Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms tend to come and go. Periods of severe flare-ups will be followed by periods when the symptoms are nearly gone. The main symptom is pain, and the major sign of the disease is tenderness in nearly all inflamed joints.
Many patients have issues with drug side effects of conventional treatment, or with the lack of effectiveness of these drugs. This has driven patients in record numbers to alternative natural dietary supplements for relief of pain and other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) including certain natural dietary supplements can be beneficial for patients living with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, according to a September 2005 National Institutes of Health (NIH) NCCAM Research publication.
My husband and I have successfully used natural supplements for relieving pain and controlling osteoarthritis symptoms. We're now free of pharmaceuticals of any kind.
GLA and fish oil supplements may relieve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
Some natural dietary supplements, such as gamma-linlenic acid (GLA) and omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) have shown possibility of benefit for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but further studies are needed to answer this question for sure, according to the NIH report.
However, the NIH research concluded the following CAM therapies have not been proven beneficial for R.A.: special diets, acupuncture, magnets, hydrotherapy, homeopathy or mind-body techniques.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
According to the Arthritis Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can begin suddenly, but they usually appear gradually. Rheumatoid arthritis can appear in any joint, but it most commonly begins in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands, wrist and toes.
Joint involvement is usually symmetrical, meaning that if a joint hurts on the left hand, the same joint will hurt on the right hand. In general, more joint erosion indicates more severe disease activity.
Other physical rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Stiffness in the morning or when sitting for long periods (the longer morning stiffness lasts, the more active your disease may be)
- Flu-like symptoms, including a low-grade fever
- Pain associated with prolonged sitting
- The occurrence of flares of disease activity followed by remission or disease inactivity
- Rheumatoid nodules, or lumps of tissue under the skin, appear in about 20% of people with RA. Typically found on the elbows, they can indicate more severe disease activity.
- Muscle pain
- Loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, anemia, cold and/or sweaty hands and feet
- Involvement of the glands around the eyes and mouth, causing decreased production of tears and saliva (Sjogren’s syndrome)
Advanced changes to look for include damage to cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bone, which causes deformity and instability in the joints. The damage can lead to limited range of motion, resulting in daily tasks (grasping a fork, combing hair, buttoning a shirt) becoming more difficult. You also may see skin ulcers and a general decline in health. People with severe RA are more susceptible to infection.
The effects of rheumatoid arthritis can vary from person to person. In fact, there is some growing belief that RA isn’t one disease, but it may be several different diseases that share commonalities.
Mayo Clinic study: RA patients not living longer than 40 years ago
Despite a profusion of promising new treatments and an emphasis on getting diagnosed earlier, people with rheumatoid arthritis do not seem to be living any longer today that they were 40 years ago, according to a Mayo Clinic study in the November, 2007 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, a monthly journal of the American College of Rheumatology.
Within 10 years of being diagnosed with RA between 1995 and 2000, 29 percent of people in the Mayo clinic study had died. Only 24 percent of those diagnosed with RA between 1955 and 1964 died within 10 years of diagnosis.
“We found no evidence indicating that RA subjects experienced improvements in survival over the last four to five decades,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Sherine Gabriel, in a release.
“In fact, RA subjects did not even experience the same improvements in survival as their peers without arthritis, resulting in a worsening of the relative mortality in more recent years, and a widening of the mortality gap between RA subjects and the general population throughout time.”
The authors believe new therapeutic approaches in treating the disease over the last 40 years have not had a significant impact on extending the lifespan of people with RA.
Why isn’t the situation getting better? Researchers believe that people with RA are falling short of the typical 78 or so years of life expectancy because of their increased risk of heart disease.
Treatments for rheumtoid arthritis symptoms
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms must be tailored by the rheumatologist to the individual, taking into account the severity of arthritis and other factors, including lifestyle. Current treatment methods focus on relieving pain, reducing inflammation, stopping or slowing joint damage and improving functioning and sense of well-being.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, the main categories of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are:
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)—These drugs are used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. These include medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin and COX-2 inhibitors such as valdecoxib and celecoxib.
- Analgesic Drugs—These drugs relieve pain, but don’t necessarily have an effect on inflammation, a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of these medications are acetaminophen, propoxyphene, mepeidine and morphine.
- Clucocorticoids or Prednisone—These are prescribed in low maintenance doses to slow joint damage caused by inflammation.
- Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDS)—These are used with NSAIDs and/or prednisone to slow joint destruction caused by RA over time. Examples of these drugs are methotrexate, injectable gold, penicillamine, azathioprine, chloroquine, hydoxychloroquine, sulfasalazine and oral gold.
