Nadine Taylor

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-25-2022

Arthritis could manifest as anything from a mildly annoying creak in a joint to debilitating pain; and while there's no cure for arthritis, there are techniques to manage the condition. This Cheat Sheet offers advice on talking with your doctor about alternative therapies for arthritis, identifying false claims for alternative therapies, using supplements to ease arthritis symptoms, what to ask your doctor when considering surgery, and how to save money on prescription drugs. It also provides a list the acronyms medical professionals commonly use to describe the different types of arthritis.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The idea that food can cause or relieve arthritis isn't new. More than 200 years ago, English doctors prescribed cod-liver oil to treat gout and rheumatism. More recently, some health writers have insisted that arthritics should eat or not eat specific foods. The debate is in full swing. Do certain foods cause arthritis? Is there an "Arthritis Begone" diet? All the evidence isn't yet in, but thanks to the studies currently available, more and more physicians are convinced that diet plays a valuable role in arthritis treatment plans. Foods for arthritis relief Which fruits, vegetables, meat, or fish should you eat? There are no absolute rules, but the results of studies and case histories suggest that these foods may be helpful: Anchovies: Three-and-a-half ounces of anchovies contain almost a gram and a half of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids help regulate the prostaglandins, which play a role in inflammation and, hence, pain. However, anchovies are extremely high in sodium, so if sodium-sensitivity or water retention is a problem for you, choose a different kind of fish. Apples: Not only can an apple a day keep the doctor away, but it may also help to hold your arthritis at bay. Apples contain boron, a mineral that appears to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Moreover, when boron was given to people who already have the disease, it helped relieve pain. Cantaloupe: This sweet fruit contains large amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, the plant form of vitamin A. These two powerful vitamins help to control the oxidative and free-radical damage that may contribute to arthritis. Chile peppers: Chilies contain capsaicin, which gives the peppers their heat. These vegetables also help block pain by encouraging certain nerve cells to run through their supply of substance P, which they normally use to help transmit pain signals. Curry: A combination of spices that often includes turmeric, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and so on, curry contains powerful antioxidants that may help relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Fish: The omega-3 fatty acids in Norwegian sardines, Atlantic mackerel, sablefish, rainbow trout, striped bass, and other fish may help reduce inflammation and pain. Garlic: An ancient treatment for tuberculosis, lung problems, and other diseases, garlic also appears to relieve some forms of arthritis pain. Although never tested in large-scale, double-blind studies, garlic has been found helpful in many case reports. These helpful benefits may be due to the fact that garlic contains sulfur, which has been known for many years to help relieve certain arthritis symptoms. Grapes: These bunches of sweet, bite-sized fruit are good sources of the mineral boron, which is important for strong bones. Mango: A sweet treat, mangoes are packed with three powerful antioxidants: 90 percent of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) for vitamin C, 75 percent of the daily dose of beta-carotene, plus vitamin E. Nuts: Almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts are good sources of boron, a mineral that helps keep bones strong and certain arthritis symptoms at bay. Papaya: Long used as a folk medicine for diarrhea, hay fever, and other problems, a single papaya contains three times the RDA for the antioxidant vitamin C, plus more than half the daily allotment of beta-carotene. Water: Drinking eight glasses of water per day can help battle gout by flushing uric acid from the body. Eight glasses is also the amount most health experts recommend to keep your body moisturized and healthy. Fighting inflammation the omega way Fat is considered a boogey-man. This substance causes heart disease, and it contributes to obesity, cancer, and a host of other ills. You're told to cut the fat off your meat and out of your diet. However, certain kinds of fat, specifically the omega-3 and one type of omega-6 fatty acids, can be aids against arthritis. Omega fatty acids for arthritic inflammation Some interesting studies and case histories have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may help relieve the pain and inflammation seen in some types of arthritis and related diseases. Strong evidence exists that omega-3 acids can help ease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, help prevent Raynaud's spasms, and possibly relieve some lupus symptoms. You can get omega-3 fatty acids from fish such as Chinook salmon and Atlantic mackerel. In general, the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish that come from cold water. Fish from warmer waters and those raised on fish farms have less. You can also find omega-3 fatty acids in other foods, including butter nuts, black walnuts, and green soybeans. Likewise, you can get omega-3s through supplements. If you use a supplement, make sure that it clearly lists the amount of DHA and EPA per capsule. There is no RDA for fish oil: Some authorities suggest taking 3 grams of DHA and/or EPA per day. Take supplements only after discussing them with your physician. In