Arthritis For Dummies E-Book

Barry Fox

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 565

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Arthritis For Dummies is a book for the millions who suffer from chronic joint conditions classified under arthritis looking for lasting relief. It's a friendly, hands-on guide that gives the latest information available on the many techniques for managing the disease and controlling the symptoms so that arthritis sufferers can get on with life. It features expert advice to help readers manage arthritis, slow down its progression, and enjoy life to the full. It includes diet, exercise, and self-care advice designed to protect and soothe joints, as well as the latest on coping with stress, anger and depression and making positive lifestyle changes. Topics covered include: * The different types of arthritis * Diagnosing the condition * Alleviating symptoms and minimizing pain * Eating to beat arthritis * Both conventional and drug free ways of managing the condition * Living day-to-day with arthritis and improving lifestyle

Leseprobe

Arthritis For Dummies

by Barry Fox, PhD, Nadine Taylor, MS, RD, Jinoos Yazdany, MD, and Sarah Brewer, MD

Arthritis For Dummies®

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd The Atrium Southern Gate Chichester West Sussex PO19 8SQ England

E-mail (for orders and customer service enquires): [email protected]

Visit our Home Page on www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, West Sussex, England

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, West Sussex

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 4LP, UK, without the permission in writing of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc, 10475 Crosspoint Blvd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46256, United States, 317-572-3447, fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: The contents of this work are intended to further general scientific research, understanding, and discussion only and are not intended and should not be relied upon as recommending or promoting a specific method, diagnosis, or treatment by physicians for any particular patient. The publishe, the author, AND ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN PREPARING THIS WORK make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation any implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. In view of ongoing research, equipment modifications, changes in governmental regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to the use of medicines, equipment, and devices, the reader is urged to review and evaluate the information provided in the package insert or instructions for each medicine, equipment, or device for, among other things, any changes in the instructions or indication of usage and for added warnings and precautions. Readers should consult with a specialist where appropriate. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. No warranty may be created or extended by any promotional statements for this work. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom.

For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].

For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN-13: 978-0-470-02582-6

ISBN-10: 0-470-02582-4

Printed and bound in Great Britain by Bell & Bain Ltd., Glasgow

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Authors

Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor are a husband-and-wife writing team living in Los Angeles, California.

Dr Sarah Brewer qualified as a doctor in 1983 from Cambridge University. She was a full-time GP for five years and now works in nutritional medicine and sexual health. Sarah is currently completing an MSc in Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey, Guildford.

Although her first love is medicine, her major passion is writing. Sarah writes widely on all aspects of health and has written over 40 popular self-help books. She is a regular contributor to a number of newspapers and women’s magazines, and appears regularly on TV and radio. She was voted Health Journalist of the Year 2002.

Barry Fox, PhD, is the author, coauthor, or ghostwriter of numerous books, including the New York Times number one best-seller, The Arthritis Cure (St. Martin’s, 1997). He also wrote its sequel, Maximizing The Arthritis Cure (St. Martin’s, 1998), as well as The Side Effects Solution (Broadway Books, 2005), What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension (Warner Books, 2003), What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines(Warner Books, 2001), Syndrome X (Simon & Schuster, 2000), The 20/30 Fat and Fiber Diet Plan (HarperCollins, 1999), and Cancer Talk (Broadway Books, 1999). His books and over 160 articles covering various aspects of health, business, biography, law, and other topics have been translated into 20 languages.

Nadine Taylor, MS, RD, is the author of Natural Menopause Remedies (Signet, 2004), 25 Natural Ways To Relieve PMS (Contemporary Books, 2002), and Green Tea (Kensington Press, 1998), as well as co-author of Runaway Eating (to be published by Rodale in 2005), What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension (Warner Books, 2003), and If You Think You Have An Eating Disorder (Dell, 1998). After a brief stint as head dietitian at the Eating Disorders Unit at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Ms. Taylor lectured on women’s health issues to groups of health professionals throughout the country. She has also written numerous articles on health and nutrition for the popular press.