- Biologic Response Modifers (BRMs)—These drugs directly modify the immune system by inhibiting proteins, called cytokines, which contribute to inflammation. Examples of these are Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab) and Kineret (anakinra).
- Protein A Immunoadsorption Therapy—This is not a drug, but a therapy that filters blood to remove antibodies and immune complexes that promote inflammation.
- Note: DMARDs, particularly methotrexate, have been the standard for aggressively treating RA. Doctors are now prescribing combination drug therapy consisting of DMARDs and BRMs for more aggressive treatment for controlling RA. Studies are continuing concerning dual drug treatments, and it appears that these combination drug therapies might become the new road to follow in treating RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the medications your doctor may suggest you combine with methotrexate are lefluonomide (Arava), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira) and infliximab (Remicade).
Four RA drugs get sronger FDA warning
In a recent development concerning three of the four drugs listed above, on September 4, 2008 the FDA ordered stronger warnings on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
The drugs—Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia—work by suppressing the immune system, which leaves patients vulnerable to developing a fungal infection, which, if not treated, can be fatal. The drugs lower the body’s defenses to various kinds of infections. The fungal infection, histoplasmosis, mimics the flu.
The FDA's order means that the risk of histoplasmosis will be flagged in a "black box," the strongest warning information in a drug's prescribing literature. The four medications already have black box warnings about the risk of infections, but the language varies from drug to drug.
The four drugs, all administered by injection, are known as TNF-alpha blockers. Enbrel, Humira and Remicade are considered blockbuster drugs as each delivers annual sales over $1 billion. Cimzia is a more recent drug not used as frequently.
In addition to RA, they are also used to treat Crohn's disease, juvenile RA, certain types of psoriasis, and other conditions.
Rheumatoid arthritis alternative treatments and surgery
In addition to your rheumatologist’s management of the disease with medications, a number of important maneuvers and adjunctive approaches can be employed for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, including assistive devices, diet, drug therapy, exercise, joint injections or aspiration, making lifestyle changes, managing pain, and physical rehabilitation.
If the entirety of medical approaches doesn’t control the symptoms, surgery may be needed. Available surgical procedures include:
- Arthroscopic synovectomy
- Arthroplasty, in which parts of the joint are replaced with artificial parts. This may e done if there is joint dmage that limits the movement of the joint.
- Total joint replacement. This is typically done with the knee and the hip.
Why do some people with RA use dietary supplements?
These are some of the reasons people use dietary supplements for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:
- Issues with side effects of drug treatment
- Because conventional treatment is not working as well as they would like
- A wish for greater relief of symptoms and/or disability
- A desire to reduce some of the stress that comes from living with a chronic illness and to cope better
- A belief that alternative therapies are safer and more "natural"
- Widespread advertising and attractive claims for many dietary supplement products.
Here are some of the types of supplements people try for RA (these are among those most frequently discussed in scientific literature and inquired about at the U.S. Government NIH NCCAM clearinghouse):
- Preparations made from botanicals (plants and herbs)
- Vitamins and minerals in unconventional amounts
- Other products taken by mouth, such as fish oils, glucosamine hydrochloride
- Preparations applied to the skin, such as pain relief creams or gels
Natural dietary supplements for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
When investing in dietary supplements, consider it first as an investment in your health. This way, you won’t want to waste your money on poorly formulated or synthetic supplements containing artificial colors, sweeteners, binders, fillers, etc. that will not be readily absorbed into your bloodstream.
Instead, you’ll want a high quality dietary supplement with ingredient purity, potency, and guaranteed efficacy that your body’s cells will happily absorb.
To help me find a top-tier manufacturer, I devised a list of 30 questions concerning standards of excellence that led my husband and I to the company referenced in the Landmark Study below. It’s the only one that we trust for nutritional supplementation.
There’s only one natural nutrition company that can claim a 20-year clinical landmark study on its consumers that verifies from blood samples that its supplement users retained normal levels of blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and homocysteine.
The 2006 study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health comparing people who took either no supplements or other brands of multivitamins. For details, go to: The Landmark Study
Featured natural products for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
This same company designed natural products targeted as remedies for people with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms or symptoms of other types of arthritis and pain disorders. As osteoarthritis sufferers, we’ve been very happy with their ability to relieve our arthritis symptoms.
While rheumatoid arthritis is an entirely different subject, your rheumatologist may feel the same ingredients in one or more of these six natural supplements may improve your flexibility of motion, swelling and stiffness while fighting RA inflammation.
More and more people today are choosing safer alternatives to treat joint pain due to arthritis and these products ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and help people lead a more comfortable life.