addition, make sure your doctor always knows what supplements you are taking, for they may interfere with certain aspects of treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids have some long, complicated names such as alpha-linolenic acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). They're often referred to as omega-3s or fish oil, for short, because that's where you typically find them in their most concentrated form. Taking fish oil and GLA (gamma linolenic acid) thins the blood, which can be dangerous if pushed too far. Overly thin blood may not clot properly, causing bleeding to increase to dangerous levels. Consult a physician before taking fish oil supplements if you take blood-thinning medication, NSAIDs, supplements that contain ginger, or anything else that thins the blood. Don't deep-fry your fish. Doing so destroys the omega-3s. The good omega-6 fatty acid — GLA Although most of the omega-6s are best avoided, one of them gives hope to arthritis patients: gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA for short. Several studies have shown that GLA helps reduce pain and inflammation in RA patients, and it may also help with other forms of arthritis. You won't find large amounts of GLA in food. In addition to evening primrose oil, good sources of GLA include borage oil and black currant oil. An often-suggested dose is 1 to 2 grams of GLA per day. Make sure that the primrose oil or other product you purchase lists the GLA content on the label so you know exactly how many capsules or spoonfuls you need to take to get the desired dosage. You can purchase evening primrose oil, borage oil, and black currant oil in health food stores.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

For thousands of years, healers have known that the "laying on of hands" can have a powerful therapeutic effect on the body. This type of therapy doesn't necessarily cure the disease, but it can help relieve pain, increase vital circulation, ease mental stress, relax tensed muscles, increase overall relaxation, and aid the body in its struggle to rebuild itself. Introducing acupuncture An important part of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to prevent and treat disease by balancing the body's energy flow. In traditional Chinese medicine, disease is thought to be the result of an imbalance or blockage of energy or chi (pronounced "chee") in one or more parts of the body. (Air and food supply us with energy, while the stresses and strains of living diminish this energy.) Acupuncturists believe that manipulating specific points on the body can unblock the energy flow and restore the body's balance. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, energy flows through the body along invisible channels called meridians. Twelve major meridians run through your body to deliver energy and sustenance to your tissues, but these channels can become obstructed. When they do, the obstructions act like tiny dams, blocking or slowing the flow of energy and serving as a major cause of pain and disease. Luckily, the meridians touch the surface of your skin at some 300 different points called acupuncture points, and by manipulating and stimulating these points, the acupuncturist can remove the obstructions and reestablish the healthy flow of chi throughout your body. When you first visit an acupuncturist, she will probably interview you extensively about your symptoms, level of pain, medical history, diet, bowel habits, quality of sleep, and so on. She may also examine your eyes, tongue, skin, or fingernails; take your pulse; and listen to your voice, breathing, and bowel sounds. During your visit, you either lie or sit on a padded table for the treatment, but you won't have to remove all your clothing, just loosen it and uncover the areas to be treated. Your acupuncturist then stimulates and manipulates certain acupressure points, but just a few — not all 300 of them! The following list explains the various methods your acupuncturist may use to do this: Inserting fine needles: Your acupuncturist may insert anywhere from 2 to 15 hair-thin needles into certain points and leave them standing for a period of time (usually 20 to 40 minutes). He won't necessarily insert the needles directly into the area that's bothering you, but rather along the meridian that affects that area. So don't be surprised if your feet are manipulated to ease your back or neck pain! The needles are so fine, you may not feel them, but if you do, you usually feel just a moderate sting that disappears quickly. Your acupuncturist may insert needles shallowly (just under your skin) or as deep as an inch or more. Adding a low-level current (electro-acupuncture): Many acupuncturists have found that the addition of a low-level electrical current can make the treatment more powerful. Wires are attached to the acupuncture needles after the needles are inserted, and these wires are hooked up to a box that delivers an electrical current. Your acupuncturist adjusts this current by turning a dial. You should feel a light buzzing at your acupuncture points. If the buzz is annoying or uncomfortable, tell your acupuncturist, and he can turn down the "juice" until it no longer bothers you. Using heat and herbs (moxibustion): To stimulate your acupuncture points, your acupuncturist may burn a small amount of an herb called mugwort (or moxa in Chinese) over your acupuncture points, being careful not to burn your skin. Cupping: Small glass cups are heated and placed over your acupuncture points where they create a vacuum-like effect. As they cool, the cups invigorate these areas. Discovering what acupuncture can do for you More than 15 million Americans have used acupuncture to treat ailments ranging from asthma to ulcers, but its primary use is for pain relief. Many