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An easy-to-understand in-depth look at of one of the most common medical conditions in the world
If you’re one of the 350 million people around the world who suffer from arthritis, you know how challenging it can be to live with it. And if you care for someone who has arthritis, you know how difficult it is to help your loved one live comfortably with the disease.
Arthritis For Dummies was written for you. In it, you’ll find no-nonsense guidance based on the latest arthritis research, the straight goods on medications old and new, and up-to-date info on over 40 forms of the disease, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and more. You’ll also find:
An essential handbook for all who suffer from arthritis, as well as their caregivers, friends, and family, Arthritis For Dummies is the all-in-one handbook that shows you how to control arthritis symptoms, deal with chronic pain, assemble a top-notch healthcare team, and do much to help others who suffer from the disease.
Nadine Taylor is a registered dietitian and contributing editor to the bestseller The Arthritis Cure. She is also author of Green Tea: The Natural Secret to a Healthier Life.
Barry Fox, PhD, is a best-selling writer who has authored or co-authored 20 health books and over 160 health-related articles. His works include the New York Times #1 bestseller, The Arthritis Cure, and many more.
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Making Sense of the Types of Arthritis 5
Chapter 1: What Is Arthritis? 7
Understanding How Arthritis Affects Your Joints 8
Saying hello to your joints 8
Looking at the types of synovial joints 11
Distinguishing Between Arthritis and Arthritis-Related Conditions 14
Defining “true” arthritis 14
Classifying arthritis as a “major player” 16
Describing arthritis as a “minor player” 17
Experiencing arthritis as a “companion condition” 18
Deciding Whether It’s Really Arthritis: Signs and Symptoms 19
Considering the Causes of Arthritis 20
Understanding Who Gets Arthritis 21
Assessing Your Treatment Options 23
Looking into medications 24
Considering surgery 25
Making lifestyle changes 25
Looking at alternative approaches 26
Chapter 2: Osteoarthritis: The Most Common Form 29
Considering Cartilage 30
Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis 31
Discovering What Causes Cartilage Breakdown 33
Considering causes of primary osteoarthritis 33
Sorting out the sources of secondary osteoarthritis 34
Regarding the repair problem 34
Recognizing Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis 35
Determining Whether It Really Is Osteoarthritis 36
Treating Osteoarthritis 37
Muting the pain with medication 37
Lubricating your joints with exercise 38
Protecting your joints through good alignment 38
Heating and cooling the pain away 39
Taking a load off with weight control 39
Knowing how to help yourself 39
Considering surgery 39
Chapter 3: A War Within: Rheumatoid Arthritis 41
Turning on Itself: When the Body Becomes Its Own Worst Enemy 42
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of RA 43
Understanding the causes of RA 45
Pinpointing the most likely victim of RA 46
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis 47
Searching for clues: The medical history and physical exam 47
Taking tests 47
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis 49
Relying on rest during a flare 49
Delving into your diet 50
Easing into exercise and physical therapy 50
Protecting your joints 50
Applying hot or cold compresses 50
Taking medication 51
Saving your joints through surgery 53
Reducing the risk factors for heart disease 54
Predicting the outcome 54
Focusing on the future 55
Understanding the Difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis 55
Chapter 4: Investigating Other Forms of Arthritis 57
Gaining Insight into Gout: It’s Not Just for Royalty 58
Summarizing the symptoms 58
Diagnosing and treating gout 60
Helping yourself heal 60
Studying Pseudogout: The Royal Pretender 61
Summarizing the symptoms 61
Diagnosing and treating pseudogout 61
Understanding Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis 62
Summarizing the symptoms 62
Diagnosing and treating JIA 63
Investigating Infectious Arthritis 64
Summarizing the symptoms 64
Diagnosing and treating infectious arthritis 64
Getting a Grip On Gonococcal Arthritis 65
