Regular visits to your doctor may be crucial to managing arthritis, but ultimately, the most important person in controlling your disease – and living well with it – is you.
Your doctor can prescribe medications, but no prescription will help if you fail to fill it or take it as directed. Your doctor can recommend a proven diet, but it will be useless if you don’t follow through. Your doctor can tell you the benefits and potential risks of a new treatment, but you make the final decision whether the former is worth the latter.
To help you be a better manager of your own arthritis, Arthritis Today has created this A-to-Z guide. You’ll find plenty of information that should apply regardless of the form of arthritis you have. So, get started on things you can do today, and make notes of things you’ll want to ask your rheumatologist.
You may just discover that improving your life with arthritis is – shall we say it – as easy as A B C.
A: Aspirin
If you’re thinking of taking low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, speak to your doctor first, advises Harold Paulus, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at UCLA School of Medicine. “Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus – and probably other inflammatory arthritis – are major risk factors for coronary artery disease,” says Dr. Paulus. But aspirin has its own risks – namely a slight increase in risk in gastrointestinal bleeding, which is already increased if you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for your arthritis. Because some NSAIDs have been shown to counteract the anti-platelet effects of aspirin if taken before aspirin or throughout the day, a change in NSAIDs or their timing may be needed for aspirin to do its job.
B: Blood
Have you given much thought to what’s in your blood? In addition to the cells that carry oxygen, fight infection and form clots when you cut yourself, your blood carries clues to infections you’ve had, inflammation you’re experiencing and damage your medications may be doing to your liver. With a sample of your blood, your doctor can often confirm a diagnosis, determine if you need a medication change or even predict how severe your arthritis is going to be. That’s why it’s crucial to keep up with all of those blood tests your doctor orders.
C: Cox-2s
The idea behind COX-2 inhibitors is this: Reduce the risk of NSAID-induced stomach ulcers by blocking the COX-2 enzyme responsible for pain-and-fever-causing prostaglandins, while sparing the COX-1 enzyme needed for stomach-protective prostaglandins. Experience proved these drugs’ stomach protection came at a cost. Rofecoxib (Vioxx) and valdecoxib (Bextra) were pulled from the market due to concerns over cardiovascular events. While one COX-2, celecoxib (Celebrex), remains on the market, concerns about heart disease and kidney damage make the drug a less popular choice for people with arthritis than it once was, says Dr. Paulus. If your doctor says you are not a good candidate for celecoxib, but you’re concerned about risk of NSAID-induced ulcers, there are other options for protecting your stomach, including taking your NSAID with a drug to block stomach acid or with a synthetic prostaglandin medication called misoprostol (Cytotec).
D: Diet
Do you find your arthritis flares after a breakfast of bacon and eggs or your joints ache a little more after a cup of cow’s milk? You’re not alone. For years science has failed to show a particular diet is helpful for RA, but new research suggests food allergies worsen pain and stiffness for some people. How can you tell if certain foods are influencing your arthritis? Stop eating them – for a while – and note whether symptoms improve. Then slowly reintroduce foods you eliminated to see when/if symptoms return.
E: Eyes
When you have arthritis, it’s especially important to have regular eye exams. Certain forms are associated with problems that are potentially harmful to your vision. For example, inflammation of the eyes (uveitis) – particularly the iris (iritis) and muscles that focus the eye (iridocyclitis) – is common with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the whites of the eyes and inner parts of the eyelids) and iritis can accompany reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Dry eye is a hallmark of Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition characterized by inflammation of the tear-producing glands, which often occurs with autoimmune diseases such as RA and lupus. Certain arthritis medications can cause eye problems too. Corticosteroid use can lead to glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve) and cataracts. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can produce pigment changes in the macula, the central part of the retina, which can cause blurred vision.
I climb or desend stairs. Have been to get
orthopedic exams they want to do knee joint
replacement. I Am overweight and am going on
a diet to see if that will relieve the pain
also have began water exercise. Any one who has tried this let me know if it worked.
I have 3 discs was damaged . and Had treatment in Birghim now my discs ok.
and i hade lift hip please i hade .
I hade replase in 2005 my hip is ok.
But lost 23 years artheris pain in my
left hip .please help me for arthrist pain
Thanks wery much sir.
As long as I am sitting I have no discomfort.
But can hardly walk due to feeling of severe stiffness in legs and back.
Have to walk bent over for first 10 minutes each time I get up. Not any real pain.
Does this sound like a type of arthritis?
Such a simple thing and easy to control
The doctor initially diagnosed pre-patellar bursitis, but after a course of high dosage penicillin (I can't take anti-inflammatories) and a month later the swelling still hadn't gone down, he now thinks it is osteo-arthritis. I just have a hard time believing that this can happen so quickly. It is a strange situation for me because i have always been active in sports, plus hiking etc,. I am 58 but up until this happened I could still keep up with 20-30 year old lads when refereeing football but for the last 6 weeks I feel useless. Does anyone have any similar experiences or ideas?
you can email me at daderb@btinternet.com
Thank You!
Mustard with turmeric is a fantastic remedy for leg cramps; in fact, it relaxes muscles all over. I take a teaspoonful before bed to prevent cramps, and if I do get a cramp I take another teaspoonful and it goes away within minutes. It is a good idea to drink a glass of water with it.
I have OA and have been taking turmeric spice for pain, it really helps a lot! you can take it with juice to reduce the bitter taste; I mix it in a shake every morning (1 full teasp)
I noticed that when I stop taking it my pain increases.
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