people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and Raynaud's phenomenon swear by acupuncture, and some studies have shown that it can relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis and/or fibromyalgia. Although no scientific explanation for its effectiveness exists, acupuncture does produce real responses in the body, including stimulation of the immune and circulatory systems and the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. You may require several acupuncture sessions (perhaps as many as six) before you begin to notice a difference, but once the beneficial effects set in, they often last for weeks, months, or even longer. Unfortunately, acupuncture doesn't work for everyone. Finding a good acupuncturist To find a good acupuncturist, begin looking for one who is licensed by the state, if your state happens to be one that licenses acupuncturists. (Some states don't.) It's also a good idea to look for a practitioner certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), acupuncture's equivalent to the American Medical Association. Some 13,000 practitioners have been certified by the NCCAOM, so you can probably find at least one in your area. Or, if you like the idea of receiving acupuncture from someone with a medical degree, contact the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. It can provide you with a list of MDs or DOs (doctors of osteopathy) who have completed 200 hours of medical acupuncture training, had two years of medical acupuncture clinical experience, and performed at least 500 medical acupuncture treatments. Finally, ask the members of your health care team for referrals, because more members of the traditional Western medical community are becoming aware of the benefits of acupuncture. (Who knows? Maybe some of them see acupuncturists themselves!) It doesn't hurt to ask, and your medical team members may be able to give you some good leads.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The causes of arthritis are numerous — and some of them are still unknown. Scientists say that the development of joint pain, joint stiffness, and joint swelling can be traced to several contributing factors, including the following: Heredity:Scientists have discovered that the genetic marker HLA-DR4 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis; so, if you happen to have this gene, you're more likely to develop the disease. For example, ankylosing spondylitis is linked to the genetic marker HLA-B27, and although having this gene doesn't mean that you will absolutely get this form of arthritis, you can if conditions are right. Age: It's just a fact of life that the older you get, the more likely you are to develop arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Like the tires on your car, cartilage can wear down over time, becoming thin, cracked, or even wearing through. Bones may also break down with age, bringing on joint pain and dysfunction. Overuse of a joint: What do ballerinas, baseball pitchers, and tennis players all have in common? A great chance that they'll develop arthritis due to the tremendous repetitive strain they put on their joints. The dancers, who go from flat foot to pointe hundreds of times during a practice session, eventually end up with painful, arthritic ankles. Baseball pitchers, throwing fastballs at speeds of more than 100 mph, regularly develop arthritis of the shoulder and/or elbow. Moreover, you don't need to be a tennis pro to develop tennis elbow, a form of tendonitis that has sidelined many a player. Injury: Sustaining injury to a joint (from a household mishap, a car accident, playing sports, or doing anything else) increases the odds that you can develop arthritis in that joint. Infection: Some forms of arthritis are the result of bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can either cause the disease or trigger it in susceptible people. Lyme disease comes from bacteria transmitted by the bite of a tick. Rheumatoid arthritis may come from a virus that triggers it in people with a certain genetic marker. Infectious arthritis can arise following surgery, trauma, a needle inserted into the joint, bone infection, or an infection that's traveled from another area of the body. Tumor necrosis factor: TNF is a substance the body produces that causes inflammation and may play a part in initiating or maintaining rheumatoid arthritis. Although scientists are unsure exactly what triggers rheumatoid arthritis, they have found that drugs that counteract the effects of TNF, called TNF antagonists, are often helpful in managing the symptoms of this disease.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Nearly 50 percent of those suffering from osteoarthritis don't know what kind of arthritis they have and therefore can't make good decisions about their treatment. Say your knee hurts. The first time that you visit your doctor complaining of the pain, he will put you through the standard round of interviews, examinations, and tests. He'll review your medical history, and make a detailed list of the injuries you have sustained, especially to your knees. He may palpate your knee to see if it's painful to the touch, carefully bend your knee and straighten it several times (it may hurt a little and seem stiff), and listen for cracking or popping in the joint. Then, your doctor may send you to the lab to get some blood drawn to rule out other forms of arthritis. At this point, all your doctor has to go on is a history of knee injuries, some pain and stiffness upon movement, and a little cracking in the joint. These symptoms certainly may sound like osteoarthritis, but it may not be a sure thing yet. The next step would be to order an X-ray of your knee to see if one or more of the following signs are present: Cartilage degradation Cartilage overgrowth Narrowing of