When you ask what arthritis is, professinals will tell you it’s inflammation of one or more joints. But you know it better as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformity, and/or a diminished range of motion of those joints! It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other related conditions.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteo arthritis seems to come with the wear and tear of aging and affects nearly three-quarters of those over 50. The onset of arthritis is marked by morning stiffness, crackling joints, and perhaps some pain. As it progresses it causes discomfort, more pain, and some disability. It also causes an enormous consumption of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that can have undesirable long-term effects.

If left untreated, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, along with other forms of rheumatoid disease, can become progressively worse… painful crippling can result. This is particularly true of rheumatoid arthritis, which can destroy joints, unless effective treatment is administered in time.

Modern medicine doesn’t have much to offer for these chronic conditions… offering only symptomatic temporary relief. True, painkillers along with the so-called NSAIDs, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are effective in reducing symptoms quickly. However,these often cause serious side effects such as ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, and they don’t stop the progression of the disease. In the long run they have actually proven to worsen the condition by accelerating joint destruction.

Coping with the chronic pain of arthritis can be frustrating. You get the feeling you’re all alone facing the daily challenges caused by your arthritis symptoms. And, the traditional treatments leave a lot to be desired. It doesn’t have to be this bad! Read the rest of this entry »

What Medication Can Cure Me?

1. Am I expecting a cure? Some medications relieve symptoms – that is, they stop the itching, pain, redness, etc – but do not actually get to the source of the illness. Some illnesses, like the common cold, can’t be treated/cured, so looking for an OTC drug may be a waste of time; getting rest and drinking fluids may be a better way to spend your afternoon! Other things, like yeast infections, can be treated by over the counter medications; if the infection is making you uncomfortable as well as needing treatment, make sure that you pick a product that gives you both symptomatic relief and treatment.

Is It Safe For Your Child?

2. Is it for your child? If so make sure that you’re getting a drug that can be given to children. Some drugs that help adults can be dangerous for children; others need to be given at a special dosage. Read the fine print on the box before buying for your child.

What About Interactions With Other Drugs?

3. What else am I taking? If you’re on any other medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, stop by the pharmacist’s desk before heading to the check-out counter. She can check to make sure that the drugs you are taking don’t change the effect of the drugs you are taking.

Wait… Shouldn’t My Illness Be Over Already?

4. Should my illness have ended by now? If you think you have something that has a natural lifecycle – that is, something like a cold that should end on its own – but you don’t feel better after that time is up, you may have misdiagnosed your illness. If you’re having to take pain-reliever nonstop to keep functioning, your body is trying to tell you something and you should listen. What feels like a cold might be bronchitis; that achy foot may require orthotics, not aspirin. Read the rest of this entry »