Arthritis and Animal Assisted Therapy

Arthritis and Animal Assisted Therapy
By Echo Wang

Do you know that animals can help people with arthritis? It is true. Many people suffer from arthritis each day and with the help of a pet, they can get the emotional and the mental support that they need to get them through. It is amazing at what a person can get help with and when they are serious about recovering, they will be able to get back on track with the help of their pets.

Having arthritis is going to be very hard for many people. It is something that is very frustrating because a person is not going to have the movement that they once had before. It is sometimes going to be difficult to do the things that they once did and it is painful to say the least. Sometimes a person will want to have animal assisted therapy so that they can get the recovery that they want and make sure that they are on the right track with their rehabilitation.

When a person is suffering from arthritis pain in their hands, having a dog or cat to brush can sometimes help a lot. With the use of a good pet, brushing them out from time to time or on a daily basis can be a great source of treatment. It is nice to be able to move the hands in a motion that will make the person feel good and also allow them the opportunity to make the dog feel better too. This is a good way to get started with a great recovery process for any person that wants to get their feeling back and do the things that they once did.

Many people have arthritis pain in their joints like the leg or arms. Having an animal assisted therapy program to help with this is a great resource. A person can enjoy taking the pet for a walk and getting out to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine from time to time. It is a great excuse to be moving around and getting the good exercise that is so important to a fast and speedy recovery no matter what the pain is coming from. When a person is faced with the fear that they will lose mobility, they can turn to the animal assisted therapy program to get their arthritis under control and help them cope with the pain.

Having options is the best idea that anyone can have in their life when they are dealing with arthritis. Getting the right type of treatment is going to make it possible to get on the right path and make sure that a body is moving and motivated so that the healing process can be possible for any type of person. Arthritis is something that can happen to a person of any age, old or young. It is always a good idea to have options and to think about the good that can come from an animal assisted therapy program.

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What Can Be Done for Back Pain Due to Arthritis?

What Can Be Done for Back Pain Due to Arthritis?
By Tim Gorman

Many arthritis sufferers will at some point have to ask their doctor what can be done for back pain due to arthritis? Back pain is a very debilitating condition and can have a very negative affect on all aspects of the sufferers daily living. Even a simple task can suddenly be a major operation and going to the local supermarket to shop or going to work can just be darn near impossible due to the pain involved.

A great deal of the suffering caused by back pain is through the patients inability to sleep. This more than anything can leave them in a state of despair and unable to decide or logically think out what to do in order to get better. Many arthritis experts believe that it is much better to do some careful exercising and stretching rather than trying to avoid doing anything. The general consensus is that being immobile might cause more long-term pain then trying to move. Your arthritis doctor or specialist should be able to provide you with a good system where you can start off with some very simple and basic movements, and then gradually move on to some more vigorous exercises.

Diet is a very popular subject these days and some people wonder what can be done for back pain due to arthritis through the use of a well balanced diet. It is widely thought that it may be possible to use nutrition to help alleviate the pain caused by arthritis in your back region. Although it is not really possible to say that any particular food can help the back pain, it is thought to be a real possibility that diet can play a major role in helping to control and alleviate some of the symptoms. Eating a good diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will have a good affect on your health and may well help some of the symptoms of arthritis.

When you are starting to feel the first symptoms of discomfort and need to know what can be done for back pain due to arthritis quickly then you are probably thinking about the use of painkillers. There are many drugs that are used to treat back pain brought about by arthritis. Some doctor's recommend drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen as they also have anti-inflammatory properties that can be a great benefit to the sufferer. Analgesics are also used for this type of back pain and can also be used together with the anti-inflammatory drugs.

It is very important that when wondering what can be done for back pain due to arthritis, you seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist before deciding on a course of treatment for relief from your back pain. That way you can be sure that you are getting the best pain relief and the best treatment that is appropriate for your condition with the proper medical guidance.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Health-Fitness-Solutions.com. He provides more arthritis relief tips and information on what can be done for back pain due to arthritis that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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Arthritis Cure It Now At a Cost That May Surprise You!