Jinoos Yazdany, MD, MPH, is a board certified internist and a Rheumatology Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. She completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University, where she received the Deans’ Award for Academic Achievement and graduated with Honors and Distinction. She completed medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received a Humanism in Medicine award from the Health Care Foundation of New Jersey and graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Yazdany also studied public health at Harvard University. Her research involves examining health disparities in the care of patients with chronic diseases. This is her first book.

Dedication

Dedicated to Nina Ostrom Taylor, world’s greatest mom and mom-in-law.

Authors’ Acknowledgements

Nadine and Barry thank Arnold Fox, MD, for providing us with a great deal of information on arthritis; Jinoos Yazdany, MD, for her invaluable contributions to the text; Anthony Padula, MD, for his careful review of the manuscript; and of course, Natasha Graf, Traci Cumbay, and the editorial staff at Wiley.

Jinoos thanks the many patients who have shared with her their lives and wisdom regarding living with arthritis.

Sarah thanks Barry Fox, Nadine Taylor, and Jinoos Yazdany, authors of the original US version of Arthritis For Dummies. The quality of their original script made my job easy, as I had so very little to do when adapting their excellent book for the UK market.

Publisher’s Acknowledgements

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Executive Editor: Jason Dunne

Executive Project Editor: Amie Jackowski Tibble

Commissioning Editor: Alison Yates

Project Editor: Simon Bell

Copy Editor: Kate O’Leary

Technical Reviewer: Dr Charles Mackworth-Young. MA, MD, FRCP

Cover Photos: Getty Images/Robert Harding

Cartoons: Ed McLachlan

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Maridee Ennis

Layout and Graphics: Carl Byers, Andrea Dahl, Lynsey Osborn, Heather Ryan

Proofreaders: Laura Albert, Dwight Ramsey

Indexer: TECHBOOKS Production Services

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organised

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : Getting a Grip on Types of Arthritis

Chapter 1: Looking at Arthritis Basics

Understanding How Arthritis Affects Your Joints

Distinguishing Between Arthritis and Arthritis-related Conditions

Deciding Whether It’s Really Arthritis: Signs and Symptoms

Considering the Causes of Arthritis

Understanding Who Gets Arthritis

Assessing Your Treatment Options

Chapter 2: Osteoarthritis, the Most Common Form

Considering Cartilage

Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Discovering What Causes Cartilage Breakdown

Recognising Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis

Determining Whether It Really Is Osteoarthritis

Treating Osteoarthritis

Chapter 3: Fighting a War Within: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Turning on Itself: The Body Becomes Its Own Worst Enemy

Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chapter 4: Investigating Other Forms of Arthritis

Gaining Insight into Gout: It’s Not Just for Royalty

Studying Pseudogout: The Royal Pretender

Understanding Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Figuring Out Infectious Arthritis

Getting a Grip On Gonococcal Arthritis

Running Down Reiter’s Syndrome

Surveying Psoriatic Arthropathy

Considering Ankylosing Spondylitis

Chapter 5: Exploring Other Conditions Linked to Arthritis

Experiencing Arthritis as a Major Player

Experiencing Arthritis as a Minor Player

Experiencing Arthritis as a Companion Condition

Part II : Tests and Treatments: What to Expect

Chapter 6: Your Doctor and You: Allies Against Arthritis

Positioning Yourself for Treatment Success

Deciding between NHS and Private Care

Working with Your Doctor

Speaking Your Doctor’s Language

Working Out When to Find a New Doctor

Chapter 7: Judging Joint Health with Low- and High-Tech Tests

Checking In for a Check-up

Explaining X-rays and Scans

Backing Up a Diagnosis with Biopsies and Blood Tests

Taking Other Tests on the Road to Diagnosis

Chapter 8: From Aspirin to Steroids: Medicines for Arthritis

Talking to Your Doctor

Uncovering Specific Medicines for Specific Types of Arthritis

Looking at Other Drugs

Chapter 9: Cuts That Cure: Surgeries for Arthritis

Knowing What to Ask Your Doctor Before Undergoing Surgery

Looking At Different Kinds of Joint Surgery

Getting Ready for Surgery

Chapter 10: Overcoming the Ouch: Strategies for Pain Management

Understanding Arthritis Pain

Differentiating between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain

Relieving Pain with Non-invasive Therapies

Taking Pain Relief to the Next Level

Part III : Is Complementary Medicine for You?

