The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis: Get relief from pain, understand treatment and be more active!

by Carol Eustic

Overview

Are you tired of battling joint pain, stiffness, and soreness? With The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis, you'll learn to manage your pain and enjoy being more active.
Carol Eustice, who has lived with arthritis for more than thirty years, gives you the strength and knowledge you need to:

• Work with your doctor to manage pain
• Explore alternative treatment options
• Stay healthy and active with proper diet
• Protect your joints
• Use exercise to improve range of motion.

With this helpful guide, you're just steps away from moving easier, feeling better, and improving your quality of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598694109
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	11/01/2007
Series:	Everything® Series
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

Introduction     xi
Basic Facts about Arthritis     1
What Is Arthritis?     1
Arthritis Signs and Symptoms     3
Arthritis Is Not a Single Disease     6
Misconceptions about Arthritis     8
The Prevalence of Arthritis     10
Who Can Get Arthritis?     11
Common Types of Arthritis     13
Osteoarthritis     13
Rheumatoid Arthritis     16
Psoriatic Arthritis     19
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)     21
Ankylosing Spondylitis     23
Infectious Arthritis     24
Reactive Arthritis     26
Other Types of Arthritis and Rheumatic Conditions     29
Gout and Pseudogout     29
Scleroderma     31
Lupus     33
Sjogren's Syndrome     35
Fibromyalgia     37
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome     39
Lyme Disease     41
Raynaud's Phenomenon     43
Less Common Forms of Arthritis     44
The Process of Diagnosing Arthritis     47
Medical History     47
Hands-On Physical Examination     50
Blood Tests     52
Radiographic Studies (X-Rays)     56
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)     57
Joint Aspiration     59
Other Diagnostic Tests     60
Your Doctor Works for You     63
Should You See a Rheumatologist?     63
What You Should Expect During Office Visits     66
Questions Ready and Welcomed?     68
Should You Understand Everything Your Doctor Says?     70
How to Tell if It's Time to Change Doctors     72
Coordinating Your Doctors     75
Treating Arthritis     77
Self-Treatment     77
The Problem with Quack Cures     79
The Benefit of Early Aggressive Treatment     81
Finding What Works for You     83
Fearing Medications     85
Medication Side Effects Can Be Problematic     88
When Treatments Don't Work or Stop Working     90
Arthritis Medications     93
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)     93
COX-2 Inhibitors     95
Analgesics (Pain Medications)     97
Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)     99
Corticosteroids (Steroids)     102
Biologic Response Modifiers      104
Over-the-Counter-Medications     106
Other Medications     107
Other Treatment Options     109
Viscosupplementation     109
Prosorba Column     111
Topical Medications     113
Surgical Options     115
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy     119
Orthotics     121
Alternative or Complementary Treatments     123
Massage Therapy     123
Acupuncture     125
Biofeedback     126
Music Therapy     128
Meditation/Relaxation     130
Chiropractic     131
Copper Bracelets     133
Magnet Therapy     134
Bee Stings     135
Exercise Is Vital for Arthritis Patients     137
Basic Principles of Exercise for Arthritis Patients     137
Why Many Arthritis Patients Don't Exercise     140
Tai Chi     143
Yoga     144
Water Exercise     146
Walking/Cycling     147
Inactivity or Sedentary Lifestyles     149
Diet and Arthritis     151
Does Elimination Diet Cure Arthritis?     151
Why Is Weight Important for Arthritis Patients?     153
Healthy, Balanced Diet Is Important     155
Do Certain Foods Cause Arthritis?     157
Do Certain Foods Help Arthritis?     159
Vitamins and Arthritis     161
Dietary Supplements     163
Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Arthritis?     165
Joint Protection     167
Principles of Joint Protection     167
Body Mechanics     169
Using Assistive Equipment/Assistive Devices     171
Pain Management     174
Preserving Range of Motion     175
Avoiding Stress and Strain on Joints     178
Arthritis Brings a New Reality     181
Can You Keep Working?     181
Can You Have a Baby?     183
Can You Raise Your Kids?     185
Does Your Social Life Implode?     187
Does Sex Become a Distant Memory?     189
From Athlete to Spectator?     191
A Cyclone of Emotions     193
Fear-What Comes Next?     193
Denial-This Is Not Happening     195
Anger-Why Me?     197
Sadness-You Liked Life the Way It Was     198
Frustration-Losing Abilities     200
If You Feel Different, You Are Different     201
Positive Thinking Matters     203
Finding the Courage You Need     204
You Need Understanding     205
Helping Family Understand     205
Helping Friends Understand     207
Helping Your Boss Understand     209
Helping Your Co-workers Understand     210
Explaining Arthritis to Your Kids     212
Dealing with Strangers and Acquaintances     215
Dealing with Nurses and Caregivers     216
The Financial Impact of Having Arthritis     219
Will Your Earning Power Decline?     219
Is Disability in Your Future?     222
Insurance Concerns: Know Your Benefits     224
Affording Prescription Drugs and Medical Care     226
The Cost of Adaptive Equipment     229
The Cost of Household Help     230
Living in a Normal World     231
Traveling with Arthritis     231
Shopping Tips     234
Cooking/Kitchen Work     236
Arthritis-Friendly Hobbies and Activities     237
Asking for Help     239
Coping with Arthritis     241
Learning to Live with Pain     241
Learning to Live with Fatigue     243
Learning to Live with Uncertainty     245
Learning to Manage Stress     246
Learning to Manage Depression and Anxiety     249
Learning to Adjust and Adapt     251
How to Remain Inspired     252
An Eye on the Future     255
Close to a Cure?     255
Stem Cell Research     257
Gene Therapy     259
Drugs in Development     261
Participating in Clinical Trials     263
Advocating for More Research     266
Arthritis Advice     267
Think of Your Needs (That's Not Selfish!)     267
Prioritize Your Daily Schedule     269
Pace Yourself in all Activities     271
Surround Yourself with a Support Network     272
Balance Your Life     274
New Reality Doesn't Mean Bad Reality     276
Glossary     278
National Organizations     286
Index     287