StemCell Therapy

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Miss Washington's Journey to Miss USA KCTS 9 Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). She was told that she may never walk again. Although Alex appears to be the picture of health, dealing with the chronic pain of RA is a constant struggle. The term 'invisible illness ...

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Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Miss Washington's Journey to Miss USA - KCTS 9

SALTILLO For Martha Webb, cooking is all about using the best and freshest ingredients available.

If you dont use good ingredients, youre not going to end up with something thats fit to eat, said Webb, 59.

Her husband, Raymond, regularly travels to Pontotoc County to buy her butter that folks in the Amish community make, and she grows many of her own vegetables and herbs.

Her side yard in Saltillo is planted with huge beds of rosemary, basil, dill, oregano, sage, Italian parsley and cilantro. Come summer, shell have tomatoes, running beans, squash and bell peppers.

Ive planted new potatoes for the grandkids to dig up and my asparagus is just about gone, she said. We had 60 heads of Romaine lettuce but only three are left now. And I love my herbs. I cant cook without fresh herbs.

The mother of two and grandmother of three learned gardening as a child.

When I was growing up, if we didnt grow it or kill it, we didnt eat it, Webb said. Daddy had a truck patch and my brothers hunted and fished and I hunted and fished, she said. The only thing Mama went to the store for was staples.

Webb, who was raised in Union County but now lives in Saltillo, went to college at Bethel University in Tennessee where she had a double major: piano and drama. She taught music at South Pontotoc and at Plantersville before moving to the Fillmore Center, an alternative school in Tupelo, to teach English.

Fillmore was an interesting job, she said. I loved those kids. The ones you could help made up for the ones you couldnt.

Webb retired early from teaching in 2015 due to rheumatoid arthritis. As long as her hands will allow her, shell continue to play the piano at Wesley United Methodist Church, a job shes held for 23 years.

Because shes busy with church Sunday mornings, she gets her Sunday dinner started early. She plans the menu on Wednesday and starts cooking on Saturday. She might serve Hawaiian ham with peas, greens and a salad, or a beef roast with potatoes and carrots, green beans and slaw.

Sometimes we have chicken, sometimes meatloaf, and sometimes my husband will smoke a pork loin or pork butt, she said. My kids have never known not having Sunday dinner. Even growing up, we had dinner together every night at the table. If you werent dead, then youd better be there.

Webb actually uses the weekends to get most of her meals ready for the week ahead.

I do quality cooking I dont just run in there and make Hamburger Helper, she said. Both my daughters can cook. Whatever is important to you is going to be important to your kids. I have the best children and the best life and I feel guilty every day for what God has given me.

1 box Duncan Hines lemon supreme cake mix

1 small box instant lemon pudding mix

1/2 cup Limoncello liqueur

1/4 cup Limoncello liqueur

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 to 3/4 cup confectioners sugar

For the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, sour cream and Limoncello in a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a greased and floured Bundt pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until cake lightly springs back when touched. Cool for a few minutes in the pan, then invert onto a cake plate. Dust with confectioners sugar or glaze with Limoncello Frosting.

For the frosting, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in Limoncello. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and using a mixer, whip in cream cheese and sugar until the frosting is thick, but still pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake.

1 precooked, smoked shank ham

1 large can sliced pineapple in heavy syrup

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 cup apricot preserves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly score ham. Mix the juice from the canned pineapple with the apricot nectar. Stir in brown sugar and cloves. Using an injector for meats, inject the solution liberally into the ham. Place in a roasting pan and cover with foil. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Uncover the ham and, using toothpicks, place pineapple slices on the fat sides of the ham, with cherries in the center of the slices. Heat any remaining sauce and add preserves. Baste the ham with this sauce every 15 minutes as the ham bakes, uncovered, another 30 minutes.

1 stick butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring

3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

1 cup confectioners sugar

2 1/4 cups self-rising flour

This recipe must be followed exactly and in order for the dough to have the right consistency.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

With a mixer on low speed, whip the butter until fluffy. Add oil, egg and flavorings. Add both sugars and beat until blended. Add flour a little at a time. The dough should be soft. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Press a smooth-bottomed drinking glass into extra granulated sugar and then press cookie balls to flatten. Bake until cookie edges are golden. Cool slightly then remove to paper towels to completely cool. Makes 3 1/2 to 4 dozen 3-inch cookies.

2 cups coarsely chopped, cooked squash

Cool squash, then mix in egg, onion and flour. Drop by rounded tablespoons into hot vegetable oil and cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

1 pound ground mild Italian sausage

2 pounds Angus ground chuck

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (28-ounce) can petite-diced tomatoes

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano

1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning

Brown sausage and ground chuck in olive oil. Drain off any fat. To the pan, add onion, bell pepper and garlic and saute a couple of minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer slowly for at least 1 hour (longer is better). Stir often and add water if sauce becomes too thick. This sauce freezes well.

4 small zucchini (8- to 10-inches)

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

4 cups fresh corn (or 2 packages frozen, thawed)

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Slice zucchini lengthwise into quarters, then slice across into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Melt butter in a skillet and add onion and bell pepper. Saute a couple of minutes and stir in corn. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in zucchini and cook 2 or 3 minutes, covered. Remove from heat and stir in tomato and sprinkle with cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted. Serves 8.

1 flute or batard Italian bread

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano

1 to 2 cloves minced garlic

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Shredded Italian 5-cheese blend

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Slice bread into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Brush with olive oil and place on a greased cookie sheet. Place in oven until lightly crisped.

