Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a debilitating, painful
autoimmune disease that affects the joints, causing severe
pain and discomfort. Patients with RA suffer not only from
pain, but stiffness, fatigue, fever, and sleep disorders.
According to healthandage.com, RA is a chronic disease that
will affect a patient throughout their lifetime, requiring
a variety of medicines, physical therapy, and in extreme
cases, surgery. While there is no cure, there are several
treatment options, including complementary/alternative
medicine, commonly called CAM. According to the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NCCAM,
alternative medicines are not considered conventional
treatments at this time - that is "medicine as practiced by
holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of
osteopathy) degrees." This means that alternative options
are controversial.
Nonetheless, some patients have great successes with
alternative treatments. It is important to stress that
alternative treatments are not meant as a complete
replacement for conventional medical treatments. The NCCAM
also stresses that patients should first seek diagnosis by
a doctor, and follow up treatment with a rheumatologist.
Also worth noting is that few alternative treatments have
been proven to be completely effective, though some have
shown promise, and more study is required.
So what are alternative treatments? There are a surprising
number of alternative options available that might mean the
avoidance of invasive surgeries, and they are not all
herbal supplements, as you might think. Herbs are one way
sufferers go about treating their disease. Many herbs -
ginger, turmeric, frankincense - may help relieve arthritis
symptoms, says Arthritis Treatment and Relief.
However, none of these herbs has been proven to work, and
again more research is needed. Another form of treatment
applies physical therapy in the form of acupuncture,
chiropractics, massage, and balneotherapy, or spa therapy.
The theory here is not necessarily to treat the joints
themselves, but to provide forms of relief to the symptoms
of the arthritis. These must generally be done often to
provide substantial relief.
Another popular idea has been the use of yoga and tai chi,
as well as forms of meditation, for pain control. Exercise
for patients with RA has to be strictly limited to avoid
inflammation. However, small amounts of exercise helps to
relieve some of the painful symptoms associated with RA.
That is where yoga and tai chi come in. They help patients
maintain muscle flexibility and increase mobility, stamina,
and overall health. Perhaps the most important
consideration to take when contemplating complementary or
alternative medicines is trying them and deciding what
works best for you.
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For more information on arthritis and the many treatments,
go to:
http://www.arthritiscures.us/ .
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