Dublin based
Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Specialist

Arthritis

Arthritis

May 14th, 2011 | Posted in 2 Pain, Injuries, Sports

ARTHRITIS

(1) Osteoarthritis is the most common form and usually occurs past middle age due to  wear and tear, degeneration. It can lead to softening and erosion of cartilage plus enlargement of affected joints, usually the larger, weight-bearing joints, such as, knees, elbows, hips and shoulders.

(2) Rheumatoid, the next most common form is serious, and without proper treatment can lead to the destruction of joint tissue (most often in the hands/fingers toes and neck i.e. the smaller joints) which in turn can lead to deformities and invalidity.  Age group:  fairly young, often in the most active and productive stage of life.

Common Causes:

Arthritis is a systematic disease, a build up of waste in the blood and joints over years and years of abuse, including:—

  •  wrong diet and nutritional deficiencies
  •  physical and mental strain and emotional stress
  •  the absence of rest
  •  habitual constipation for many years before. (Constipation leads to the accumulation of undesirable waste products and so laxatives – castor oil, are very important)
  •  digestive disorders (often chronic)
  •  general fatigue
  •  glandular disorders.

Symptoms:

  • Pain, mild or acute, often beginning with slow pain, especially during movement,  climbing the stairs, lifting weights.  It may disappear for months and then  reappear. It is aggravated with cold/wind/rain especially in winter.
  • there can be numbness/stiffness/ a cracking sound while walking
  • inflammation, enlarged and/or swollen joints
  • loss of elasticity of cartilage
  • secretion of synovial fluid stops, leading to dry, brittle, stiff joints
  • ligaments and tendons may also be affected.
  • formation of calcium deposits (lack of movement)
  • osteoporosis (leaching of calcium and other minerals from bones) leading to the destruction of bones and joints

Pain – Killers / Drugs:

**Pain killers are just that, they kill the pain but they do not kill the disease and are, therefore, dangerous.  NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can lead to gastro-intestinal tract bleeding.  Aspirin as a diuretic depletes reserves of vitamins.  There are many powerful  drugs available but long term use of drugs give short term relief and can cause long term physical damage.  Try this 5-point plant and see how much you can reduce the causes of your arthritis.  The pain is real—treat it but try to use powerful drugs only when the pain is active and until the cause is removed.

Acupuncture relieves pain by diverting or changing the painful sensations which are sent to the brain from damaged tissues and also by stimulating the body’s own painkillers (the so-called endorphins and encephalins). This painkilling effect may only last a short time at the beginning, but repeated treatment (usually about 6 or 8 weekly sessions) can bring long-term benefit, often over a period of 6 to 9 months. If the pain returns, then some more acupuncture may help for another few months.

As with all treatments to relieve pain (such as physiotherapy and pain-killing drugs), breaking the ‘pain cycle’ sometimes gives permanent relief. To some extent this depends on the stage of your arthritis, although acupuncture can help at almost any stage of the illness. As with many conventional treatments, it cannot cure or reverse the process of arthritis.

Acupuncture may help someone who cannot tolerate drugs through a painful episode, or it may be used to manage pain on a long-term basis.