Will endorphins cure Rheumatoid Arthritis or the more run of the mill Osteoarthritis for that matter? Nope, but it believe it not–endorphins will make your condition much easier to live with and actually reduce the pain and other symptoms….naturally and for free!

WOW! If you suffer with Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis that would be a true deal at a million dollars or more. So how do you get this all-natural wonder drug for free…wait fori–here comes the dirty word…exercise.

That’s right the wonder drug is one your own body manufactures and it does it for free. Endorphins are natural hormones that your brain releases when it senses happiness. These endorphins give you a sense of happiness, satisfaction and well-being; they tell you all is well with your body and you can achieve this endorphic enduced euphoria just by induling in a good meal, a good workout, a good laugh or great sex.

Endorphins are produced in the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus gland.  These powerhouse all-natural wonder drugs are actually and an opioid-like secretion that masks pain with a natural analgesic and tells the body that all is fine with the world.

If you are one of those people that actually are–or absolutely certain that you are–incapable of exercise, acupuncture has been found to have the ability to release these miraculous compounds and relieve pain, at least for the short term, and to leave you with a wonderful sense of wellbeing.

Moderate exercise, extreme happiness, good food and orgasm all release natural endorphins, and it is these all-natural endorphins that make you feel happy and satisfied with life which in turn helps to decrease your pain…or at least act to convince your brain that the pain is reduced, which, when all is said is done is pretty much the same thing.

Regular excersie is the key to making this euphoric pain-free state more permanent. The more often you can stimulate your brain to release these natural hormones, the better you will feel, and the easier it will be to put and keep yourself in this happy state of being.

Endorphins cannot be purchased over the counter, or by prescription, or on your local dark street corner, or induced by any scam artist proporting to create a miracle for a price, they can only be achieved through your own efforts….  Think of endorphins as a precious gift from whatever God, or gods or fates or powers that be, that you believe in.

They really cool part about endorphins is the fact that they do not come with any long list of disclaimers…there is no downside to putting yourself into the position of happiness, either through laughter, sex, food or exercise…unless you overdo them.  Well, I guess that is actually a disclaimer, so we shall play it safe and call it the all-natural disclaimer “Use common sense, and do not foolishly and ridiculously or obsessively overindulge in endorphin-creating sex, eating exercise or happiness!”

Finally, keep in mind…happy creates happy; it is a cycle that you should never break.  Once you set the chain of events in motion, keep it going.  Utilize every opportunity to spur these hormones on. Encourage their release and let them do what they do naturally…make you feel good and reduce your pain.  The benefits of utilizing all-natural endorphin therapy are yours to reap, all you have to do is begin.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Does Cayenne Pepper Really Work For Arthritis Relief

Most arthritis sufferers turn to their medicine cabinet to seek relief.  A medical professional typically offers this suggestion.  If you suffer from arthritis, your physician does have your best interest at heart.  They truly believe over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication is best for you.  It may be, but many natural remedies relieve pain too.  One of them is cayenne pepper, also know simply as red chili pepper.

As great as it is to know that some individuals are able to seek arthritis pain relief from red chili peppers, you likely have many questions.  What type of red pepper?  What format should I opt for?  How much should I consume?  Do I eat it or apply it to the skin and how often?  If you have these questions, please continue reading on for answers.

Cayenne pepper is available in many different formats, including capsules, oil, creams, and pepper.  Where you purchase yours will depend on the remedy selected.  For example, if you wish to try a topical cream, head to the drug store.  If you wish to increase your cayenne pepper intake naturally, head to your local supermarket or organic food store.

Cayenne Pepper Remedy #1

Mix a small amount of red pepper with a small amount of castor oil.  Use a paper towel or cloth to soak in the mixture.  Apply the damp paper towel or cloth to the painful area.  Some recommend applying and leaving on overnight.  Castor oil has many health benefits, although it is not right for everyone.  Try this home remedy for a couple of hours during the day first.  If you notice a decrease in pain with no reactions, aim for overnight relief.

Cayenne Pepper Remedy #2

Purchase the cayenne pepper spice.  This is the dry mixture.  Add to your food.  If you have digestive problems, you may notice a few complications at first.  For many, their body needs to adjust to the pepper, as it can be difficult to digest.  Start slow, like with 1/8 tablespoon.  Overtime, work your way to two teaspoons a day.  You can scatter this dosage out over different meals.  Red pepper can be added to most foods.

Cayenne Pepper Remedy #3

Purchase hot sauce that is made from cayenne pepper.  The hot sauce label should state the main ingredient is “aged cayennes.”  Apply to the painful areas of your body at least two times a day.  Many report this home remedy does work, but there is the possibility of stained clothes.

