Rheumatoid Arthritis diagram of joints

Refined Sugars and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Excessive consumption of refined sugars, including white sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup, may increase the acidity of the body. Some natural health practitioners have recommended that refined sugar be avoided in cases of inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Substitution with natural sugar alternatives such as stevia, agave nectar, fruit juice concentrates and honey may help to reduce inflammatory processes. An overall reduction of any type of sugar can also be recommended to avoid rapid increases in blood sugar, which may interfere with inflammatory processes.

Many people feel that their pain is reduced if they cut out sugar altogether. Have you experimented with this? I found it difficult to do at first but well worth the reduction in pain especially in my fingers, wrists and ankles. I recommend the following program which gives you online support...


                                                  

Risk of getting Rheumatoid Arthritis involves gene regulators

The kind of DNA once known as “junk” may influence people’s risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study that offers the latest look at the complex system of switches that turn disease genes on.

Using genetic information from more than 300 people with rheumatoid arthritis and another 300 without, the researchers found 10 areas that appeared to influence risk, according to the research published yesterday in the journal Nature Biotechnology. 

Read full story at Bloomberg

Don't want to freak you out about Rheumatiod Arthritis but...

Pacing and chronic pain

Pacing is learning to find the right balance between spending time on an activity without pushing yourself so that it significantly worsens your pain. Pacing is the opposite to just pushing through and finishing an activity and then being in so much pain the next day that you cannot cope with anything at all. It is about breaking activities up into small increments. It is about definately stopping when you start to feel pain or increased pain, depending on your situation. Pacing can help prevent flare ups and keep you mobile. Some people who are trying to pace themselves find it useful to set a time limit and also a rest time or a change of activity.

Here is a site that has helpful worksheets that can help you with pacing: PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Pacing: Balancing activity and rest  Download from Medschoolforyou.com

Pacing instructions with worked examples  Download from Cambridge Univeristy Hospital

Pain management diary  Download from livingcbt.com
The Pain Toolkit -  for people who live with persistent pain  Download from paintoolkit.org

More information on arthritis

For more information on arthritis and related conditions, contact any of the following organizations:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)Information ClearinghouseNational Institutes of Health
1 AMS CircleBethesda, MD.
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov/
The NIAMS, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the Federal Government research effort in arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases in the United States. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a public service sponsored by the NIAMS.

Arthritis Foundation
P.O. Box 7669 Atlanta, GA .
Website: http://www.arthritis.org/
The Arthritis Foundation is the major voluntary organization devoted to supporting arthritis research and providing education and other services to people with arthritis. This foundation publishes free pamphlets on arthritis, as well as arthritis self-help books in English and Spanish.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
P.O. Box 2058 Des Plaines, IL.
Email: pemr@aaos.org
Website: http://www.aaos.org/
The academy provides education and self-help services for orthopaedic surgeons (doctors) and other health providers. It supports improved patient care and informs the public about the science of orthopaedics (bone and joint health).

American College of Rheumatology (ACR)
1800 Century Place, Suite 250Atlanta, GA .
Website: http://www.rheumatology.org/
This group provides referrals to doctors and health professionals who work on arthritis, rheumatic diseases, and related conditions. It also provides educational materials and guidelines.

Everyday coping with arthritis and chronic pain:pacing

This is not an illness that is managed easily for me. There is no magic pill, no prescription for complete healing. There are ways to manage it and gain some of your old life and laughter back. I can't tell you how to do it. I can only tell you what works for me. I still have my bad days, but some days, most days, now are good.
I have taken on board a lot of information from many books, blogs and specialists but implementing them is another thing. Probably the thing that has helped me most (besides pain killers) is pacing myself and by that I mean no matter what I am doing, if I feel pain I stop and change to a different activity. This means the dishwasher may be half unpacked on the washing not hung out but I will come back to it later. It also means, for me, taking frequent short rests flat on my back.
Ha Ha! my wrists are starting to ache right now so I will finish this post later...maybe.