Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is not uncommon in elderly people but it’s possible to slow its progress or reverse it. A chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint and muscle pains which come and go in an unpredictable way. One day you can feel fine and the next you can feel severe pain in your joints or muscles.

A classic picture of rheumatoid arthritis patient is as follows : I can no longer walk run or play. It is difficult for me to get out of bed. I get up sleepy, it last all the day. I go to bed still feeling the same. The pain in my body never goes away. My brain is in a fog. My memory is week. My legs, they are crawling, and i am so tired but i just can't sleep. Simple task you say to mop and sweep will take all day and my poor body all it will pay. I am cranky sad and depressed, hell some days i can't even dress myself. My arms weight a ton and my legs even more, my bellies hurts badly and my back is so sore. This is my life sad and in pain. It makes me so mad, driving me insane.

80% of RA patients are between 35 to 50 years of age. Women are 3 times more likely to develop RA than men. 70% of RA patient have wrist and hand problem.

Introduction

Although many people believe that rheumatoid arthritis only affects adults, the disease can also affect infants and specially toddlers. However the disease is  not very common in pediatric practice. 

In a typical case , a toddler starts complaining of pain in one or more  joints. The pain is more marked  on getting up in the morning. Characteristically, the affected joint feels stiff in the early hours of the day and this stiffness becomes  less marked as the day progresses. The affected joints becomes swollen. They are hot to touch. The classical presentation is swelling of the small joints of both hands. But in about half of cases, only one big joint  like the knee or ankle may be involved. The heart is usually spared.

Keep in close touch with doctor  because the treatment may have to be prolonged. Fortunately, most cases recover completely, though, some may grow into severe arthritis or cause damage to the eyes.

Rheumatoid arthritis attack fingers,wrist, distil interphalangeal joint (DIP) joints, metacarpal phalengeal joint (MCP) joints, PIP joints. Ankle joints, tarsal joints, MTP joints. Elbow joints, shoulder joint, hip joint, knee joint etc.

Unani

According to Unani 

At times, accumulated phelgm, can also lead to joint pain, which usually occurs as a reduction of the fluid between the joints (synovial fluid). A few causes of this condition are

• Extreme cold
• Increase of phelgm in the body
• Cold climate
• Cold temperament

Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Stage 1 : The body mistakenly attack its own joint tissue.
• Stage 2 : The body makes the antibodies and the joints starts swelling up.
• Stage 3 : The joints stats becoming bent and deformed, the fingers become crooked. These mis-happen joints can press on the nerves and can cause nerve pain as well.
• Stage 4 : If not treated the disease will progress to the last stage in which there is no joint remaining at all and the joint is essentially fused.

Clinical manifestation of RA

• Musculoskeletal : Joint, tendon, bursa, muscle and bone
• Skin : Rheumatoid nodules, vascular lesions.
• Neurological : Entrapment neuropathy, cervical myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, Mono neuritis multiplex.
• Ocular : Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, scleritis, scleromalasia perforance.
• Pulmonary : Prenchymal lung disease, pleural disease, airways disease, complications of DMARDS.(disease modified antiheumatic drug)
• Vascular : Rheumatoid vasculitis, Raynaud's, atherosclerosis.
• Cardiac : Coronary artery disease, pericarditis.
• Renal : Tubulo-intestitial nephritis, Amyloid, Membranous glomerulonephritis, 
• Gastrointestinal : Oesophegitis, gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease.
• Hematological : Anemia, thrombocytosis, Felty's syndrome.

Symptoms

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness that is  often symmetrical
• Pain often starts in fingers and toes and spreads to other joints.
• Joints look red and discolored
• Pain in the big toe
• Swelling (swollen wrist)
• Inflammation
• Morning stiffness
• Deformity and contractures of joints
• Redness 
• Joints feel warm to touch.
• Fatigue : Weakness due to anemia caused by low red.blood cell count
• Nodules or lumps particularly around the elbows
• Foot pain, bunions, and hammer toes with long standing disease.
• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Disrupted sleep
• Low grade fever
• Depression & mood changes.
• Dry eyes and mouth
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Cyst with loss of appetite
• A hearing loss between RA is seen.