Cayenne Pepper Remedy #4

Purchase an over-the-counter topical cream with capsaicin as the main ingredient. This is an alternative to using the above mentioned hot sauce.  Many creams use capsaicin, which is derived from cayenne pepper.  If on a budget, try the above mentioned hot sauce remedy first.  If it does not work, try this alternative.

As with any natural and home remedy, it is important to consider the risk and speak with a trusted medical professional.  The active ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsaicin.  It can interact with a number of drugs, including acid reducers, aspirin, blood thinners, and ACE inhibitors.  If taking these medications, hold off.  First, speak to your primary care physician or a pharmacist.  He or she can inform you of the dangers or the risks of mixing with your current medications.

With all natural and home remedies, it is important to remember variance.  Our bodies process food differently.  Cayenne pepper may provide relief from some, but not others.  It is best to experiment to find the best pepper remedy and dosage.

Speaking of relief, what will happen if this remedy works?  You will notice a decrease in pain.  The longer you take these home remedies, the less pain you will experience.  As previously stated, the active ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsaicin.  It is found in many medications and has aspirin like qualities.  The pepper improves blood flow and circulation and releases natural endorphins, which help combat pain and discomfort.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Versus Osteoarthritis…No Matter Which One You Have The Winner Will Be The One Who Exercises Daily…Even For Just A Little While.

Recent research has shown that doing intensive exercise–such as spinning–for just 30 seconds, three times a day, every other day for two weeks can have dramatic benefits for your health.  So don’t fall back on that old standby that “I don’t have time to exercise.”  That’s bull and we both know it.  I am willing to guarantee that there is not an arthritis sufferer out there–at least those who live in a modernized country–that does not waste at least five minutes out of every hour that could be used to do a few exercises.  And if you are an arthritis suffer or prone to become one, I promise you that walking a few short laps around your workplace and doing a few stretches here and there will pay huge benefits in decreased pain and stiffness.  I know, because I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis eight years ago, and I can tell a huge difference on those days when I honestly cannot find the time…or worse yet do not bother to make an effort.

What Is The Difference Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis?

Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. Hip joints. The joints in your fingers and the joints in your toes.

Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin membrane called the “synovium” provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of “osteoarthritis” or “rheumatoid arthritis.”

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be eroded so much that bone does rub on bone. Thos type of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the years. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal.

As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.

In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the source of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.

Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States are women. The disease can hit as early as teen years.

Whether You Have Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis Exercise Equals Both Prevention and Alleviation of Pain.

Investing a little time in developing a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise and stretching plan can add up to great results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.

That is why you need to give up the couch potato style excuses and begin your quest for fitness, even if you are 50 years and over and never exercised a day before in your life. However, most Americans over 50 are still right where they always were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most of them contend that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise is for young people and engaging into exercise will do them more harm than good.

There are still some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they do not just have time or they have less energy than ever before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising.

Preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk. Here is how:

1. Do not weight around

The single most important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to arthritis.

A study has clearly supported the theory that weight loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.

2. Stretch those muscles

Any kind of stretching is good as long as you do not bounce, which can lead to a muscle pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine in New York City.

Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up by stretching before any exercise, especially running and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.

3. Walking is always the best exercise

Take a good long walk at least three times a week or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact exercise routine maximum results. There is no proof that running is bad for the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you already have one. Just remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, exercise is the most important. This is because people are designed to be active. Hence, it is really important for people to exercise in order to stay healthy and keep those joints free from wear and tear.

Just keep in mind that the unexercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its full potential. Hence, start exercising right now!

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This actually has nothing at all to do with Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Valentine’s Day, but it does have to do with the unknown consequences of a well meaning and completely innocent act.  This particular incident occurred when my children were young and I was trying to ensure that their father lived a long and healthy life. This little story just goes to prove that even the best intentions can be rife with danger when it comes to chemicals.

My (now) ex-husband was a hard working man who did sheetrock for a living and had the dark haired olived skinned coloring of the black Irish (A legacy from the sailors of the sunken Spanish Armada that managed to swim to Ireland’s  shore and decided to stay.) He also had the broad shouldered build of the Viking Invaders that often visited those shores as well–i.e. a 54 inch chest, and the weight-lifter muscled gut to go with it.

So here I was married to a big burly, hard-working man who loved his sweet tea…by the gallon. One day I decided that he needed to lose some weight so that he would live to see his sons grow into men.  Every day I had to fix him a couple of gallons of sweet tea to take to work and drink when he got home at night…. It had to be heavily sweetened with sugar, nothing else would do–not unsweetened, nor sweetened with honey, saccharin, or any other healthy (so we thought back then) low calorie sweetener.  His main objection to these additives was the fact that they do not mix well with cold tea and just sink to the bottom of the glass no matter how much you stir.