In a bowl, combine tomatoes, herbs, garlic and vinegar. Top bread slices with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with grated cheese and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Place back in oven until cheese is melted. Makes about 12.

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Retired teacher doesn't let arthritis slow her down - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

GETTY

A study claims arthroscopies should not be performed on those suffering painful degenerative knee disease because it rarely works.

In fact, a collaboration of international experts said the keyhole procedure to relieve pain and improve movement should be avoided in almost all patients.

Their recommendation is based on evidence that it does not result in lasting improvement in pain or function.

The panel said: Knee arthroscopy has been oversold as a cure-all for knee pain.

We make a strong recommendation against the use of arthroscopy in nearly all patients with degenerative knee disease.

"Further research is unlikely to alter this recommendation.

Degenerative knee disease is a chronic condition in which symptoms fluctuate.

Each year around two million people go under the knife but the procedure is no better than traditional exercise or physiotherapy.

Knee arthroscopy has been oversold as a cure-all for knee pain

Research panel

Around a quarter of those aged over 50 years experience pain from degenerative knee disease with weight loss, exercise and anti-infammatory drugs and surgery options to combat the debilitating pain.

Knee replacement is the only definitive therapy, but it is usually reserved for patients with the severest form of the disease.

The review by bone surgeons, physiotherapists, clinicians and patients with experience of degenerative knee disease suggests arthroscopic surgery offers little benefit and is not cost effective.

GETTY

The assessment comes after the panel carried out a detailed analysis of the available evidence.

A linked review of 13 random control trials and 12 observational studies concluded the treatment did not reap important benefits in pain or function.

Researchers found that when compared with conservative management surgery resulted in a very small reduction in pain up to three months following the procedure and very small or no pain reduction up to two years later.

Getty

1 of 12

They also found knee arthroscopy results in a very small improvement in the short term and very small or no improved function up to two years after the operation.

Patient Casey Quinlan said: Knee arthroscopy has been oversold as a cure-all for knee pain.

"Mine was nowhere near what I had been told it would be, function and pain level were only marginally improved.

Degenerative arthritis is a group of conditions where the main problem is damage to the cartilage which covers the ends of the bones.

Painful and debilitating degenerative knee arthritis affects around 4 million people in the UK.

Mark Wilkinson, Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Sheffield and Arthritis Research UK spokesman, said: Previous studies have shown knee arthroscopy is not recommended for the symptoms of pain and loss of function for people with degenerative knee arthritis.

"People with mechanical symptoms, such as locked knee, are more likely to benefit for this type of surgery. Current guidelines support this.

GETTY

Anyone with pain and loss of function in their knee joints will find benefit from lifestyle modification, exercise, physiotherapy, suitable pain medication, or joint replacement when non-surgical treatment becomes no longer effective.

Publishing their findings in the BMJ the experts said: We make a strong recommendation against the use of arthroscopy in nearly all patients with degenerative knee disease, based on linked systematic reviews.

"Further research is unlikely to alter this recommendation.

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Arthritis pain: Exercise 'could be JUST as effective as surgery at managing knee agony' - Express.co.uk

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Walk to Cure Arthritis(Photo: Submitted)

The Arthritis Foundation is set to host its annual Walk to Cure Arthritis in Nashville.

The walk features a three-mile and one-milenoncompetitive course along with family-friendly activities. Dogs are welcome.

Funds will go to help speed up the cure for arthritis, a common cause of disability.

The walk is1:30 p.m.Sunday, May 21,at the Centennial Park band shell, 2500 West End Ave., in Nashville.

Registration is free and donations are encouraged. Visit walktocurearthritis.org/Nashville.

Reach Alex Hubbard at dhubbard@tennessean.com.

Read or Share this story: http://tnne.ws/2pxZ8Uh

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Arthritis Foundation set for Nashville walk - The Tennessean

New York Times

Noisy Knees? Arthritis May Be in Your Future New York Times If your knees creak and pop, the noises could be an indicator of early arthritis, even if the joint does not hurt, according to one of the first long-term studies of the association between noisy knees and joint disease. But not every creaky knee is ...

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Noisy Knees? Arthritis May Be in Your Future - New York Times

Walk to Cure Arthritis is May 13 at zoo

Posted May 10, 2017

FRASER When Matthew Dantes was 9 years old, he started to experience physical ailments most children his age couldnt comprehend. Today, Matthew, 18, has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The gamut of aches, pains, joint stiffness, rashes, fevers and difficulty walking originally confounded doctors. Matthews mother, Christine Dantes, said her son was misdiagnosed for three years because doctors couldnt connect a 9-year-olds symptoms with a particular disease.

A lot of doctors dont know what this disease looks like on a child, Christine Dantes said. That is the main problem we had with Matthew.He was misdiagnosed because he didnt present the classic symptoms that an adult with arthritis would.

One pediatrician told Matthews family that he was just suffering from growing pains, adding that joints would be red and warm to the touch or even swollen if the condition was more serious.

Now, none of his joints get visibly swollen. Only his knees do.

Following the pediatricians diagnosis, the family searched for more answers. Matthew was tested for muscular dystrophy by a pediatric neurologist. Christine said the neurologist told the family that Matthew suffered from a case of cerebral palsy that was never properly diagnosed as an infant.

An orthopedic surgeon followed. Christine said the surgeon serial-casted Matthew for three weeks, due to being convinced the pain and stiffness were caused by tight heel cords.

