Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue in the joints and sometimes other organs as well.  The cause of this painful and sometimes disabling condition is currently unknown.  The disease afflicts two to three times more women than men, and can strike at any age.  Unrelated infection, genetics, stress, smoking, nutrition, and hormones are all reported to influence the course and severity of RA.

 

Symptoms

 

RA usually develops slowly over time, with some or all of the following symptoms:

• waking up with stiff joints in the morning

• pain, warmth, swelling and tenderness in the affected joints
• stiffness in the affected joints following extended inactivity

• limited range of motion in the affected joints

• flu-like symptoms, including muscle pain, fatigue and weakness

• low grade fever, especially when the affected joints are acutely inflamed

• small, round, firm, painless bumps under the skin, particularly around the elbows 
  

 

 

Prevention

 

Because the precise cause of RA is not yet understood, there is no clear guidance on how to prevent its onset.

 

Treatment

 

A person suffering from RA has the greatest chance of dramatically reducing their symptoms if the disease is diagnosed early in its progress and treated appropriately.

 

 The goals in treating RA are to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, maintain joint function, and prevent joint deformities.  Medication can control pain and diminish inflammation, but patients should make a fully informed decision about any medication only after having considered the documented side-effects of the drug in question.  Other components of therapy include an appropriate balance of rest, gentle exercise, massage therapy, and protection of the affected joints.

 

Registered massage therapy can reduce muscle pain, improve blood flow to the affected joints, and help a patient achieve and sustain Skilled Relaxation as a means of reducing the pain of RA.  Everest Therapeutics Inc. can help patients with RA, helping to relieve their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

 

Individuals with RA can also do much to help alleviate their own symptoms:

• lose excess body weight to reduce strain on the affected joints

• eat food and drink liquids that have anti-inflammatory properties and high nutritional value

• use joint protection devices (braces, splints) and techniques

• take appropriate, high quality supplements of vitamins, minerals and herbs to ensure optimal nutrition

• undertake regular gentle exercise such as yoga, tai chi or aquatic activity

• apply a cold pack to the affected joints to reduce inflammation during flare-ups

• take appropriate measures to ensure a good night's sleep

 

Registered Massage Therapy

 

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