What is Arthritis?

The word arthritis means inflammation in a joint.
Swelling, redness, heat and pain are the signs of inflammation.
Rheumatism means disease marked by inflammation and pain in joints, muscles or fibrous tissue.
Arthritis is generally used to cover most of the inflammatory diseases that affect the spine, muscles, tendons and the bones, as well as the joints.

If you suffer from arthritis, you are not alone. Nearly 40 million Americans currently have the disease, and this number is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2020. Worldwide, arthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases, affecting an estimated 10 percent of the population and 50 percent of people over 60 years of age. There are many types of Arthritis.
The two most common occurring forms of Arthritis are:
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis-
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis Osteoarthritis, which is sometimes called degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cartilage breaks down and gradually becomes rougher and thinner. Swelling can occur if the synovial membrane becomes irritated and produces excess fluid that collects inside the joint. As the cartilage wears away, growths of bone (called bone spurs) may form around the edges of the joint, making it look knobby and swollen. As the process continues, a substantial amount of cartilage wears away, causing the bones that meet at the joint to rub against each other. Because bone is very sensitive, this can be extremely painful and can severely reduce movement in the joint. The bone ends may rub together and develop growths called spurs. Osteo-arthritis affects about half of those over 65.

Rheumatoid arthritis-
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory illness that affects the joints and because it is "systemic", it can affect many other parts of the body as well.
It occurs in about1-2% of the population and is more common in women, affecting them 3 times more often than men.
Some people with have rheumatoid arthritis very mildly.
It will not lead to deformed joints and will require only intermittent treatment for minor symptoms. In its most serious form it can cause painful, deformed joints, but only about 1 person in 6 affected by rheumatoid arthritis develops this sort of complication. It can begin at any age but most commonly first occurs between the ages of 35 and 45.

Rheumatoid arthritis result from changes in the body's immune system. For reasons not fully understood, the body's immune system attacks its own organs, in this case the tissues of the joints. This auto-immune reaction causes inflammation of the joints, particularly of the synovial membrane that lines them. This causes an over-production of synovial (joint) fluid which, combined with the inflammation, causes the joints to become swollen and painful. If the process continues, damage to the cartilage and other soft tissue can cause joint deformities.

How is arthritis commonly treated?

Although currently there is no known cure for arthritis, most people with arthritis can continue to perform normal activities of daily living. Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) The goal of arthritis treatment is to relieve pain and to increase motion in the affected area(s).

Medical Treatment may include:

analgesics - pain relievers
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
corticosteroids
cortisone injections

Alternative treatments

There is a wide range of alternative treatments used by people for arthritis. People seek out such treatments for several reasons. One is the lack of relief with many conventional arthritis medicines. Another is the significant side effects associated with some treatments, especially after long-term use.

Most common alternative treatments include:

Glucosamine and Chondrointin
There is preliminary evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements can help to maintain existing cartilage and stimulate new cartilage to grow. In November 1999, Belgian researchers presented a study to the American College of Rheumatology showing that glucosamine can slow the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.

MSM
MSM, a bioavailable form of dietary sulphur, is a naturally occurring compound found in significant amounts in nerve and connective tissue, skin, hair and joints.

Fish Oils and Polyunsaturated Fats
Healthy joint function is dependent upon the action of pathways that deal with internal "cascades" or enzyme-facilitated conversions of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, most especially the Omega 6 Polyunsaturated

Fatty Acid Bee Venom Therapy
Honey bee venom contains at least 18 active substances. Melittin, the most prevalent substance, is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known (100 times more potent than hydrocortisol). Adolapin is another strong anti-inflammatory substance, and inhibits cyclooxygenase; it thus has analgesic activity as well. Apamin inhibits complement C3 activity, and blocks calcium-dependent potassium channels, thus enhancing nerve transmission.