© diabetesloophole - amazon s3s3.amazonaws.com/mentis/thediabetesloophole/dldl/...primary care...


Copyright © 2016 SuccessVantage Pte Ltd

All rights reserved.

Published by Reed Wilson.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any

form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded, scanned, or otherwise, except

as permitted under Canadian copyright law, without the prior written permission of the author.

Notes to the Reader:

While the author and publisher of this book have made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy

and timeliness of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no liability

with respect to losses or damages caused, or alleged to be caused, by any reliance on any

information contained herein and disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, as to the

accuracy or reliability of said information.

The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or

completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties. The advice and

strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. It is the complete responsibility

of the reader to ensure they are adhering to all local, regional and national laws.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the

subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is

engaged in rendering professional services. If legal, accounting, medical, psychological, or any other

expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

The words contained in this text which are believed to be trademarked, service marked, or to

otherwise hold proprietary rights have been designated as such by the use of initial capitalization.

Inclusion, exclusion, or definition of a word or term is not intended to affect, or to express judgment

upon the validity of legal status of any proprietary right which may be claimed for a specific word or

term.

The fact that an organization or website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential

source of further information does not mean that the author or publisher endorses the information

the organization or website may provide or the recommendations it may make. Further, readers

should be aware that the websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between

when this work was written and when it is read.

Individual results may vary.


Section 1 .................................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction And Background ................................................................................................ 5

Treatment Options ................................................................................................................. 8

Section 2 .................................................................................................................................. 12

Having A Personal Action Plan For Making Arthritic Pain Disappear Is The Key!! .............. 13

Pills And Prescriptions, Medications And Drugs – Treating From The Inside, Outward ..... 15

Topical Treatments You Rub, Apply And Treating From The Outside, Inward .................... 16

Combination Treatments – Putting Things Together To Get The Best Results ................... 17

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) ............................................................... 17

Section 3 .................................................................................................................................. 21

Arthritic Pain Self-Management Action Plans ..................................................................... 22

SEVENTY Practical Considerations And Tips For Dealing With The Pain Of Arthritis And

Making The Pain Disappear ................................................................................................. 23

Section 4 .................................................................................................................................. 32

Personal Arthritic Customized Solutions That Work And Last ............................................ 33

Effective Treatments And Pain Management Science ........................................................ 37

Practical Suggestions To Minimize PAIN In Your Life Due To Arthritis And Related

Conditions ............................................................................................................................ 39

Thirty-Three More Insights For Success With Arthritic Pain And Management Of Your

Condition, Lifestyle And Future! .......................................................................................... 41

Section 5 .................................................................................................................................. 45

Final Tips For Healthier, Pain-Free, Arthritic Lifestyle Recommendations And Situations: 46

Other Helpful Arthritis Resources and Online Links ............................................................ 47

Arthritis Associations ........................................................................................................... 49

Arthritis – Abbreviations Page ............................................................................................. 49

Arthritis – A Fascinating Tale Through Time ........................................................................ 50


Section 1


Introduction And Background Arthritis Treatment And Pain Relief – A New FOCUS - Making The PAIN disappear.

Yes, various sufferers will tell you that they are aware that there is no real cure so to speak

in medical terms for this condition in its various forms and severity. Treatment options vary

depending on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy,

medications (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis), and as a

last resort, arthroplasty. Although prosthetic joint replacement is a treatment of last resort,

it is generally very effective and more than 90% of patients are very satisfied.

Arthritis is a very commonplace condition that has to do with inflammation of the joints.

The umbrella term we so easily use covers a great many conditions. Groups of symptoms,

aspects and factors, diagnoses and prognoses are covered with this terminology. Mostly the

illness, condition and discomforts are due to damage caused to the joints of the body,

impeding movement. It is no surprise then that arthritis is often cited as the ONE leading

cause of disability in people over the age of 65, in the US and across the globe. But, how

come, we as humans are so susceptible to this degradation? Why doesn’t everyone develop

it? What should you do once you have been diagnosed with it to not sacrifice your mobility

and quality of life?

These types of questions, inquiry and topics will form the basis of our musings here. Often,

not a week will go by that you do not see, hear or bear witness to be exposed to some or

other topical treatment or new product on the market that is either being toted as effective,

affordable and reliable, new, being studied or introduced. Gels, ointments, patches, pads,

rubs and more all fill our shelves and medicine cabinet in the fights against this degradation

some suffer as we age and get on in our years.

Something that needs to be clarifies right upfront is that there are indeed many different

forms of arthritis. There are differences in and for every manifestation of this condition.

It could be due to your immune-system malfunctioning, imbalances in your body, leaving it

to attack itself, infections, uric acid crystals, inflammation calcium pyrophosphate crystal

build-up and more.

Something that is the most common form of this ‘disease’, is known simply as osteoarthritis.

This has to do with damage and degradation of the joints. It is degenerative, aggressive and

debilitating, putting mobility, flexibility and movement ability at risk. This typically happens

due to infection and/or aging mostly.


Regardless of the type or severity, onset of

arthritis you might be falling victim to, or have

the displeasure of having to cope with, there

will be pain. It will differ in location and

severity, manifestation and treatment options.

It will differ from individual to individual, over

time, at different times…. BUT it is an

undeniable part of living with it and NOT

HAVING IT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE

OR PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK!

It could be worse when sitting down or after

periods of exertion. Different times of the day

could bring different challenges and levels of

pain. Earlier and later stages of the disease

might be more or less painful to deal and cope

with. It knows no boundaries for age, gender

or generation! There are no exceptions,

elderly, young adults, athletes; even children

can be afflicted at different points in their

lives. Whichever way you look at arthritis is will have pain in the equation. This is the reason

for this guide. It is time for a practical hands-on treatment plan that works and gives advice

on what to do to intervene, prevent, protect and manage ARTHRITIC PAIN.

To determine a formal diagnosis and the extent of the degradation or problems, a physical

exam and some tests will be done by your doctor or medical treatment team to ascertain

elements of the history of the pain when it begins and ends, how bad it is/gets, could

be/become over time, which number of joints are affected, how long the pain lasts, what

aggravates it and makes it worse and what makes it better *(and why). Other tests that

might also be done to determine which treatment option would be the best, would be:

Radiographs (assess and quantify, determine what it the matter, diagnosis, confirmation and

baseline)

Blood tests and X-rays

Screening blood looking and testing for rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF),

extractable nuclear antigen and specific antibodies.

There are various different types of arthritis, each with its best form of treatment and wide

array of causes, aggravating factors, lifestyle adjustments, therapies, remedies and MORE.


We will take a closer look at some of the best plans and steps that you can make/take to

MAKE ARTHRTIC PAIN DISAPPEAR! You can choose to treat the symptoms, to bring relief or

dig deeper into the causality, more extreme procedures like surgery or replacement of the

joint to get permanent relief (or not!). The opinions, experts and research are all divided and

all over the spectrum.

It varies from most common forms of arthritis, arthritis due to other diseases as well as

illnesses with similar symptoms to arthritis. They could include any, some or all of the

following:

Ankylosing spondylitis

Crohn's Disease

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF),

Gout

Hemochromatosis

Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Hepatitis

HIDS (hyperimmunoglobulinemia D periodic fever syndrome)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Juvenile Arthritis

multiple myeloma

Osteo-arthritis

osteoporosis

Pierre Marie-Bamberger syndrome (hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy

– lung cancer)

Psoriatic arthritis

Reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome)


Rheumatoid arthritis

Septic Arthritis

SLE

Still’s disease

TRAPS (TNF-alpha receptor associated periodic fever syndrome).

vasculitis syndromes

Wegener's granulomatosis

Treatment Options

When it does come to treatment options, there are many. Factors to consider before you

pick the regimen that is right for you, might include reflection on things like

the type of arthritis

severity and intensity, range of motion, pain

your age and physical health

physical and occupational therapy

medications

symptomatic or causal treatment

arthroplasty - prosthetic joint replacement

medicinal, natural or both - combination treatment plans

… and many more!

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also defined specifically as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint

disease, characterized by mainly painful joints. For no TWO individuals will pain be

experienced in the same fashion. This PAIN in turn is the discomfort caused by wear and

tear, due to breakdown in the cartilage that makes any weight put on it dreadfully grinding

and excruciatingly painful. Inflammation of the joint, bones, weakened muscles in the

surrounding areas also occurring make things worse. This makes any kind of movement

PAINFUL!


According to online sources, there are many statistics that tell the story of how painful and

more commonplace arthritis really is/can be in our modern times. Here are some quick facts

from a variety of online sources summarizing the situation and incidence of the disease:

21 million sufferers in the United States

Primary care physicians’ visits are constituted of 25% due to this illness, condition

and PAIN relief search or many a desperate patient.

50% of all NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) prescriptions is for

arthritis-related conditions and pain relief.