Arthritis - Cure It Now At a Cost That May Surprise You!
By Sacha Tarkovsky

Arthritis is a debilitating disease that causes severe physical pain and emotional turmoil for millions of people who suffer with it.

Many do nothing about it, simply because they feel the cost of joint replacement surgery is too high.

Prices for corrective joint surgery, however has fallen dramatically in price making them more affordable than ever and surgery is available at a cost of around 70% less than surgery in the US and Europe, in India.

Joint replacement is now affordable at 75% less than in the US or UK!

A hip or knee replacement for example, would cost around 20,000 dollars in the US, but in India costs just $4,500.

While the cost may be competitive there is no difference in the quality of treatment.

Many patients from Europe and the US are now traveling to India to have joint replacement surgery done, are saving enough money to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime and still have money left over!

Before we look at the standard of care in India for joint replacement surgery, lets look at the devastating affect arthritis can have:

What is arthritis?

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, all of which affect one or several joints in the body.

The word arthritis comes from the Greek words, arth meaning joint and inflammation.

Arthritis effectively means inflammation of a joint, which is not strictly true of the condition as in many kinds of arthritis the joint is not actually inflamed or swollen, but the pain is still there.

The consequences of arthritis

The affects of arthritis can be devastating:

70% of patients with Arthritis show evidence of radiographic changes within only 3 years.

50% of patients with arthritis are disabled and unable to work within 10 years.

In the long term, the major consequences of Arthritis include:

Joint deformity, joint misalignment, disability, emotional trauma and even premature death.

India the leader in medical tourism

The onset of cheap mass travel has opened up India to many patients who can now travel to have their surgery done at competitive cost.

Traveling to another country for treatment is referred to as medical tourism.

This is now a multi billion pound industry worldwide and India is the world leader in medical tourism and 500,000 medical tourists traveled to India in 2005 alone.

Heres why:

Cost of Treatment

With costs far lower than in Europe and the US for operations such as joint replacement, India is of interest to anyone wanting this surgery.

Cost however is not the only consideration; patients want quality care and treatment.

Quality of facilities

The quality of Indian private hospitals is on par with any in the world, as are success rates for operations.

Quality of medical experience

Indian medical doctors and nurses are known worldwide for their expertise and professionalism, giving medical tourism in India credibility among overseas patients.

Quick Access to surgery

One of the huge advantages of medical tourism is the quick access to surgery and cutting out the emotional stress of long waiting lists.

Holiday options

A byproduct, but one that is appealing, is to relax after surgery in one of the largest, most beautiful and diverse countries in the world.

When you look at the facts:

Low cost, quality facilities, expert care and the opportunity to see a different country, it is no wonder more people are considering joint replacement in India and a wide array of other treatments.

Medical tourism is growing in popularity and if you suffer from arthritis and need joint replacement therapy, you should consider what India has to offer.

For more information

On arthritus and joint replacement surgery as well as a number of other treatments available via medical tourism packages to India, please visit out website:

http://www.meddetour.com

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What is Arthritis? A Definition

What is Arthritis? A Definition
By Wendy Owen

Arthritis is known to affect around forty percent of the Americans and over fifty percent of the people globally. This is one disease that is responsible for the maximum amount of pain worldwide and thousands of dollars have been spent on pain relief medications because of this.

Arthritis is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind which could date back to thousands of years in fact the Romans were believed to have built the roman baths for therapeutic reasons other than hygiene as the hot water baths were used by ancient Romans to ease the pains associated with arthritis.

The word arthritis is a blend of the ancient Greek word arthron which translated literally means joint and the word it is which means inflammation the disease being inflammation of the joint.

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease disorder, which causes inflammation, pain and stiffness of the joints and connective tissues. This may be accompanied by redness, swelling and warmth of the joints, which are medically identified as signs of inflammation of the joints.