The real problem was the arthritis was now in his ankles and serial casting literally froze them in that position, she said. By the time he got out of the casts he could barely walk and was in extreme pain. He was told by kids that he walked like Frankenstein.

Even after years of physical therapy, the pain worsened. He couldnt run or play with the other children. When he tried to join a soccer team, the coach asked if he had clubbed feet due to how he walked and ran.

After being continually misdiagnosed by a variety of medical professionals including being suggested to test for both lupus and leukemia Matthew could barely get down the stairs at home due to his knees not being able to bend.

It was heartbreaking as a parent to see your child slowly lose all the things that brought them joy, she said. He was in constant pain and it really robbed him of a big part of his childhood.

After years of reading and researching the possible cause of her sons physical discomfort, Christine was the one who made the correct diagnosis: Her son had arthritis.

She and Matthew visited a pediatric rheumatologist, where blood work, an inflammation panel and an MRI were performed. Days before his 12th birthday, it was confirmed he had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Though by that time, years of incorrect medical opinions created joint damage and contractures that were irreversible.

Matthew had permanent limitations. Christine said her son has good days and bad days, and then some really bad days. He suffers from arthritis in his knees, elbows and ankles; pain and stiffness are in his wrists, fingers and hips.

There was a hope he would enter medicated remission, but that dream faded this past February, when he had an arthritic flare and was simultaneously diagnosed with Crohns disease.

Its believed that Crohns occurred after Matthew started taking a biological drug called Enbrel at the end of last summer. It was explained that patients who take Enbrel for arthritis are at risk of side effects of inflammatory bowel disease. Now, its another thing for Matthew to endure.

Many people dont realize that arthritis is not just an old persons disease, and its not just the pain and stiffness that is a daily struggle, Christine said. The side effects from these drugs are real, and so are the risks that come with taking them.

Its heartbreaking as a parent to wonder what kind of future your child is going to have.I worry, will the damage to his body be from the arthritis, or from the drugs he has to take to control the disease?

Walking in solidarity Matthews condition affected his family and friends in a profound way.

Christine said Matthew never wanted to come across as a victim, and he hates being the center of attention. He doesnt even like bringing up his ailments, she added, or talking to the media.

Bringing awareness to the issue is important for him, however, and his old school has provided a positive avenue for Matthew to feel endeared while simultaneously helping to fight the diseases that literally cripple his body.

On May 13, at the Detroit Zoo, the 2017 Detroit Walk to Cure Arthritis will take place. As of press time, 17 friends and former classmates of Matthews at the Arts Academy in the Woods in Fraser were scheduled to walk in the event.

Christina Martin, parent liaison at Arts Academy in the Woods, is also a longtime friend of Christine Dantes. Martins kids grew up with Matthew. When Dantes told Martin that Matthew who normally walks every year possibly wasnt going to make the event, she took matters in her own hands.

She began to raise funds, sharing information through Facebook and the Arthritis Foundation. Money was raised for Arts Academy students participating in the walk, including bags filled with special items.

Now, there are approximately 13 walkers and four backups as part of the group Movin for Matthew.

Just this past year things have really been tough, Martin said. (Matthew) was going through so much. I thought it would be kind of a cool idea for us to do it in his name.

After losing 20 pounds and spending nearly his entire second semester of college homebound, Matthews inflammation is being properly controlled through medication. Hes on high doses of prednisone, which is temporary, and a biological drug called Humira.

We are hoping his medications continue to keep his inflammation down, Christine said. If they do, and I really hope they should, Matthew will be able to participate in the walk.

I dont want to mislead anyone and make them think that Matthew is worse than he is right now.He is definitely doing better and whether or not it stays that way is to be determined, but right now we are counting our blessings.

For more information on the walk, visit walktocurearthritis.org.

About the author

Nick Mordowanec covers Fraser, Clinton Township, Fraser Public Schools, Clintondale Community Schools and Baker College for the Fraser-Clinton Chronicle. Nick, a graduate of Michigan State University, has worked for C & G Newspapers since 2013 and has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter and the Michigan Press Association. He has slight obsessions with Seinfeld and Led Zeppelin.

Full bio and more articles by this reporter

For more local news coverage, see the following newspapers:

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Teen suffering from arthritis gets a little help from his friends - C&G Newspapers

the Irish News

Survey reveals impact of arthritis on mental health - The Irish News the Irish News A survey released by Arthritis Care reveals the hidden impact that living with arthritis has on people's mental wellbeing. Of those surveyed in Northern Ireland 83 ... Survey unveils 'enormous hidden impact' arthritis has on mental ...ITV News Fundraising dinner success for Arthritis Care | News | Tenby ObserverTenby Observer all 4 news articles »

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Survey reveals impact of arthritis on mental health - The Irish News - the Irish News

Arthritis in the hands more common than you might think, study says Wichita Eagle Arthritis in the hands is more common than you might think. Nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men will develop the condition in their lifetime, according to a new study. The risk of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis also varies by race and weight. Aching or ...

Link:
Arthritis in the hands more common than you might think, study says - Wichita Eagle

Healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson said on Monday the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation concerning management and advisory services provided to rheumatology and gastroenterology practices that bought two of its drugs.

The U.S. healthcare company said its Janssen Biotech Inc unit received a civil investigative demand from the Justice Department regarding an investigation under the False Claims Act related to its arthritis drugs Remicade and Simponi Aria.

