pain

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Natural Treatments for Arthritis


Cherries - an aid to pain reliefIt has been estimated that more than 50% of people with arthritis have tried some kind of natural or alternative treatment for the condition.

There are over 100 different types of arthritis including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout. Each of them affects the body in different ways.

The objective of this blog is to have a look at some of the alternative treatments for arthritis and to get feedback from our readers as to how effective these natural therapies are.    We can only cover some of the treatments in a blog post like this so it would be great if you use the comments box below to add any suggestions you might have for alternative therapies for arthritis.  and to  share your experiences of how effective they are.

So here goes:-

a)      Diet as a way of treating arthritis pain.  For more information please have a look at our previous blog on the subject  https://patienttalk.org/?p=507

b)      Similarly diet can help with inflammation.  Check out our other blog on the subject here https://patienttalk.org/?p=468

c)       Yoga and similar exercises such as Tai Chi.  Exercise is important for people with any kind of arthritis.  Low impact exercise like this helps improve both balance and muscle strength.

d)      Acupuncture seems for some to be a way of dealing with the pain.

e)      Supplements are available but please check with your doctor before using them as they might have an effect on the conventional medications you use.  These supplements can include Chondroitin sulphate and Glucosamine sulphate.

f)       Famously it has been thought that wearing a copper bracelet can help with some of the arthritic symptoms.

As we said before it would be great if you could tell us your arthritis story below.  Please add any links you think may be of use to other readers.  What have you tried and how did it work for you?  You may wish to consider some of the following questions when you make your comments:-

1)      What kind of arthritis do you have and how long have you had it?

2)      What conventional treatments have you used and how effective were they?

3)      Have you used natural treatments and how well did they work?

4)      What was the reaction of your healthcare providers to your use of natural remedies?

Thanks very much in advance.


17 Comments Posted on Patient Talk

Chronic pain! How do you explain chronic pain to your family and friends?

Fibromyalgia

Pain

Chronic pain!  Chronic pain exists for millions of reasons and changes lives in thousands of ways.  Having been involved in healthcare research for many years talking to people who live each day with chronic pain we have realised that one of the really big issues is being able  to explain what it is like to family and friends.

Chronic pain can come from a wide range of different medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, diabetes and arthritis. You may find some of our previous blogs on chronic pain and pain management of interest.  Please have a look at them here at https://patienttalk.org/?tag=pain-management.

People with chronic pain describe their struggles in many different ways.  “My family think I’m lazy because I can’t move” and “I cry when no one else can see”.  Many hate the side effects of the medications such as drowsiness.  Countless people with chronic pain never seem to get a decent night`s sleep which limits  what they can achieve each day.  For many being understood by others is a daily struggle!

The aim of this blog is to provide a space for our readers to share  their experiences of trying to explain life with chronic pain to their families and friends.. Anything you wish to share with fellow readers would be of immense value. However you may wish to consider some of the following questions:

  1. What is the primary medical condition behind your chronic pain?
  2. What are your main symptoms of chronic pain? How long have you been suffering from chronic pain?
  3. How did friends and loved ones initially react to your pain?
  4. How did you try to explain life with chronic pain to them?
  5. Do you feel today they understand you and your life with pain?
  6. If you had to give one piece of advice for somebody who has just started their chronic pain journey what would it be?

Please feel free to use the comments box below to add anything you feel maybe of interest to our readers. This could include links to your blogs or web sites which have helped you in the past.

Many thanks in advance.

8 Comments Posted on Pain Management, Patient Talk

Foods that can fight pain – How your diet can help with pain!

Cherries - an aid to pain reliefWe all know that a healthy diet is important for over all wellness.  But did you know using certain foods can have a real impact on your pain levels?   A healthy diet may therefore be a great way of supplementing your medications as a way of managing your pain.

So what should you include?  We thought that we would research the matter and give you a list of ten great food stuffs which are not just healthy but a great weapon in the war against pain.

1)      Cherries seem to be the number one in many nutritionists’ lists.  Cherries contain a chemical called anthocyanin which can reduce both pain and inflammation.  Tart cherry is particularly recommended.  Tart cherry extract is also recommended as the best way of using cherries.

2)      Turmeric is also great for pain.  Find out other reasons to use turmeric in your cooking in our blog exclusively about this wonder spice – https://patienttalk.org/?p=260

3)      Walnuts.  Both fresh walnuts and walnut oils are rich in omega oils which help fight pain.

4)      Salmon and other oily fish.  For the same reasons.

5)      Ginger.  Turns out that ginger may have similar properties to ibuprofen.  You can use ginger tea as well.

6)      Yogurt.  A great way off fighting the pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome.  This is because of the bacteria contained in live yogurt.

7)      Coffee.  Good news for must espresso fans.  Dilated blood vessels can cause headaches which in turn can be narrowed by caffeine.  It may also amplify the effects of other pain medications.

8)      Chilli peppers.  Capsaicin (the active ingredient) simulates our nerve endings and this helps to stop some of the chemicals which cause pain.

9)      Green tea.  Green tea helps reduce pain by being an anti-inflammatory!

10)   Wine.  This is great news at least for me.  The resveratrol in wine (and in fact in grapes) operates in a way not dissimilar to aspirin.  Hooray!

So all in all pretty good because we don’t need to go the path of “worthy food” to alleviate pain through diet.