Summarizing the symptoms 65
Diagnosing and treating gonococcal arthritis 65
Surveying Psoriatic Arthritis 66
Summarizing the symptoms 66
Diagnosing and treating psoriatic arthritis 66
Anlalyzing Ankylosing Spondylitis 67
Summarizing the symptoms 67
Diagnosing and treating ankylosing spondylitis 68
Chapter 5: Exploring Other Conditions Linked to Arthritis 69
Experiencing Arthritis as a Major Player 70
Systemic lupus erythematosus: The wolf disease 70
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A less dangerous form 71
Systemic scleroderma: When the skin hardens 72
Reactive arthritis: From a stomach ache to arthritis 75
Lyme disease: When you’re the bull’s-eye 77
Experiencing Arthritis as a Minor Player 79
Bursitis: When the bursae become swollen 79
Tendonitis and tenosynovitis: Inflammation
of the bone-and-muscle link 80
Raynaud’s: A chilling problem 81
Sjögren’s syndrome: Dry mouth, eyes, and maybe more 83
Polymyalgia rheumatica: The pain of many muscles 84
Paget’s disease: Becoming too bony 85
Experiencing Arthritis as a Companion Condition 86
Carpal tunnel syndrome: Nerve compression 86
Fibromyalgia: The pain no one can find 87
Polymyositis: A rare sapping of strength 88
Dermatomyositis: Polymyositis plus 89
Part 2: Tests and Treatments: What to Expect 91
Chapter 6: Your Doctor and You: Allies Against Arthritis 93
Positioning Yourself for Treatment Success 94
Choosing a Good Doctor 94
Determining whether the doctor is knowledgeable 95
Sharing the same treatment philosophy 96
Interviewing a prospective doctor 96
Considering compatibility 97
Working with Your Doctor 98
Speaking Your Doctor’s Language 100
Figuring Out When You Should Find a New Doctor 101
Chapter 7: Judging Joint Health with Low- and High-Tech Tests 103
Checking In for a Check-Up 103
Presenting the past: Your medical history 104
From head to toe: The physical exam 104
Explaining Imaging Tests 106
Examining the benefits of an X-ray 106
Seeing more with a scan 106
Backing Up a Diagnosis with Blood Tests 107
Taking Other Tests on the Road to Diagnosis 109
Joint aspiration 110
Arthroscopy 110
Genetic testing 110
Urine testing 111
Chapter 8: From Aspirin to Steroids: Medicines for Arthritis 113
Talking to Your Doctor 114
Exploring the Five Classes of Drugs for Arthritis 116
Analgesics 116
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 117
Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) 118
Biologics 118
Steroids 118
Uncovering Specific Medicines for Specific Types of Arthritis 119
Actemra 119
Actonel 120
Amoxil 121
Anaprox-DS 121
Ansaid 121
Arava 121
Arthrotec 122
Aspirin 122
Azulfidine 123
Celebrex 123
Cimzia 123
Clinoril 124
Cochicine 124
ColBenemid 124
Cosentyx 125
Cymbalta 125
Cytoxan 125
Daypro 126
Decadron 126
Deltasone 126
Disalcid 126
Doryx 127
Enbrel 127
Etodolac 127
Feldene 128
Fosamax 128
Humira 128
Hymovis 129
Ibuprofen 129
Ilaris 129
Imuran 130
Indocin 130
Keflex 130
Ketoprofen 131
Kevzara 131
Kineret 131
Medrol 132
Miacalcin 132
Mobic 132
Naprosyn 133
Olumiant 133
Orencia 134
Pediapred 134
Penicillin 134
Plaquenil 135
Relafen 135
Remicade 135
Rheumatrex 136
Rinvoq 136
Rituxan 137
Simponi and Simponi Aria 137
Sulfinpyrazone 138
Tacrolimus 138
Taltz 138
Tetracycline 139
Tremfya 139
Trilisate 140
Tylenol 140
Voltaren 140
Xeljanz 141
Zyloprim 141
Chapter 9: Cuts That Cure: Surgeries for Arthritis 143
Knowing What to Ask Your Doctor Before Undergoing Surgery 144
Looking At Different Kinds of Joint Surgery 146
Synovectomy: Removing a diseased joint lining 146
Osteotomy: Cutting and resetting the bone 147
Arthrodesis: Fusing the bone 147
Arthroplasty: Replacing the joint 148
Autologous chondrocyte implantation: Cartilage transplants 154
Getting Ready for Surgery 155
Getting yourself into the best possible physical shape 155
Arranging adequate postoperative care 155
Finding someone who can handle your responsibilities 156
Resolving financial and insurance matters 156
Making a recovery plan with your doctor 156
Chapter 10: Overcoming the Ouch: Strategies for Pain Management 157
Understanding Arthritis Pain 158
Differentiating Between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain 158
Breaking the pain cycle 159
Dealing with chronic pain 159
Assembling your treatment team 160
Relieving Pain with Noninvasive Therapies 162
Applying heat 162
Applying cold 164