J&J also revealed in its quarterly filing that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts is seeking documents broadly relating to pharmaceutical co-payment support programs for hepatitis C drug Olysiotm, Simponi and Crohn's disease drug Stelara. (bit.ly/2qUhznX)

That office's subpoena also seeks documents relating toaverage manufacturer price and best price reporting to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services related to those products, as well as rebate payments to state Medicaid agencies, Johnson & Johnson said in the filing.

(Reporting by Akankshita Mukhopadhyay in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Trott)

WASHINGTON The U.S. economy will fall short of the Trump administration's goal of 3 percent growth this year and will only achieve that when its regulatory, tax, trade and energy policies are fully in place, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday.

News Corp reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue as the owner of the Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal saw an uptick in its digital real estate business and growth in its advertising revenue.

A decline in subscribers and higher programming costs at cash-cow ESPN weighed on shares of Walt Disney Co on Tuesday, overshadowing a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street estimates.

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J&J discloses US probe related to arthritis drugs - Reuters

Creaky, stiff knees are a common problem in the over-40s. Yet while they are often the first sign of underlying arthritis they are not, as is often thought, the beginning of a journey that inevitably ends in surgery or joint replacement. At least they may not be if you heed aching joints as a warning sign and are prepared to do a bit of hard work.

Most people think of osteoarthritis as a one-way wear-and-tear process related to overuse, but it is also the bodys response to injury and part of a process designed to try to repair the joint. Some people with early osteoarthritis do get progressively worse and end up needing surgery, but a similar proportion remain stable as far as symptoms are

Link:
Dr Mark Porter: Stiff knees may not be a sign of arthritis, just that you need to do some exercise - The Times (subscription)

Amanda Hay knows firsthand the value of arthritis research.

The 30-year-old Sombra woman who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age eight spent most of her childhood in a wheelchair until a new experimental drug became available.

After more than a decade in a wheelchair due to pain, Hay decided to take a chance on Enbrel, a biologic medicine that blocks the immune system from sending out signals that cause joint inflammation.

Within two weeks I was walking, said Hay, who had been forced to give up figure skating and other physical activities due to the pain she was experiencing.

Hay credits scientific advancements along with the support of her family and the Arthritis Society for helping her live a normal life.

More than two decades after her diagnosis, Hay works full-time and has learned to manage her debilitating pain through rest and exercise.

It's challenging, she said. I'm lucky enough that my company is supportive because I've educated them on my daily limits.

Hay hopes to raise more awareness about the chronic condition by hosting Sarnia-Lambton's first Walk to Fight Arthritis next month.

The fundraising walk with one-kilometre and five-kilometre route options is planned for June 4 at the Sombra ball park on Duke Street. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., with the walk slated to begin at 10:30 a.m.

Proceeds from the walk will benefit The Arthritis Society, a non-profit that funds research and provides local services out of Sarnia's Community Care Access Centre.

Those services include physical and occupational therapies, social work services and chronic pain management workshops.

Hay was inspired in part to host a local walk out of a desire to raise awareness about the local services provided by the Arthritis Society.

While Sarnia has never had its own Arthritis Society office, Hay said she's still been able to access services through the society, like a youth summer camp for young arthritis sufferers.

They're very willing to help anybody, she said.

More than 4.6 million Canadians aged 15 years and older currently report living with arthritis, according to The Arthritis Society. By 2036, it's estimated that one in every five Canadian adults will have arthritis.

But the debilitating joint-attacking condition can also impact the lives of children.

At age eight Hay was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause swelling and pain in the hands and wrists through to the knees and feet after she went numb on the left side of her body overnight.

Right away (the doctor) said, 'She has rheumatoid arthritis,' Hay recalled. My mom said, 'That's impossible. Kids don't have arthritis.'

But Hay's parents soon accepted the diagnosis and started working with their daughter to improve her quality of life.

I've been lucky that my parents pushed me when I was younger to do my therapy and wear my splints, said Hay, who eventually had to undergo orthopedic surgery to get staples in her growth plate.

As a child, Hay served as a local spokesperson for The Arthritis Society, but she didn't reconnect with the non-profit again until a few years ago when she started participating in London's annual Walk To Fight Arthritis.

In 2016, Hay was named the top fundraiser for the London walk, collecting $5,000 for the charity from family, friends and a few local companies.

That's when she was approached about starting a Sarnia-area walk because she and a small group of fellow arthritis sufferers were travelling from Lambton County annually to raise dollars in London.

She immediately saw the value in hosting a local Walk to Fight Arthritis an event that has connected her with other arthritis survivors and served as inspiration for her to continue her own fight with the condition.

It's made me look at my case and say, 'I'm not as bad off as others.'

To register for the walk either as a participant or a volunteer Hay can be contacted at sarniawalktofightarthritis@arthritis.ca or at 519-402-3832.

bsimpson@postmedia.com

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IF YOU GO

What: Walk to Fight Arthritis

When: June 4. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. Walk starts at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Sombra ball park, Duke Street

Continued here:
Arthritis sufferer hopes to raise awareness about local services - Sarnia Observer

Angus patients living with arthritis are invited to a free information session which will focus on the benefits of physical activity for those living with arthritis.

Visiting speaker, Dr Kathryn Martin from the University of Aberdeen will lead the session discussing why physical activity should be prescribed for people living with arthritis and will give tips for optimal arthritis management.

The topic has been chosen given the increasing evidence to support activity as one of the most important lifestyle interventions for both arthritis and chronic pain, with additional positive benefits to mental health and wellbeing.

