Injectable Gel May Inhibit Arthritic Pain

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) researchers are developing a potentially new way to treat arthritis, an injectable gel.

"Among its advantages, the gel could allow the targeted release of medicine at an affected joint, and could dispense that medicine on demand in response to enzymes associated with arthritic flare-ups," according to Jeffrey Karp and Praveen Kuman Vemula at the Center for Regenerative Therapeutics (BWH).

Patients may no longer need to take oral drugs that are dispersed throughout the body. Ideally, the patient would want a drug released only in response to a biological stimulus such as an arthritic flare-up.

When tested on mice, the injectable gel released its drug payload when exposed to the enzymes present during inflammations.

The technique has yet to be demonstrated in humans.

Gout, Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks and Caffeine

Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in the U.S., is a very painful form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid. Uric acid crystals become deposited on the cartilage of joints, tendons and other surrounding tissue, especially the feet.

Gout rates are climbing not only because it is being diagnosed earlier but also because people are living longer and because diuretic therapies are typically prescribed for high blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

There are good medications that can potentially prevent gout attacks. Even so, attacks are common.

Researchers have tied gout attacks to consuming alcohol, red meat, and certain seafoods. Now they are also beginning to link them to sweetened beverages and caffeine.

Alcohol And Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Alcohol Can Help

There is a new and welcome report for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis:

Dr. James Maxwell, lead author of a study and a consultant rheumatologist at The Roterham NHS Foundation Trust in England compared 1,004 healthy participants to 873 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

They "found that arthritis was progressively less severe as alcohol frequency increased, with a definite difference compared to nondrinkers even in the least frequent alcohol consumption group."

There was less damage to joints and less inflammation the more often one drank.

It is thought that perhaps alcohol may reduce immune response (which leads to inflammation) and it might also contribute to reducing pain.

Still, the evidence needs to determine the amount of alcohol for the desired effect and the study needs to be replicated for scientific purposes.

For more on rheumatoid arthritis, visit 50somethinginfo.com

Tai Chi Helps With Arthritis

Because studies of tai chi has shown that people over 65 with knee osteoarthritis who took tai chi exercises twice a week for 12 weeks experienced less pain and improved physical function, this form of exercise is promoted by the Arthritis Foundation.

Dr. Paul Lam, a family physician and tai chi expert, offers 12 lessons on disk for purchase. But he also is available to answer your questions.

Tai chi uses slow, deliberate, gentle, fluid and flowing circular movements that "improve the body and the mind." It is sometimes referred to as moving meditation.

This ancient Chinese martial art improves strength, balance and flexibility in older people but it also helps with chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis and sore joints and muscles.

For more on tai chi and arthritis, visit 50somethinginfo.com

Eat Your Way To Lessening Arthritic Pain

According to Dr. Andrew Weil (Healthy Aging), what you eat can affect the pain of arthritis. Eating the right food can reduce the inflammation, he asserts.

1. Avoid refined, processed and manufactured foods.

2. Use good quality extra-virgin oil in food preparation.

3. Eat oily fish at least 3 times a week.

4. Replace flour and sugar products with whole grains, sweet potatoes and beans.

5. Reduce the amount of meat and substitute with beans or soy.

6. Eat fruit and vegetables of all colors.

7. Try to consume some ginger and turmeric.

8. Drink good quality tea, such as white, green or oolong.

Learn more about arthritis at 50somethinginfo.com.

Arthritis Gadgets: Make Your Life Easier At Home

I was looking at about.com on Arthritis and found a forum on Arthritis aids. I read the reader recommendations and this is what I found to be helpful to those plagued with this common problem:

1. One-Touch can opener

2. Heated mattress pad

3. Long reach curved back scrubber

4. Sports bras with zippered fronts

7. Heated socks

For more on Arthritis and Arthritis aids and what you can do to make life easier, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Hope this helps.

10 Cooking Tips For Arthritis Sufferers

About.com shares 10 cooking tips for people with Arthritis:

1. Use ergonomic, lightweight cooking tools with easy grips and non-slip handles

2. Use pots or pans with two handles that distribute the weight more evenly between both your hands and wrists

3. Use a food processor to chop, cut and slice but be sure you are able to change the blades easily and remove the bowl and lid without strain.  Consider mini processors too.

4. Use better cooking tools like the 2-handled rocker knife.

5. Pull up a stool and give your arthritis a rest.

6. Think "crockpot."  In less time you can make one-pot nutritious meals.

7. Soup makes people feel better so have them available whenever you aren't up to making it fresh.

8. Make extra food and plan for leftovers.  Double your recipe and freeze for another day.

9. Get food storage containers that are both easy to open and easy to stack.

10. Make sure your kitchen shelves are easily accessible; pullout shelves are great.  Put the most used items lower.  Car-man added shelves in my kitchen (we store no more than a service for 6-8 on any one shelf--the rest goes on higher shelves).

For more of cooking, check out my website.  

Be Aware of Arthritis Treatment Options

May is also National Arthritis Awareness Month.  

Most forms of rheumatic diseases cannot be cured.  However, many treatments can reduce pain and stiffness and improve ability to function.  

Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has provided a guide to making good decisions about arthritis treatment.  

The guide gives concrete suggestions on how to ask good questions and explains why most people find it difficult to ask questions.  In addition, a worksheet is provided that allows patients and their families to evaluate treatment options.  

Brigham and Women's Hospital is a comprehensive center, combining activities in rheumatic disease clinical care, education, training and research as an "integrated series of successful cutting-edge programs."  The professionals in comprehensive arthritis care work closely with colleagues in orthopedics, radiology, physical therapy, neurology, podiatry, dermatology, and pain management.  

It's a great resource whether or not you live in the Boston area.  

Around the House Magic Potions

Grandmas often know what to do for cuts and scrapes and other life inconveniences.  Here are a few of her magic potions which hopefully you'll find effective:

1. Try soaking unsightly toenail fungus in Listerine mouthwash.  

2. Listerine may also be used to disinfect a broken blister.  

3. Are the screws in your eyeglasses always coming lose?  Apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads before screwing them.  

4. Use Coke to eliminate rust stains by saturating an abrasive sponge.

5. 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water warmed in the microwave for 1 minute and cooled slightly makes what?  Try carefully applying this breakfast concoction to your arthritic hands for relief.  

For more information about traditional healers, check out www.50somethinginfo.com.

Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

The National Institute of Health claims that acupuncture may provide pain relief and improved function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee.  

Others suggest applying heat, cold or both, yoga, massage and TENS, a non-invasion method to reduce pain called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.