Can Rooster Comb Injections Prevent Knee Replacement?

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common problems seen by both rheumatologists as well as orthopedists in the office. The standard forms of therapy include maintenance of proper weight, exercise, application of cold, bracing, analgesics (pain killers), anti-inflammatory medicines, steroid injections, and viscosupplementation. This latter type of treatment involves the injection of a lubricant directly into the knee. These lubricants consist of a purified form of a protein called hyaluronic acid (HA). These preparations are effective in relieving pain. pain relief from OA of the knee starts between the 5th and 13th week follwoing injection. While HA is felt to be effective for pain relief, it has been unclear as to whether there are any other benefits.

Two recent studies have demonstrated that viscosupplementation may actually forestall the need for eventual knee replacement surgery and also may represent a long term cost savings. The first study from Louisiana State University surveyed patients from a large orthopedic practice. A total of 863 patients (1187 knees) were evaluated. All patients had grade 4 changes, meaning they had “bone on bone” and were candidates for total knee replacement. Using survival analysis of the data, it was estimated that total knee replacement was delayed approximately 3.8 years in 75 percent of the knees receiving viscosupplementation (Waddell DD, et al. J. Managed Care Pharm. 2007; 2:113-121.) In another study, investigators in Thailand studied one hundred and eighty three patients with knee OA (208 knees) who failed conservative treatments and did not have contraindications for surgery were enrolled.

All patients were treated with one course of three hyaluoronic acid injections at weekly intervals and followed up for a minimum 2-year period. In case of successful treatment (response group), repeated doses were recommended. If the patients did not improve within one month after completion of the injections, they would be classified as a non-response group and total knee replacement surgery was considered. Cost of direct medical costs (drugs), hospitalization, and resource utilization were recorded and analyzed. They concluded that IA-HA (joint injection with HA) should be considered as a medical intervention before surgical procedures in knee OA patients who failed conservative treatments. Even though the cost of IA-HA treatment would increase the total costs of treatment and some patients might fail, it was only 6.44% of the total costs. On the other hand, if patients responded to IA-HA treatment, then the surgical procedures were not required. This treatment would represent a savings of 63.26% of total costs. (Turajane T, et al. J Med Assoc Thailand. 2007; 90;1839). While, the exact analyses and conclusions of these two studies are different, they do suggest that HA may be cost effectve in delaying the need for total knee replacement. There are five HA preparations available. They are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, Orthovisc, and Euflexxa. Only Euflexxa is not derived from a chicken source. The number of injections required varies from 3-5 depending on the preparation used. Hyalgan and Supartz generally are given as weekly injections for 5 weeks while Synvisc, Orthovisc, and Euflexxa are given as weekly injections for 3 weeks. Thes injections should be administered using either fluoroscopic or ultrasound needle guidance to ensure accuracy. Side-effects are minimal when administered by trained specialists. HA injections are worth a try even with grade 4 knees if patients wish to delay surgery.

Old Folk Home Remedies To Relieve Arthritis

Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55. Getting arthritis, like many diseases, is one reality that many people will try to avoid as much as possible. This is one experience that can affect your lifestyle and social life. At present, a glaring 50 million of the American population suffer from various types of arthritis. It has more victims compared to cancer or heart diseases. Thus, it is important to find ways to solve this problem, like seeking home remedies for arthritis.

Causes of Arthritis:

Joint Instability: Severe or recurrent joint injury from heavy physical activity, excess overweight-excessive body weight, exercise activities such as long-distance running, basketball, etc. performed over many years will result in the development of arthritis.

Early symptoms linked to arthritis usually include: Joint pain, Joint stiffness, Tenderness in and around the joint. Limited range of motion in one or more joints. Redness and warmth around the affected joint.

Hormonal Factors: Higher proportion of women suffers from this disease as compare to men due to the hormonal changes that take place during the menopause. * Environmental Factors : Like some are of the view that damp conditions increases the possibility of arthritis. * Psychological Factors like stress that disturbs the body’s hormonal balance and makes the immune system weak.