Dr Martin leads a programme of research focused on physical activity, arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions and ageing.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 7, from 6.30 to 8.30pm in the Lintrathen Room, Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre.

Refreshments will be available and those attending are very welcome to bring a friend or family member along with them. No booking is required.

The arthritis forum aims to provide adults living with any type of arthritis in Angus with access to ongoing and up to date information about their condition and its management as well as providing people with the chance to meet with others also living with arthritis.

The group was established to support people to live well with arthritis and, as well as providing information, the meeting offers a chance to chat with others living with arthritis over a cup of tea or coffee.

The meetings are organised by Angus Health & Social Care Partnership in partnership with the local Arthritis Forum.

For more information or to be added to the mailing list to receive advance notice about further meetings, please contact the Primary Care Team on 01307 474889 or email achppatientcourses.tayside@nhs.net.

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Arthritis forum to hear benefits of physical activity - Forfar Dispatch

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- Arthritis in seniors is no joking matter. Thats why Dr. Alicia Arnold talked to Courtney Everett about things older Americans can do around the home to help ease the pain. Their question and answer can be found below and you can watch the video above to learn more.

Dr. Alicia Arnold, The most common kind of arthritis in seniors is osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease. Normally we have cartilage protecting our joints by acting as a cushion in between our bones. In osteoarthritis, our cartilage breaks down, resulting in pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis is most common in people older than 65. About half of people will get knee arthritis in their lives, and about 1 in 12 seniors have hand arthritis.

Arthritis is known for being painful.

Dr. Alicia Arnold, Arthritis is known for being uncomfortable, but one of the best ways to manage osteoarthritis is by staying active. Building muscles and stay flexible can help you be more comfortable. You can find ways to adjust your movements, such as pushing open doors with your shoulder or the sides of your arms.

Lets look at a few items youve brought in that may be helpful to anyone suffering from arthritis. Wed like to say thank you to Synergy Home Care, who contributed some of the ideas for these hacks.

Drinking glassesone lightweight and bumpy for gripping, --one with rubber band around it for grip

Gardening gloves with rubber coating to help open jars.

Foam hair roller over knife handle to help improve grip.

Round key rings or bobby pins or a paper clip through zipper pulls to help gripping zippers easier

Upside down ice cube tray to hold playing cards

Coffee mugpick your coffee mug up with two hands instead of using the handle. Similarly, pick a milk or juice jug up with both hands instead of using the handle.

Toilet cleaner tabletsanything you can use for pre-cleaning, like these automatic toilet bowl cleaner tablets or daily shower cleaner will lessen the amount you have to scrub and be easier on your joints

Scissorshaving scissors around will help you avoid ripping things open like a plastic bag or packet

Talk to us about arthritis and falls.

Dr. Alicia Arnold, Elderly adults with arthritis are more likely to have a fall injury than those without arthritis. Common places to fall include the bathroom and stairs. Slippery surfaces in the bathroom cause many falls. Grab bars and nonslip mats are helpful for the bathroom and you can consider using brightly colored tape along the edges of stairs to help seniors judge the distance and depth of the steps. You can also consider adding a second railing to the other side of the stairs to give seniors something else to hold onto.

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Health Beat with Dr. Alicia Arnold: Arthritis Help - WEAU

BISMARCK, N.D. - More than 100 people filled Legacy High School for the annual 'Walk to Cure Arthritis' event. People, and dogs, rallied together to raise funds to conquer arthritis once and for all.

Volunteers and participants joined the fight to help cure the joint disease, whether it's a personal experience with arthritis or not.

"We walk and volunteer for everyone that hurts. Weather it's the grandma that's just got old age Osteoarthritis, or kids who are born with a disease they don't deserve," says Andrea Pansegrau, participant.

Pansegraus daughter was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was an eighth grader. She says walking means a lot not only to her, but also her daughter.

"We're trying to raise hope. Because when you get this diagnosis it's devastating because as a parent, your mind just jumps to all the things they're not going to be able to do, all the experiences they may not be able to have, the things they're losing. Eventually you get a little hope, and things change," says Pansegrau.

The event hopes to spread awareness and to spread the champion of yes for the Arthritis community.

"It's really fun, because you can see the smiles and see that anything is possible. even with having a diagnosis of Arthritis that you can still do what you love," says Development Manager Britt Ingersoll.

The walk had family, fun games such as Twister and inflatables for kids to enjoy while parents walk for the cause.

The money raised during the event goes back to the Arthritis Foundation to bring programs back into North Dakota.

http://www.arthritis.org/north-dakota/

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Annual Walk to Cure Arthritis event raises awareness in the community - KFYR-TV

Mouse stem cells could have just helped with the answer to solving chronic diseases.

The stem cells are created through gene-editing technology and are known as stem cells modified for autonomous regenerative therapy, or SMART cells. The newly-edited cells are being used to treat inflammation with a goal of pinpointing localized pain, said Farshid Guilak, senior author and professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine.

Our goal is to package the rewired stem cells as a vaccine for arthritis, which would deliver an anti-inflammatory drug to an arthritic joint but only when it is needed, Guilak said in a press release. To do this, we needed to create a smart cell.

The study authors said that genetic engineering can be used to rewire cell circuits in order to specifically change the relationships between inflammatory mediators and their antagonists. The engineering helps to provide a foundation for cell-based drug delivery that speeds up the rate at which a vaccine can start working.