By the time most of us hit the age of 65, we will show signs and evidence of the

degeneration and degradation, wear and tear commonly found in most arthritic

conditions.

Up to as many of 80% may show symptoms, which is the majority of the

population! With almost two thirds of the human race developing the symptoms,

there are many different treatment options out there:

• NSAIDs

• local injections of glucocorticoid or hyaluronan,

• joint replacement surgery

It is a well-known fact that there is no cure for OA or arthritis in general. One of the main

commonalities is the persistent pain, impact on and loss of mobility, movement and a

sensation of stiffness, swelling, discomfort and difficulty getting around. Aches and burning

sensations, sensitivity to touch, redness, sore muscles and tendons are all symptomatic of

this condition.

Spasms and contractions are also not uncommon as is retention of fluids. It can strike at any

part of your body, including extremities (hands, feet), hips, knees etc. If you ask patients

how their joints feel, you will often hear, large stiff and painful! Significant loss of mobility

can also be present.

Genetics and hereditary predisposition is but one of the many contributory causes. Allergies,

infections, or fungi can also contribute their fair share as well. Aging has its contributory

nature and there are BOTH clinical and functional signs of the disease.


Not everyone who has the

symptoms thought develop the

full-blown condition. So as far as

symptoms and manifestations of

this disorder, they are as varied as

the proposed treatments

themselves.

You will be well-served to not put

a lot of unnecessary weight on

your joints, at any time, to ease

the pain. Techniques such as MRI

(magnetic resonance imaging),

arthrocentesis and arthroscopy, are all used to describe the progression and severity of the

degenerative disorder and prognosis. How long, where and which joint the pain is in, how it

affects you and what the joint actually looks like, will give your doctors a great idea on

which treatment regimen to follow and recommend to you.

Once you have this disease/disorder you cannot reverse or cure it. That is the fact and

reality that you have to live with. There are however some approaches from the holistic

sciences and alternative medicinal practices realms that suggest that you can tap into

nature and your body’s ability to heal itself more to challenge this theory!

For the most part however, medication and other therapies, remedies and interventions all

focus merely on reducing the pain and improving the functioning of the joint itself. We

advocate that you can make the pain disappear through a personal action plan on dealing

effectively and head on with this problem. It therefore becomes extremely necessary for

you to focus in on the basic and comprehensive coping skills and lifestyle changes to NOT

allow it to direct and hold your quality of life captive.

Your initial intervention strategies might not be considered drastic. They might include such

measures as

weight loss, maintenance and control

healthy BMI and weight

appropriate rest

regular physical activity and exercise

Use of mechanical support devices

knee braces, canes, or a walker

Any helpful aids for walking and support.

walking or swimming


Alternating heat and cold for instant relief

Relaxation, meditation techniques

Getting the weight off your joints, relieving joint stress

Health care advice and tools

Self-management to better your quality of life

Dealing with chronic pain

Facing realities like depression and frustration, feelings of helplessness hands-on

involvement in your own well-being, health, mobility

Reducing pain and improving your overall health, movement

Supplements and diet changes

Inclusion in your diet and nutrition of things like antioxidants, including vitamins C

and E in both foods and supplements,

Chondroitin sulphate

Hydrolyzed collagen (hydrolysate) (a gelatin product)

Ginger (rhizome) extract

Glucosamine

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

S-adenosyl methionine

vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin)

Minerals and Vitamin D, D3

Less to no saturated fats

No sugar and processed foods

Lots of vegetables and even vegetarian diet (no animal products, no diary) might be

extremely helpful in boosting immunity, health all-round, as well as be good for your

joints!

Macro-biotics and key essential nutrients rather than empty or hidden calories with

your intake. Think about the foods you put in your mouth and into your body and

what effect they will have on your systems and functioning parts, including your

joints.


Section 2


Having A Personal Action Plan For Making Arthritic

Pain Disappear Is The Key!!

It will have to be tailored to your specific needs, goals and focus on what gets the best, most

consistent and lasting results FOR YOU! You are focused on reducing the symptoms and

dealing with the aftermath of what the disorder brings to your life.

From prescriptions meds to pain relievers, people have been in search of what will make

them feel better and life more effectively with the condition, having the pain go away.

NSAIDs are popular and quite effective, but carry side-effects. Consider solutions like

diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. They inhibit pain and suffering, but for most patients

the effects on their other parts (heart, stomach) is to high a price to pay! Heat brings

swelling down and improves the circulatory system that can help you naturally deal with

symptomatic relief – sometimes exactly where it is needed.

Steroids have in general found not to be effective. Narcotics are also not recommended for

chronic pain as they might be addictive and cause a whole other set of problems that you do

not need in your life.

Topical treatments abound. There are creams, gels, lotions, sprays, ointments, supplements,

magnetic bracelets, watches, endorphin devices, to bring instant and lasting relief, lower the

perception of pain, shark cartilage , tea-tree oils, mineral gels, exercise routines, massage,

hypnosis and myriads of other therapies have been marginally successful for some/most

patients.

One key ingredient has proven to be quite effective, namely capsaicin for pain specifically.

Lidocaine injections and even corticosteroids are great for temporary relief.

Surgery is always an option for those with a more permanent solution in mind. Ineffective

treatments sometimes make patients want to be rid of the pain permanently and they

revert to more invasive or extreme medical procedures to get what they want. It can be very

painful and not the right solutions necessarily for everyone. There are also different types

and ranges of surgery, including:

Bone repositioning

fragment removal

Fusing

Replacement


Some Alternative Therapies Also Include:

low level laser therapy for pain reduction

Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy) to fight the inflammation specifically

Radiosynoviorthesis (radioactive isotope) directly injected into the joint

So, how do you deal, cope, live with, manage, overcome and thrive despite arthritis. Most

will describe this attack on their joints as disabling and painful, inflammatory condition,

with substantial loss of mobility It develops over time and is a systemic disease

Dealing effectively with inflammation and soft-tissue swelling of many joints at the same

time (polyarthritis), stiffness and PAIN! are all part of this disorder. You need to take issue in

and through treatment to focus on dealing with erosion and destruction of the joint surface,

which impairs the range of motion, movement and mobility. For most of us, we need to

start taking care early! For most the problems start around between the ages of 40 and 60,

earlier cases and cases in children, young adults and the elderly have also been reported.

The American College of Rheumatology has defined (1987) the following criteria for the

diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis:

Symmetric arthritis

Subcutaneous nodules in specific places

Rheumatoid factor at a level above the 95th percentile

Radiological changes suggestive of joint erosion

Morning stiffness of >1 hour.

Arthritis of hand joints

Arthritis and soft-tissue swelling of >3 of 14 joints/joint groups

At least four criteria have to be met for formal diagnosis. Some other treatments include

minocycline, sometimes combined with clindamycin, diet change, nutritional supplements,

and vigorous exercise, and various other immune-strengthening alternative therapies, such

as acupuncture, hyperbaric oxygen, and infra-red sauna are also effective.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics

do not prevent joint damage or slow the disease progression, it enables coping and

diminishing pain.


Another promising drug-therapy is known as anti-cytokine medication, weight loss,

occupational therapy, podiatry, physiotherapy, joint injections, and special tools to improve

hard movements, joint replacement surgery, knee or hip replacements for example.

There are two realities of this disease – it will progress throughout your life, develop and

occur at its own pace for each individual and there is PAIN! There are lots however that you

can do to prevent, correct, intervene and relieve your pain.

Regular exercise and carefully controlled diet

Daily routine steps and adjustments that may help lessen the pain and stiffness

associated with arthritic flare-ups.

Eastern and Naturopathic Approaches

.. and many more. It is time to take a closer look at your various treatment Options, ranging

from Prevention, Relief, Surgery and Other self-management tools to deal with your arthritis

and make the pain go away permanently!

Pills And Prescriptions, Medications And Drugs –

Treating From The Inside, Outward

Medications are one way of dealing with the problems at

hand. They do have side-effects and should not be taken

lightly. Counter-indicators and drug-interactions need to

be explored and analgesics may only have limited

effectiveness. Pain management can very easily be your

biggest and main concern with arthritis, as will be your

feelings in coping with what the disease is doing to you.

That component we will get to a little later. Coping, living

through the pain is oftentimes not enough, but the

starting blocks for many with the disorders of the joints

in question here. Regardless of the type of arthritis,

there is help.

There are many reasons people pop a pill or look for OTC

(over-the-counter), prescription medications for pain

relief for arthritis. Here are but a few from published

sources and interviews – You will probably be able to add

quite a few of your own (feel free to do so)…


As a last resort

At least doing something

For immediate relief

For managing the condition

for mild to moderate osteoarthritis

For painkilling mainly

For when the pain is at its worst

Getting rid of discomfort, immobility or lack of movement.

