Arthritis Information: Frequently Asked Questions Aabout the Treatment of Arthritis

Q: For the last few years I have had arthritis in the right wrist and have been applying arthritis cream. However, I have recently lost sensitiveness of my thumb, ring finger and index finger, which makes it very difficult for me to perform simple every day tasks. Can I still do anything to improve the situation?
A: The symptoms you described look exactly like those of CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome). CTS is also characterized with pain and tingling in the fingers or the hand, and it has to do with the pressure on a nerve passing through your wrist.
To better understand what has happened let’s take a look at us tell you about the anatomy of the wrist. The wrist consists of bones that are called carpal bones, which, together with a ligament, form a tunnel for some tendons and the median nerve. The median nerve is responsible for the sense of touch and feeling of the thumb side of the hand, so if it gets pinched as it passes under the ligament across the front of the wrist, the symptoms you described are likely to occur.
There are several factors that may contribute to the nerve being compressed and cause the symptoms:
-    Your arthritis could cause this condition, as it may have influenced the development of spurs on the carpal bones, which could have trapped the nerve.
-    Inflammation resulting from your arthritis could have led to the carpal tunnel swelling, compressing the nerve.
Arthritis research has shown that the diseases related to it (rheumatoid arthritis, gout and pseudogout) can often cause CTS. So, if one of these conditions is also present, it can be blamed for the numbness of your fingers. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated if the reason is established correctly. CTS may be also be caused by the simple overuse of the wrists – i.e., if you are a writer who uses the computer a lot, or someone whose work involves a lot of typing.
This syndrome is treated in several ways: you may need to wear wrist braces especially when sleeping, have IV injections of steroid medication to reduce swelling, and may be required to avoid doing activities that are likely to worsen the condition. These ways of treatment are effective in most cases, but some conditions require surgery. The surgery involves releasing the trapped median nerve by opening the carpal ligament: in most cases it immediately solves the problem.
Before making any decisions talk to your doctor to find out more about this disease.

Q: Several months ago I had a whiplash injury: I almost fell off the ladder and jerked my neck. As a result my doctor told me to wear a rubber neck braces (he also said I had arthritis), but it doesn’t seem to work right for me. Every morning I wake up with a pain in the neck, and I don’t think it would be like that. I’ve heard you just need to have a good pillow, and it will do the trick. Are there special pillows that can help me deal with the pain?
A: A good pillow can make a big difference and alleviate your pain, as it will change your sleeping posture and help your spine heal, which is what it needs to be achieved after a whiplash injury you described.
The choice of pillow these days is enormous – you can see all sorts of them sold in every shopstore. However, there are some things you need to know before taking out your wallet to pay. Firstly, it’s the type of the pillow. You need something that would support the neck without tilting the head forward. And it works the same way if you prefer sleeping on your side: the pillow shouldn’t tilt your head up or down, but it is supposed to keep your head in line with your neck. So, basically, you need a pillow that would fill the space between your ear and the mattress, it’s as simple as that.
Instead of buying a new pillow you may want to see if you there is a good pillow among the ones you have. Feather pillows are especially convenient as you can adjust their shape to your needs. Some people use special slim pillows to provide support for their arms, as it results in better sleeping and absence of pain in the morning.
Even though the connection between your pain in the neck and arthritis is unclear, talk to your doctor about particular exercises you can do to improve your neck and head posture. The strength of your muscles along with their flexibility will prevent injuries and ensure better health.

Q: I am 35, male, and have been suffering from low back pain for several weeks now. Arthritis of the spine is a disease both my mother and her sister have, so is there any possibility I may also develop it?
A: From what you described there is such a possibility, but it’s not very likely. Another condition that may be present, however, is a simple back strain, which is commonly caused by the constant strain of the muscles supporting the spine, or herniation of the cartilage pads that cushion the vertebrae (lumbar discs). This condition is common for people of your age. These two main causes of low back pain are quite difficult to differentiate, and but it doesn’t matter, as the pain is likely to go away in several weeks.
You should be aware of the fact that some conditions casing acute back pain don’t go away and develop into more serious ones. If you experience any of the following, it may mean you are likely to develop a more serious condition: pain and numbness radiating down the legs, weight loss, swollen joints, persistent pain, and bothersome pain at night along with a fever. If you notice these symptoms, make sure you consult your doctor as soon as possible. You may be required to go through certain procedures, such as full medical examination, X-ray of your back to find out the reason, as well as some laboratory tests. The causes of low back pain in these cases can be a tumor of the spine, or its infections or (ankylosing spondylitis).