We want to use our gene-editing technology as a way to deliver targeted therapy in response to localized inflammation in a joint, as opposed to current drug therapies that can interfere with the inflammatory response through the entire body, Guilak said. If this strategy proves to be successful, the engineered cells only would block inflammation when inflammatory signals are released, such as during an arthritic flare in that joint.

Related:Scientists Grow Beating Heart Cells on Spinach Leaves

Mouse cells were grown and used in the study to test the gene-editing technology. The researchers were able to replace an inflammation mediator with a drug that suppresses the bodys response to inflammation response, known as a TNF-alpha inhibitor, using CRISPR technology.

Exploiting tools from synthetic biology, we found we could re-code the program that stem cells use to orchestrate their response to inflammation, said Jonathan Brunger, the studys first author and a postdoctoral fellow in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco. We hijacked an inflammatory pathway to create cells that produced a protective drug.

The team also coded cells that lit up when responding to inflammation, so they could determine which cells needed attention. The stem cells have the potential to help with several different health issues, Guilak said.

When these cells see TNF-alpha, they rapidly activate a therapy that reduces inflammation, Guilak said. We believe this strategy also may work for other systems that depend on a feedback loop. In diabetes, for example, its possible we could make stem cells that would sense glucose and turn on insulin in response. We are using pluripotent stem cells, so we can make them into any cell type, and with CRISPR, we can remove or insert genes that have the potential to treat many types of disorders.

The autoregulation that the stem cells can provide has the possibility to help treat diseases early, before symptoms become serious health issues, the study said. The possibilities are exciting, Brunger added.

The ability to build living tissues from smart stem cells that precisely respond to their environment opens up exciting possibilities for investigation in regenerative medicine, Brunger said.

Related:Dairy-Free Diets Could Harm Young Peoples Bone Health

Tori Linville is a freelance writer and editor from Clarksville, Tennessee. When she isnt writing or teaching, shes faithfully watching her alma mater, the University of Alabama, dominate the football field.

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Arthritis Vaccine Could Emerge From Stem Cell Technology - Vital Updates

Characterized by painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints, arthritis is an affliction that ails many. As weight-bearing joints, the knees are particularly prone to the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. In an effort to find relief, some may consider surgery and medication. For others, corticosteroid injections in the knee have become an effective means to combat their osteoarthritis.

To find out more about these knee injections and their effectiveness, Take Care spoke with Dr. Robert Shmerling, associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Osteoarthritis, Shmerling explains, is highly associated with aging and the degeneration of cartilage lining the joints. This cartilage, along with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, is what allows joints to move smoothly through their range of motion. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but due to the stress we put on our knees throughout our lifetime, as well as the genetic inheritance factor, knee joints are frequently those affected.

Through an analysis of the patients history, their symptoms, a physical examination, and regular x-rays, doctors can confirm an arthritis diagnosis. Once the diagnosis has been verified, there are a few options to consider moving forward.

The first step, says Shmerling, is typically to offer pain relievers or mild anti-inflammatory medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Osteoarthritis is less of an inflammatory issue than rheumatoid arthritis, for example, but the anti-inflammatory properties of medicines like Tylenol or Advil can still offer some relief.

Monitored exercise is also an option, as is physical therapy, and additionally, the application of heat or cold to the affected area can help as well, Shmerling says. And if none of those are effective? That is when injections are considered. They are not the first line of defense, explains Shmerling, and are typically reserved for those who havent found relief with the aforementioned options.

To combat the inflammation, the medication itself is a corticosteroid, which acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory when injected in the affected knee. Unlike other treatment options, says Shmerling, injections can provide fast relief, especially when the corticosteroid is combined with Novocain. The Novocain provides fast temporary relief, while the effects of the corticosteroid can be distinguished within 24 to 48 hours, he says.

And post-injection, the duration of benefit is variable from patient to patient. Relief can last from weeks to months. In fact, Shmerling recalls, he has seen patients who didnt need another injection for up to a year. However, in osteoarthritis of the knees, the duration of injections is typically in the order of weeks or months.

Its important to remember that injections arent a cure, Shmerling notes, and are only meant to provide temporary relief. The rule of thumb for frequency is typically three to four per year. In fact, having too many injections is not wise due to the risk of infection in the injection site, as well as the possibility of damaging structures within the knee from exposure to the cortisone. This combination of risks means limiting injection frequency, although no one knows what the ideal interval is, Shmerling says.

Another injection option involves a synthetic hyaluronic acid. In osteoarthritis, the thickness of the naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in the joint becomes less lubricative, so through injection of a synthetic form, the joint gets some of that lubrication back, as well as some mild anti-inflammatory effects.

And if none of these methods work, the final option is surgery, Shmerling says. This decision is based on a host of factors, including the patients pain and quality of life, joint function, and x-ray analysis. There isnt always a distinct moment when surgery becomes a must, he explains, so it often has to do with the effectiveness of previous treatment methods like injections, as well as how the individual is coping with their arthritis.

And like so many medical treatments, the responses to injections are varied. In fact, Shmerling adds, the overall effectiveness has been brought into question in numerous studies, with no clear conclusion on how long they can delay an inevitable surgery. But Shmerling says injections are worth a try for patients who are considering surgery but may not be an ideal candidate. While they arent a cure for arthritis, for those seeking relief, knee injections are a worthwhile option to consider to ease the effects of osteoarthritis.

