The New Arthritis Revolution
Most people experience some degree of joint pain as they age. For some, it may only be an occasional twinge or ache that doesn’t interrupt daily activity. But for others, the pain can be severe and progressive, making even simple every day activities like opening jars or tying shoes an agony.
Up until quite recently, age-related joint deterioration was thought to be irreversible. The best that modern medicine had to offer was temporary pain relief in the form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs. Unfortunately, these drugs do nothing to repair damaged joint tissue and may even accelerate the deterioration. In addition, they have a very high incidence of side effects.
One of the most exciting medical developments of the decade was the recent discovery that it is indeed possible to prevent and even reverse the course of joint damage with safe and natural nutritional remedies. Not only is this a radical notion in terms of conventional medical thought, but because of the vast numbers of people affected by arthritis around the world, the implications are huge.
In this article, I’d like to share with you other little known research and discoveries that are helping us win the war against arthritis.
Wear and tear is only one of many factors that can contribute to arthritis pain
Recent research has uncovered a number of previously unsuspected culprits that could be contributing to your joint pain. Unfortunately, this important research remains obscure and unknown to most of the conventional medical community. Other factors that can cause joint pain and deterioration include infection with various microorganisms, abnormal immune reactions, food intolerance, and lead or fluoride exposure. While nutritional support with Arthro Joint Complex can help undo joint damage, uncovering and addressing these hidden factors is another important step in permanent recovery from joint pain.
Infectious diseases. Many times, arthritis symptoms mysteriously improve after a patient takes a course of antibiotics that have been prescribed for other reasons. This is very difficult to explain according to the “wear and tear” theory of arthritis and suggests that many cases of arthritis may be caused or exacerbated by undiagnosed microbial infections. I am particularly suspicious when one of my patients reports arthritis symptoms that come on relatively suddenly.
If correctly and promptly identified, most of these infections can be effectively treated, preventing further damage. Nutritional supplementation with a joint-building formula can then begin replacing damaged cartilage with new tissue.
Arthritis symptoms are a common symptom of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by the tiny deer tick. Lyme disease responds well to treatment when caught early. If left untreated, however, the disease can eventually produce symptoms that mimic multiple sclerosis, gout, and chronic fatigue syndrome. In severe cases, Lyme disease can cause enlargement of the spleen, irregular heart rhythm, and central nervous system damage.
If you experience the sudden onset of arthritis-like symptoms, ask your doctor to evaluate you for other signs of Lyme disease, which include a red “bullseye” rash at the sight of the tick bite, flu-like symptoms, muscle weakness, a stiff neck, or backache. In addition to being on guard against signs that you may have been infected, take preventive measures, like covering all exposed skin when working or playing in wooded or brushy areas.
Heavy metals. It is known that lead poisoning can produce arthritis symptoms. In fact, gout (a form of arthritis) was very common among the ancient Romans, who imbibed large quantities of leaded wine. More recently, environmental scientists have suggested the possibility that fluoride, added to municipal water supplies in an effort to prevent tooth decay, may affect bone and joint tissue. Some researchers have even suggested that the epidemic of osteoarthritis is in part due to the widespread addition of fluoride to the water supply. This is yet another reason that I recommend drinking only filtered or distilled water.
Food intolerance. Some people have trouble digesting common foods such as wheat, corn, or dairy products. This is not a classic food allergy (such as a shellfish or peanut allergy) but a more subtle immune reaction that frequently causes achy joints. To test whether food intolerance may be a factor for you, try avoiding all dairy and wheat based products for two weeks and note whether your symptoms improve. Many people with arthritis are also sensitive to the so-called “nightshade” vegetables, which include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, and tobacco. Sometimes eliminating these foods from the diet can bring about a significant improvement in arthritis symptoms.
NSAIDs are not the answer
Although doctors regularly advise their patients to use ibuprofen as needed to dull arthritis pain, long-term use of NSAIDs can have serious consequences to your health, more than tripling your risk of GI problems. According to a survey conducted by Stanford University, 100,000 people are hospitalized every year with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by regular use of NSAIDs. In fact, internal bleeding caused by aspirin or ibuprofen is a leading cause of anemia in senior citizens.
But the risks can be even more serious. In 1994, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that regular use of NSAIDs led to a significant increase in kidney failure. Think Tylenol is a safer option? Not necessarily. Although gentler on the stomach, Tylenol is even more toxic to the kidney and liver than ibuprofen and aspirin.
Although NSAIDs have their place in a medicine cabinet (for occasional use to bring down a fever or reduce swelling due to an injury), I think that these potent drugs are generally over prescribed. In the U.S. alone, over 75 million prescriptions for NSAIDs are written every year—and that doesn’t count the billions spent on over-the-counter preparations.
NSAIDs don’t really do anything to improve the health or condition of your joints. All they do is temporarily block the pain. Even worse, NSAIDs may actually hasten the deterioration of the joint tissue, ultimately accelerating the course of the disease. Studies have shown that glucosamine sulfate, the active ingredient found in numerous nutritional supplement products, can relieve arthritis pain as effectively as ibuprofen, but without damaging side effects to your stomach, liver, or kidneys. What’s more, because glucosamine actually helps your body grow new cartilage to repair worn, arthritic joints, the pain relief you experience is long-lasting and, in many cases, permanent.
Rethinking the role of exercise
Many people with arthritis avoid exercise under the mistaken impression that movement will further damage their joints. This misconception is supported by many doctors who advise their arthritis patients against exercising. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The fact is that regular, gentle exercise is extremely important for arthritis sufferers. Flexing of the joints increases the flow of synovial fluid into the joints, helping to keep the joint tissue lubricated and flexible. Exercise also keeps the bones strong, adding structural stability and support to the joints. For most people, walking is an ideal form of exercise, requiring no special equipment or location. If you have more advanced joint pain, swimming or water aerobics can allow you to exercise your muscles without putting undue strain on painful joints.
A recent study at the University of Missouri demonstrates the importance of exercise for those with arthritis. In the study, 80 people with osteoarthritis participated in a twelve-week program that featured either brisk walking, water aerobics, or stretching and range-of-motion exercises. Not surprisingly, the subjects had a significant improvement in aerobic fitness and physical activity level after the twelve weeks. But even more importantly, they noted a dramatic improvement in the severity of their arthritis symptoms.
A look to the future
Although it may take some time, I think that eventually even the traditional medical establishment will recognize that natural substances, such as glucosamine sulfate, and other herbs, vitamins and minerals, are our best tools for the treatment and prevention of arthritis. Another very promising tool is biomagnetic therapy, which is already being used in several leading-edge centers in Europe and the United States to help treat arthritis.
The use of magnets was first pioneered in the treatment of bone fractures, where it was demonstrated that applying an electromagnetic field to fractured bones promoted speedier healing. By the same principle, researchers expect that biomagnetic fields can help accelerate the healing of the joints. Studies are currently underway at the National Institutes of Health on this promising new therapy, but millions are already employing this safe and non-invasive technique to relieve pain and promote healing.
If you currently suffer from arthritis, relief and healing are now within your grasp.