Chapter 11: Exploring Complementary Medicine

Understanding the Many Faces of Complementary Medicine

Easing Arthritis through Complementary Approaches

Finding a Reputable CAM Practitioner

Working with Your Doctor

Figuring Out whether Complementary Medicine Is for You

Chapter 12: Discovering Herbs and Homeopathy

Digging into Medicinal Herbs

Getting the Low-down on Herbs for Arthritis

Stimulating Your Body to Heal Itself with Homeopathy

Chapter 13: Making the Most of Hands-On Healing Methods

Unblocking the Energy Flow: Eastern Hands-On Healing Methods

Realigning and Releasing Tension: Western Hands-On Healing Methods

Chapter 14: Other Complementary Approaches

Breathing In the Healing: Aromatherapy

Fighting Pain with Bee Venom Therapy

Mesmerising the Pain with Electromagnetic Therapy

Finding Out about Food Intolerance

Fighting Arthritis with MSM

Whirling the Pain away with Hydrotherapy

Peering into the Possibilities of Prolotherapy

Part IV : The Arthritis Lifestyle Strategy

Chapter 15: Fighting the Pain with Foods and Supplements

Finding Foods That Heal

Avoiding Foods That May Be Trouble

Saving Your Joints with Supplements

Relieving Arthritis Symptoms with Other Nutritional Substances

Looking at a Possible Link between Lupus and Food

Chapter 16: Oiling Your Joints with Exercise

Reaching Different Goals with Different Exercises

Easing Joint Pain with Exercise

Using Yoga to Ease Arthritis Pain

Doing Chair Exercises to Save Your Joints

Maximising the Healing Effects of Exercise

Designing Your Workout Programme

Chapter 17: Protecting Your Joints through Good Posture and Movement

Believing in Biomechanics

Waxing Ergonomic at Your Workstation

Standing Tall: Body Alignment

Reducing Joint Stress with the Right Stride

Saving Your Joints When Hitting the Hay

Lifting without Losing It

Chapter 18: Controlling Your Stress, Aggression, and Depression

Understanding Why You Hurt More Than You Have To

Discovering the Healing Power of Positive Thinking

Easing Depression and Anxiety with Prayer and Spirituality

Chapter 19: Living with Arthritis Day-to-Day

Taking Care of You

Finding an Easier Way to Get through the Day

Joining an Arthritis Support Group

Dealing with Arthritis in the Workplace

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Travelling with Arthritis

Talking to Your Doctor

Reviewing Your Medications and Supplements

Preplanning to Reduce Stress

Eating Wisely and Well

Exercising, Even though You’re on Holiday!

Using Joint-protection Techniques

Using Assistive Devices

Renting an Arthritis-friendly Car

Flying with Finesse

Taking a Test Run

Chapter 21: Ten Drug-Free Ways to Reduce Pain and Stiffness

Mastering Your Mattress

Taking Regular Exercise

Eating Well

Considering Hydrotherapy

Losing Excess Weight

Keeping Warm

Wielding a Stick

Wearing a Copper Bracelet

Using Magnetic Patches

Selecting Supplements

Chapter 22: Ten Professionals Who Can Help You Fight Arthritis

Primary Care Physician

Rheumatologist

Pharmacist

Physiotherapist

Occupational Therapist

Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist

Social Worker

Chiropractor

Mental Health Professional

Massage Therapist

Chapter 23: Ten Crackerjack New Treatments

Anti-TNF Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rituximab for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The ‘Mini-Open’ Surgical Technique for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Etoricoxib for RA, OA, and Gout