Food Allergy: A diet rich in animal products, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and wheat. Home Remedies for Arthritis.
Wrap red flannel gently around painful joint and leave it overnight for Arthritis cure. A gentle massage with warm olive oil is very effective to relieve arthritis pain.
For arthritis cure dilute Garlic, Juniper, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, or Sassafras oils in the proportions of one part to 10 parts of olive oil and use it to massage the painful joints for immediate relief.

Another great home remedy for arthritis involves the consumption of 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice, as it helps in minimizing the swelling and inflammation in arthritis.
In a quarter cup of water, soak a tsp of black sesame seeds and keep it overnight. The next morning consume the water along with the seeds. Massage the affected area daily with a mixture of 10 grams of camphor and 200 grams of mustard oil. However after mixing the required ingredients make sure you let the mixture be kept out in the sun. This is to allow the camphor dissolve. Add 4 tbsp of Epsom salt to bathing water, to reduce inflammation and stiffness of joints. Arthritis Diet The diet can go a long way in curing diseases.

The diet of the arthritis patient should be planned along alkaline lines and should include fruits and vegetables for protection, proteins and carbohydrates for energy. Red meat and dairy products are destructive whereas a vegetarian diet, or one including fish, with plenty or raw fruit and vegetables can do miracles. Cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, lettuce, onion, radishes, tomatoes and watercress may be used for raw salad. The cooked vegetables may include asparagus, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, celery, brinjal, mushroom, onions, peas, beans, spinach, tomatoes, squash and turnips.

I’ve Heard That Infections Are A Problem With The New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs…

Biologic therapies- silver bullets that target the immune system abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients- have revolutionized the treatment of this disease. It is now possible to put patients with RA into remission. However, as with all therapies there are potential downsides. One of the risks that has been written extensively about is infections, particularly with TNF-α inhibitors. Examples of these drugs include Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade.

A recent study supports the notion that infections are not only increased in incidence but also are responsible for more hospitalizations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists is associated with a "small to moderate" increase in risk of hospitalization with infection. (Askling J, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66:1339-1344). The authors state, "These findings add to the emerging evidence to suggest that anti-TNF treatment is indeed associated with an increased risk of infections," and they add, "since… closer monitoring for infections may be difficult to achieve in clinical practice, an increased awareness and increased patient information of this potential side effect of treatment may be indicated."

The investigators studied a total of 45,000 RA patients obtained from the Swedish Biologics Register and other national Swedish registers to determine the outcome, relative risks, and predictors of hospitalization with an infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They found that treatment with a first TNF inhibitor was associated with a significant 43% increased risk of hospitalization with infection during the first year of treatment. Infection risk during the second year and thereafter was not significantly increased. The relative risk for infection was two times higher during treatment with a second TNF inhibitor, the researchers note. Using additional data, other risk factors identified as being significant predictors for infection with TNF inhibitor treatment were older age, higher Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment other than methotrexate. When infections were assessed by type, only respiratory infection showed a slightly significant increase in relative risk in association with TNF antagonist treatment.

It is unclear so far as to whether the risk is due to one of the TNF inhibitor drugs more than another. These findings, as well as other observational trials, mirror what was seen in the clinical trials that led to approval by the FDA for the treatment of RA. Patients who are prospective candidates for this type of treatment need to be warned about this potential side effect. In addition, they should be monitored carefully. In the future, it may be possible to identify high risk patients ahead of time so that other therapies might be offered instead of anti-TNF drugs.

The Power Behind Magnetic Bracelets For Arthritis

If not treated properly and immediately, arthritis could cause the individual to lose control and function of affected joints. Although traditional medications have been long produced to treat arthritis, alternative medications have become increasingly popular nowadays. One such example of the latter is using a magnetic bracelet for arthritis. Advocates of this particular field of alternative medicine believe that using static magnetic fields provided by permanent magnets attached to certain items in proximity to affected body areas can lead to healing. This branch of medicine is closely related to electromagnetic therapy, with the latter using electromagnetic waves to treat the patient.

Items used for magnet therapy range from various types of jewelry like magnetic bracelets for arthritis to magnetic mattresses and blankets to shoe insoles to straps for your back, ankles, and wrists. Even water has been made "magnetic" to heal individuals of their respective diseases. Legally Speaking: Magnetic Bracelet for Arthritis The US Department of Food and Drug Administration do not allow any company to make unsubstantiated claims. Included in this category are healing products for magnetic therapy. Any healing claim for conditions and diseases like arthritis, cancer, asthma, and AIDS are considered illegal because magnet therapy still hasn't been successfully proven to be effective.

Noted Problems about Magnetic Therapy Magnetic bracelets for arthritis have not been proven to be one hundred percent effective and will continue to be considered so as long as the problems cited below haven't been solved. Magnets that are typically used in magnetic therapy products have been discovered as lacking in flux density to provide long-lasting results. Thus, any noted positive effect caused by the product on the user's blood vessels, bones, organs, and muscle tissues are not at all permanent and will still require complementary help from other medications or treatments. Critics have pointed out how researchers and other employed individuals in high-energy laboratories and areas experience great exposure to immensely stronger magnetic fields daily, but there is no evidence that suggests them to derive any health benefits from the exposure.

Manufacturers of magnetic therapy products themselves can not agree with each other as to the exact benefits and even usage or SOP for their items. What Researchers Say about Magnetic Bracelets for Arthritis A recent British Medical Journal study revealed that magnetic bracelets for arthritis were able to significantly reduce the pain affected individuals were experiencing due to their arthritic hips and knees. The Peninsular Medical School however noted that the said effects could either be due to the magnetic therapy itself or simply a "placebo effect" produced by the user's trust in the product. The study had been able to provide supporting data regarding the effectiveness of magnetic therapy. For magnetic bracelets to heal arthritis, then it should be equipped with high strength magnets - anything less than 170mTesla didn't seem to have any positive effect on a user's condition. Secondly, existing medications being taken by the user shouldn't be stopped just because of the use of magnetic bracelet. The study's authors nevertheless acknowledged that additional study was needed to make their findings conclusive. Arthritis Research Campaign, who provided funds for another study, states the same. They did not however see any danger if individuals prefer to try out using magnetic bracelets all the same, as part of their self-help process as they weren't expensive anyway. More importantly, they were safe to use so there would be no harm at all in trying. The organization at the moment was withholding approval from the alternative treatment, but they expressed interest and encouragement in further studies regarding the efficacy of magnetic therapy.

What Supporters Say about Magnetic Bracelets for Arthritis Here are reported benefits you can enjoy if you try using a magnetic bracelet to heal arthritic pain.
Benefit #1 Inflammation is the main problem behind arthritis but with a magnetic bracelet, inflammation and swelling of your joints will be significantly reduced by helping your body excrete excess fluids and eliminating other toxins in it.
Benefit #2 Magnetic bracelets help your muscles, organs, and most importantly joints to enjoy better circulation.
Benefit #3 Magnetic bracelets raise melatonin levels inside your body, allowing you to escape arthritic pain by falling asleep more easily. In the end, it's your choice - since it's not expensive and it's not considered dangerous, it's up to you to decide whether a magnetic bracelet for arthritis is something you would like try.

Learning If You Have The Signs Of Arthritis

A sudden twinge in an elbow, shoulder, knee or another joint is probably not arthritis. Most forms of arthritis develop slowly, striking first in the hands. Instead, you've probably irritated the soft tissue around the joint. This ailment--really a family of ailments including bursitis, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome--calls for a slightly different approach to treatment than arthritis. Arthritis sufferers endure more days in severe pain, experience more days with limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more difficulty performing personal-care routines than people without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, arthritis has negative effects on mental health. Soft-tissue inflammation is not a natural consequence of aging. Most cases can be traced to excessive exercise...or to a job-related activity involving repetitive motion. The pain is usually apparent within 24 hours of overuse. It can range from a dull ache to shooting pain.

COMMON SOFT-TISSUE INJURIES Rotator cuff tendinitis affects the tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place. Common among swimmers and other athletes, this ailment can make it hard to get dressed or lie down. Shoulder bursitis--very common among gardeners and house painters--is caused by repeated pressure on shoulder bursae, fluidfilled "cushions" that protect the joints. It becomes painful to move the arm away from the body. Tennis elbow strikes carpenters, gardeners, mechanics, dentists...and tennis players who use poor form or a tightly strung racket. The pain makes it hard to shake hands or ligt a briefcase. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an inflammation of tissue surrounding the median nerve of the hand. Symptoms include weakness, pain, burning or aching in the wrist and/or hand.

Usually caused by repeated hand motions, like those used by checkout clerks, seamstresses and computer operators. Prepatellar bursitis involves inflammation of the bursa in front of the kneecap (patella). It is common in people who must stand or kneel for extended periods. The pain is rarely severe. Shin splints involve pain in the front of the lower leg. Most cases are caused by repetitive exercise--especially running on hard surfaces. This can injure muscle and tendon tissue. Achilles tendinitis--inflammation of the Achilles tendon--is common among basketball and squash players and runners(especially those who run on concrete or in flimsy shoes). Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness in the heel. Plantar fascitis involves a tear in the ligament connecting the arch to the heel. It causes a burning pain on the sole of the foot and the heel, making it painful to walk or stand on your toes. Common among runners.

Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa near the hip. Symptoms include pain in the hip and thigh, especially when you walk, rise from a chair or lie on the affected side. Imagine your life without joint & muscle pain. Imagine the freedom to effortlessly, and without notice, go about your life exercising, participating in sports, walking on the beach, playing with your children, Living Life As You Once Did. Without Agonizing Pain. Without Aching Joints. Without Muscle Pain! Please review some of our products for joint and muscle pain relief from conditions such as neck pain, lower back ache, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or more. http://www.alternative-health-supplements.com/arthritis-joint-relief.html

I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis. What Are My Chances For Becoming Disabled And Can I Do Anything About It?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, autoimmune, inflammatory disease that affects more than 2 million Americans. It is a condition that is associated with increased mortality (rate of death) as a result of malignancy (lymphoma), cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke), and significant disability.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the state of the art as it relates to disability. It is clear that persistent disease activity leads to joint damage which leads to disability. While a patient has active disease- disease that is not well controlled- they will experience some degree of functional impairment. With the onset of permanent joint damage though, disability becomes a significant issue. How severe is the risk of disability from RA? A number of epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that roughly 20 per cent of patients with RA are disabled within one year, between 32 and 50 per cent of patients by 10 years, and up to 90 per cent after 30 years.

The most sobering statistic is the extent of potential disability in the first year. Disability of this magnitude has an enormous physical, social, psychological, and economic impact. Basic research has demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a major contributor to the joint damage that results from RA. TNF stimulates cells called osteoclasts to “chew away” at cartilage and bone. This chewing away process ultimately causes irreversible joint damage. While current therapies such as the combination of methotrexate with TNF-inhibitors (Examples include Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade) are very effective for controlling early RA, there has been scant proof of their ultimate impact on work outcomes. Recent studies though have demonstrated that early intervention with methotrexate and TNF-inhibitors is effective in reducing work disability. The best current study (presented at the European League Against Rheumatism meeting in 2007), is the PROWD study evaluating the effects of a combination of methotrexate with adalimumab (Humira).

The study showed that patients treated with the combination of methotrexate and adalimumab fared better as far as job loss and work time lost compared with patients taking methotrexate alone. All studies evaluating the newer therapies seem to agree on one issue: Because of the consequences that result from irreversible joint damage, only early aggressive intervention prevents irreversible disability. Therefore, prevention of disability and restoration of function should be an important goal of therapy. Both persistent disease activity and joint damage contribute to disability. The use of a combination of methotrexate and TNF inhibition early reduces inflammation and controls joint damage. It is this control of joint damage that helps preserve physical function and reduce work disability.