If we assume your condition is really a back strain, which you can be sure of unless other symptoms appear, here is what you can do to deal with it:
•    Stay active no matter what. Even though you may feel like staying in bed for a couple of days, it can result in your muscles getting even weaker and in your pain becoming more acute.
•    Exercise with caution. Don’t take up strenuous exercise right away – it’s generally recommended to start with simple things, such as walking or stationary cycling, for several minutes a day. Gradually the amount of time you spend doing such activities should be increased up to half an hour when the pain goes away.
•    Try to continue with your daily routine, including your work, unless it involves strenuous labor.
•    Take drugs for the treatment of arthritis. There are over-the-counter medicines with anti-inflammatory properties that will keep you active and soothe the pain. Be careful with prescription drugs for the treatment of arthritis as they can cause some side effects that may interfere with your everyday activities (drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness).
•    Combine cold and heat to deal with pain when it’s particularly acute. You can use bottles with hot water and ice packs to apply to the area, which is known to reduce the pain.
•    Learn how to lift weight properly. Avoid bending and lifting at the same time, as this is likely to put additional pressure on your back.
•    Avoid sedentary lifestyle. If your work involves sitting a lot, try changing your positions. You should also make sure the chair you are using is comfortable enough – it fully supports your back, there are armrests, and it can be adjusted to fit your individual needs.
If you follow the advice provided, you will find yourself handling the condition a lot better, which in the long term means you will be fine in the long term.

Q: How are all those NSAIDs different? How do I know which one to use?
A: NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are the drugs that contain no steroids and have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. If you studied some arthritis information, you probably noticed that NSAIDs are often prescribed instead of other drugs with steroids, as the latter may lead to serious collateral effects. The effects of NSAIDs are based on the decrease of the production of inflammatory molecules. This happens as the enzymes producing these molecules are antagonized by NSAIDs.
The first and the most famous NSAID was aspirin;, soon other medications followed - indomethacin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, sulindac, piroxicam, tolmetin, celecoxib, mefenamic acid, naproxen, ketoprofen, nabumetone, rofecoxib (not used anymore), and meloxicam. All these are widespread mostly in the United States.
However, NSAIDs have collateral effects as well, mainly gastrointestinal ones. They may include stomach discomfort, or even overt stomach ulcers with possible bleeding or without it. These collateral effects happen because of the inhibition of stomach prostaglandin – the substance that is responsible for the protection of the stomach from the acid produced in it. So, when the stomach is not protected, this acid can cause an ulcer.
When you are deciding which NSAID to choose, consider the following things:
Efficiency: The effects of different NSAIDs are individual, so it may take time for you to determine whisch one works best for you.
Effective drug duration: It’s a lot more convenient for most patients to take athe drug once or twice a day instead of three orf four times. For instance, such NSAIDs as naproxen, celecoxib, long-acting nabumetone, indomethacin should be taken once every 12 hours, while piroxicam – every 24 hours.
Patient’s medical history: Some previous or current conditions can be contraindications if you decide to take NSAIDs. However, as celecoxib has milder gastrointestinal collateral effects, it may be a wise choice for you.
Hypersensitivity: If your body is hypersensitive to a certain drug, you may display symptoms of an allergy, so it’s always best to talk to your doctor before choosing some NSAID. Your physician needs to know your medical history to evaluate your condition and predict any collateral effects that are likely to happen if you take a certain medicine.
NSAIDs are to be taken together with food. You should also make sure you have a tablet of antacid. Your doctor may want to run some tests to see how you are doing if you take NSAIDs for longer than a couple of weeks.

Q: What are the general recommendations for people suffering from arthritis?
A: No matter what the arthritis cause is, the patients can do a lot to deal with the condition, thus enhancing their lives and staying active. There are some self-management activities one can keep to, that present a great arthritis alternative, including the following.:
Learn the Main Arthritis Management Strategies – there are many techniques you can use to significantly reduce pain and provide for the general well-being. You can do some arthritis research by yourself, or resort to the help offered by the Chronic Disease Self Management Program and the Arthritis Foundation Self Help Program. These special programs were created to inform people of the best ways of dealing with their diseases and offer a real arthritis alternative.
Stay Active – arthritis research has shown that keeping fit and staying active delays pain and reduces the probability of developing a disability. It’s important to get half an hour of moderate exercise a day, such as swimming, jogging or cycling.
Keep Track of How Much You Weight – The more you weigh, the bigger the risk of developing arthritis there is. If you maintain your weight healthy, you can actually prevent arthritis from occurring and slow down its progression. It has been proved that losing just 11 extra pounds significantly lowers the probability of developing new knee osteoarthritis.
Always Seek to Learn More Arthritis Information – In most cases arthritis is impossible to cure, but it can and should be treated, especially if it’s the inflammatory type that can cause terrible pains. Try to keep up with the news on the arthritis treatment methods, visit your doctor regularly and take the drugs you have been prescribed. You should remember that you are not alone if you have this condition, and should do your best to keep up with the usual pace of your life.
Take Good Care of Your Joints – osteoarthritis is most often caused by a neglected joint injury. People whose career is connected with repeated injuries are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. Therefore, it’s important to avoid joint injury (knees are especially vulnerable) to reduce the incidence.

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