Then one day I got the bright idea to trick him, by making his tea just like I normally would with sugar but to sneak in artificial sweetener instead.  So I dumped about a dozen packages of the newly introduced latest and greatest wonder sweetener Aspartame also known as Equal into his hot tea and put it into the refrigerator to cool.  Well lo and behold, he drank it by the gallons without even noticing the difference…for a day or two.  Within a week this huge man who had never complained with a headache in his life came home from work, too weak to move and in such pain from a blinding headache that tears actually poured down his cheeks.

This went on for three days with him refusing to go to the doctor because we didn’t have much money and couldn’t afford health insurance.  By the fourth day, he thought he was dying and finally agreed that if the headache wasn’t gone by morning he would give in and go to the emergency room.

I was scared, all of this was so unlike him. Then suddenly it hit me…the tea!  I rushed downstairs and poured the latest batch out and made a new batch using good old-fashioned sugar instead of the Aspartame and switched out the glass at his bedside with a tall fresh glass filled with ice and put the remainder of the new batch into the refrigerator to cool. Within 24 hours the killer headaches were gone never to return.

I confessed my foolish trick and he being the good natured soul that he was, forgave me.  I later mentioned the incident in a writer’s club where I was a member and one of the doctor’s who was there, told me to quit beating myself up over it.  He said that it was probably just a coincidence.  However, years later I learned that Aspertame when heated to over 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade) forms free Methanol which, when ingested breaks down into the same stuff they embalm corpses with, i.e. formaldehyde, both of which are deadly poisons that have killed people, and caused blindness and other deadly and irreversible long term health problems.  And if that wasn’t bad enough I was literally dosing him with something like twelve times the amount even the FDA said was OK to use.

So the moral of that story is…when it comes to ingested foods and drinks even the best intentions can have deadly consequences. So if you don’t know what you are doing…do a little research before using your loved ones…or anyone else as a guinea pig.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Seek Arthritis Relief with Apple Cider Vinegar

Let me begin by saying that self-medication and home remedies can be very dangerous!  I know because I’ve accidentally used them to ill effect before.  A few years back my mother had a heart attack and scared us all half to death.  Naturally I was concerned and wanted to fix the problem and so I started doing some online research.  During my research I ran across an ad for Apple Cider Vinegar pills that sounded like it offered the perfect combination of all-natural miracle cures condensed into one convenient pill for my mother that would help her lose weight, without creating havoc with her diabetes and her newly weakened heart.  After all, it was all-natural which meant it had to be good…right?

Wrong!

I, being the loving and well-intentioned daughter that I am,  immediately purchased a 30 day supply for her and because she loves me and thought that she had raised a daughter that had the sense “God gave a Goose.” she took the pills.  After all, it was all-natural which meant it had to be good…right?

Wrong again!

She took the all-natural little wonder pills and lost some weight and grew progressively weaker.  We attributed the weight loss to the healthy effects of the Apple Cider Vinegar pills, and the fatigue to the after effects of the of the heart attack. Fortunately, thirty days later she had a doctor’s appointment and an an odd discovery was made… the blood in her veins had dried up to an almost critical point.

The all-natural little miracle pills were the culprit…and needless to say I did attempt any more unregulated homeopathic cures on my dear mother.  And, of course, the moral of this lesson is…. It may sound like a perfectly innocuous home remedy, all-natural therefore safe and good, and it may look like a perfectly harmless little miracle cure–but you do not know what kind of effects it may have with any individual person or their immune system.

Anytime you decide to self-medicate either for yourself or for someone else you are potentially playing with fire. If you insist on trying alternative or homeopathic medicine follow these three golden rules;

1. Do your research thoroughly.

2. Do not practice on someone who is already ill or otherwise in a weakened state.

3. Ask the doctor first about potentially unforeseen side effects!

Keep in mind that too much of a good thing can kill…and that most poisons are all-natural too!

Do suffer from arthritis?  Are you tired of the aches, pains, difficulty moving, and trouble sleeping?  Your physician will recommend pain reliever and exercise.  Yes, these do help, but you may want to try something new.  If and when you reach that point, turn to apple cider vinegar.  For many years, arthritis patients, just like you, have claimed it relieved their pain and discomfort.

As nice as it is to know that apple cider vinegar can give you arthritis relief, you may be looking for more information on this natural remedy.  What type of apple cider vinegar?  How much?  Do I drink it?  Continue reading on to find out.