Instant relief, temporary relief

It can be used safely over periods of time without too much risk

Limited dosages

living BETTER with the situation

on doctor’s orders

Self-medication and hands-on self-management of the pain and condition –

feeling empowered and inspired to live with it and not be overwhelmed by it!

severity attacks

to minimize re-occurrence

to reduce inflammation

to treat knee arthritis or osteoarthritis

treats the symptoms

When it starts

So, what are your reasons and rationale for taking/not taking medication for your condition?

That is a personal and individual choice and that is the beauty of it – everyone can pick their

treatment that is MOST suited for them, despite side-effects, they do work for some people

in minimizing their pain.

Topical Treatments You Rub, Apply And Treating

From The Outside, Inward

Mainly coping with symptoms here, yet again highly popular, due to the fact that there are

limited to no side-effects, less risk than with medications per se and introducing foreign,

chemical elements and pharmaceuticals into your system.

Repeated treatments are necessary and it will have to form part of your routines and

lifestyle to be most effective. Some smell, some do not. Some involve heat/cold alternative

therapies and sensory stimulation, some are for sensitive skills, hypo-allergenic, not anti-

inflammatories.


They are available in all sizes, price ranges, application methods, even roll-ons and patches

for ease of use and convenience, transportability and on-hand, on-demand, real-time

application, type relief we so often want and demand when it matters most. At best thought

they only treat the symptom and then only for a limited period of time.

Combination Treatments – Putting Things Together

To Get The Best Results

Combination treatments are when you treat all and every symptom, with many solutions

and options, in a holistic-type, comprehensive manner. Narcotics are often used to deal with

the blocking or fooling of the central nervous system, making your brain think that the pain

is gone, less severe are quite popular. It can be habit-forming though and direly affect your

digestive system if you are not careful with and over prolonged period of time/use.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Deal well with pain, swelling and stiffness, for

temporary relief of symptoms. They cater to the

needs of self-medication and for ranges of the

disorder, from mild to severe cases. Its effects will

not necessarily be immediate and the side-effects

are real, especially on the kidneys and heart.

Drug-interactions are also possible and need to be considered closely. It is not suited

necessarily for everyone. Discuss your options and risks with your doctor, PRIOR to starting

any medication for arthritic purposes.

Corticosteroids are taken orally, or cortisone injections deal with inflammation and swelling,

as well as pain relief, for short-term treatment options. Know what is available, assess your

risk/reward value proposition, cost and educate and empower yourself by knowing what

new research and products are/become available on the market.

Also, make and investment in your health and mobility – do not just submit to a life-long

life-sentence of not being able to capitalize on and count on your joints – use what nature

has given and can give you in and through your body, tapping into its natural functioning

parts (even if they are problematic!), boost your metabolism and try to get more exercise

all-round, without risk of injury.


Physiotherapy, workouts, hydro-therapy (getting the weight off your joints, while still

working out), customized exercise regimens and tailored fitness classes and home-

workouts, gym-time can all make the difference for you as well. Do everything you can to

avoid joint damage and loss of motion, risk of injury or further degradation, wear and tear.

Get professionals involved to help you make sense of your options to get the most of

strengthening your joints, not weakening or worsening their situation.

Alternating heat/cold applications in various formats are another way, quick and easy, you

can bring relief.

Visco-supplementation, injections, lubrications, cartilage support, surgery and replacements

can all do its part to bring about MORE mobility over time. Whether mainstream,

alternative, holistic or naturalistic, there are many treatment options and iterations of

products available to help you manage and/or relieve pain, temporarily, immediately, over

time, eventually and/or permanently! The choice is up to you in the end on which one will

be most effective for you and your circumstances.

Taking a supplement, eating healthy, elements and nutritional battle-fighters like

Chondroitin Sulfate or Glucosamine, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) symptomatic

treatment, alternative therapies like acupuncture, therapeutic massage, relaxation

techniques, Meditation and visualizing exercises, hypnosis, partnering with multi-faceted,

holistic and naturopathic specialists to find a tailored solution for your arthritis is probably a

good place to start.

You are trying to take control, lessen pain and impact, understand the disorder better, as

well as the functioning of your joints, what hinders/helps to tap into your body and its

strengths to heal itself.

You want to work towards getting

your movement, range of motion,

mobility and independence back.

You want to protect and enable, not

weaken or put at risk, injury or

worsen your joints and condition.

You want to manage and lessen the

PAIN you have to deal with on a

daily basis.


As you go through trying to come up with a strategy that works best for you, you will in all

likelihood come up with new strategies and methods that work its magic for your particular

case and prognosis, challenges and obstacles. Living a healthy, balanced, more practical life

will also go a long way in making the pain easier to cope with.

Try and also acknowledge and deal with your emotions and feelings, stress and depression

that might rear its ugly head – as this is a substantial part of the disease and disorder that

often goes under-estimated, not emphasized enough and a main cause why people get

frustrated and want to give up, feel overwhelmed and like a victim of a debilitating disease.

You can stop feeling like that; take active roles in the process, treatment and outcome of

your situation YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM, BUT A VICTOR!

You want to lessen pain and get your joints functioning well. That is the rationale and reason

behind what most people want to do once they are diagnosed. They are oftentimes

however at a loss at the HOW to do it!

IT WIL ALL DEPEND UPON YOU. That is the beauty and the challenge. There is no formula or

right or wrong. It is a spectrum of treatment options and available therapies , regimens and

practical lifestyle changes that will give you the optimal effect. IT IS ALSO NOT JUST ABOUT

THE PAIN and REALITIES THEMSELVES WITH THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF ARTHRITIS. There is

MORE here than meets the eye.

Make the most of a few simple steps and combination treatments FOR WHAT YOU NEED -

overcome the problems, obstacles and challenges and half your battle is won with many

little things working together in an orchestrated personalized, action and treatment plan

that tries to cover all the bases.

Make your own mantras, rules and activity levels

Get rest, sleep lots, move when you can and rest when you cannot

Use support devices when you have to

Try some new, existing, topical treatments, those that you know will

help you in the moment, for hours as and when you need them


Tap into medications, supplements, natural

and home remedies and alternative

therapies, medical interventions, surgeries

and knee replacements options that your

doctor and/or naturopath, fitness and

specialists recommend for your case.

Do things you enjoy!!

DO SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING is

the advice here!

While all the way paying attention to some of

the more hidden aspects of the disorder like

the feelings/emotion, psychological, holistic and even relational complexities and intricacies

that this can bring with it. IT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST YOUR JOINTS AND FUNCTIONING,

MOVING PARTS! You are a total, whole human being and the condition does not exist

outside of who you are! YOU ARE ALSO NOT DEFINED BY YOUR DISORDER ALONE! THERE IS

MORE AT STAKE – EVERYTHING MATTERS!

Nutritionally eat healthy, get moving and keep on top of what the market and research has

to offer for your disorder and pain relief effectiveness.

Which of the following symptoms are of the greatest

concern for you?

Pain and inflammation

Swelling and stiffness

Loss of range of motion

Malfunction, weakness in joint

Grinding and sounds, cracking when joints move

IT IS TIME TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR IF ANY, SOME OF

ALL OF THE ABOVE PERTAINS TO YOU AND YOUR

CONDITION! DO NOT DELAY, DO NOT WAIT, DO

NOT DISMISS THE PAIN…ACT NOW, EARLIER

RATHER THAN LATER! IT IS IN YOUR OWN BEST

INTEREST!


Section 3


Arthritic Pain Self-Management Action Plans

Everyday will bring a different challenge and level, occurrences, severity and duration of

PAIN. Be ready for whatever it may throw at you. Pain is just not the same everyday and for

every person. That is part of what makes it so difficult to treat effectively. It requires

individualized treatment, adjusted and matched to your needs, desires and specific

problem, manifestation and coping skills!

You are a patient and a person – both there perspectives and realities will affect you as you

deal with joints, pain, moving, others, life and daily tasks!

Focus on pain management, increased mobility as possible, to give you your independence,

life, future, hope…BACK!

reducing pain and swelling

optimal functioning of your moving parts are a top priority

do not let it slide or degrade further

manage the discomforts and PAIN

Exercise and to keep moving (despite the pain) are important aspects of

treatment and living, even pain management too – it might actually help you to

move around, although it will, might be, is extremely painful!

Resting and protecting your joints are also paramount

Get help quickly and speak with your partners in your treatment , even other

patients, family and friends about your disorder, treatment, progress, low and

high points, join an online blog, chat-board and support networks for optimal

success If something does not work, try something else!

Moving is so much part of who we are and pain such a reality with arthritis that you cannot

NOT act! Knees and hips, joints, moving parts can cause trouble for us humans along the

way and our individual paths of life. For every single one of us it is a reality. We take them so

for granted if there is nothing wrong with them. WE regret it the moment we have trouble

with them and experience pain and suffering if they ache, hurt or do not work well! There

are many aspects of this disorder as this short introductory discussion and musing has

clearly unearthed.

