.
Results: Pain, deformity and disability.
The most exciting developments in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis and some other forms of arthritis are new drugs that fight inflammation. The remarkable tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors block a type of protein called a cytokine that triggers inflammation when present in large amounts.
TNF inhibitors are expensive but covered by Medicare Part B. They include infliximab (Remicade), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1999, and adalimumab (Humira), approved for use in advanced rheumatoid arthritis in 2002 and in psoriatic arthritis and early rheumatoid arthritis in 2005. Remicade is given intravenously in a health-care facility every six to eight weeks. Humira is self-injected every two weeks.
Another effective TNF inhibitor is etanercept (Enbrel), approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis in 1998 and in psoriatic arthritis in 2002. Etanercept requires an injection under the skin that can be given at home.
Gout. Remember Jiggs, from the comic strip "Bringing Up Father," whose hassock-supported, bandaged foot radiated lightning bolts of pain? He had gout, a form of arthritis in which uric acid accumulates in the blood and crystallizes in a joint -- often, but not always, the ball of the big toe -- causing excruciating pain.
The best drug for lowering uric acid is allopurinol (Zyloprim). Anti-inflammatories such as indomethacin (Indocin) and, in chronic cases, drugs such as probenecid (Benemid, Probalan) that reduce the level of uric acid in the blood do wonders for gout.
Diet may help. Restrict foods containing high levels of purine, a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound that produces uric acid crystals. Limit alcohol... organ meats (liver, kidneys,)... game fowl (duck, goose)... dried legumes (lentils, chickpeas)... and some seafood (scallops, sardines, shrimp, herring). For a free brochure called "Gout," with a list of food to avoid, contact the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org, 800-568-4045).
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies. These half dozen conditions involve the spine.
Among the most common: Ankylosing spondylitis, which causes back pain and stiffness, worst in the early morning... psoriatic arthritis, which is developed by about 20% of people with psoriasis and which responds well to TNF alpha inhibitors and to the cancer drug rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Arthritis is the primary symptom of lupus, a dysfunction of the autoimmune system.
Relief: Prednisone, a corticosteroid... cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), a cancer drug... and several other medications. These allow many lupus patients to live fairly normal lives with minimal problems.
GET MOVING
Formerly, because it hurts to move, people with arthritis sat still and got steadily worse. We now know that inactivity is a mistake. For most people with arthritis, careful exercise is recommended to keep limbs limber.
Physical and occupational therapy have an important part.
Joe, your information is impressive. I read all of it although some of it pased me by but I did make a relationship with my Stat drug (Lovastatin) for lowering my cholesterol. I remember that prior to taking Lovastatin I had no arthritis. I've been taking it for several years now. Just a coincidence? Idoubt it.
Thanks,
JoeyA