The following are accounts gathered from the internet.  These remedies have worked for some.  The common ingredient is apple cider vinegar.  Always proceed with caution with natural and home remedies.  Never consume or apply anything to your skin that may cause an allergic reaction.  Know that natural and home remedies vary.  What works for one may not work for another.  You should experiment, through trial and error, to develop the apple cider vinegar remedy that works best for you.

Apple cider vinegar is made from apple must and cider.  The apples are crushed and the liquid is squeezed out.  Yeast and sugar are later added.  This starts the fermentation process. The alcohol is later converted into vinegar.  Your best bet is to purchase from a health and nutrition or organic food store.  With that said, apple cider vinegar is available for sale at many retail stores, both on and offline.

When buying apple cider vinegar to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, opt for the fresh kind.  It is found in most health and nutrition stores.  When looking at the package, you should see sediments at the bottom.  This is natural apple cider.  Yes, the kind sold at the grocery store does look more enticing, but it has been altered and strained, losing some of its helpful properties.

Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy #1

Combine up to three tablespoons of the vinegar in a cup with large water.  If you cannot stomach the taste, as a few drops of honey.  You can do this anytime through the day, but most recommend before bed.  Some recommended drinking the mixture two to three times a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy #2

Combine ¼ cup of apple cider with one to two cups of warm water.  Place the combination in a bowl and soak the achy joints.  For example, if it is your fingers or toes that hurt, soak them.  Do so for at least ten minutes.

Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy #3

Combine ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with one to two cups of warm water.  This is a continuation of remedy two.  If your achy joints are too large to soak, put a cloth in the bowl.  Let it soak up the mixture, wring to prevent dripping, and apply to the achy area.  Keep the wrap on for at least ten minutes.

Apple cider vinegar is full of acid.  For that reason, never drink straight.  Always mix with water.  This should not be a problem, as most are unable to stomach the sour taste anyways.  As with most natural supplements, it is available in capsules form.  You can take these, but it is best to opt for the real thing.  You receive added health benefits and get a better value for your money.

Now that you have three different apple cider vinegar remedies, you may wonder exactly what they will do for you.  As previously stated, results will vary.  With that said, most noticed a decrease or elimination in pain.  Users also noticed increased mobility.  So, not only was it less painful to move around, but easier too!

Apple cider vinegar is not an immediate pain reliever.  You may notice some improvement right away, but continued use is best.  The longer you drink an apple cider vinegar mixture or soak your joints, the more benefits you feel.  Some arthritis patients commented that they stopped drinking or soaking in the mixture due to improved movement and less pain. Unfortunately, those same individuals saw their pain return.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Natural Remedies for the relief of Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Do you suffer from arthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis?  Is the pain and discomfort so debilitating that you want it to stop and now?  If so, you may automatically head to your medicine cabinet.  Before doing so, think it through.  As soon as the medication wears off, the pain will return.  Instead, think long-term.  Many natural remedies can provide you with long-term relief–at least from the daily pain–especially with continued use.

Eat fresh cherries.  Various studies have shown that fresh cherries fight and reduce inflammation.  Joint swelling and inflammation are the most common causes of arthritis related pain.  So, if you are looking for a natural way to treat arthritis, look no farther than your local grocery store or farmer’s market.  There is no specific recommended consumption advised, but since cherries are a healthy food, you can and should eat as many as you like.

Eat celery.  Celery is rich in potassium, as well as other minerals.  There are varying causes for arthritis, but many claim potassium has an impact.  Those with potassium deficiencies are at an increased risk for arthritis.  Due the high presence of potassium, celery may assist with arthritis caused symptoms, such as pain, discomfort, inflammation, and joint stiffness.  It is best to mix one teaspoon of celery seeds with warm water, let cool and drink.

Drink a mixture of apple cider vinegar.  Apple cider vinegar is known for its many health benefits.  Although this success is mostly based on opinion, it has been known to reduce the pain associated with arthritis.  Apple cider is safe for most to consume, but there are risk with drinking the cider straight.  For that reasons, a mixture of 2 tablespoons in at least an 8-ounce glass of water is advised.  This mixture can be taken up to 3 times daily.

Soak the painful joints in apple cider.  Most prefer this approach as it targets the painful joints.  Most recommend using ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and one liter of water.  Place is a bowl and warm.  For areas too difficult to soak, such as the hips, soak a cloth in the mixture and apply to the area.

Rub wild oregano oil in the skin.  Those who have tried this natural remedy typically report immediate pain relief, in as little as five minutes!  Most recommend mixing the oregano oil with olive oil.  An ideal mixture is six drops of oil for one tablespoon of olive oil.  Some also report success rubbing coconut oil on the affected area, followed by a few drops of oregano oil.