Treatments range in character, cost and implications in the short, medium and long-term.

You need to think about ALL THREE OF THESE and MORE! THERE ARE KNEE ARTHRITIS

ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS FOR YOU! It is up to you to find what works best for YOUR

arthritis diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, future and PAIN MANAGEMENT!


SEVENTY Practical Considerations And Tips For

Dealing With The Pain Of Arthritis And Making The

Pain Disappear

1. Pain is common and it occurs for everyone differently

2. It is the one almost pre-occupation and most prevalent situation, occurrence,

manifestation and reality of this condition

3. Pain (and managing it), is the ONE sure thing you will have in common with

many/most others – which makes it easier to talk about, discuss and share – you do

not have to go down this road alone

4. PAIN IS PERSONAL and UNIQUE – no two people will experience it in the same way –

be sure when you talk to your doctor to be as specific as you can about this! Even

making notes can be helpful, when it starts, where it is, how it feels, how long it

lasts, what brought it on, what made it worse/better – these cues and clues can all

contribute to finding the right treatment and pain management strategy for you and

your arthritis pain

5. PAIN is hard to quantify, but try to wrap your mind around the difference aspects of

it – which joint, where exactly, why you think it is hurting, what it lets you do or not

do for example. Treating and managing pain will also be easier when you understand

it more and better!

6. Causality is not easy to pin-point with arthritis and there is no cure! This is a reality

you will have to accept, YET not be immobilized by it! You can do something about,

with it in your life – do not let is rob you of your mobility, range of motion ,quality of

life, hope joy and future! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!

7. There are multi-faceted factors at play in and with pain with arthritis

8. What works for ONE person, might not be any good for YOU or any other individual!

9. You can find ways for YOU to help manage your pain better – there is always

something else to try or things to do differently to make your life and PAIN more

practical, have less impact and pain, demand on your joints and LIVE!


10. You need to know the extent and severity of the joint damage – not only a diagnosis,

formally by a medical practitioner, but also a firm prognosis and treatment plan, will

leave you feeling empowered as opposed to in the throes of despair. Also, have

them look at any at-risk areas and surrounding tissue etc. where things might get

worse over time, causing MORE pain!

11. Even if you feel like NOT moving around to NOT experience the pain, MOVE!! Your

body is designed to do it! If not, it will kick into protection mode and even build up

more fluids, trying to protect the joint, or at risk area, making it even MORE painful.

It could be one of the reasons for your pain. Make your body and its functioning

parts, processes and elements, components YOUR FRIEND, ALLIES and NOT YOUR

ENEMY!

12. Make getting rest an absolute priority and make it count, look after your whole

body, not just your knee, hip or arthritic hot-spots!

13. Try to keep your emotions/feelings in check – this is often ignored by patients as we

all want to believe that we can cope effectively with whatever life tends to throw at

us – including immobilizing, debilitating diseases/disorders.

14. Minimize personal, professional and disorder-related, stress, angst, emotional

extremes, anger, fear, frustrations, depression, hopelessness, demoralizing,

deconstructive self-talk!

15. Talk to others and communicate frequently with your treatment team and partners

on progress, hurdles, effective or not so effective regimens and solutions and try and

pursue new or adjusted ones that work and last for you!

16. Know that pain can come from many places, vary from day to day, time of day,

severity, intensity, duration, can be in more than one place, be caused by many

things and not even have a clear cause – just be a PAINFUL reality that has to be

dealt with effectively, swiftly and on an on-going basis, positive attitude and a PLAN!

YOUR PLAN!

17. Pain management and reduction will be up to you to be most effective. You are the

one choosing which therapies and remedies to apply and partake of.


18. Exercises that both strengthen and relax the muscles and joints need to be done in

moderation and alternated for optimal results. Consult your medical practitioners

and fitness professional, even rehabilitation specialists and physiotherapists,

massage niche providers to assist you with a balanced pain management treatment

plan.

19. Reduce the demands you place on your joints and body through practical

adjustments to your lifestyle *to test the practicality of this for example – count how

many times in an hour you actually BEND over, bend down, reach, jump, lunge,

stretch or use your hips, knees, joints – YOU WILL BE SURPRIZED! Try to make the

most of how you can use what you have and not get too caught up in what you

cannot do!

20. Identify, understand and cope with the demands and restrictions, range of motion

that you do have, avoiding things that can aggravate your pain and suffering.

21. Set up a pain-management journal, plan and log for yourself . This can be a handy

and most effective treatment and communication tool for you and your medical

practitioner to use in your treatment and management of your pain on an on-going

basis, while actually making and seeing some progress (or not!), finding alternatives

and tracking the effectiveness of certain therapies and interventions.

22. Be and eat healthy, the right foods, right portions, frequent , smaller meals, control

weight

23. Find out all you can about your medications, treatments and how to optimize them,

risks, side-effects, contra-indicators, problems, limitations, risk/reward. Then, only

decide which is the best option or strategy for you for your pain management.

24. Implement small pain management steps throughout your day, week and life and

deal with it with patience and grace, motivated and positive attitude.

25. Use cognitive, positive suggestions, mantras and power of the mind over matter, to

deal with pain, tapping into your pain receptors, brain-power to ‘heal’ and cope

better with your body and its moving parts as well as your whole body, well-being.

You are one functioning and wonderful whole – do not dismiss the opportunity and

effectiveness, role YOU can play in dealing with pain. Sometimes it is mind over

matter!


26. Make relaxing the muscles of your body a top priority, reduce stress, reduce PAIN –

it is that simple – like a chain of command of sorts! You can take control through

processes like medication, relaxation, stress-reduction, visualization and more to

take more control over your condition and PAIN!

27. Thoughts and feelings are part of this condition and realities and can be positive or

negatively affecting you even as you read here! How to you feel and what are you

thinking about your condition? Is it positive or negative? Do you believe you are

getting better and/or fear getting worse? Relieve pain and suffering through positive

thought and self-speak, focus and mental agility.

28. You are also a bio-electric being with your own energy-signatures and dynamics –

you are truly unique. Many believe and advocate that you yourself have within you

the power, knowledge and answers to cope with pain effectively. They point to

survivalist instincts kicking in when we need it most and then wondering why we

suddenly forget about these, ignore or downplay their effectiveness when we need it

every day, coping with pain and relieving our suffering due to joint issues and

problems.

29. There are different paths to joint health, dealing with overcoming and making the

most of your arthritis situation, condition and challenges. Choose the one that is

most-suited, affordable, low risk, best reward type therapies and treatment.

30. Give every treatment or strategy a fair run or hearing, be open-minded enough to try

new things out, at least for two weeks and at least for 20 minutes every day for a

length of period to really know if it will be helpful to manage your pain.

31. Find practical ways in and around your home, work and life to apply every technique

and path of remedy you choose. Mix and match the solutions into a fine-tuned

strategy that makes pain manageable and/or even make/have it disappear or at the

very least, you being less obsessed, aware and not being affected by it in your daily

life as much.

32. Build better joint habits, posture, making moving a priority and moving, sitting,

walking, running, reaching RIGHT and BETTER top priority for you.

33. Relaxation of your different muscle groups in a deliberate fashion can yield great

result too. Less tense, they cause less pain in and to the affected areas.

34. NEVER LOSE HOPE with your arthritis or feel too overwhelmed to ask for help.


35. Getting over-exerted, fatigued, run-down or tired is NOT A GOOD STRATEGY AT ANY

TIME FOR ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS! Get rest, take breaks, sleep well and longer,

deeper and wake up refreshed to face another day. Sometimes taking it an hour at a

time, day at a time is good advice! Do not try to move too many mountains or build

too many ROME’s in one day!

36. Breathing exercises, paced breathing, focused breathing, even yoga can help. You

are infusing your body with oxygen, filling muscles and circulatory systems with

much-needed power and means to function at their best. Refresh, cleanse and ease

discomfort.

Manage your pain symptoms with deep breathing techniques for about two weeks

and see if it makes any difference for how your feel in the moment, afterwards as

the pain subsides. Most patients report feeling empowered by the hint that they can

control how their body responds to and deals with pain.

37. Guided imagery, visualization, meditative states and journey’s are other ways for you

to explore how to tap into your body and mind’s respective and combined strengths,

helping your get a better handle on reality, pain and how you feel and cope with and

about it.

38. The art of distraction does not only work on kids! (Ask parents they will tell you it is a

highly effective technique, even for disciplining, reward, nagging, bed-time or more

to get cooperation, calm etc.!) It is also great on adults. YET, we rarely use it! If you

feel pain taking over, try and focus your mind on something else deliberately, trick

your brain into getting away from the pain stimulus-response loops! IT is easy and

costs nothing! ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN DO AND USE IT.