The bold links for the supplements listed below will take you to the featured product pages for prices and additional information on each:
Glucosamine & Cat's Claw Joint Relief
Clinical studies indicate that glucosamine hydrochloride is most effective when rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are moderate to severe. Glucosamine has the ability to rebuild cartilage for joint health and comfortable movement. Formulated with the addition of clinically proven cat's claw extract, this product provides faster relief in as little as one week as it lubricates and cushions joints to provide enhanced mobility and range of motion.
Boswellia and Safflower Oil Pain Relief
When the boswellia herb and oil from the safflower are used in combination, it creates a potent, natural arthritis pain relief supplement without gastrointestinal side effects. In studies, these two ingredients together are more effective when combined, that they are separately. Boswellia extract is a very potent 5 Lox inhibitor. The safflower extract contains a potent ingredient that is a very selective Cox 2 inhibitor. Therefore, this product is effective against both the 5 Lox and Cox 2 pain pathways--both of the major pathways--which is the only product on the market of its kind. Its formulation and synergy is so unique that there's a patent pending on this supplement.
This topical menthol analgesic provides temporary relief (up to four hours) for minor pain associated with backache, arthritis, bruises and sprains. It offers fast absorption and deep penetration to soothe aching joints and muscles on contact. In addition to menthol, it contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that targets the source of discomfort and provides quick relief by improving blood circulation in the affected area.
Fish Oil (EPA) - (Essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
This fish oil supplement provides a full spectrum of seven ultrapure omega-3 fatty acids, naturally found in cold water fish (tuna, mackerel, halibut, cod, salmon). High in DHA and EPA, it supports joint function due to its anti-inflammatory properties and is easy to digest with low odor and no aftertaste. It also helps to maintain a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from borage seed oil is used as an anti-inflammatory. GLA helps our bodies form prostaglandins - potent hormone-like substances that help regulate many bodily processes. When combined with Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil, the formula helps maintain cellular integrity.
Valerian, Passion Flower and Chamomile Sleep Aid
As a natural alternative, valerian root side effects are few, and minor by comparison to pharmaceutical drugs. In fact for an insomnia remedy it has good tolerability. Most studies suggest that it’s more effective when used continuously rather than as a one-night sleep aid. However many individuals successfully use it on a need-only basis. An advantage of valerian over drugs is the lack of sleepiness on awakening when used at recommended dosages. This supplement also contains a complementary blend of two additional herbs, chamomile and passion flower. Together, they provide a calm state and promotes restful sleep.
Therefore, I am happy to highly recommend all of these very effective products as a safe, natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Other rheumatoid arthritis links on this site include Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts, What is RA?, Natural RA Pain Relief, and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Disclaimer: Health statements on this rheumatoid arthritis symptoms page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Herbal Pain Relief. In the last twenty years in the United States, the public has become increasingly dissatisfied with the cost and side effect risks of prescription medications. This, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has lifted herbal supplements and alternative medicines to higher popularity in the United States than ever before for treatment of arthritis pain. Click here for background on herbal medicine
Osteoarthritis Relief. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It affects joints of the knees, hips, fingers, lower spine and neck. Symptoms typically develop gradually. A joint is swollen, sore or stiff at first. Click here for more on osteoarthritis
Knee Pain Relief. During their lifetimes, an estimated 45 per cent of Americans will develop knee osteoarthritis, the most common kind of arthritis. Increasing numbers of arthritis patients are seeking alternative natural products that provide pain relief and help the body build cartilage and promote comfortable movement of the knee. Click here for more knee joint information.
Neck Pain Relief. Usually, everyday activities are the cause of neck pain. Some can be altered or eliminated to relieve common symptoms such as neck pain and a stiff neck and perhaps forestall the onset of arthritis. Natural supplements can be helpful. Click here for more information
Hand Pain Relief. Wrist, finger, and thumb joint pain are all symptoms of arthritis of the hand. Increasing numbers of arthritis patients are seeking alternative natural products that provide pain relief and help to regenerate cartilage in the hand joints. Hand arthritis most often occurs in three places...Click here to find out more
Elbow Pain Relief. Early symptoms of elbow joint pain are often controlled with a combination of natural anti-inflammatory treatment and home self care. Tennis elbow is not arthritis--it is a typical elbow pain condition. Click here for more
Ankle Pain Relief. If the pain you’re feeling is getting worse, it may be timely to consider dietary supplements for ankle pain relief naturally. Untreated ankle pain and repeated bouts of swelling and stiffness will result in reduced mobility and restricted quality of life as the years go by. Click here for more on ankle pain
Hip Pain Relief. Hip arthritis studies show glucosamine hydrochloride dietary supplements provide pain relief similar to drug therapy without risk of side effects for those with moderate to severe arthritis symptoms. Click here for more information on hip pain
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