Try:.... All good for joints! Get diagnosis first!
Acupuncture
Apitherapy
Omega 3 from fish oil
Glucosamine Chondroitin
Don't over do it. Even 'Super Man' over does it sometimes, but he has 'Super Healing' abilities. The following are a few 'Super Regimens' for us mortals.
From 'The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets'
David Pisetsky, MD, PHD
A sudden twinge in and elbow, shoulder, knee or another joint is probably not arthritis, Most forms of arthritis develop slowly, striking first in the hands.
Instead, you've probably irritated the soft tissue around the joint. This ailment-really a family of ailments including bursitis, tendinitis, and carpal tunnel syndome-calls for a slightly different approach to treatment than arthritis.
Soft-tissue inflammation is not a natural consequence of aging. Most cases can be traced to EXCESSIVE exercise...or to a job-related activity involving repetitive motion. The pain is usually apparent within 24 hours of overuse. It can range from a dull ache to shooting pain.
-Prepatelar bursitis involves inflammation of the bursa in front of the kneecap (patella). It is common in people who must stand or kneel for extended periods. The pain is rarely severe.
Jason Theodosakis, MD, MS, MPH
Beating Arthritis Pain
The 16 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis tend to rely on aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control their pain.
But NSAIDs do nothing to treat the underlying condition. Consequently, arthitis pain tends to worsen with time. In addition, NSAIDs can trigger a host of troublesome side effects, including digestive problems and high blood pressure.
Worst of all, new evidence suggests that NSAIDs can aggravate arthritis by blocking synthesis of proteoglycans, key molecules that help draw much-needed water into dry, damaged joints.
Breakthrough: The daily use of two nutritional supplements-glucosamine and chondroitin-controls pain, boosts joint mobility and helps undo the cartilage damage that is the hallmark of osteoarthritis.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
These supplements do not work unless taken in exact amounts according to your body weight.
If you weigh:
Less than 120 pounds: 1,000 milligrams Glucosamine...800 mg Chondroitin.
Between 120 and 200 pounds: 1,500 mg Glucosamine...1,200 mg Chondroitin.
More than 200 pounds: 2,000 mg Glucosamine...1,600 mg Chondroitin.
Divide each dose into halves, taking the first half in the morning, the second half in the evening-preferably with food.
As your pain subsides, reduce the dosage. Symptoms generally begin to diminish within six weeks.
Potent as these suplements are, they are only part of an effective arthritis treatment regimen. Here are the other key components.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Since the cartilage damage associated with arthritis is caused in part by cell-damaging free radicals, take daily antioxidants. The "ACES" antioxidants are particularly effective at controlling free radicals...
Vitamin A...5,000 international units (IU) a day.
Vitamin C...4,000 mg a day.
Vitamin E...400 IU a day.
Selenium...200 micrograms (mcg) a day.
It' also a good idea to eat foods rich in bioflavonoids. These compounds make collagen-the tough protein that is a primary constituent of cartilage-stronger and less prone to inflammation.
Bioflavonoid sourses: Green tea, berries, onions, citrus fruits and pitted fruits, such as cherries and plums.
REGULAR EXERCISE
Walking, swimming and other forms of exercise are key elements of any arthritis regimen.
Exercise boosts production of synovial fluid, the nutrient-rich "broth" that lubricates the joints. It also strengthens the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the joints...extends your range of motion...and boosts your flexibility.
Challenge: Finding an exercise that won't trigger additional pain. Consult a pysical therapist. He/she can tailor a fitness regimen to suit your specific needs-and limitations.
To find a physical therapist in your area, contact the American Physical Therapy Association at 800-999-2782 or online at www.apta.org.
Caution: People who bill themselves only as "personal trainers" often lack the training required to work safely and effectively with arthritis patients.
BODY MECHANICS
Some cases of arthritis are caused by misaligned joints or other "body mechanics" problems. Such problems place undue stress on the joints, causing cartilage to greak down.
To identify body mechanics problems, get a biomechanical analysis, which looks at how you walk, work, and move about.
A typical analysis involves videotaping your movements and/or using electronic "force plates" to measure forces on the soles of your feet as you walk. Once problem areas are pinpointed, you'll be shown how midifying your movements can reduce the mechanical stresses on your joints.
Example: A woman with severe arthritis pain in her ankle was told by three different doctors that she had to give up tennis. She was also informed that she needed surgery to stabilize the joint. Her gait appeared normal, but a biomechanical analysis showed that it was putting unusual stress on her right knee, ankle, and foot. She spent a few hours learning how to walk correctly and bought a different pair of shoes. Within two weeks, her pain was gone.