Washing away pain with water therapy 164
Trying topical pain relievers 165
Manipulating the joints 166
Helping the joints with splints and supports 166
Transmitting a tingle with TENS 168
Taking Pain Relief to the Next Level 168
Medicating the pain away 168
Undergoing surgery 169
Part 3: The Arthritis Lifestyle Strategy 171
Chapter 11: Fighting the Pain with Foods and Supplements 173
Finding Foods That Heal 174
Managing RA Mediterranean-style 176
Using omega-3s and omega-6s to fight arthritis pain and inflammation 178
Getting a grip on arthritis with green tea 181
Avoiding Foods That May Be Trouble 181
Saving Your Joints with Supplements 183
What you need to know before taking supplements 183
Fighting damaging oxidants and free radicals 184
Warding off OA with boron 186
Lowering homocysteine with vitamin B6 and folic acid 186
Fighting OA and RA with vitamin D 187
Pumping up cartilage with hydrolyzed collagen 187
Combating Raynaud’s with niacin 188
Zapping RA and psoriatic arthritis with zinc 188
Relieving Arthritis Symptoms with Other Nutritional Substances 189
Alleviating inflammation with aloe vera 189
Supporting your joints with SAMe 189
Battling inflammation with bromelain 190
Curtailing the pain with capsaicin 190
Guarding your joints with grapeseed extract 191
Fighting disease with flaxseed oil 191
Jettisoning OA pain with ginger 192
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate: Cures for osteoarthritis? 192
Chapter 12: Oiling Your Joints with Exercise 195
Achieving Different Goals with Different Exercises 196
Building cardiovascular endurance 196
Strength training 198
Increasing flexibility 199
Easing Joint Pain with Exercise 200
Stretching your neck 201
Stretching your hand and wrist 201
Extending the shoulder and arm 201
Stretching your side 202
Lifting your lower back and pelvis 203
Stretching your hamstring 203
Doing mini-sit-ups 205
Extending your hip and back leg 206
Rotating your ankle 206
Using Yoga to Ease Arthritis Pain 207
The snake 207
The cat 208
The pretzel 209
Knee-to-chest stretch 209
The spinal twist 210
The child’s pose 211
Using Chair Exercises to Save Your Joints 212
Chair marching 212
Chair running 212
Chair dancing 212
Chair fencing 213
Maximizing the Healing Effects of Exercise 215
Designing Your Workout Program 216
Considering the basic game plan 217
Figuring out if you’re working hard enough 218
Taking it easy! 219
Finding a good class 219
Chapter 13: The Right Stride and Other Ways to Protect Your Joints 221
Believing in Biomechanics 222
Waxing Ergonomic at Your Workstation 223
Standing Tall: Body Alignment 225
Focusing on feet 225
Bending your knees – just a bit! 226
“Unswaying” your lower back 227
Relaxing your shoulders 228
Holding your head high 228
Putting the posture points together 228
Reducing Joint Stress with the Right Stride 229
Saving Your Joints When Hitting the Hay 231
Lifting Without Losing It 232
Chapter 14: Controlling Your Stress, Aggression, and Depression 233
Understanding Why We Hurt More Than We Have To 234
Ratcheting up the pain with stress 234
Increasing pain the “A” way 235
Heightening pain when you’re feeling low 237
Discovering the Healing Power of Positive Thinking 240
Relaxing the pain away through biofeedback 241
Quieting your mind with meditation and programmed relaxation 241
Moving to a stress-free place through guided imagery and hypnosis 242
Controlling your breathing 242
Using cognitive behavioral therapy 243
Laughing your way to relaxation 243
Forgetting all about it 244
Easing Depression and Anxiety with Prayer and Spirituality 244
Chapter 15: Day-to-Day Living with Arthritis 247
Taking Care of You 248
Working with an occupational therapist 248
Conserving your energy 248
Getting a good night’s sleep 249
Holding on to your sex life 250
Finding an Easier Way to Get Through the Day 252
Simplifying your household 252
Making household cleaning easier 253
Using assistive devices 254
Getting help from other people 255
Joining an Arthritis Support Group 256
Finding help and hope through the group 256
Locating a support group 257
Dealing with Arthritis in the Workplace 257
Easing the pain when you work 257
Applying for disability benefits 258
Part 4: Is Alternative Medicine for You? 259
Chapter 16: Exploring Alternative Medicine 261
Understanding the Many Faces of Alternative Medicine 262
Easing Arthritis Through Alternative Approaches 263