Bosentan for Scleroderma

MMF for Lupus-Related Kidney Problems

Cartilage Self-Transplants and Tissue Engineering

Glass Therapy to Repair Bone and Treat RA

Therapeutic Tape for Osteoarthritis Pain

Improvements in Hip Replacement Materials and Techniques

Part VI : Appendixes

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: Resources

Organisations

Information Sheets from Arthritis Care

Appendix C: Weight Loss and Management Guide

Figuring Out Whether You’re Too Heavy

Losing Weight the Safe and Healthy Way

: Further Reading

Introduction

Whether it appears as a bit of creaky stiffness in the hip or knee or as a major case of inflammation that settles in several joints, arthritis is an unwelcome visitor that knocks on just about everyone’s door sooner or later. Although no out-and-out cure for arthritis exists, there are many techniques for managing this disease – that is, controlling its symptoms so you can get on with your life! Arthritis does not mean you must spend your days relegated to a rocking chair or shuffling from your bed to an armchair and back again. Most of the time, you can take charge of your disease instead of letting it take charge of you. By following the simple techniques outlined in this book, you can do much to control your pain, exercise away your stiffness, keep yourself on the move, and slow down or prevent progression of your disease. All you need to manage your disease is a little know-how – and you can find that in these chapters.

About This Book

The goal of this book is to provide you with the best and most up-to-date information on arthritis treatments in an easy-to-read format that you can simply thumb through. The best-of-the-best of many different healing systems are included – ranging from standard Western medicine (including medications and surgery), to Eastern hands-on healing methods (including acupuncture, acupressure, and reiki), to alternative therapies (including homeopathy, herbs, methylsulphonylmethane (MSM), glucosamine, and even far-out approaches such as bee venom therapy). You can read this book straight through from cover to cover if you like, but it’s not necessary. Reading the first chapter as an introduction is worth your while, then you can home in on the description of your particular kind of arthritis, found in Chapters 2, 3, 4, or 5. After that, feel free to flip through the book and read whatever catches your fancy.

Because arthritis impacts your life in so many different ways, different chapters address the many complex issues you may face, including the technical aspects of arthritis (tests, medicines, and operations), the practical aspects (diet, exercise, and day-to-day living), and the emotional aspects (depression and anger). You can also find tips on how to assemble your health-care treatment team, how to talk to your doctor, and what to do about chronic pain.

Foolish Assumptions

This book makes certain educated guesses about you. Rightly or wrongly, this book assumes that:

You either have arthritis yourself or you’re close to someone who has it.

You’re interested in finding out more about arthritis and its treatments.

You want to do something to ease arthritis pain and other symptoms.

You want to play an active part in managing the disease, rather than just going along with whatever your doctor tells you.

You’re interested in finding out about some alternative ways to treat arthritis.

You want to find out how to handle the emotional issues that go hand-in-hand with the disease.

How This Book Is Organised

The organisation of Arthritis For Dummies is meant to correspond with the way that you may experience arthritis in your daily life. When you first realise that you have arthritis, you probably want to know what it is, what the common symptoms are, and what you can expect as the disease progresses. The next step is to visit your doctor for tests. Then, medicines are prescribed, pain-management strategies discussed, and surgery (if applicable) is contemplated as a last resort.

After you make it through all that, you go back to living your life. Suddenly, the everyday things you used to take for granted become important parts of your arthritis management, such as diet, exercise, and the way you use your joints. Stress and depression are new and confounding problems, and getting through the day is often a tougher prospect, both physically and mentally, than it was before.

Eventually, you may start wondering about alternative healing methods and have an urge to explore them. And, you may become curious about certain superfoods that can help ease arthritis symptoms and what cutting-edge medical treatments are on the horizon. This book answers all your questions.

Part I: Getting a Grip on Types of Arthritis

These five chapters give an overview of arthritis in its many forms – the symptoms, disease processes, causes, and likeliest victims. Chapter 1 discusses arthritis in general, Chapter 2 tackles osteoarthritis (the type of arthritis that most people get), Chapter 3 explains rheumatoid arthritis (another fairly common kind of arthritis), Chapter 4 discusses the other forms the disease may take, and Chapter 5 is dedicated to other conditions that are linked to arthritis. This part also explains what doctors do for each type of arthritis and what you can do for yourself.