the joint space Bone spurs Bits of cartilage or bone floating in the joint fluid Joint deformity After a diagnosis of osteoarthritis is confirmed, you and your doctor can begin to devise a treatment program — confident that you are headed in the right direction. Although the symptoms may not disappear completely, there is a good chance that with proper treatment, your pain will diminish significantly and joint degradation can be kept to a minimum. A good treatment plan for osteoarthritis should include the following elements to help you manage pain and discomfort on a daily basis. Medication for osteoarthritis Both prescription and over-the-counter remedies are commonly used to relieve osteoarthritis pain. Whether prescription or nonprescription, the drugs usually fall into one or two categories: Acetaminophen: These remedies relieve pain but don't reduce swelling (for example — Tylenol, Liquiprin, or Datril). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs: These relieve pain and do reduce swelling, as well as lessen fever (for example, aspirin, Advil, Aleve, or Motrin). If your joints are swollen, the doctor will probably prescribe an NSAID. If swelling is not a problem, he or she may give you acetaminophen. To avoid drug interactions, overdose, or side effects, make sure that you check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications. Exercise for osteoarthritis If you're in pain, you'll probably want to stop moving, and it's certainly advisable for you to rest your joints when you're feeling achy. However, too much sitting around can actually be the worst thing for you in the long run. Exercise is a great way to "oil and feed" the cartilage. Under-exercised joints don't get the lubricating and nourishing benefits of the in-and-out action of the joint fluid, so cartilage can become thin and dry, losing its resilience and capability to cushion the bones. You should include three types of exercises in your overall physical fitness program: Flexibility exercises: You should do stretching, bending, and twisting exercises every day to increase your range-of-motion and reduce stiffness. Flexibility exercises will help keep your joints loose and flexible. Strengthening exercises: Weight lifting or isometric exercises should be done every other day to build your muscles and help keep your joint supporting structures stable. These types of exercises will help increase your muscle strength. Endurance (aerobic) exercises: These should be done at least three times a week for at least 20 to 30 minutes each session to increase overall fitness, strengthen your cardiovascular system, and keep your weight under control. Brisk walking (especially up hills), jogging, cycling, dancing, jumping rope, and so on, increases your fitness and capacity for exercise. Before starting a new exercise program, check with your doctor to find out what kinds of exercise and which levels of activity are appropriate for you. Doing the wrong exercises — or doing the right exercises in the wrong way — can cause further injury. More osteoarthritis treatments Knowing and applying the techniques of body alignment, proper standing, sitting, walking and running, and correct lifting can go a long way toward sparing your joints from excessive wear-and-tear and protecting them from future injury. You may also find it helpful to wrap affected joints with elastic supports or take a load off with assistive devices, such as canes or crutches, whenever necessary. Other joint-protective techniques include alternating your activities with rest periods, varying your tasks to avoid too much repetitive stress on any one area, and pacing yourself. Don't try to do too much at once. Some people prefer heat, others cold, but use whatever works for you. Hot baths, heating pads, electric blankets, and hot tubs can relax painful muscles, while ice packs can numb the affected area. Just make sure you don't use either method for longer than 20 minutes at a time to avoid damaging tissues. A good rule to keep in mind is to give your skin time to return to its usual temperature before reapplying hot or cold packs. If you're overweight, your hips, knees, and ankles are probably suffering. Not only are they subjected to a force equal to three times your body weight each time you take a step, they can be pummeled by ten times your body weight if you jog or run! So that extra 10 pounds around your middle may translate to an extra 100 pounds slamming away on certain joints at certain times. And that's only one reason why it's so important to keep your weight at an acceptable level. Fifty percent of patients who develop knee osteoarthritis have been overweight for between three and ten years. Strategies for pain management, foods and supplements that can help heal, positive thinking, prayer, spirituality, massage, relaxation techniques, and alternative healing methods can add to your arsenal in the fight against pain and disability. Don't ignore their enormous potential to improve the quality of your life. When you have a painful joint that isn't going to get better and the pain is seriously compromising the quality of your life, you may want to consider surgery. These days, arthroscopic surgery, cartilage transplants, and joint replacement surgery are routinely performed and can make a huge difference for those who live in pain.