Common Forms of Arthritis

Pathological Conditions

Etiology is unknown, but aging, obesity, and joint trauma seem to be disposing. The patient does not appear ill but pain of varying intensity is present and is especially severe after exercise. There is a definite disturbance in calcium metabolism and this is related to nutritional deficiencies over a lifetime, with most of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and hormones involved in the process. There is also a definite relationship with the functions of the endocrine glands. Renal exhaustion from stress is part of the picture.

Support

Diet is important for relieving joint pain and should be comprised of unprocessed and natural foods, which have not been chemicalized in any way. An abundance of fresh, raw foods should be the dominating factor in planning a diet. Concentrated, natural food supplements, vitamins, and minerals in adequate amounts constitute the major therapeutic approach. Dr. Campbell's "7- Day Raw Food Diet" from his book, "Home Cure for Arthritis", is recommended. In most cases, constipation is an associated problem and must be dealt with first.

For generations joint pain has been considered an inevitable part of aging. Common symptoms associated with joints include stiffness and swelling, often with a sensation of heat at the affected parts, and in some cases crippling deformity. Less known are other symptoms including fatigue, fever, skin rash, and heart and liver disorders. Temporary pain relief was thought to be the best one could hope for. Not so any longer. Promising research offers new therapies and remedies, which can control most symptoms, and the future hope of a complete cure.

The most common forms of joint pain are caused by arthritis - osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which is also known as inflammatory arthritis because it is associated with severe swelling of joints and other tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most severe form, as it is an autoimmune disease: it causes the body's own immune system to attack the tissues of the joints. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, usually affects the weight bearing joints, which causes the cartilage in the joints to degenerate. A joint injured through excessive wear and tear (and more common in overweight people) often develops osteoarthritis

The most recent scientific research reveals that arthritis may not be more then a stubborn bacterial infection that is out of reach of antibiotics; however, there are homeopathic supplements that do have the ability to reach infections in the joints. The information in the arthritis categories may help you decide proper treatment.

Is It Really Arthritis?

There is confusion between arthritis and cartilage deterioration. Arthritis is defined as a bone to bone disease, while cartilage deterioration is really a subject separate from arthritis. The medical community tends to lump these conditions together in order to justify using anti-inflammatory drugs like COX-2 inhibitors, which have turned out to be very dangerous. Find more information about COX-2 inhibitors with the COX-2 Inhibitors and Joint Pain Article found on the Bone and Joint Disorders page.