Rheumatoid Arthritis is much less common than the previously discussed Osteoarthritis. Statistics show that Rheumatoid Arthritis affects about 1/10th as many people as Osteo. The main difference between these two forms of arthritis is the cause behind the symptoms. Osteo is primarily caused by wear and tear on the joints whereas Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The body’s own immune system attacks the body’s joints, which is what causes the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Unlike Osteo which usually begins later in life, Rheumatoid Arthritis can begin at any age. Many of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteo are similar, but Rheumatoid Arthritis can produce more swelling of the joints and often more pain in the joints. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Rheumatoid Arthritis would be the lumps that can form underneath the skin called Rheumatoid Arthritis nodules, which can be very painful and affect the movement of the joints. Both forms of arthritis are often treated with the same anti-inflammatory medications mentioned in my previous blogs, however with Rheumatoid Arthritis there are also immuno-suppressant drugs used to try and suppress the immune system from attacking the joints. These drugs can have very dangerous side effects.
My granny is 73, and she had a terrible episode of shingles last year. The rash was covering the entire right side of her body; she was in so much pain. Her doctor prescribed Valtrex 3 g per day in divided doses. She has been taking it for a week. I’m not sure if the drug https://alldaypill.com/valtrex/ speeded up her recovery, but she definitely felt better than without treatment.
Just as with Osteoarthritis, there are various natural products that can help with the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I believe anyone suffering Rheumatoid Arthritis can benefit from these natural products. The Wobenzym-N that I recommend for Osteo can help with the symptoms and even possibly help in regulating the body’s immune system, studies show. Because Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disease, the focus of the treatment needs to be on balancing the immune system. Keep in mind, the drugs being used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis do not balance the immune system but rather suppress it. This suppression provides temporary relief of symptoms, but it does not correct the underlying problem. I have seen numerous patients find tremendous relief using natural products that help balance the immune system. I believe with this debilitating disease, we as health professionals, should be focusing on finding something to treat the underlying immune imbalance rather than treating the symptoms and suppressing the immune system. There are some health professionals out there who are doing this today, and in our next blog, we will discuss what they are recommending and are often getting great results with.
To learn more facts about Rheumatoid Arthritis visit the Rheumatoid Arthritis foundation website, and if you have any questions please contact me by filling out the contact form or leaving a voice message by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com. I look forward forward to hearing from you and serving you!
Healthy Blessings,
Dr. Phil
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