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Performing the proper exercises on a regular basis is a vital part of almost any arthritis treatment program. But to gain maximum benefits, you also need to be aware of proper exercise techniques, and always make sure that you're completely warmed up before exercising. A warm bath or shower can help, but you should also do some light cardio or strengthening exercises until you break a sweat. If you have painful, inflamed joints, you may find that icing them before your warm-up helps keep pain at a minimum. As for exercising when you're in the midst of an arthritis flare, try a warm shower or bath, and then some gentle stretching to get a little circulation going. Take it easy, though. If stretching causes too much pain, stop. You can always try again later. Exercising your options Warming up your muscles through light exercise or a warm shower is just one idea for making the most of your exercise sessions. Take a look at these other helpful tips: Start slowly with a program that you can do fairly easily. Stop exercising if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or faint, or feel tightness in your chest. Call your doctor. Pick a cardio-endurance activity that you can do continuously for 10 minutes, if possible. (If not, try 5 minutes or even 1 minute, and gradually increase your time.) Make your cardiovascular-endurance exercises vigorous enough so that you sweat, your heart beats faster, and you breath comes more rapidly. Do your cardiovascular endurance exercises three days a week (every other day, with one day off per week) for at least 10 minutes, but not more than 30 minutes. Exercise at a slower pace to cool down after doing cardio-endurance exercises. For example, you can walk slowly until your heart rate returns to normal. Do your strength training exercises three days a week, on the days you don't do cardiovascular endurance exercises. Leave one day a week free for rest. Do some flexibility exercises (stretching) before your strengthening routine, and then again afterwards. Stretching helps decrease the likelihood of injury to the muscles. Ask your physical therapist to supervise your stretching sessions, at least in the beginning. Incorrect stretching can cause more harm than good. Stretching sessions should last from 10 to 20 minutes, with each stretch held at least 5 seconds. As you become more flexible, you can gradually increase the holding time to 10, 20, or even 30 seconds. Stretch every day, if possible. Always stretch slowly and carefully — don't bounce. Move your body to its maximum position, hold it in place for at least 30 seconds, then ease into your stretch just a little more before releasing. Don't hold your breath while stretching — breathe slowly and deeply and try to relax into the stretch. One of the more important things you can do to help make exercise a permanent part of your life is to keep a positive attitude toward yourself, your body, and your program. Remember, the more you exercise, the easier it gets. Although exercise may help ease your current joint pain and lessen tomorrow's pain, common sense suggests that you don't go for a jog when your arthritic knees act up or that you do push-ups when your wrist aches. If an exercise or activity hurts, or causes your joints to become inflamed, stop immediately. Pain is a message from your body telling you that tissue is being damaged. Respect the pain; try a different kind of exercise, or call it a day and try again tomorrow. Working wisely with your workout program Your doctor can advise you as to which kinds of exercise are helpful for your condition, how much is too much, and when to stop. A physical therapist also can be extremely helpful by suggesting appropriate exercises, teaching you correct techniques and positioning, and urging you on when it's time to increase the length and/or intensity of your workout. (An exercise physiologist can do much of what a physical therapist does, but make sure that he or she has experience working with arthritis.) And an occupational therapist can teach you how to use your joints in the least stressful ways. Here's an easy way to find out if you're working hard enough (or too hard) while exercising: You should be breathing too heavily to be able to sing, but not so heavily that you can't talk. If you can sing while you're exercising, you might want to step up the intensity a bit. But if you find you can't catch your breath enough to talk during exercise, you're probably overdoing it. Whenever you start a new exercise program, add a new activity, or increase the frequency or duration of your workout, the number one rule is this: Start slowly. Many would-be exercise enthusiasts are sidelined by doing too much too soon, winding up either injured or just plain burned out! Your exercise sessions should emphasize enjoyment. They should require some effort but should never be grueling. If you're more than just a little bit sore a day or two after the workout, you've done too much.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

When you have arthritis, you have some days when you just don't feel like going to work. But you may not have the luxury of staying home every time you have a flare, especially if they happen often. That's why it's important to simplify your tasks at work, just like you did at home, to make them as easy on your joints and as energy-efficient as possible. If your pain seriously interferes with your ability to do your job and you've done all you can to control it, you may want to consider leaving work behind and applying for disability insurance benefits. Easing the pain when you work Many of us spend our workdays sitting down in an office. It sounds easy, but working on a computer, handling correspondence, and doing other paperwork can be difficult if your hands hurt or you can't sit comfortably in a chair. Look into these ideas for streamlining paperwork and making desk duties easier: Large scissors with well-padded handles can make cutting easier. A rubber grip that fits around the barrel of a pen or pencil makes it easier to hold and less likely to slip. Rubber fingers (they look like a thimble made of rubber) can help you turn pages or thumb through a sheaf of papers without fumbling. Or you can twist a rubber