Connective tissues are a set of supporting tissues for the joints typical examples of connective tissue being cartilages, tendons, ligaments and muscles. Arthritis is a wide spectrum of disease conditions that include well over one hundred diseases predominantly those of Rheumatoid Arthritis which can occur at any age and Osteoarthritis which usually occurs after sixty years of age.

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is known to occur due to a disorder of the immune system and usually continues throughout life with periods of remission (characterized by total absence of disease symptoms) and exacerbation (with increasing severity of disease). The disease is known to occur more often in women as compared to men.

Arthritis is known to present in a variety of ways such as some arthritic conditions are chronic while others are intermittent such as Gout. The arthritic conditions are either inflammatory or degenerative. The inflammatory form of arthritis is characterized by the presence of swelling, redness and warmth of the involved joints while the degenerative form of arthritis is best identified as having a small element of inflammation and being predominantly degenerative which is best known for the wearing out of the cartilages lining the joints.

Simply put, arthritis can be defines as any inflammation of the joint and could either be chronic or short term in duration. There is no simple cure for arthritis, however there are many natural remedies available which can ease the severity of arthritis symptoms and effect a repair on cartilage.

Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen

Visit http://www.natural-arthritis-medication.com your resource for information on natural remedies for arthritis. The author Wendy Owen is a health writer and researcher. Join our list and receive a free 6 part arthritis mini course

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What You Should Know About Arthritis

What You Should Know About Arthritis
By Robert Thatcher

Should the person experience some muscle pain which lasts more than 2 or 3 days, there is a strong chance that one has arthritis.

Arthritis is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This can be felt in the persons joints, skin and organs inside the body. Should the person feel anything wrong, it is advisable to go straight to the doctor.

Doctors have discovered that there are over 100 types of arthritis. Given the number, the doctor will not be able to know which one is affecting the person without an examination.

There are 2 common forms of arthritis. The first is rheumatoid arthritis which is considered a chronic disease. There is inflammation in the joints caused by cartilage damage. Anyone who has this will suffer long term joint damage that will lead to chronic pain and disability. Pain is usually felt when waking up in the morning and will gradually disappear during the day.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that will not go away. This happens in three stages. The first is swelling. The second is the rapid division and growth of cells. The third is when these cells release enzymes that will eat the bone causing the joint to lose shape until the person will not be able to move it anymore.

Since this is systemic disease, it can spread and affect other organs in the body. The best way to prevent is from happening is detecting it early to prevent the person from being disabled.

This can be treated with proper medication and therapy. There many drugs available that the patient can use. Some drugs offer pain relief to reduce the inflammation. Others can just do one function.

The second is called osteoarthritis. This happens more often than rheumatoid arthritis but unlike the first, there is no inflammation present. The cartilage in the joint is damaged and will eventually degenerate. Pain will slightly be felt when the person gets up but this will hurt later on during the day.

Osteoarthritis can either be primary or secondary. When it is primary, it is often associated with age. It is similar to a car where the parts have to be replaced due to wear and tear. Doctors consider this to be normal as people grow older.

The secondary type is often associated with something else that has caused this to happen. Some of these factors are an injury that took place, heredity, obesity and bone density.

Osteoarthritis can be treated with medication, exercise, weight control, joint protection, physical and occupational therapy. This is done to relieve the pain and slow the progression of the disease.

Both of these are caused by different things. The common thing between these 2 types is that joint pain can happen anywhere in the body.

Given the many medications available to treat this disease, the patient has to be aware of the side effects of each before choosing which one to use. The doctor should explain these to the person in order to make the right decision.

Arthritis and its different forms will not go away. Since this is an insurable disease, the best thing that the doctor and others can do until a cure if found is to help the patient ease the pain the slow the growth of the disease.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides arthritis resources on http://www.your-arthritis-resources.info

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Arthritis Drugs Is the Cure Worse Than the Disease?

Arthritis Drugs - Is the Cure Worse Than the Disease?
By Wendy Owen

Research is always ongoing into new and better medications for arthritis which is a very good thing. But where is all this leading us?

