Tag: joint pain
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Before you reach for that diet soft drink, you may want to rethink what is in that beverage. The sugar substitute aspartame, used in most diet soft drinks does not in fact help in weight loss and there is mounting evidence that it may actually cause weight gain. More important to someone with rheumatoid arthritis, aspartame may cause inflammation and joint pain.
According to Woodrow C. Monte, PhD., Director of the Food Science and Nutrition Laboratory at Arizona State University, “when aspartmae is metabolized, it releases methyl alcohol (wood alcohol), a known toxin that is highly dangerous to humans.” Dr. Monte warns that “once in your cells, methyl alcohol converts to formaldehyde, a cancer-causing agent. Recent studies in Europe suggest that aspartame consumption can result in the accumulation of formaldehyde in the brain damaging the central nervous system and the immune system.
Aspartame is found not only in diet products. It can also be found in cough medicine, toothpaste and even some sports drinks and juice drinks.
Aspartame has been linked to several autoimmune diseases including lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclorosis and rheumatoid arthritis even at low doses. It has been tied to migranes, chronic fatigue, asthma, diabetes,tinnitis and depression.
According to the Aspartme Information Center, aspartame is approved by the US Food and Drug Adminstration and the Joint Expert Committe on Food Adititives of the World Health Organization. It is consumed in over 6,000 products and by 200 million people worldwide. It is found in everything from cough medicine to soft drinks.
For me personally, I would rather err of the side of caution and avoid aspertame. My body has gone through enough turmoil. I want to nourish with food that will aid in healing and avoid ingesting anything that may potentially cause harm. You make up your own mind.
Tags: arthritis, aspartame, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, immune system, inflammation, joint pain, lupus, migrane, multiple sclorosis, RA, rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, tinnitis
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Do you feel really comfortable with your current rheumatologist? Are you able to discuss all of your questions and concerns with your rheumatologist? If the answer to these questions is no; you are not alone. A surprising number of patients report that they fell rushed when they visit the doctor’s office and often leave without understanding what was discussed during the visit. It is important to be able to communicate with your physician at your visit. Your health is at stake.
It is a good idea to make sure that before your next visit you are prepared. If you have blood work that is due near the time of the appointment make sure it is done and the doctor has had the opportunity to look at the results before your appointment so that you can discuss the results while you are there. Make a list of questions/concerns for the doctor. Prioritize the list so that you cover the most important questions first. If you do not completely understand the doctor’s response to your question, let them know. Don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify something for you. If the doctor wants follow up testing or changes in medication, make sure you understand any side effects and/or necessary information you may need ( ie. time of day to take meds or have test done, fasting, non fasting, etc…) before you leave the office. If you feel as though you did not have all your questions answered at the visit; don’t be afraid to call the office and ask for the doctor to call you back when he/she is free to answer your questions.
If you have done all this and still do not have your questions answered, your concerns addressed, or if you feel you are not being heard, and are rushed, it may be time to find a new doctor! My first rheumatologist was an extremely intelligent doctor, and a professor at an Ivy League University but we did not communicate well with each other. After interviewing several other doctors I found a rheumatologist that is the right fit for me. I am comfortable discussing all my issues with my physician and I always feel like her focus is on my wellness at all times. My questions are always answered, I never feel rushed and I always feel that my health is of paramount importance to her. It may take some time to find the right rheumatologist, but it is well worth the effort.
Tags: annual routine, arthritis, arthritis pain, health, inflammation, joint pain, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Lesson Learned, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 2 Comments »
Friday, October 16th, 2009
- Meditation: Meditation can lower your blood pressure, enhance your immune system, relax muscles help you deal with stress. And lets face it pain is stressful. Start with just 5 to 10 minutes a day and gradually work up to 20 to 30 minutes a day. You will be surprised what a difference it will make in how you feel. Find a quiet place where there are not likely to be any interruptions. I try to get in some time before the kids wake up. Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath; the coolness as you breathe in and the warm exhale. Try to keep the inhalation and exhalation the same length. Start with your feet and focus on the sensation of relaxation. Now move up to your legs, stomach, arms, and shoulders,. With each exhale feel the tension leave your body. Now relax the corners of your mouth, the outer corners of your eyes relax outward. Stay like this focusing on the inhalation and exhalation, try to empty your mind. It takes practice to be able to shut out the world for a little while, but it is well worth the effort.