39. Self-talk, reflection, even visualizing and claiming feeling healthy, better, can lift your

spirits and have you address the realities of your pain BETTER! You are not wishing or

praying it away, just realizing that you have choice to react differently to the PAIN

itself and what it is doing to you, your life, your mobility and MORE.

40. Heat and cold, massage, stroking, kneading, rubbing, professional therapy and even

physio can all relieve all levels of pain, from mild, moderate to severe and extreme –

caution should be exercise not to harm or worsen, risk injury – consult a professional

on how best to implement and proceed with this one!


41. How you sleep, sit, ergonomics have lots to offer, the type of bed, sleeping position

you hold change during the night, support pillows, the softness/harness, how new or

old your mattress, cushions, chairs are can all make things better or worse – this one

is up to you. Focus on the environmental and contextual factors that can help you

rather than hinder you or make joint pain worse. Get a foot-stool if you work in-front

of the computer all day, a recliner for watching TV (heat/massage), warm-water

bottle and comfortable blanket, support pillow for work, home and car etc.

42. Break the pain spiral and cycle if you can! Be active, over inactive, eat well, over

poorly, stay positive and keep hopeful, deal with negative, difficult emotions,

realities, feelings and response, relax tense muscles and do not allow the pain and

disease to dictate your days and life any longer or at all.

43. Surround yourself with activities and people that you enjoy and do not make your

pain and disease the main focus of your being and life. Interesting hobbies, friends,

socializing, over isolation, loneliness and being with and aware of your condition

24/7/365 can be a breath of fresh air!

44. Get the help you need, can afford and know will give you the most/best bang for

your treatment buck!

45. Review your medications and treatment plan from time to time and keep on top of

your condition, get progress reports, journal your thoughts, feelings and more and

discuss this with your medical practitioner, partners and treatment team(s),

including casting the net wider than your GP!

46. Cut down on bad, poor habits like too much alcohol, smoking and nutritionally

unhealthy foods.

47. Reward yourself for getting through a day or reaching a goal, share stories of

success, pain and failure, recovery and hope with others, volunteer and share your

experience with fellow-sufferers, volunteers, online chat-groups.

48. Realize that there are connections between pain and your mood or how you feel

about things, yourself, the pain, your condition…

49. Make mobility a top priority and precious commodity in your life, yet not obsess

about losing or fear not having it. Focus on what you can do, get better, structure

and organize your surroundings, home and life around enabling yourself, practical

and not hurdles to overcome, leaving your powerless, helpless, feeling despair!


50. Move through and with the pain – BUT MOVE! Yes, even when it hurts, really hurts!

Look and feel good and better and the pain will be less on your mind as you go about

your day and business. Focus on something else besides just the pain, your hip,

knees or arthritis.

51. Exercise to loosen stiff or even lazy, inflamed or unused muscles – they can be the

very cause or at the very least a contributing factor to the pain that you are feeling.

52. Minimize flare-ups by being active on a daily, regular basis.

53. Do not hold out with pain, if you do not have to. Discuss options and decide what

you will take/do when pain strikes. Having a plan is half the battle. Being prepared

and somewhat pro-active, rather than just passively responding will greatly enable

your life and mobility.

54. Getting and being tired are not friends of this condition, so ensure that you get the

rest, sleep and relaxation that you need, despite your fast-paced, priority-filled life,

especially working moms/dads!

55. Avoid inactivity, fatigue, bad/poor nutrition, skipping meals, taking on too much, and

schedule down-time, gym-time and YOU-time! Conserve and manage your energy

effectively and you will benefit more from it in those painful moments when it will

count and make all the difference in the world.

56. Watch for side-effects of medications or reactions, responses to treatment and

therapy that might not be helping you, but making you feel worse – avoid, adjust or

change it.

57. Stay hydrated, get enough fiber in your diet and ensure optimal nutrients to give

your body a fighting chance.

58. Strengthen your immune system and take supplements to ensure you get all the

nutrients that your body requires from different sources (especially when you feel

lousy, do not have an appetite, suffering from intense or sever pain).

59. Be involved in your treatment, choose your medical team closely and discuss any

issues, concerns, inquiry, questions, research, products, treatments and therapies

with them all. Get second opinions, baseline, test, investigate, partner, communicate

and discuss, making every visit and consultation, results and follow-up count.


60. Do not only focus on medicines that reduces pain and inflammation, ask about safety

and alternatives, relief, results, trails and evidence – learn and explore new

therapies, products and breakthroughs with caution, skepticism, safety and assess

your risk, interactions and responses to medications BEFORE adding or starting any

new meds.

61. Realize that inflammation of the joints is both the condition and your body’s natural

way of dealing with a problem. It is part of your healing process and secret as well!

Do not just leave it up to anti-inflammatories to work the trick and magic! There

might be MORE to getting results that work and last!

62. Depending on the type of arthritis that you have, your strategy and treatment

will/may vary from others, over time etc. NO TWO TREATMENT PLANS ARE, WILL

AND SHOULD BE THE SAME! What is good for the goose (one patient/individual),

might in this case, NOT be so good for the gander (other patient/YOU?!)!!

63. Pain-reducing drugs should not be your fall-back position – they are risky and can be

addictive, do not solve anything and put you in jeopardy or at risk long-term. You do

not want to mask or cover symptoms, that might be tell-tale signs of what exactly is

wrong, happening or keeping you from real treatment that might actually help

relieve the pain, through different channels and options.

Suppressing pain is no solution anytime! You might actually be causing MORE harm

than good! Tolerance and side-effects, even dependence may also develop from

prolonged use with associated risks.

64. Medications and pain management tools are not to be crutches or supports alone,

they are enablers of your life, mobility and health – they assist you being

independent, functioning, happy and healthy BUT they are not the only things you

have at your disposal to deal, cope and get rid of pain and the demands that Arthritis

places on your life.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH, realistic,

feasible, affordable, practical and individualized to making the pain more

manageable, go away, be less severe etc.

65. Pain killers like Darvon, Darvocet, Codeine, Percodan, Demerol can help you manage

the symptoms and pain associated with arthritis, as can some natural alternatives of

which there are numerous products and combinations on the market.


66. Some arthritis sufferers also swear by tranquilizers, muscle and spasm relaxants,

even anti-depressants to help them cope with all aspects of the condition, including

pain, depression and more. Joint-injections and lubrication, as well as alternative

medicines can add great value to this equation as well. ALWAYS INFORM YOUR

DOCTOR OF ALL MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS, OTC DRUGS that you are taking.

67. What to do if all else fails and surgery is the only option? Educate, inform,

investigate, research, get the best surgeon and team, you can afford and muster in

your area, type of operation, treatment and intervention, effectiveness, pre and

post-operative rehabilitation, realities, risks, repeat or additional surgeries

throughout your lifetime, type of problem and arthritis you have, match and

suitability of the procedure for your case, replacement or augmentation, repair,

installation, resection, fusion, back, hip or knee surgery or all of the above?!

68. not all Arthritis treatments and products, alternatives and therapies are created

equal. It will be up to you to find the best, reliable, affordable ones and THOSE THAT

ACTAULLY WORK! BEWARE THE SNAKE-OILS!

69. Critically evaluate and investigate claims of healing arthritis for good with X, Y or Z,

without questioning the source, track record, research, trials, experiments,

successes and failures rates, does the product and/or results apply to you and your

condition, situation, diagnosis and prognosis, PAIN? In other words, will it work for

you – what is the probability of it?

70. Effectiveness of any one treatment or therapy does not happen in a vacuum. Are the

other contributing or enabling factors to consider as well? Risk, danger and harm,

contra-indicators, drug-interactions, cost and expense? How accessible and

practically viable is the treatment for ME?


Section 4


Personal Arthritic Customized Solutions That Work

And Last

These and more insights are to be found and formulated as the battle against and through

arthritis continue. It does not however have to take over, control your life, mobility, health,

well-being and future!

You too can effectively live, cope, overcome joint pain and related conditions associated

with this commonplace disorder. It is about more than aging and the fear of losing your

independence. Your body and mind has lots to offer that you might not even have

considered up to now. There is comprehensive and detailed information both in print and

online to assist you in your quest of managing pain, discomfort, inconvenience and

debilitating aspects of arthritis.

Regardless of your type, age, techniques for pain management, medications, remedies,

gadgets, aides and tools, levels and nature or support, YOU CAN GET THROUGH ARTHRITIS!

You can overcome and live with, even make the pain more tolerable, less front-of-mind,

even disappearing as you focus on getting better, living your life and effectively self-manage

your pain and all the layered dynamics of your arthritic condition.

So, To Recap:

There are numerous sources and practitioners available to help and assist you . The onus

and responsibility, choice and attitude all being and end with you. There is no cure, no

formula, no one-size fits all type solutions for arthritis, no miracle element that will make it

go away – that is the bad news, but also the key to unlocking the secrets of your success

making pain disappear.