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Combating arthritis: The word on knee injections - WRVO Public Media

Home Anti-Aging Arthritis Arthritis Awareness Month: Arthritis symptoms, arthritis mutilans, infectious arthritis, psoriatic arthritis

It is Arthritis Awareness Month, and we at Bel Marra know how it can be living with arthritis pain. Having joint pain can affect people of any age, but when its something that has to be dealt with on a daily basis, it can be extremely debilitating. So, in order to assist those suffering from the condition, we have compiled a list of articles we think will help with arthritis symptoms. You will find articles on the topics of not well-known types of arthritis such as infectious arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, and arthritis mutilans.

Having arthritis pain can be quite a nuisance. It hampers our day, making the most mundane things difficult and subjecting us to unnecessary agony. But the pain associated with arthritis isnt the only symptom people have to endure.

In a lot of cases, people notice other things showing up before they ever have pain, says Kevin Shea, an orthopedic surgeon at St. Lukes Health System in Boise.

While arthritis may be seen as one entity, there are actually hundreds of different types, and each person diagnosed with the condition may present with an entirely different constellation of symptoms from the next, making each case unique.

Being aware of the symptoms arthritis sufferers may present allows you and your doctor to possibly slow down its progression. Early detection can allow for the use of anti-inflammatory medication or certain lifestyle changes to help preserve normal functioning. The following are a list of non-pain-related symptoms that are associated with arthritis to keep a look out for. Continue reading

Arthritis is a common term used to describe disorders that affect the joints, but we dont often hear about arthritis mutilans (AM). It is a severe but rare form of arthritis that attacks bone and cartilage in the joints.

People who suffer from arthritis mutilans usually face deformation in the joints of the hands and feet. The condition gets its name from its mutilating potential. It is a type of psoriatic arthritis that destroys the joints and can lead to the shortening of affected fingers and toes. Less than five percent of people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) develop arthritis mutilans, but it is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis since RA can also cause joint deformity. Some doctors refer to arthritis mutilans as chronic absorptive arthritis because it causes bone resorption. Continue reading

Living with persistent pain, such as arthritis pain, is always a challenge. You can manage occasional episodes of pain with quick go-to remedies like over-the-counter painkillers, but if the pain is chronicmeaning, its here to stayyoull need a long-term solution to continue functioning (and to do so in a safe manner) and still enjoy your life. In other words, you need to learn how to deal with pain day in and day out and adjust your lifestyle to include this new value into the equation.

You may not like this idea, but in order to effectively transition into this new way of living, youll need to accept your pain as a family member. When you start living with someone, conflicts are unavoidable, but the longer you two co-exist under one roof, the more you become accustomed to each other and the better you get along. True, your relationship with pain is one-sided, but thinking of things this way should help you prepare for effectively handling pain in the long term without compromising your regular lifestyle. Continue reading

Infectious arthritis is an infection in a joint, and it may also be referred to as septic arthritis. It typically occurs due to an infection caused by bacteria or a virus that spreads to a joint or the fluid surrounding itthe synovial fluid. Infections usually begin in another area of the body and spread through the bloodstream to the joint, causing it to become infected. Other routes of infection include surgery contamination, open wounds, or injections. These types of infections usually only affect one joint at a time, with larger joints such as the knee, hip, or shoulder seeing the most cases. Infectious arthritis can occur in people of all ages, and especially in those who use intravenous drugs. Here you will learn how to get infectious arthritis, how long it lasts, and septic arthritis criteria for diagnosis. Continue reading

You may have heard of psoriasisa condition that features red patches of skin with silvery scales. You may have also heard of arthritis, the joint pain disorder. What most people dont know is that these two conditions can actually present together in an entirely separate condition.

Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is a chronic autoimmune condition resulting in increased inflammation of the body that gets worse over time, but those affected may have symptom-free periods on occasion. The symptoms of PA often resemble that of rheumatoid arthritis, as both diseases cause the joints to become painful, swollen, and warm to the touch. However, PA is more likely to cause swollen fingers and toes, foot pain, and lower back pain, and of course, it also presents with the typical skin abnormalities seen in psoriasis patients. Individuals with PA may also have an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This joint pain can lead to significant joint damage over time, so it is advised to see your doctor for treatment. Medications used for PA can carry many side effects, but luckily. the food you eat can be a big help in reducing symptoms and even decreasing risk factors associated with excessive inflammation. Continue reading

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Arthritis Awareness Month: Arthritis symptoms, arthritis mutilans, infectious arthritis, psoriatic arthritis - Bel Marra Health

By Amy Norton

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Knees that "pop," "click" or "crackle" may sometimes be headed toward arthritis in the near future, a new study suggests.

It's common for the knees to get a little noisy on occasion, and hearing a "crack" during your yoga class is probably not something to worry about, experts say.

But in the new study, middle-aged and older adults who said their knees often crackled were more likely to develop arthritis symptoms in the next year.

Of those who complained their knees were "always" noisy, 11 percent developed knee arthritis symptoms within a year. That compared with 4.5 percent of people who said their knees "never" popped or cracked.

Everyone else fell into the middle. Of people who said their knees "sometimes" or "often" made noise, roughly 8 percent developed knee arthritis symptoms in the next year.

Doctors have a term for those joint noises: crepitus.

Patients commonly complain of it, said Dr. Grace Lo, the lead researcher on the study. She's an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

But until now, it hasn't been clear whether crepitus can predict symptomatic knee arthritis. That means people not only have evidence of cartilage breakdown on X-rays, but also suffer symptoms from it -- namely, frequent pain and stiffness.

"Our study suggests crepitus is not completely benign," Lo said. "It's a sign that something is going on in the knee joint."

