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All Arthritis Special Reports
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Gout and Soda: What’s the Connection?
Statistics show that the rate of self-reported gout in the United States has swelled from two to three million since 1995. Rising rates of obesity and an aging population are partly to blame, but there appears to be another factor: our love of sugary soft drinks.
A group of researchers from Canada and the United States noticed that the rise in gout coincided with a dramatic increase in the consumption of soft drinks and other beverages… More...
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Joint Replacement: It's Not Just Knees and Hips
Most people associate joint replacement with knees and hips. But joints in the hand, wrist, ankle, and shoulder can be just as painful and debilitating. Fortunately, improved materials and surgical techniques have expanded joint replacement choices for people with arthritis.
For a person with severe joint pain and disability from arthritis, joint replacement can mean freedom from pain and a return to most normal activities. … More...
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Chronic Lyme Disease vs. Post-Lyme Disease
Some physicians believe that people with Lyme disease can develop a chronic illness that is relieved by long-term use of antibiotics. But new guidelines for the treatment of Lyme disease, issued by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), have raised a stir by questioning this assertion.
The IDSA guidelines say that 95% of people with Lyme disease are cured by a 14- to 28-day course of oral antibiotics and that no credible scientific evidence… More...
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Fibromyalgia: Understanding a Mysterious Ailment
For years, fibromyalgia, which is characterized by fatigue and widespread pain, was considered a purely psychological condition. Now physicians understand that fibromyalgia involves the central nervous system; the brain controls the central nervous system, but this does not mean that symptoms are 'all in your head.'
Physicians have been reporting symptoms of fibromyalgia since the 1800s, but it's only in the past few decades that the medical community has come to recognize and understand fibromyalgia… More...
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Chronic Pain: It’s Not Just About Your Joints
Chronic pain from arthritis can feel as if it has a life of its own, however altering your attitudes and beliefs can help. Johns Hopkins offers advice to help you break the cycle of pain.
The origin of arthritis pain is undeniably physical, arising from pressure on nerve endings due to joint damage, muscle strain, or inflammatory substances in the joint fluid. The nerve endings send warning signals to the brain, and the brain must interpret… More...
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The Pros and Cons of Minimally Invasive Hip-Replacement Surgery
Is minimally invasive h'ip-replacement surgery right for you? Before you decide, consider the pros and cons.
Asked whether they would rather have traditional hip-replacement surgery or a less invasive procedure, most people would choose the 'mini' hip-replacement procedure instinctively. Minimally invasive hip-replacement surgery can be a good choice. But it's not right for everyone, and not all orthopedic surgeons are experienced in the minimally invasive techniques. More...
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Spinal Stenosis -- Osteoarthritis Is Often To Blame
Do you experience pain and numbness in the back or legs? It could be spinal stenosis.
The spinal cord is the main conduit for nerve impulses traveling from the brain to the lower part of the body. It runs through the spinal canal -- the channel between the 24 bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal becomes narrower. This narrowing (stenosis) places pressure on the spinal… More...
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Arthritis Glossary
Johns Hopkins Glossary of Arthritis-related terms, derived from their John Hopkins White Papers and Johns Hopkins Arthritis Bulletin More...
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TNF Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Dr. Joan M. Bathon, medical editor of The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Bulletin explains how TNF inhibitors such as Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade have improved life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The arsenal of rheumatoid arthritis drugs was given a big boost in 1998 when the first Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitor received FDA approval. While extremely effective, both patients and doctors alike have many questions and concerns about which of the three current drugs to use,… More...
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Botox and Knee Osteoarthritis
Do Botox injections offer a satisfactory non-surgical alternative for patients suffering with painful knee osteoarthritis? Trials are underway, so stay tuned …
No longer the secret potion of women and men interested in hiding facial wrinkles between the eyebrows, around the eyes, on the forehead, and around the lips, injections of Botox are now thought to be useful for more than 50 medical conditions, including excessive sweating, constipation, headache, clubfoot, and even hiccups. We may be… More...
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Ask Your Doctor About Gout: Diet and Gout
Gout is one of the most painful yet treatable forms of arthritis, but it’s often not treated properly. Today, it’s estimated that two to five million Americans have gout, with most male victims suffering a first gout attack between 40 and 50 years of age. Women develop gout later, in the years following menopause. With Americans living longer and growing stouter, both of which are linked to gout’s prevalence, it’s important that the disease be diagnosed promptly and accurately, and treated effectively, to prevent disability, joint damage, lost workdays, and diminished quality of life.
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Arthritis On The Go
Traveling can be a great way to relax or spend time with family. But for people with arthritis, getting to and from their destination can be more stressful than their regular routine.
If you have arthritis, sitting for long periods may make joints stiff, and dealing with luggage, transfers, and cramped seating can all contribute to pain and fatigue. Fortunately, whether you travel by plane, train, bus, car, or cruise ship, there are ways to minimize stress on joints.
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Easing Foot, Ankle, and Knee Pain With Orthotics
The feet each have 33 joints and are highly susceptible to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other painful conditions. Foot discomfort and deformity caused by these conditions can even lead to pain in the shins, knees, and lower back.
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When Is the Best Time for a Knee Replacement?
Replacing a knee joint with an artificial one—a procedure called knee arthroplasty—is a common treatment for severe arthritis: More than 350,000 knee replacement procedures are performed in the United States each year. Originally, the procedure was considered most appropriate for people age 60 to 75. Doctors thought that younger, more active patients would put too much stress on the joint and require a second artificial joint in 10 to 20 years; older patients were believed to be too frail to undergo the knee replacement procedure.
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Pain Relief for Arthritis With Topical Analgesics
Topical analgesics are nonprescription products that you apply to the skin over an aching joint to provide pain relief. They can be useful for people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain who experience inadequate pain relief with Tylenol or wish to avoid the side effects of oral pain relievers.
The three main types of topical analgesics for pain relief are counterirritants, salicylates, and capsaicin; combination products for pain relief are also available. These include
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Does Weather Affect Arthritis Pain?
If you have arthritis, you may be among those people (and there are many) who feel that their arthritis pain is influenced by the weather—specifically, that they experience more arthritis pain on cold, rainy days and less arthritis pain on warm, dry days.
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