Black cohosh.  This American Indian treatment has sustained its popularity throughout the years. Black cohosh not only contains anti-inflammatory agents, but it has aspirin like qualities.  Most recommend simmering around 1 teaspoon of black cohosh in a cup of boiling water.  Do so for around twenty minutes, let cool and drink.  The mixture can be divided into two daily doses.

Hop tea.  It has been said that the hop plant has many ingredients that act as an anti-inflammatory agent.  In fact, some are very similar to steroid drugs.  These have long best used to reduce the inflammation, pain, and discomfort of arthritis.  To make your own tea at home, combine three teaspoons of hop leaves into a cup with boiling water.  Let sit until slightly cooled.  Drink before bed.

As with other home remedies, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter pain medications, the relief felt will be short lived.  That is why many opt for continued use.  Luckily, you are safe with most natural remedies.  Due to natural ingredients, prolonged use rarely causes any complications.  However, patients should still speak with a medical professional first.  In fact, you can development a natural treatment plan together.

As you can see, there are many natural ways to seek relief from the joint pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.  Natural remedies are not guaranteed.  In many cases, there is no scientific proof they work.  With that said, the above mentioned natural remedies come highly rated and recommend by those, like you, who have suffered first-hand with arthritis.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PS Be sure to visit us daily to check out all the latest news and information on living with Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Early Treatment

When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I instinctively prepared for a life filled with pain.  That was eight years ago, but times they are a changing.  A growing number of rheumatologists now believe that rheumatoid arthritis can literally be stopped in its tracks.  So, what does it mean for you?

If you suspect you are suffering from arthritis, it is important to seek immediate medical care.  Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, sleep troubles, and decreased mobility.  Treatment options do vary, but a proper diagnosis is key.  There are over one hundred different types of arthritis.  Although the treatments are similar, a diagnosis is important.  Start with your primary care physician.  He or she may later suggest you visit an arthritis specialist, also commonly known as a rheumatologist.

Treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis typically include over-the-counter pain medication.  This is to lessen the severity of the pain.  Unfortunately, this relief is short lived.  That is why many prescribe medication.  When taken overtime, these medications work to combat arthritis.  As for the importance of early treatment, Arthritis Today highlights a study performed on the drug Humira.  It showed that those diagnosed early were more likely to enter into remission in as little as two years!

Just keep in mind that many drugs, and especially the new highly touted miracle drugs carry a high list of warnings.  Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disorder which means that decreases your ability to fight off infection and other ills and therefore correspondingly increases the likelihood that you will become ill from unrelated causes.

Another important aspect of treatment is exercise.  Excessive use of the troublesome joints can trigger pain.  For that reason, patients need to start slow.  For example, a patient suffering from arthritis of the fingers should move and stretch their fingers daily.  Pain is likely at first, but the more a joint is safely and slowly worked, the more improvements patients are likely to see.  Low impact exercises relieve joint stiffness and lessen the likelihood of deformities.

In addition to exercise, healthy eating is important.  Combined, the two should result in weight loss.  Not all arthritis sufferers are overweight, but some are.  This increases pain, as the extra body weight applies more pressure to joints.  With some patients, the pain is trigged by certain foods.  Most see success by eliminating or reducing meat and dairy intake.  In terms of natural remedies, nothing is scientifically proven, but many patients report relief after consuming pineapples, cayenne pepper, raw cabbage, and coldwater fish.

As for why early treatment is important, it slows the progression of the disease.  Juveniles are the only individuals likely to outgrow rheumatoid arthritis.  For adults, the disease will only progress and get worse, especially without treatment.  The health complications are far too great to not give treatment a chance.  These health complications may include disability, severe limitations in mobility, and deformities.

Although a growing number of arthritis experts do agree that early treatment can stop or slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, many have cause for concern.  For example, an average window of opportunity is two years.  Many believe that once those two years have passed patients will mistakenly believe they are past the point of no return and that treatment is useless.  It is not.  Treatment will reduce or temporarily eliminate many of the symptoms of arthritis.  So, many will push for treatment regardless.

While there is little scientific proof that early treatment can stop rheumatoid arthritis in its tracks, it is worth the chance.  As previously stated, all patients should undergo treatment.  Whether that treatment comprises of over-the-counter products, prescribed medications, herbal supplements, or exercise, treatment can reduce the symptoms of arthritis.  If you are able to stop the disease in its tracks, just consider that the icing on the cake.

Smiles and Good Health,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon