Arthritis Pain Relief

Posts Tagged ‘Conventional Medicines’

Is There Any Evidence That Meditation Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Today, arthritis patients are not only more receptive to complementary therapies- what has been called alternative therapy- but actually prefer it to conventional medicines.

There are many reasons for this. These reasons include the adverse publicity surrounding the side effects of medicines such as Vioxx and Bextra, cost of pharmaceutical agents, insurance restrictions that make it difficult for patients to get the types of medicines they need, and the widely held concept that “natural” implies safe.

As has been demonstrated on multiple occasions, a natural remedy is not necessarily safe, nor is it necessarily even effective.

However, there are natural therapies for which there is little evidence supporting their usefulness in conditions like arthritis, but also a paucity of data showing they are harmful.

Such is the case with meditation. Meditation not only is safe but has had beneficial applications in other rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia.

A recent study has demonstrated that meditation may also be useful as an adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

A meditation training program, called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn and other researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. MBSR teaches participants to focus the mind in a special way. This technique is supposed to increase clarity and calmness.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine assessed the effect of this meditation therapy on depressive symptoms, psychological distress, general well-being, and disease activity among RA patients. The results of the study indicates that there are potential benefits of MBSR and that it can be used with a conventional course of physical and pharmacological therapy.

Sixty-three adult RA patients were selected to participate in this novel pilot study. The subjects averaged 54 years in age and predominately women. All patients remained under their rheumatologist’s care and continued to take their routine medications throughout the study.

Thirty-one of the participants were randomized to receive MBSR therapy, starting with an 8-week training course followed by a 4-month maintenance program. The remaining 32 participants were assigned to a waiting list, agreeing to attend assessment sessions in exchange for free MBSR training at the study’s conclusion.

Both groups of participants underwent psychological and rheumatological examinations at baseline, and again at 2 months and 6 months into the study. Researchers used the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, a self-report questionnaire, to evaluate depressive symptoms and psychological distress. Overall well-being was measured by the Psychological Well-Being Scales, made up of questions designed to evaluate positive outlook and approach to coping with difficulties. RA clinical factors were assessed by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS-28).

Researchers compared scores of psychological and physical disease symptoms among MBSR participants with those of the control group. Patients receiving MBSR found the program to be enjoyable and continued throughout the follow-up period.

After 2 months, both groups showed improvements in depressive, psychological, and emotional symptoms, with no significant difference between the MBSR group and the control group. By 6 months, however, gains in the control group had largely disappeared, while MBSR participants maintained or improved further in psychological outcomes. By the end of the study, the MBSR group achieved a significant 35 percent reduction in psychological distress.

The meditation program had no impact on RA disease activity, measured by the DAS-28, which is a composite score derived from swollen joints, tender joints, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

The studies flaws include its small sample size and the relative homogeneity of the control group.

The study showed that patients with RA may benefit from a meditation program such as MBSR class. MBSR is also safe and appealing to participants. The lead investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Pradhan, also states, “For doctors wishing to offer patients a complement to medical management, mindfulness meditation may offer hope for improving psychological distress and strengthening well-being in patients with RA.”

(Pradhan EK, et al. Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Arthritis Care & Research. October 2007).

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Important Guide About Lumbar Arthritis Treatment

Do not think yourself to be the only person living with the complaint of arthritis, because there are millions of souls around the country facing up to the aforementioned complaint just like you are. But remember, just because it's a common ailment doesn't mean that you can neglect it. In case you occur to endure the condition, it is advisable that you do not delay, and undergo a correct arthritis treatment plan for you to curb the ailment and to prevent more joint deterioration.

No matter of the form of arthritis that you might be enduring, the aim of all arthritis treatment is the same. The therapy goals include – easing inflammation / pain or both, lowering hazards of therapy, offering patient education, preventing progress of the ailment, avoiding physical disability, providing functional independence and raising quality of life for individuals putting up with the complaint. As the goals of the interventions are just about alike, they are completed through various approaches based on the diagnosis. An effective treatment plan includes a ideal merger of efficient supplemental treatments, conventional medicines and healthy adjustments to your present lifestyle.

The elements that serve in settling on a certain intervention course for a sufferer chiefly takes in – the diagnosing, the seriousness of condition, and the sufferers reaction to earlier therapies. The doctors then research how the sufferer answers to the present therapy plan, and consequently modify the intervention procedure until they enter upon a special therapy method that has the maximum beneficial outcome on the patient. Prior to this, doctors only treated the manifestations of the disease and not the cause. The conventional intervention involved the use of anti-inflammation and pain respite medicine, which certainly supplied the sufferers with interim respite but the interior deterioration of tissues carried on, which as a consequence lead to severe complications. But, luckily, these days we have special treatments for various kinds of arthritis that not only cure the condition from within but also assist the patient to have a typical life again.

The modern interventions need the employment of biological or artificial factors. Having mentioned this, let me also tell you that not all arthritis patient reacts to these interventions in the identical way. Thus, it requires specific valuation of the sufferers present condition and previous medical records in order to figure out a correct intervention course, which is probably going to assist the sufferer best in defeating the circumstance best.

The Down-Side:

It will not be rare if you feel some issues after having ingested the prescribed medicines although of course, it is not required that every person has to face some similar side-effects.

Each person is unique and so are their physical make-up, so it is quite natural that they respond differently to certain medications. In order to lessen the consequences, the addition and deletion of medicines is essential but never seek to do it yourself, so confer with your doctor and comply with his or her advice. So to end: in case you have a feeling that you might have contracted arthritis, then don't wait, get yourself checked over at the earliest opportunity. Then, if you discover that what you experience is true, begin your therapy at the earliest in order to prevent later health issues.

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Treatment For Severe Arthritis

Don't believe for a single moment you are the only individual having to live with the complaint of arthritis, as there are huge numbers of people across the country facing the aforesaid disorder just like you do. But think, just because it's a common condition it does not mean that you can neglect it. In case you happen to suffer from the disease, it is best that you do not wait, and go for a befitting arthritis therapy program in order to contain the condition and to avoid more joint deterioration.

Irrespective of the form of arthritis that you might be enduring, the aim of all arthritis intervention is the same. The therapy ends take in – relieving inflammation / pain sensation or both, lessening hazards of treatment, extending patient instruction, preventing progression of the disease, avoiding physical disability, furnishing functional independence and improving quality of life for people putting up with the disorder. As the ends of the therapies are around alike, they are established through different approaches based on the diagnosis. An effective intervention program includes a ideal amalgamation of effective alternative interventions, conventional medicines and healthy changes in your current lifestyle.

The factors that aid in deciding on a particular intervention program for a patient chiefly takes in – the diagnosing, the seriousness of condition, and the sufferers reaction to previous treatments. The physicians then study how the sufferer reacts to the present treatment course, and accordingly change the treatment process until they enter upon a special treatment style that has the maximum good effect on the sufferer. Previously, physicians only addressed the symptoms of the condition and not the cause. The established treatment involved the use of anti-inflammation and pain respite medication, which sure rendered the patients with short term relief but the internal deterioration of tissues carried on, which later lead to painful complications. But, luckily, these days we have correct treatments for different varieties of arthritis that not only remedy the condition from inside but also aid the patient to live a regular life once again.

The fashionable therapies call for the employment of biologic or artificial factors. Having mentioned this, let me also tell you that not all arthritis patient answers to these therapies in the identical manner. Thus, it needs specific evaluation of the patient's current complaint and previous medical history to figure out a correct treatment program, which is probably going to assist the sufferer the most in overcoming the situation best.

Negative Effects:

It is unlikely to be unusual if you feel some issues after having consumed the determined medications although of course, it is not necessary that every person has to endure similar side-issues.

Every last human being is unique and so are their physical systems, consequently it is quite normal that they respond differently to distinct medications. To lessen the side-effects, the addition and deletion of medications is very important but never attempt to do this yourself, so confer with your physician and comply with his or her suggestions. So to conclude: just in case you have a belief that you may have acquired arthritis, then don't delay, get yourself looked at at the earliest opportunity. Then, if you learn that what you experience is true, start your therapy quickly to prevent future health issues.

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