Part II: Tests and Treatments: What to Expect

Chapters 6 to 9 walk you through the maze of medical treatments, beginning with a trip to the doctor’s office. This part explains how doctors diagnose the many forms of arthritis and discusses the high-tech and low-tech tests they may use. Equally important, this part shows you how to work with your doctor to make your treatment decisions. Chapter 8 outlines the medicines you may take, and Chapter 9 explains the operations that are applicable. Finally, Chapter 10 thoroughly explains the strategies you can use for managing pain.

Part III: Is Complementary Medicine for You?

Alternative medicine is now incredibly popular, and scientific studies are beginning to show that many of these methods have merit. This part discusses the most popular complementary therapies for arthritis including massage, herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology, and others. Part III also provides tips on finding a reputable alternative practitioner and identifying false claims.

Part IV: The Arthritis Lifestyle Strategy

Many of the keys to arthritis management lie in the little things you do every day, such as what you eat, the kind and amount of exercise you get, and how you use your joints. This part tells you how to fight arthritis pain through diet and supplements; how to keep your joints in shape through exercise; how to protect your joints by walking, sitting, and moving correctly; and how to deal effectively with depression and anger. Part IV also provides loads of tips on how to make day-to-day living with arthritis easier.

Part V: The Part of Tens

This part divides some of the key information on managing your arthritis into lists, each containing ten ‘information bites’. These information bites include ten tips for travelling with arthritis, ten drug-free ways to manage the pain and stiffness of arthritis, ten health professionals that can help you fight arthritis, and ten new treatments for arthritis that you may not have heard about yet.

Part VI: Appendixes

Appendix A contains a glossary of arthritis terms to help keep you straight as you wend your way through the information in this book. Appendix B lists lots of interesting organisations that may help you find the treatment you seek. This appendix gives detailed information on the foundations associated with most kinds of arthritis or arthritis-related conditions, as well as major medical and complementary associations so you can request practitioner referrals or more information. Information on support groups is also included in Appendix B. Appendix C discusses strategies for losing weight the safe and healthy way, because getting rid of extra pounds is one of the best things you can do for your weight-bearing joints.

Icons Used in This Book

The icons tell you what you must know, what you need to be aware of, and what you may find interesting but can live without.

The Medical Speak icon marks a more in-depth medical passage or gives you further information about confusing medical terms.

When you see this icon, it means that the information is essential, so pay attention to it.

This icon marks important information that can save you time and energy.

The Warning icon cautions you against potential problems.

Where to Go from Here

Someone once said, ‘Knowledge is power.’ You have the power to take charge of your arthritis; all you have to do is educate yourself and apply what you discover. This book is a good place to start, but you have to commit and recommit yourself to maintaining your health on a daily basis. Remember, the little things you do every day are what count. As you embark on your journey, may the universe grant you luck, strength, and many active, pain-free years!

Part I

Getting a Grip on Types of Arthritis

In this part . . .

A rthritis can really put a damper on your life . . . if you let it. But the good news is that most forms of arthritis and the pain they cause can be managed (if not completely done away with) through medical techniques and lifestyle changes.

Part I gives you an overview of arthritis in its many forms: the symptoms, diseases, processes, causes, and most likely victims. You also learn what doctors can do for each type of arthritis and what you can do for yourself. We give special attention to the most common forms of this disease: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Chapter 1

Looking at Arthritis Basics

In This Chapter

Discovering how arthritis affects your body

Becoming aware of the various types of arthritis

Recognising the signs and symptoms of arthritis

Identifying the major causes of arthritis

Discovering who is most likely to get the various forms of the disease

Considering the treatment options

Ouch! There it goes again! That grinding pain in your hip, those aching knees that make walking from the kitchen to the bedroom a chore, the stiff and swollen fingers that won’t allow you to twist the lid off a jam jar or even sew on a button. Arthritis seems to get to everybody sooner or later – slowing you down, forcing you to give up some of your favourite activities, and just generally being a pain in the neck (sometimes literally!). In more advanced cases, the disease can seriously compromise your quality of life as you may have to surrender your independence, mobility, and sense of usefulness, as well as cope with the relentless pain.