Diagnosis

• X-ray
• Blood test for Hemoglobin, C reactive protein (C.R.P) AND erythrocyte sedimentation rate.(ESR)

Causes

• Salt is a cause of headache, insomnia, sinuses,epilepsy, rheumatoid,arthritis and even cancer.

Risk

• Age
• Lifestyle
• Pollution
• Heredity

Complication 

• Heart attack
• Stroke

Exercise

For Rheumatoid Arthritis relief these exercises : 

1 . Thumb Stretch

Thumb Stretch

Start with your hand in a neutral, relaxed position with your fingers and thumb straightened. Next, bend your thumb across your palm, touching the tip of your thumb to the bottom of your small finger. If you can't make your thumb touch, just stretch as far as you can. Return your thumb to the starting position. Repeat this exercise multiple times with each hand.

2 . Knuckle Bend

Knuckle Bend

Hand exercises can help improve joint flexibility and range of motion in people who have arthritis. Start by holding your hand and fingers straight and close together. Bend the end and middle joints of your fingers. Keep your knuckles straight. Moving slowly and smoothly, return your hand to the starting position. If you can, perform multiple repetitions of this exercise on each hand.

3 . Fist Stretch

Fist Stretch

Start by holding your hand and fingers straight and close together, as if for a handshake — with your forearm, wrist and hand resting on a tabletop or other flat surface. Close your fingers into a gentle fist, wrapping your thumb around the outside of your fingers. Don't squeeze. Moving slowly and smoothly, return your hand to the starting position and then repeat the exercise multiple times on each hand.

4 . Thumb Stabilization

Thumb Stabilization

Start by holding your hand and fingers straight and close together, as if for a handshake — with your forearm, wrist and hand resting on a tabletop or other flat surface. Close your fingers into a gentle fist, wrapping your thumb around the outside of your fingers. Don't squeeze. Moving slowly and smoothly, return your hand to the starting position and then repeat the exercise multiple times on each hand.

5 . Finger Tip Touch

Finger Tip Touch

Start with holding your hand and fingers straight and close together. Form an O shape by touching your thumb to each fingertip. Moving slowly and smoothly, touch your index finger to your thumb, then follow with your middle, ring and small fingers. Repeat this exercise multiple times with each hand.

6 . Finger Walk

Finger Walk

Rest your hand on a flat surface, such as a tabletop, with your palm facing down. Move your thumb away from your hand. Beginning with your index finger, move it up and toward your thumb. Follow with moving your middle, ring and small fingers one at a time up and toward your thumb. Repeat this exercise multiple times with each hand.

Finger tip touch

Make an O

Mudra

Apana Vayu Mudra

This mudra can save a person from 'heart attack', hence a mudra is called Sanjeevani Mudra, one that gives life to a dying person. This mudra gives instant results and the pain is reduced immediately.

Formation :

This is combination of two Mudras Vayu and Apana. From Vayu mudra by placing the tip of index finger at the base of the thumb and then form Apana Mudra by joining tip of the thumbs with the middle and ring fingers.

Effects :

There is combined effect of Vayu mudra and Apana Mudra. Vayu mudra relieves the pain instantly and Apana mudra maintains space to reinforce blood circulation to the heart. 

Benefits: 

• This mudra cures- Arthritis, Spondylitis, Parkinson and Paralysis,

Perform Apana Vayu Mudra-

1. When there is sleeplessness.
2. When there is over exertion.
3. When there is stress.
4. When climbing staircases and hills.
5. When there is crises.

Diet

A plant based diet for RA helps in improving  gut bacteria composition. It reduces excess body weight. It helps in relieving pain and inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory foods

Diet tips

Avoid nightshade foods

Switch to vegetarian food

Green tea

Anti-oxidants

                                              "Consult a Rheumatologist."