Now it’s over to you.  Can you help at all?  Do you have any recipes which you think may be great ways of using food to fight pain?  Have you tried an anti-pain diet?  How did it work? Do you have any recommendations for foods which can be part of our reader’s pain management practice?

 

 

jevemor104 MarieDobbsBrasseit make sure when you buy the turmeric capsules, that they are selling you the cucumin (sp) capsule, which is the part of turmeric that actually helps with pain. Plain turmeric won’t do much. Hope that helps
LisaFinnell Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame cause increased pain if used regularly, so limit this or remove altogether.
Apple cider vinegar is extremely helpful for arthritis pain
VioletJet Interesting. I’ll have to investigate if any of these have adverse reactions for people on (blood thinners). Will be trying the ones that don’t interfere.
mtemmthompson29 I love and eat all of these things on a regular basis I did not realise they would help my pain
IzzyW Blueberries. Also I find dried cherries really helpful.
AnneHanessian I’ve heard from a reputable source (Ph.D. In biochemistry…) that Chamomile tea (“fresh leaves”) have anti inflammatory properties.
MarieDobbsBrasseit Okay, wine is out cause I’m on too many maedicatiins (not just pain meds)…..i bought Turmeric Capsules and Ginger and Milk Thistle for liver cleansing. Can’t tell a difference yet, but I’m trying! Thanks for the article! Very informative
11 Comments Posted on Patient Talk

An Arthritis Blog – Symptoms of Osteoarthritis and its effects on lifestyle.

Joint Pain Management - Arthritis

Joint Pain Management – Arthritis

My mother has arthritis. Had it for years.  Osteoporosis as well.  It’s not too bad she says – but she has been in pain for forty odd years to I think she might be wrong.  But then again she is comparing herself with her mother who spend over 50 years battling with RA.  My grandmother pretty much could not use her hand in the last decade of her life so perhaps Mum has a point.

A lot of us associate arthritis with getting older so we thought it would be useful to give you a brief guide to the signs and symptoms of arthritis.  So forewarned is forearmed.

In fact arthritis covers over 100 different medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout.  Here we focus on osteoarthritis which is the most common and is often referred to as just arthritis.  Its social impact cannot be underestimated.  In the USA maybe 20,000,000 have some kind of disability relatedto arthritis.

The core feature of arthritis is that it involves inflammation of the joints which as any person with arthritis will tell can be incredibly painful.

  • So obviously joint pain is a key indicator
  • Also swelling around the joints.
  • Joint stiffness
  • Fatigue is very common with arthritis of all kinds

If you feel you have any or all of these symptoms it is vital that you see a physician as soon as possible.

We ran a recent blog on arthritis treatments which may prove of interest.  You can access it by clicking here https://patienttalk.org/?p=434.

Another part of this blog is to look at how arthritis affects people’s lifestyles.  This is where you come in.  It would be great if you could share your stories about changes in lifestyle with other readers.  You may find it useful to consider the following questions:-

1)      At what age did you first notice signs of arthritis?

2)      How long did it take you to get diagnosed?

3)      How did it affect your life/work balance?

4)      What treatments have you used?

5)      What single household or other gadget has helped you overcome the challenges presented by arthritis?

6)      Is there any advice you would like to share with other readers?

Please think of these as a guide.  We are interested in anything you may have to say.  Please use the comments section below to add your contribution.

Many thanks in advance.

6 Comments Posted on Patient Talk

Diabetic Neuropathy – Pain and diabetes – Signs and treatments


 

Sugar and blood glucose

Sugar and blood glucose

Outside the diabetes community the issue of diabetic neuropathy is one that seems to not be given the awareness it needs. It is potentially one of the most serious complications of diabetes.

It is vital that diabetics deal with diabetic neuropathy. According to the US governments ‘The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ (NIDDK) diabetic neuropathy is responsible for 86,000 lower limb amputations each year.

We have looked at Neuropathic pain more generally in a previous blog which you can check out here https://patienttalk.org/?p=281. In this blog we are going to look more closely at diabetic neuropathy which affects people with both Type One Diabetes and Type Two Diabetes.


As the name suggests diabetic neuropathy is associated with diabetes. Because it affects the nerves symptoms may appear in any part of the body. Simply put diabetic neuropathy is a family of nerve disorders cause by diabetes. They sign and symptoms can include:-

• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Loss of bladder control
• Burning pain in the limbs
• Pins and needles
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Speech impediments
• Muscle contractions.

How is diabetic neuropathy treated?

Well firstly prevention is always better than a cure. So diabetics are recommended to keep their blood glucose levels as normal as possible. This helps to prevent nerve damage.

But if treatments are needed you can expect to meet some of the following:-

• Pain medications such as anti-depressants and analgesics
• Tens machines and other physical therapy
• Foot care is most important because they are of course part of the body’s extremities. Foot care and ulcer treatment information can be found here http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/index.aspx.

One of the aims of this diabetes blog is to give our readers the opportunity to share your experiences of diabetic neuropathy with others. Please share anything you think may be of interest in the comments boxes below. This might include any links you think will be having value. That being said you may want to focus on the following question?

1. How long have you been a diabetic and what sort of diabetes do you have?
2. Do you suffer from diabetic neuropathy? What were you symptoms?
3. What impact did it have on your lifestyle?
4. What treatments did you receive for diabetic neuropathy and how successful were those treatments?

Many thanks in advance for your help.