band around the end of your finger for the same effect. Seam rippers are a nice substitute if you have trouble handling scissors. Tape dispensers with some weight and rubberized bottoms make it easier to pull off a piece of tape using just one hand, because they won't move. If you have Internet access and your employer doesn't object to your handling some office tasks with online business transactions, you can cut down on the time you spend standing in long lines (putting strain on your joints) by doing the following: Bank by computer or through the mail. Find out if your bank offers these services. (Most do.) Buy your stamps online or through the mail. (Call your local post office for details.) Buy books, vitamins, gifts — even houses and cars online. The days of pounding the pavement to do your shopping are gone! Applying for disability benefits According to the Social Security Administration, if you can no longer do the kind of work you've been accustomed to doing, and you can't engage in any other kind of "substantial gainful activity" (anything that pays you more than $740 a month) because of your age, education and work experience, you may be eligible for disability insurance benefits. To apply, get a claim form from your doctor, hospital, or your local employment development department office. Your doctor needs to state the exact nature of your medical condition and affirm that, in his opinion, you're unable to work at your present job. But getting disability benefits doesn't mean you can't still work. If you don't relish the idea of sitting at home, look into a special program run by the Social Security Administration that can help you find a job suited to your abilities while you continue to collect your disability benefits. Your local Social Security office can provide you with more details.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Arthritis can strike anyone at any time, and the warning signs easily can be confused with conditions that don't require medical attention. Almost everyone has had an ache or pain at some time or has overextended himself or herself physically, but it's important to know what is minor and temporary, and what may be serious and long term. Knowing the signs of arthritis to watch for can make a difference in your arthritic pain treatment and your outlook for personal comfort. Here are some typical warning signs of arthritis: Joint pain: This includes not only steady, ever-present pain, but also off-again-on-again pain — pain that occurs only when you're moving or only when you're sitting still. In fact, if your joints hurt in any way for more than two weeks, you should see your doctor. The sooner you're able to determine what's hurting and why, the earlier you can start a prescribed course of treatment. Stiffness or difficulty in moving a joint: If you have trouble getting out of bed, unscrewing a jar lid, climbing the stairs, or doing anything else that involves moving your joints, consider it a red flag. Although difficulty moving a joint is most often the result of a muscular condition, it can be a sign of arthritis. Swelling: If the skin around a joint is red, puffed up, hot, throbbing, or painful to the touch, you're experiencing joint inflammation, possibly arthritic inflammation. Don't wait. See your doctor. The warning signs of arthritis may come in triplicate (pain plus stiffness plus swelling), two together, or one all alone. On the other hand, you may experience other early signs such as malaise or muscle pain. However, if you experience any of these or other symptoms in or around a joint for longer than two weeks, you should see your doctor.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The high cost of prescription drugs can be a real problem if you have a chronic condition like arthritis that requires a steady supply of medication. Luckily, you have several options for lowering the cost of your arthritis meds: Review your medications and see which can be eliminated or replaced with over-the-counter varieties. Ask your doctor if he has free samples of your prescription drugs. Check out Medicare's Drug Discount Program. Find out if you qualify for a drug assistance program. Get a pharmacy discount card. Buy generic versions of any prescription you can. Buy your pills in bulk. Ask your doctor if she will write the prescription at double-the-strength, and split the pills at home. Compare prices at different pharmacies. Consider online or mail-order pharmacies.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

At least 40 percent of arthritis patients manage arthritis pain by using an alternative therapy, such as acupuncture, magnet or copper bracelets, and herbal supplements. Despite this large percentage of patients who use alternative therapies, however, about three-quarters of them haven't told their physicians what they're doing. Talking to your doctors about alternative treatments for arthritis can be difficult, but it's important. Here are some tips to help you discuss alternative therapies with your physician: Begin with the assumption that your physician will be supportive. Ask what your physician knows about the therapy in which you're interested. If your physician doesn't know about the therapy you like, offer him information — you can get material from many organizations right on the web. If your doctor doesn't approve of the therapy you're interested in, ask for a detailed explanation. If there's no time to discuss your alternative therapy during this visit, ask for another appointment — and pay for it, if necessary. If your doctor does approve of the therapy, ask if she will write you a prescription. Your health insurance just might cover it. If your physician refuses to discuss alternatives and you're using a nonconventional approach that works for you, get a new doctor.