Of course we need effective pain medication for arthritis to enable sufferers to live normal lives. But are all these expensive medications controlling the disease or simply masking the symptoms?

Heres a quick and dirty lowdown on whats currently available both over the counter (OTC) and on prescription only.

For mild cases of arthritis -

Some milder cases of arthritis never make it into the doctors surgery. Indeed the sufferer might not even be aware that they are suffering from arthritis at all. They may be feeling a few aches and pains which they put down to old age or even the cold damp weather.

That may be all well and good, but even OTC medications can be dangerous if taken over a long period of time. The concept of more is better can also happen if the pain gradually becomes worse. This can lead to serious side effects.

OTC medications include aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications can cause intestinal bleeding and kidney damage in large doses. Aspirin also destroys vitamin C in the body leading to lower immunity.

For More Advanced Arthritis-

By this stage most people have consulted their doctor. Prescription medication at this stage normally consists of the Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS. These do target the pain and inflammation of arthritis symptoms but have a range of side effects including stomach upset, abdominal pain, and ulcers.

People with high blood pressure, those with kidney problems and especially people who have heart problems are especially at risk with NSAIDS.

Enter the COX-2 inhibitors. These have been designed for people whose stomach problems cannot tolerate the above. Unfortunately the risks remain for chest pain, heart attack and stroke victims.

For Advanced Arthritis-

For those suffering extreme pain and swelling the medical profession brings out the heavy artillery - Corticosteroids. These drugs contain man made cortisone and can be injected directly into the affected joints or taken orally.

Long term use of these can produce sleep problems, weight gain, osteoporosis and loss of immunity. Also available to those for whom nothing else seems to work are Biologic Response Modifiers (Biologics). Biologics are derived from live sources, plants and animals and are not manufactured chemically. They are mainly used for sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis and are given intravenously or by injection. They cant be taken in tablet form.

Biologics suppress the immune system which leaves people prone to infections. They are also very expensive and cant be stored without freezing.

Also available mainly to Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers are Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) These work by stopping the immune system from attacking the joints. DMARDS may take up to three months to reduce symptoms but they do help to stop joint damage even though they cant repair any previous damage.

Although these drugs are a boon to many, they work mainly at masking the symptoms of arthritis and cant reverse the damage already caused. Most people thinks this is impossible, it isnt!

Natural treatments for arthritis do exist and can significantly stop some cases of arthritis, relieve pain and inflammation and in some cases, reverse joint damage.

Definitely worth a try!

Copyright 2005 Wendy Owen

Find out about the healthy way to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and fibromylagia. Visit:http://www.natural-arthritis-medication.com and sign up for our 6 part course. Wendy Owen is a health researcher and author.

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When Treating Arthritis There are Definite Foods to Avoid and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat

When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat
By Paul Newland

Foods to Avoid

You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium.

Reduce your intake of:

red meat, red-fleshed fish

most grains, especially wheat.

Eliminate:

soft drinks high in phosphoric acid

organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat especially high in phosphorus

caffeine - increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients

fried foods and vegetable oil - a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse

sugar results in poor absorption of nutrients

antacids neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation.

Arthritis Foods

The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure.Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds - to name a few. Milk isnt a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones.

Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots all these make great arthritis foods. Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish.

Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods.

Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. Its also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body.

Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure. Essential Fatty Acids are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the bodys natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6).

Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source.

Final Note on Arthritis Foods

While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements.

Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium its supposed to have, sad but true!

If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or cant get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet.

Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

The use of a digestive enzyme supplement will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis.

Summary

1.Avoid foods high in phosphorus particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil.

2.Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids.

3.Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish.

4.Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements.

Copyright http://www.Global-Longevity.com

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and manages the Global-Longevity.com website. He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Antioxidant Report, The Selenium Report, The Bird Flu Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Essential Fatty Acid Report and The Ultimate Sports Nutrition Guide - available Free (for a limited time) through Global-Longevity.com

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