Dr. Joseph Bosco, an orthopedic surgeon who wasn't involved in the study, agreed that frequent crepitus should be checked out.

"A lot of people's knees 'snap' and 'pop,'" said Bosco, a professor at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Do they need to run out for knee replacements? No."

But, he added, "if you experience crepitus regularly, get an evaluation."

The findings, published May 4 in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, come with some caveats.

The nearly 3,500 study participants were at increased risk of developing knee arthritis symptoms to begin with, Lo explained.

The participants ranged in age from 45 to 79. Some were at risk of knee arthritis simply because of old age, while others had risk factors such as obesity or a history of a significant knee injury.

So it's not clear, Lo said, whether the findings would translate to -- for example -- a 35-year-old whose knees crack when she runs.

Plus, even though the study participants were initially free of knee arthritis symptoms, some did have signs of arthritis damage on an X-ray.

And it was in that group where crepitus was a red flag: People who "often" or "always" had noisy knees were nearly three times more likely to develop knee arthritis symptoms as those who "never" had crepitus.

According to Lo, the findings could be useful in everyday medical practice. "If patients are complaining of frequent cracking or popping in the knees," she said, "get an X-ray."

If that turns up signs of arthritic damage, Lo said, then the risk of progressing to symptoms in the near future is probably significant.

Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that can stop arthritis in progress. But, Lo said, for patients who are heavy, weight loss can help.

Some, she added, might benefit from strengthening the muscles that support the knees.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCES: Grace Lo, M.D., assistant professor, medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; Joseph Bosco, M.D., professor, orthopedic surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; May 4, 2017, Arthritis Care & Research

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Knee 'Crackle' Might Mean Arthritis is Coming - WebMD

Study: 4 in 10 people will have hand arthritis in lifetime Wichita Eagle Hand arthritis is more common than you might think. Nearly one in two women and one in four men will develop the condition in their lifetime, according to a new study. The risk of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis also varies by race and weight. Aching ... Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis Will Affect 40 Percent of PeopleDoctors Lounge all 2 news articles »

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Study: 4 in 10 people will have hand arthritis in lifetime - Wichita Eagle

Many study findings about rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sound negative, but patients with the disease are now getting some encouraging news.

A study published last month on the progress and advancements in RA treatment and management revealed that for the first time in years the mortality rate among people with RA has decreased.

Researchers also noted that people with the disease experience much less disability than in decades past.

Read more: Green tea may help ease rheumatoid arthritis treatments

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that RA was listed as the underlying cause of death in 8,428 cases in 2011.

That was a decrease from 9,281 deaths in 1987.

The age-standardized mortality rate of RA declined by 3 percent annually from 1987 to 2011.

But people with RA still have a higher mortality rate than the general population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes thatearly treatment within six months of diagnosis is ideal to help curb aggressive disease activity or early deaths from RA.

Read more: Stem cell therapy a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers are now trying to ascertain which specific approaches have helped bring down the RA mortality rate.

In general, it seems that the long-term outlook for people with RA is improving but only with early treatment. This was evidenced in a study following a group of people with RA for 20 years.

Early treatment means getting the right diagnosis and catching the RA early in the progression of the disease.

There are some mixed opinions within the rheumatology community about what the first line of defense is in RA treatment, but the general consensus is that a more aggressive approach in the earlier stages is best.

People with lower disease activity tended to fare better long term.

But, overall, while people with RA reported a lower disease activity early on, disability rates did tend to rise in people with RA seven years after diagnosis.

The disability reported was moderate but still better than compared with previous decades.

A press release about these discoveries noted that patients who received treatment within the first six months had a lower risk of death than those who did not receive treatment, after controlling for disease severity.

This research emphasizes the importance of early treatment and the long-term benefits of early treatment, said Suzanne Verstappen, PhD, a senior research fellow at the University of Manchester, and a lead researcher on these study, said in a press statement. In the early 1990s, when this study started, only 30 percent of patients received early treatment, but this number has increased significantly in the last decade. It's expected that in the next 10 years, newly diagnosed patients will have a better future with respect to functional ability, less severe disease activity, and improved quality of life.

Read more: Why rheumatoid arthritis is plaguing 9/11 first responders

In the past, there was a higher RA mortality rate due to complications such as lung and heart issues associated with severe RA disease activity.

Other people succumbed to fatal infections from RA medications, or other unique complications associated with RA and its comorbidities.

The higher survival rate is welcome news for people with RA, but there are issues related to living longer with the disease.

Although increased survival with rheumatoid arthritis is great news, it might lead to a greater share of our aging population having the disease and in need of health services. This needs to be accounted for in healthcare planning, said study lead author Aliasghar Kiadaliri, PhD, of Lund University in Sweden, in a statement to the press.

People with RA, though, still look at this news as a positive thing.

With so much bad news regarding the healthcare bill and funding for NIH research being cut and just the difficulties of RA in general, it is nice to get good news for once. I would love to live a longer and healthier life even with having a serious illness like RA, said Jacqueline Dickson of North Carolina.

I am only 23 and was just recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, added Michelle Herbert of Nevada. I wondered if it would affect my life expectancy, and told my doctor that Id try whatever she suggested to make sure my disease didnt progress too badly. Its good to know that aggressive treatment early in the disease is seen as a positive, but I just hope my doctors caught it in time because I had so many years of pain.

Perhaps Brad Smith of New York, a young man with RA, is the one to sum it up best.

Ill takeanygood news when it comes to RA, he said.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Deaths Have Decreased - Healthline