- Pamper Yourself: Sit down and enjoy a nice warm cup of tea. Take a long soothing soak in the tub. ( provided getting in and out is not an issue ) Try a nice paraffin wax for your hands. The warmth feels wonderful and your hands end up so soft and smooth when you are done. Schedule a spa day with your best friend. Indulge in an afternoon nap. Do something that makes you feel good.
- Move your body: Exercise is a must to help with pain reduction. Find an exercise that you enjoy and you are more likely to stick with it. Start with something that you can do now. Begin with some stretches and add a few isometrics to gain some strength gradually increasing the time and level of activity. Be carefule to listen to what your body is telling you. Do not continue if you are experiencing pain. Remember that consistency is the key.
- Laugh: We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine. Well it turns out that laughter is exactly what we need when dealing with pain. Laughter causes the pituitary gland in the brain to release pain suppressing compounds. So watch a funny movie or tell a good joke !
- Listen to your favorite music: Studies have shown a significant reduction in pain and depression for patients with arthritis who listen to music. So crank up the tunes and enjoy!
Tags: Add new tag, arthritis pain, depression, exercise, immune system, inflammation, joint pain, laughter, Meditation, music, pace, pain reduction, pamper, RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in Solutions, Wellness | 4 Comments »
Monday, March 30th, 2009
- Garlic can reduce pain and inflammation in people with RA.
- Garlic inhibits the formation of free radicals that can cause joint damage .
- Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and may protect against some cancers.
- Garlic has cardiovascular benefits. It can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol which help to protect against atherosclerosis which means a reduction in chance of heart attack and stroke.
- Studies have shown that eating both cooked and raw garlic together provided a better health benefit than eating either cooked or uncooked garlic alone.
- Garlic promotes a healthy immune system.
- Garlic has antioxidant properties.
- Odorless form is less effective than natural garlic.
- Garlic has vitamins B6 and C.
- Garlic has the minerals selenium which helps regulate thyroid function and immune response and manganese an anti-oxidant.
Tags: Add new tag, antioxidants, arthritis, disease, immune system, inflammation, joint pain, RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in Diet/Nutrition, Solutions, Wellness | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Mastex Thermal Spa paraffin wax bath has soothed my swollen, painful hands, feet and elbows more times than I care to count. I have used mine to help with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, but it also has the added benefit of softening of the skin and cuticles and it improves circulation.
It has a six pound paraffin wax capacity that takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to heat up. This means that unless you leave it plugged in all the time, you have to plan ahead. It is safe to leave the unit plugged in indefinitely. It claims to use the equivalent of one light bulb’s electricity. It has a stainless steel tank that resists bacteria growth which is important for those of us with compromised immune systems. At 6.5″ wide and 12″ long the tank is big enough to fit a foot comfortably. Mine came with plastic baggies and mittens for hands and feet to use after the hand or foot has been dipped. With the wax fully melted the component only weights a little over 10 pounds. The unit comes with 6 pounds of paraffin to get you started and replacement wax is available just about anywhere. There are many varieties of wax on the market with an array of scents to choose from at every price point. Which bring me to price, this machine runs about $140.00 which is a little pricey. It has a five year warranty. I have had min
e for 8 years and have been very happy with it. The wax refills can be found in 6 pound quantities for $26.85 at Amazon
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tags: Add new tag, arthritis pain, circulation, hurt, joint pain, pain reduction, painful, paraffin wax, RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in Product Review | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
Can your joints forecast the weather better than a meteorologist? I swear that my hands can. Over the years there have been many studies devoted to examining the effect of weather on joint pain. Some studies note that there is a direct correlation between changes in barometric pressure and joint pain. Humidity and temperature also may play a role in joint pain. Most studies site that the matter is too subjective to be conclusive. So what can we take from this? Trust your body. If you know that your hands ( like mine ) hurt when there is a storm approaching, take the appropriate action. Rest, anti-inflammatory meds. (if necessary) or my favorite solution is to use my paraffin wax bath to soothe my aching hands. It immobilizes my hands and surrounds them in warmth which feels wonderful.
Tags: arthritis pain, hurt, inflammation, joint pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, weather
Posted in Solutions, Wellness | 3 Comments »
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