Treatment

Allopathy

• N.A.S.I.A.D
• Corticosteroids
• Physiotherapy
• Herbal supplements
• Omega oil
• Avoid allergic food
• Eat calcium in natural form i.e.Spinach

• Management : Reduce excess body weight
• Exercise
• Limit alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Anti rheumatic drug
• Dietary supplements 
• Surgery

Massage to reverse the rheumatoid Arthritis

Massage with sweet-smelling oils is a great way to reduce stress. It’s particularly effective if you have a flare-up of joint pain. Receiving massage regularly will help you send your arthritis into remission.

Exercise & Physical Therapy

One of the main proven treatments to reverse rheumatoid arthritis is exercises and physical therapy. It’s safe and effective when done properly, and under the supervision of a physical therapist. It can build up your strength to help you better control and manage your joint or muscle pain. Physical therapy can be active or passive and both kinds can help ease any flare-ups. Passive therapy is when someone else, such as a therapist, does most of the work, as in massage. Active therapy is when you do most of the work such as in muscle-strengthening exercises. 

Remember, though, that it’s important that you to talk to your rheumatologist before starting such treatments to reverse rheumatoid arthritis. Gentle exercises, such as walking, swimming or yoga, can be beneficial in alleviating pain and building up your muscle strength. Exercise helps deliver oxygen to the joints, brain, and muscles and has the added advantage of making you feel good.

As with any physical therapy, talk to your doctor first to ensure that you don’t do yourself any harm.

Probiotic to reverse Rheumatoid Arthritis

As with most ailments your diet is very important. Probiotics are living microorganisms and provide health benefits when taken in the right amounts. They help colonize your gut with health-friendly bacteria. You find them in a range of different foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh and kimchi.

One type of probiotic is kombucha, a fermented mixture of yeast and bacteria taken in the form of a tea.

Certain types of yeast can also act like probiotics. That’s because different probiotics address different health conditions. Talk to your nutritionist or doctor. They also need to ensure that that they don’t react with any medication you may be taking.

Supplements can also contain probiotics (not be confused with prebiotics—dietary fibers to promote a healthy gut). Some supplements contain a range of different probiotics. Again, seek advice from a nutritionist if you want to reverse rheumatoid arthritis.

Other Supplements and Magnesium oil

These include joint supplements which can help and are beneficial for the joints. Common joint supplements that may assist you include glucosamine, chondroitin (a building block of cartilage) and the well-known pain reliever, turmeric.

Magnesium oil is a mixture of magnesium chloride flakes and water. Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have been found to benefit from its application to painful joints.

Apply magnesium oil regularly if you want to reverse rheumatoid arthritis.

Relieve Pain

Hot or cold compresses or packs can also help relieve rheumatoid arthritis-related aches and pains. Headaches, for example, can be treated by applying a hot or cold pack to the neck or forehead. Likewise, people who have had surgery can benefit from such treatments.

Pain in joints and muscles can occur in the hip, knee, back, shoulder or feet. Hot or cold packs are easily applied to these areas and are a safe and effective pain reliever.

Naturopathy

• 1:1:1:1 Ratio. Turmeric, Fenugreek seeds powder, Dry ginger powder & Ajwain powder. Take 1teaspooful Morning and evening with water for eight days.

Unani

A few remedies :

• Castor leaves 1-2
• Castor oil 3 tbsp
• Mustard seeds 2 tbsp

Castor leaves are heated on a pan and are smeared with castor oil, which has been heated with mustard seeds and the leaves are tied around the affected areas (usually knee joints) like a bandage and left overnight.. This relieves a pain quite an extent.

Roghan e kafoor

Olive oil 1/2 cup

Camphor 1 tbsp

Camphor mixed with olive oil is warmed on a pan and application of an oil on the affected parts provides pain relief and comfort to the patient as this oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

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