PAIN is the ONE symptom that you can and will assuredly be subjected to while suffering

from arthritis. Just ask any patient, young, old, man, female, gray-haired or child –ARTHRITIC

PAIN = REAL! Undeniably part of your life, you can do something about it.

There are tried and trusted methods of dealing with pain. Tap into all disciplines and fields

to get the most from coping with the challenges, obstacles and realities of arthritis,

including the pain management aspect of it. Medicine, science and alternative therapies all

have lots to offer in terms of suggestions, proven results – it is up to you to sift through

these and work systematically, fact-based to find the most effective treatment(s) for your

condition, situation and circumstance. If it sounds like self-help, in a sense it is. You can and

will be guided by medical and other professional practitioners, but in the end, the choice is

still yours.

You need to really understand the body, how it functions, the nature of a joint, human

system, pain and pain relief, in order to select the best possible most effective treatment.

Do not underestimate the pain and aches you are suffering in the here and now – do not

dismiss, delay or ignore it – it will and can only get worse, so act with urgency and

immediacy as early detection and intervention is BETTER in most cases.

Often the rule of thumb might not apply to you. Your situation, joint, degradation,

prognosis, diagnosis and means of recovery, treatment plan will be just that YOURS!

Arthritis is an individual affliction, unique to you, but it will affect your whole life, including

your personal and professional, even relational and social life and well-being… that is if you

let it! PAIN IS REAL FOR EVERYONE, how we each respond, very much up to each of us.

In no means, way, shape or form is this

musing intended to replace medical science,

opinion and /or treatment. It can offer

insights, advice and care options that others

have used, pain management suggestions

and recommendations, therapies, products

and remedies out there, facts, exercises or

techniques to try and experiment with,

under supervision and guidance of a

physician or medical practitioner, partner

and team for the optimal results of course.

Tools to assist you and your doctor the best

they can in coming up with as many ways,

THE BEST WAY for you to make your

arthritis pain disappear FOR GOOD!


Do not fear or be debilitated by the pain any longer or at all! You can live and get through it,

make it less or even disappear from your radar altogether with a combination, customized

treatment action plan and therapy program that fits, matches and addresses your needs,

goals, aspirations, frustrations and hopes!

This is about more than getting older, and aging degenerative disorder to subject to and give

into quietly as it gains ground in your life, taking what is rightfully yours, mobility and

freedom, independence…quality of life?! NO MORE! NO LONGER! You do not have to

become MORE dependent on others.

You can structure your environment such that you can function more practically, with less

impact on your joints, eat healthier and look out for yourself, minimize risk of injury,

progression in the wrong direction, aggravating factors, things that hinder/help your

condition, use the power of your mind, emotions, mood, imagination, creativity, attitude

and resourcefulness to battle this tough opponent any day, every day!

Know where and how arthritis attacks, plan to curb and ruin your life and then take counter-

measures and action to minimize these and manage the pain that is associated with joint-

related arthritis. There are over 120 types and manifestations of arthritis and we can

assuredly not address every single one here.

Problems with your joints might also spread wider that just that, including, muscles,

tendons, surrounding tissue, ligaments, cartilage and MORE. All kinds and levels of pain and

stiffness, swelling, discomfort, grinding, aching, stinging, redness might very well be part of

your condition (or not) IT will vary from person to person.

In this disorder, there is something wrong with both part and whole! You are so much more

than the mere sum-total of your different parts (in this case your moving, mobility or

movement-type parts!) Arthritis is about MORE than joint illness and the fear of loss of

mobility.

Each type and iteration, manifestation of arthritis is different and requires different

interventions and treatments. It has many faces, names and disguises, even distant relatives

that make their way onto the scene! If you pick the best, most effective self-managed action

plan to cope, live with, overcome and triumph over your Arthritis, you can take your

diagnosis and prognosis into account, PRIOR to opting for the BEST treatment. This will

serve your purpose, process and outcome well/BETTER!


There are THREE major types of arthritis that is commonplace and increasing in incidence

and diagnosis. They are: Rheumatoid arthritic, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Here again, are just some of the things you can expect to happen to you or that you might

experience, with some or any of these conditions. The PAIN will be ever-present, come and

go and require on-going management.

Inflammation of synovial membranes

Fluid build up

Bone-destruction

Damage to ligaments

Tendon breakdown or damage

Cartilage problems

Joint capsule issues

Degeneration of cartilage, bone

Growths (abnormal)

Bone spurs

Sleep disturbances

Prolonged painful muscle contractions

Anywhere on the body, one spot, more, hot and tender spots, like wrist, knees,

knuckles, one or both sides, hands, feet, extremities, back, hips

Swelling

Redness, warmth and sensations of discomfort

Stiffness, malfunction

Aches and pains

Morning stiffness

Fatigue

Less or more aggressive over time

Deformities

Less or more pain, coming and going, morning, evening, exertion or rest (after)

Immobility

Disability

Lack of independence, dependence on others

Disabling pain and fatigue

… and many more!


Effective Treatments And Pain Management

Science

When it does come effective treatments and pain management science, there are lots

available and proven already, with more being discovered each year and even as we speak,

as we continue to unravel the mystery and puzzle that this illness, part of the human

condition and associated arthritic problems introduces into our lives, realities and future.

It has challenges, obstacles and fears, uncertainties, risks, rewards and short, medium AND

long-term implications for our health and well-being.

Your focus can not only be on PAIN, but it is an important aspect of your overall treatment if

you have any hope in GETTING BETTER! Your target should be (depending on the type and

severity, onset, duration, location etc.) to:

Diagnose, identify and treat (treating and managing it right and FOR YOU!)

Getting personally-tailored advice and treatment that works and lasts

Reduce the inflammation, solve the problem, and not merely treat symptoms

Balance your life, eat well, exercise, be active, get, keep , maintain and control your weight,

BMI, relax, alternate heat/cold, apply topical treatments, take meds, natural supplements,

treatments, pharmaceuticals, naturo-chemicals, bio-treatments, even surgery if that is what

is called for to heal, better, cope and/or make the pain go away NOW, later, immediately,

over time, for good!

It is your priority and responsibility to move and stay active, despite pain – the body is/has

been designed to be on the move for optimal functioning.

We need to champion and protect these functioning and mobility related aspects,

components, protecting our joints, even getting rest when needed! OA or RA brings to mind

fear and pictures of disability, fear of loss of mobility and images of suffering and PAIN. BUT,

it does not have to be so.

At first, when diagnosed you might feel somewhat overwhelmed by it all. This is natural. As

you set out trying to find the best treatment, your frustrations and questions may multiply

with little answers. It is up to you to find the most/best treatment plan as there is no cure

per se. You need to start looking out for yourself and your own interests right away.


Use your common sense, get the best

practitioners, science, meds and

answers on your side, adjust your

thinking, attitude and be positive,

rather than negative, balanced and

realistic rather then obsessive and

feeling helplessly depressed and

overwhelmed, not able to do

anything, which would really be the

tragedy! Realize and embrace that

there is HOPE … and you are a piece

of that solution!

It is essential that you start doing

things right away and a little

differently than before. You cannot

undo all the harm and degradation,

but you can avoid more, worsening starting NOW! Use your logic as to what will help and

hinder you. If you can bend, reach, stretch less, by making small changes in and around your

life, home, car, work etc. then by all means do so.

If you can tap into aides and supports, do it. Learn and understand more, ask and discover

new ways, from others, from science, other disciplines, what helped others, what did not,

where to spend your treatment dollar and time, effort and energy… make mobility and

movement your top priority in all you do, not obsessively, but almost as if it is second

nature. Replace bad habits with good/better ones over time.

For many sufferers the main problem is the complexity of making the symptoms, in this case

the PAIN go away! Observations and sharing of the pain is subjective, oftentimes not

quantifiable by the science and metrics, current procedures that we have in place.

Procedures and treatments do not work equally for all, increasing the frustration on both

sides of the spectrum. Drugs do not always help and the pain is undeniably real – this can all

cause big problems, even ending up worsening the condition and overall well-being of the

patient and effectiveness of the treatment.

As you set out dealing effectively with the pain that arthritis has introduced into your life,

you will find yourself scouring through research, gathering information, making decision,

trying things out, changing treatments, drugs, therapies and the hunt is on for what works

for you. That journey is not predictably and the outcome even less certain and finite. Yet, we

keep on going… there are answers and solutions for each of us – we just need to find our

niche and know what works for us, then DO IT!


Advice is just that – recommendations, diagnosis, prognosis treatment… it all sounds easy

and simple enough, but more times than not it is MORE complex than that. There are many

problems and challenges with living with arthritis, PAIN is the most prevalent. Learn and

practice, refine and apply your own plan of /for action for managing and dealing with it,

relieving and overcoming it in and for your life, now, tomorrow, for the future and for good!

Answers and solutions will vary and come over time… all the best to you in your quest!