Finding a Reputable CAM Practitioner 264
Checking credentials and certifications 265
Identifying false claims 266
Working with Your Doctor 268
Figuring Out Whether Alternative Medicine Is for You 269
Chapter 17: Discovering Herbs and Homeopathy 271
Digging into Medicinal Herbs 272
Getting the Lowdown on Herbs for Arthritis 273
Anti-inflammatories 275
Antirheumatics 279
Sedatives and muscle relaxants 280
Pain relievers 280
Stimulating the Body to Heal Itself with Homeopathy 282
Determining remedies according to your symptoms 283
Discovering recipes for remedies 284
Homing in on homeopathic remedies for arthritis 285
Finding homeopathic help 287
Chapter 18: Hands-On Healing Methods 289
Unblocking the Energy Flow: Eastern Hands-On Healing Methods 290
Pinpointing the pain with acupuncture 290
Pressing your buttons with acupressure (shiatsu) 292
Restoring healing energy with Reiki 293
Realigning and Releasing Tension: Western Hands-On Healing Methods 294
Rubbing away muscle tension with massage 294
Promoting energy balance with polarity therapy 297
Relieving pain and encouraging healing with reflexology 298
Transmitting healing energy through touch therapy 299
Chapter 19: Other Alternative Approaches 301
Breathing In the Healing: Aromatherapy 302
Understanding how it works 302
Discovering what aromatherapy can do for you 302
Finding out where to get aromatherapy 303
Fighting Pain with Bee Venom Therapy 303
Understanding how it works 303
Discovering what bee venom therapy can do for you 304
Finding out where to get bee venom therapy 304
Replacing the Hormone DHEA 304
Understanding how it works 305
Discovering what DHEA can do for you 305
Finding out where to get DHEA 305
Fighting the Pain and Disability of RA with MSM 306
Understanding how MSM is used to treat arthritis 307
Discovering what MSM can do for you 307
Finding out how to get MSM 307
Whirling the Pain Away with Hydrotherapy 308
Understanding how hydrotherapy is used to treat arthritis 308
Discovering what it can do for you 308
Finding a good hydrotherapist 308
Peering into the Possibilities of Prolotherapy 309
Understanding how it works 309
Discovering what prolotherapy can do for you 309
Finding out where to get prolotherapy 309
Part 5: The Part of Tens 311
Chapter 20: Ten Crackerjack New Treatments 313
Janus Kinase Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis 313
New Drug Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis 315
Matrix-Induced Cartilage Implantation for Knee Osteoarthritis 317
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Therapy for Damaged Cartilage 318
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis 318
Hyaluronic Acid for Osteoarthritis 319
Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation for Knee Osteoarthritis 320
Vagus Neurostimulation for Rheumatoid Arthritis 320
Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Hip Replacements 321
New Drug Combination for Treatment for Uncontrolled Gout 322
Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Traveling with Arthritis 323
Talking to Your Doctor 323
Reviewing Your Medications and Supplements 324
Preplanning to Reduce Stress 325
Eating Wisely and Well 325
Exercising, Even Though You’re on Vacation! 326
Using Joint-Protection Techniques 327
Using Assistive Devices 327
Renting an Arthritis-Friendly Car 328
Flying with Finesse 328
Taking a Test Run 329
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Save on Prescriptions 331
Review Your Medications 331
Ask Your Doctor for Free Samples 332
Check Out Medicare’s Extra Help Program 332
Look Into Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) 333
Consider a Pharmacy Discount Card 333
Buy the Generic Version 334
Buy in Bulk 335
Double the Strength and Split the Pills 335
Compare Prices at Different Pharmacies 335
Consider Using Online Pharmacies 336
Chapter 23: Ten Professionals Who Can Help You Fight Arthritis 337
Rheumatologist 338
Primary Care Physician 338
Orthopedic Surgeon 339
Pharmacist 339
Physical Therapist or Exercise Physiologist 340
Occupational Therapist 340
Registered Dietitian 341
Social Worker 341
Mental Health Professional 342
Massage Therapist 342
Part 6: Appendixes 345
Appendix A: Glossary 347
Appendix B: Resources 355
Appendix C: Weight Loss And Management Guide 365
Index 371
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