Biomechanical analysis is available from sports medicine doctors and practitioners who have completed a fellowship in sports medicine. It costs $100 to $1,000, depending on the equipment used.
WEIGHT LOSS
Each step you take subjects your knee and hip joints to forces that are 2.5 to 10 times your body wieght. That's why it's essential to stay slim if you want to control arthritis pain.
Example: The knees of a 200-pound man must bear up to one ton of weight whenever he squats or walks downstairs.
If you're overweight, take steps to lose the excess weight. If your weight is normal, make sure it stays that way.
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APITHERAPY
Apitherapy involves the therapeutic use of honeybee products, including bee pollen, honey, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and venom, to treat a variety of ailments. The most well-known and well-practiced facet of apitherapy is Bee Venom Therapy (BVT), which involves the medicinal use of bee stings. The venom is thought to reduce inflammation and boost the body's immune system. When most people refer to apitherapy, they are referring to BVT.
The American Apitherapy Society says it has anecdotal evidence showing bee venom is effective in the treatment of immune system problems, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS)
http://health.enotes.com/alternative-medicine-encyclopedia/apitherapy
BEE VENOM THERAPY
It may sound unorthodox, but many MS patients benefit from diluted bee venom injections, or apitherapy. Bee venom contains a variety of compounds -- such as anti-inflammatory mellitin and anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking adolapin -- that work together to invoke the body's own natural immune reaction. Dr. Kruzel generally administers 20 sessions of bee venom therapy, one week apart. Unfortunately, the injections are painful, and some people cannot tolerate them. If they can, however, there is usually an improvement in symptoms.
Caution: Because a small percentage of the population is allergic to bee venom, this therapy should be closely supervised by your ND, and there should be a bee sting kit available to treat any allergic reactions.
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ACUPUNTURE
In 1980, the World Health Organization endorsed acupuncture for the treatment of some 40 ailments, including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine recently completed a four-year NIH-funded study, the largest ever undertaken, to determine how well acupuncture works. The results, published in December 2004 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that traditional Chinese acupuncture significantly reduces pain and improves function for patients with knee osteoarthritis who have moderate or more severe pain despite taking pain medication.
Larry Altshuler, MD, is a board-certified internist in Oklahoma City who practices both conventional and alternative medicine. He uses acupuncture on his arthritis patients and says he was "pleasantly surprised" when his patients reported they were getting relief from their pain. "Most of my patients have had beneficial results from acupuncture," says Altshuler.
Some schools of thought rely on acupuncture to assist in dealing with arthritis pain. Acupuncture is based on an ancient Chinese philosophy that the body has an energy called qi, pronounced "chee." Application of needles to certain points can restore the flow of qi along invisible channels called meridians. Theoretically, when meridians are disrupted, the body becomes ill in response, such as displaying symptoms of arthritis. Proponents of the practice explain it goes beyond temporary relief and actually re-patterns the body.
http://www.newstarget.com/008400.html
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OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) may benefit your bones and joints. These nutrients, found in fatty fish, krill and some nuts, appear to have anti-inflammatory properties, and some studies suggest they may help with calcium deposits in the bones and overall bone strength.
Erin Arnold, MD, recommends not only glucosamine sulfate for her patients (1,500 milligrams a day, taken in two to three doses a day), but also 400-800 international units of vitamin D. Arnold is a rheumatologist at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute in Chicago.
"Lower levels of vitamin D in the body are associated with higher levels of pain," she says. She also recommends 1,000 milligrams a day of vitamin C, 200 milligrams of OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID twice a day, and 2 cups of green tea every day for its anti-inflammatory effects.
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Mark Stengler, author of "Natural Physicians Healing Therapies," says that vegetables and their juices contain phytonutrients which can be instrumental in aiding the body in regenerating cells –a vital part of treating arthritis. Even orange juice can help since it contains vitamin C, an antioxidant. Antioxidants assist the body in the reduction of swelling and inflammation of the joints.
Stengler says fish oil has been known to have a positive effect on arthritis symptoms. In one experiment, patients who completely supplemented their arthritis treatments and medications with fish oil while giving up their chemical treatments experienced no relapse in their arthritis symptoms. Stengler suggests using at least 3,000 milligrams daily, but added that some patients didn't require such a high dosage. "Once you start taking fish oil, you can expect to stay on it for at least 12 weeks before it begins to yield benefits," said Stengler, "but after that, you can stay on it indefinitely." However, Stengler suggests that fish oil be used only as one component of a complete arthritis treatment.
http://www.newstarget.com/008400.html
2006-11-09 21:06:11
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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