Practical Suggestions To Minimize PAIN In Your Life

Due To Arthritis And Related Conditions

Make it a top priority for you, to not just be focusing on the pain itself and what your

condition afflicts you with or have you unable to do, suffering, but also and specifically,

practically…

Working With Arthritis and ways to minimize pain, demand on your joints,

muscles and surrounding areas, systems and functioning parts – taking care of

the whole and individual components

Time Management, scheduling and deliberate pacing

Joint Protection (low/less to no impact type structures, activities and

environments)

Housework, cooking and cleaning strategies that promote joint health and

mobility safe-keeping

Grooming / Dressing / Bathing that enables movement, not increase the pain!

Gardening – NO BENDING! And tools that can minimize impact

Feng Shui, organization, ergonomics, layout, design, function and decorating

interior, living and working spaces

Driving / Car Travel

Aides, supports, equipment, assistive devices

Focusing deliberately on things that can make your quality of life BETTER, through:

Optimizing on and capitalizing your own energy (conservation and expenditure)

Joint preservation AND joint protection

Pain relief – making PAIN disappear for good!

Maintaining your independence

Achieving BETTER functioning and mobility


Alleviate problems with daily activities, such as

- walking

- standing

- sitting

- reaching

- holding

- grasping

- driving

- dressing

- climbing stairs

- carrying

Explore all kinds, channels and combination therapies that are helpful to you, like:

Natural, holistic. Alternative Pain Remedies

Pain Relief Gadgets

Nature, treatment and Arthritis Pain self-management

Pain Research, findings and new treatments

Biofeedback

Painkillers

Exercise

Pet Therapy

Hypnosis / Hypnotherapy

Relaxation / Meditation

Joint Protection

Topical Pain Relief

Massage Therapy

Ultrasound Treatments

Medical Marijuana

Warm Water Therapy

Music Therapy

OTC Pain Relievers

Yoga

… And many MORE!


Thirty-Three More Insights For Success With Arthritic

Pain And Management Of Your Condition, Lifestyle

And Future!

1. Make preventing future problems and pain a priority as well.

2. Minimize impact on your joints and the areas that you know cause pain and

problems for you by using them less, better or not at all (which is probably not

good!). Move and utilize your moving parts, with moderation and without risk of

injury or further degradation, damage.

3. Use your body and moving parts as it was meant to be used. Avoid undue,

unnecessary or demand on your joints and surrounding areas.

4. Get tasks done effectively with the least amount of effort to conserve energy and to

keep the impact on your joint minimal.

5. Use your muscles and joints as far as possible for what you need most during the

day.

6. Reduce any, all stress on/of your muscles, joints and avoid fatigue if you can. Rest

often *even when cleaning the house, doing chores or preparing meals. Alignment

and posture definitely matters a whole lot! This is one sure way to protect your

joints. Limit stretching to and beyond capacity, reaching, lunging etc.

You have often heard of lift with your legs, bend properly and right when picking up

heavy objects… maybe your grandmother even told you to straighten your back,

push out your chest and walk properly, proudly – she did you a huge favor, which

you will benefit MORE from if you stick to it! The advice is solid and it works

wonders!

7. Minimize activities and strain (typing, knitting, grasping, clutching, sorting with

fingers) or related movements that are repetitive and small movements causing

stiffness in your hands for example.

8. Canes, walking sticks, walkers, aides and devices can be extremely helpful, not just

for the elderly, but to minimize the impact when walking, a quirky eccentric trick

perhaps, but your health, joints and future will thank you!


9. Cushioned support when sitting, driving, traveling is also important and an

ergonomic chair can also do wonders to relieve pain, if sitting at work.

10. Distribute weight, avoid carrying heavy things, long, far distances placing extra strain

on your back, legs and joints for that matter.

11. Carry things closer to your body and prevent stiffness, contractions for prolonged

periods of time.

12. Plan your day and tasks carefully

13. Be efficient at what you put where, what you do when, multi-tasking and not over-

stretching yourself

14. Organize your environment to minimize impact on your joints – make it functional

and pain-care-free and friendly.

15. REST often!

16. Use handles, extenders, wheels, lightweight objects, alternatives and larger grab-

hold surfaces, convenience and personal appliances and helpful tools to cut down on

repetitive tasks that can take their toll on your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments,

cartilage and MORE!

17. Use your joints appropriately and sparingly – they have to last a lifetime!

18. Coordinate your movements, do some thai-chi

19. Velcro over buttons, elastics over cuffs, zippers and/or other closures for clothing

and dressing

20. Comfortable shoes, supports, insoles, that fit well and provide comfort, support and

function you need and demand

21. Find ways in the bathroom , kitchen, entertainment areas and events, bedroom,

cooking, taking care of your kids, food preparation, kitchen layout, cleaning, laundry,

driving, traveling that makes sense for you and your condition.


22. When working, alternate sitting and standing, walking around, avoid running and

skipping stairs while in a hurry as you risk potential injury for example. BE SMART

with your back, hip and knees, realizing that you get one set and they have to last

you for life (ok, almost!).

23. Make it another priority to not only manage PAIN, but also to live a healthy/

healthier life all-round! Your joints will also benefit from things like cardio-workouts,

core and strength training, building muscles, flexibility activities, swimming etc.

24. Enable your muscles and joints to take more to an extent! Without over-=exertion

and with protection in mind, exercise to strengthen your body all-round, including

your joints, to absorb more shock and take more punch if and when they have to.

25. If you stretch often and move a lot, your body will automatically be a little MORE

flexible and agile, which will only count in your favor when you are in pain, trying to

relax aching muscles and joints, resting or just trying to get better!

26. Improved circulation due to increased activity can also do its part to help the body

use what it has got from nature. This will even bring some swelling down and reduce

tender and soreness associated with this disorder as a bonus.

27. Protect your joints and increase your energy should be your two key goals when it

comes to fitness and related activity to get better and manage your arthritic pain

more and better, for longer, for good!

28. Warm up and cool down properly as to not risk further injury and pain to your joints.

Take it slow at first and at your pace, comfort zone and do not over-exert yourself.

29. Be careful, utilize safety first methods, avoid slip and falls if at all possible.

30. Keep your movements slow, calculated and not jerky, causing shock and demand on

your joints.

31. IF YOU FEEL MORE PAIN while exercising or doing a specific activity STOP!

32. How to BEST take care of yourself, when trying to rid your body, life and future of

the debilitating effects and pain of arthritis starts with having a plan, any plan is

better than NO PLAN, direction, purpose, goal, target, steps etc.


33. Have a goal, direction, target and purpose in mind – what do I want, What do I want

to accomplish? How am I not going to the arthritic pain get the better of me? What

long-term goal(s) do I have, can I formulate to help me deal with arthritic PAIN and

the realities I am facing – walking down the aisle, playing a sport I love despite my

condition, diagnosis or prognosis for example in 3, 6 or 12 months from now?

** NOTE: Pg 120-196 in THE ARTHRITIS HELPBOOK (see reference listing for details) lists

numerous exercise routines, workouts, tips and recommendations to help you manage your

pain and arthritis better through structured activities, tailored exercise for optimal results

and peak performance, agility, flexibility, endurance, relaxation, overall fitness, all-body,

parts-type workouts that can work its magic for you. Space here eludes us to elaborate

MORE.


Section 5


Final Tips For Healthier, Pain-Free, Arthritic Lifestyle

Recommendations And Situations:

Set plans and steps to get you around and where-ever there is where you are

planning to go, trying to get to – one building block at a time and eat away at the

elephant of treatment options, choices, variety, disciplines, therapies, remedies

and MORE

Take control of the pain and understand it better, which in turn will help you

manage whatever this condition and life might throw at you

Lessen the impact of the pain on your life and functioning

Find alternative ways to do things, to avoid pain, lessen aggravating behavior or

demanding, challenging environments and activities

What is causing the pain exactly and how can/would you best cope with it now,

and on an on-going basis

What makes the pain feel much, somewhat worse, or not at all?

What for me, blocks, suppresses, or makes the pain go away? What can I live

with, what are the risks, rewards, trade-offs, side-effects, prolonged use

implications of this course of action, treatment, product, medication etc.

How does my body, joints, control and deal with pain best and how can I

optimize it?

Easing the chronic pain associated with arthritis, is not easy task. It will be with you for as

long as you suffer the condition and symptoms. Find more about arthritis do and do not

type advice, at:

http://www.arthritis.org/

http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/AR/00029.html .

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-info/

Also a great suggested reading is the book by Kate Lorig and James F. Fries entitled THE

ARTHRITIS HELPBOOK, A Self-management Program For Coping With Arthritis and

Fibromyalgia.


http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/AR/00029.html

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-info/


Other great sources of information and useful links appear below and at the back of this

text, as well as a timeline to better understand how arthritis developed over and through

the ages (taken from online sources). These all serve and bode well as well as reflects on the

growing body of knowledge there is to be had on this condition. You will be sure to find

many more!

