Archive for the ‘Arthritis Therapies’ Category

February 2nd, 2012  Posted at   Arthritis Therapies
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Previous research has shown that the osteoporosis drug raloxifene (Evista) prevents bone loss, but a recent study finds that it also reduces risk of spinal fracture by as much as 50 percent among postmenopausal women.

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January 6th, 2012  Posted at   Arthritis Therapies
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The Arthritis Foundation also acknowledges the many levels of benefits from yoga and tai chi, recommending them because they:
Help relieve pain.

Ease stiffness, keeping joints well lubricated.

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January 6th, 2012  Posted at   Arthritis Therapies
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Even though it’s vital to their health, many arthritis patients don’t exercise. It hurts, it’s no fun and it’s time consuming. Sometimes it can even be damaging. Without it, however, arthritic joints can stiffen, muscles can weaken and conditions can get worse.

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April 8th, 2010  Posted at   Arthritis Therapies
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Continued…

Conventional Therapies: Many of the therapies for OA and RA have the inflammatory component as their target. Glucocorticoids (steroids) have long been employed to control inflammation. Their use over the long-term is discouraged because of potential severe toxicities to muscle and other organs. However, over the past 20 years, treatment regimens have indicated that the commonly employed steroid prednisone in low doses of 7.5 mg or less may be employed over long periods and are usually well tolerated and safe. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also commonly used in initial treatment of RA and OA. (more…)

March 25th, 2010  Posted at   Arthritis Therapies

While arthritis has no cure, there are a variety of treatments based on the particular kind of arthritis. Here, a doctor discusses the arthritis patient’s options.

Recently, my colleagues and I were examining x-rays from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the femoral joint. These patients were quite young when their OA was first diagnosed. In these OA patients, the disease was clinically significant when they were in their 20s or 30s whereas in the general population OA does not usually present clinically until individuals are in their 40s or 50s. Genetic testing of these individuals indicated that several family members had a similar age onset of OA. (more…)