More than 1.3 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. Even though it happens more often to women and people who were born female than to men and people who were born male, it can happen to anyone at any age.
Dr. Rochelle Rosian, a rheumatologist, says, “It’s not a disease of old age. Instead, it’s a disease of a broken immune system.” “Something can be in your genes. But we usually think that the condition is caused by something that takes over your body and sets it off.
How do you define rheumatoid arthritis?
Dr. Rosian says that rheumatoid arthritis is a “polyarthritis that is inflammatory.” “The lining of your joints are attacked by your body.” This can wear down the cushioning around these joints over time. “Erosions are caused by rheumatoid arthritis,” she says. “It makes those joints worse. This can make you lose your independence because you won’t be able to do things like bathe, dress, or feed yourself.
Dr. Rosian says that any joint in your body can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Small joints, like those in your hands and feet, are most often affected. Still, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic illness, which means that it affects your whole body.
Dr. Rosian says that when you have strep throat, the infection is in your throat, but you feel sick all over. “It’s about the same as rheumatoid arthritis. You feel sick, like you might have the flu. You’re sick, but don’t take your temperature. Or you might get thinner.”
Other common signs and symptoms include stiff muscles in the morning, swollen joints that feel hot to the touch, tiredness, and pain that is the same in both hands or feet.
There are natural ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
It is possible to deal with rheumatoid arthritis without taking medicine. Dr. Rosian says that diet and exercise changes are the best ways to deal with rheumatoid arthritis without taking medicine.
Some natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that work now are:
Anti-inflammatory diet
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, what you eat is important. Dr. Rosian says that a diet that reduces inflammation is the best natural way to treat rheumatoid arthritis. “This diet doesn’t have a lot of animal protein in it. You would eat more legumes, nuts, and seeds, which are all good sources of protein from plants.
A diet that reduces inflammation doesn’t have to be vegetarian, though. Dr. Rosian says, “Some people are sensitive to things like lactose or gluten.” “You should eat less of anything that makes your stomach or digestive system feel bad.”
Stretching
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, you want to stay as flexible as possible and keep moving. “Use it or lose it” applies to all types of arthritis, says Dr. Rosian. “If you let it rest, it’ll rust. So, it’s important to stretch. Heat and ice are also great ways to keep your ligaments, tendons, and joints from drying out.
Good working parts
When you stretch and work out, it’s important to use good mechanics, which means keeping the right posture, muscle movement, and positioning, so you don’t strain your joints.
“When you walk, you want to keep your feet from rolling in or out,” says Dr. Rosian. “This could hurt your knees or hips.” “Keep a steady pace, keep your back straight, and use your abdominal muscles. You should wear shoes that look good and not flip-flops.”
Dr. Rosian also says to be careful with daily tasks around the house so you don’t strain your joints. To get more support while chopping food, use kitchen tools with thicker handles and gloves. “Pick tools that make your joints work less,” she says. “Many brands of kitchen and garden tools have grips that are softer and squishier.”
She also says that when you write, you can grip your pen and pencil to make everything “a little bit rounder and softer.” “A lot of people also use wrist supports or cushions under their mouse or keyboards when they work on their computer.”
Omega-3 fish oil
Omega-3 fish oil supplements, especially those with DHA and EPA, which are both found in seafood, are recommended. Dr. Rosian says that most people take 1,000 milligrammes twice a day to treat inflammation. But fish oil can make some other prescription drugs less effective, so you should always talk to your doctor before starting to take it.
Turmeric
Some studies have shown that turmeric can help reduce inflammation. Dr. Rosian says that the best dose is 750 milligrammes twice a day or 1,000 milligrammes once a day.
Natural remedies to avoid
Not all natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are safe or work. Dr. Rosian, for example, says that supplements like glucosamine and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) probably don’t do much.
You should also avoid any supplement that says it will make your immune system stronger. “This seems backwards, but people should stay away from immune boosters,” says Dr. Rosian. “This can make your immune system stronger as a whole.”
She says that even though that might sound like a good thing, it could have unintended bad effects. “People with rheumatoid arthritis don’t have a weak immune system. Their immune system doesn’t work right. So, it will improve the parts of their immune system that are working well and fix the parts that aren’t.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated.
Even though there are natural ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis, some people do need extra medication or treatment.
Years ago, people with rheumatoid arthritis often took aspirin as part of their treatment. Dr. Rosian says, “The problem is that it doesn’t change the disease.” “It helps with the swelling, but it doesn’t stop the disease from getting worse. And at the doses you need to take it, it makes people bruise and bleed a lot.”
But people with rheumatoid arthritis have more choices now than they did in the past. Dr. Rosian says that there have never been more treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that can change the disease than there are now. Some common treatments are anti-inflammatory drugs and prednisone, as well as “more targeted treatments,” such as “immunosuppressive medicines and new families of biologics and oral biologics and injectable medications,” she says.
Dr. Rosian says, “It’s a different disease than it was 20, 30 years ago.” “There are a lot of good medicines that slow down the progression of the disease. I like to say “in remission on medications.” People don’t develop joint erosions. People with rheumatoid arthritis don’t look like they ever had it if we catch it early and treat them.