Who knows…You and YOUR pain solution(s), might just push open the windows of our

understanding that much further… so go ahead, share your insights and wisdoms, key

learning, pitfalls, successes and disappointments, progress and BETTER HEALTH, PAIN

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM with others the world over and pass it on…

Here are some more recent publications that might also help you manage your arthritic

pain that much better, faster, more effectively, finding a solution that is right for you NOW,

HERE, TODAY, NEXT WEEK, MONTH, IN A YEAR FROM NOW… FOR GOOD!

Conquering Arthritis: What Doctors Don't Tell You Because They Don't Know: 9

Secrets I Learned the Hard Way by Barbara D. Allan Shining Prairie Flower

Productions; 1ST edition (August 1, 2002) ISBN-10: 0971889708

ISBN-13: 978-0971889705

How to Eat Away Arthritis: Gain Relief from the Pain and Discomfort of Arthritis

Through Nature's Remedies by Laurie M. Aesoph Prentice Hall Press; Rev Exp

edition (October 4, 1996) ISBN-10: 013242892X ISBN-13: 978-0132428927

Arthritis, What Exercises Work: Breakthrough Relief For The Rest Of Your Life,

Even After Drugs & Surgery Have Failed by Dava Sobel , Arthur C. Klein Publisher:

St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (June 15, 1995) ISBN-10: 0312130252 , ISBN-

13: 978-0312130251

Other Helpful Arthritis Resources and Online Links

www.wikipedia.org

http://arthritisinsight.com/resources/

National Office of the Arthritis Foundation

1330 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

404-872-7100

http://www.wikipedia.org/

http://arthritisinsight.com/resources/



Arthritis Answers: 800-283-7800

[email protected]

www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/institutes/imha

Canadian Institute of Health Research-Musculoskeletal & Arthritis

www.arthritis.ca

Canadian Arthritis Society's national website on arthritis and related conditions

www.rheumatology.hss.edu

Site of the Hospital for Special Surgery (Orthopaedics and Rheumatology), New York focuses

on musculoskeletal disease pathogenesis, research, clinical presentations and optimal

treatment

www.arthritis.org

Arthritis Foundation of America's site on arthritis, exercise, surgery, drugs, alternatives and

supplements

www.arthritisinsight.com

A non-profit American organization of online arthritis sufferers.

www.arc.org.uk

Arthritis Research site in UK

www.creakyjoints.com

This site is full of humor and support for people with all kinds of arthritis-related illnesses.

www.mayoclinic.com

A broad site with information on various forms of arthritis, medications, and living with

arthritis.

www.nlm.nih.gov

USA National Library of Medicine has enormous database. Select Consumer Health to get to

Medline Plus.

www.immunesupport.com

A site devoted to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue syndrome.

www.hopkins-arthritis.org

An educational site focused on arthritis and related diseases.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/institutes/imha

http://www.arthritis.ca/

http://www.rheumatology.hss.edu/


http://www.arthritisinsight.com/

http://www.arc.org.uk/

http://www.creakyjoints.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

http://www.immunesupport.com/

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/


Arthritis Associations

www.cbi.ca

www.canadianpainsociety.ca

www.lupuscanada.org

www.mefmaction.net

www.osteoporosis.ca

www.scleroderma.ca

www.arthritis.ca

Arthritis – Abbreviations Page

AS

Ankylosing Spondylitis

ASA

Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin)

DMARD

Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drug

FMS

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

JA

Juvenile Arthritis

JRA

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

NSAID

Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug

OA

Osteoarthritis


OTC

Over the Counter

RA

Rheumatoid Arthritis

SLE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

Arthritis – A Fascinating Tale Through Time

A time-line and history for arthritic pain and evidence that it plagued and continues to

challenge us, not having figured out all the pieces of the puzzle as yet, finding some pieces

as we go along, filing gaps and hopefully dealing effectively with pain, even to the point

where we can make it disappear FOR GOOD, from our horizon, realities, life and future!

• circa (c.) 85,000,000 BC Dinosaurs and ankle osteoarthritis (OA) in Brussels

• c. 1,000,000 BC – Kangaroos in Australia show signs of primary OA in their

legs/bones

• c. 30,000 – 28,000 BC Neanderthal hu-man, secondary arthritis due to injury and

daily wear and tear on the bones and joints

• c. 4500 BC American Indians (Tennessee) show signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

This is the earliest known appearance of the disease.

• c. 3000 BC –Mummified remains, ice-age man, medicinal herbs as well as

arthritic joints

• c. 2590 BC – Egyptian mummies with signs of arthritis.

• c. 700 – 300 BC –Biblical references in various passages describeing the afflictions

of arthritis or perhaps even fibromyalgia.

• c. 500 BC – Ground willow bark or salicin discovered leading later to discover and

development of acetylsalicylic acid – or aspirin.

• c. 400 BC –Hippocrates’ medical texts, joint ailments, like gout mentioned

• c. 50 BC – Famous Julius Caesar born with arthritis.

• c. 200 AD – Roman doctors document and mention arthritis.

• c. 300 – No taxes in Rome for those suffering from severe arthritis

• 1600 – Renaissance Man: The French physician Guillame Baillou introduces the

idea of rheumatism as a systemic, musculoskeletal condition.


• 1680 – Insight Into RA: British physician Thomas Sydenham (sometimes called

the English Hippocrates) describes a chronic phase of rheumatic fever in which a

patient may become "a cripple to the day of his death and wholly lose the use of

his limbs whilst the knuckles of his fingers shall become knotty and protuberant

..."

• 1754 - Curzio, a physician in Naples, Italy, first describes the condition known as

scleroderma.

• 1800 - a Parisian doctor makes the first documentation of rheumatoid arthritis.

• 1858 - British physician A.B. Garrod coins the term rheumatoid arthritis.

• 1880 – The first clinical description of RA in France

• 1886 – British physician John K. Spender introduces the term osteoarthritis.

• 1890 – European doctors use quinine later leading to hydroxychloroquine sulfate

in the 1960s as a treatment for lupus, RA and related diseases.

• 1897 – first mention of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, calling it a "form of chronic

joint disease in children." German chemist Felix Hoffman, searching for

something to help ease his father’s arthritis pain, creates aspirin.

• 1907 – modern differentiation between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• 1934 – American Rheumatism Association is formed (renamed American College

of Rheumatology in 1988).

• 1948 –The Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation – now the Arthritis Foundation

– is created with a mission of promoting research and education while improving

treatment and rehabilitation for people with arthritis.

• 1949 –Philip Hench, MD, and Edward Kendall, PhD, first use cortisone in the

treatment of RA.

• 1955 –Tylenol, pain reliever makes it way onto the market

• 1964 – All in the Name: The Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation becomes the

Arthritis Foundation.

• 1966 – National Recognition: The Surgeon General’s report designates arthritis as

a national health menace and recommends a program to decrease disability from

arthritis.

• 1972 – Presidential proclamation declares May National Arthritis Month. 1974 –

Congress passes the National Arthritis Act, which legislates funds for

development of comprehensive arthritis care centers, assistance for medical

schools and establishment of a national commission to develop long-range plans

related to arthritis.

• 1977 – The genetic marker HLA-DR4 is found to be associated with RA.

• 1978 – Government figures say 21.6 million Americans have some form of

arthritis or a related disease.

• 1987 – The Arthritis Foundation launches Arthritis Today.


• 1988 – FDA approves methotrexate for the treatment of RA.

• 1990 –fibrositis is renamed fibromyalgia syndrome by the American College of

Rheumatology. Scientists also discover a genetic defect that causes OA in some

people.

• 1997 – 1999 –new drug approval from the FDA for the treatment of OA and RA.

Among them are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs that affect the function

of immune cells called T lymphocytes; viscosupplements that ease knee OA pain;

and biologic agents that inhibit a chemical thought to drive RA inflammation and

tissue damage. The Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

(ASTHO) join forces, along with 22 other public and private organizations

interested in arthritis, to develop the National Arthritis Action Plan, a

comprehensive, systematic public health approach to reduce the arthritis burden

throughout the United States.

• 1999 – FDA approves a new category of drugs, Cox-2 inhibitors, a sub-category of

NSAIDs that causes less stomach damage. Some 70 million American adults have

arthritis or chronic joint symptoms now and the number of people with arthritis

will continue to grow as baby boomers age.

FROM ONLINE SOURCES: (adapted here from

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2000_archives/2000_01

_02_TimeLine.asp where it can be accessed in its entirety),

© Copyright 2007, Arthritis Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2000_archives/2000_01_02_TimeLine.asp

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2000_archives/2000_01_02_TimeLine.asp

© diabetesloophole - amazon s3s3.amazonaws.com/mentis/thediabetesloophole/dldl/...primary care...

Documents