StemCell Therapy

Fresh off a third-place finish in the 2017 Burton U.S. Open slopestyle competition, Olympian and five-time X Games medalist Spencer OBrien is arguably one of the sports most progressive and talented riders. But thats the stuff of headlines.

Behind the scenes, the Canadian, 29, has fought her way through painful rheumatoid arthritis since a 2013 diagnosis, just two months before the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The year before OBriens genetic condition was identified was torture. Advancing swelling and stiffness made it nearly impossible to get out of bed, let alone launch off of a lofty, icy slopestyle feature.

I was like an 80-year-old woman, but I was only 25, OBrien told GrindTV. Id go to the gym and have morning stiffness for five hours. It was mind-blowing that I let it go on that long.

But it wasnt surprising. Onset of her arthritis was slow, it often presented as injury and no one in OBriens immediate family had it. It was hard to diagnose.

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In the morning I would have creaky, achy knees, but it would subside. You adapt to it, she says. I thought I was just getting older. I do an impact sport, so I thought it was normal aches and pains. You get blinded by the pain.

In fact, the arthritic inflammation of OBriens joints was especially awful in her shoulders. By Olympic trials time, she couldnt lift her arms over her head. There were cortisone shots, a progressing cyst in her knee and scary joint inflammation in her toes.

Id have to prep myself to lift my head off the pillow, she says. Putting my feet on the ground was so hard.

From trauma to treatment Once doctors finally nailed the issue, OBrien was exhausted mentally and physically. Amazingly, she has continued to compete as shes dialed in medical treatment over the years.

Now she injects a refrigerated shot in her thigh once a month for prolonged relief. While the immune suppressant helps ward off the bodys inflammatory response, it also makes OBrien more susceptible to infection, which means she can get sick easily.

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Even small cuts, if they were to infect the blood or bones, could be deadly.

Im a young woman, so I dont want to be on this injection forever, OBrien says. But for now, its working. Theres more hope: Rheumatoid arthritis can go into remission. However, the trade-off is going off the medicine, and OBrien is not ready to test that just yet.

An elimination diet is another alternative something shes researching. But first theres more snowboarding to prepare for, which, for OBrien, includes extensive dryland training more than most in her sport will do.

Im focused on the [2018 PyeongChang, South Korea] Olympics now. It would be amazing to go again for Canada, says OBrien, who, newly diagnosed at Sochi, didnt even make it to the opening and closing ceremonies.

I finally feel my age again, OBrien says, like a fully able-bodied person.

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Pro snowboarder Spencer O'Brien overcomes odds of early arthritis - GrindTV

More than 54 million adults in the United States -- or about one in four -- have arthritis, and almost 60 percent of these individuals are of working age (i.e., ages 18-64). What's worse is that more than 24 million adults with arthritis have activity limitations from their disease, with the percentage of these patients having grown from about 36 percent in 2002 to about 43 percent in 2014.

That's according to a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(www.cdc.gov) (MMWR) and an accompanying Vital Signs report(www.cdc.gov) released March 7. The reports were based on data from the CDC's 2013-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Physical limitations these adults experience may be as simple as having difficulty holding a cup, lifting a grocery bag or walking to their car -- but they still hinder their ability to pursue everyday activities.

"Arthritis symptoms keep millions of Americans from going about their daily routines," said CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, M.D., in a news release.(www.cdc.gov) "Doctors and loved ones can help people with arthritis by encouraging them to be as physically active as they can be. Physical activity is a proven strategy to ease pain and reduce symptoms among people with arthritis."

The CDC found that when patients with arthritis engage in physical activity, they can reduce their arthritis symptoms by as much as 40 percent. However, many adults with arthritis aren't physically active, with about one-third reporting they don't engage in physical activity during leisure time.

The reports also noted that adults with arthritis can reduce their symptoms by participating in disease management education programs. But these programs are being underutilized, with just one in 10 patients signing up. According to the CDC, the best way to improve sign-up rates is for health care professionals to recommend these programs, because adults with arthritis are significantly more likely to attend an education program when their physician suggests they do so.

As previous NHIS survey analyses have found, women, adults who were unable to work, those in fair or poor health, and those with obesity, heart disease or diabetes had higher age-adjusted prevalences of both arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations.

Although the prevalence of arthritis among adults who were unemployed was similar to that among employed adults, unemployed respondents had a much higher prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations. According to the CDC, this finding suggests that disease-attributable activity limitations may play a role in these people's unemployment.

Also as in past analyses, arthritis prevalence was similar among blacks and whites, but the prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations was higher among blacks. Findings in Hispanics were mixed, with a much lower prevalence of arthritis but a proportionately higher prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations.

"Our findings suggest that the burden of arthritis is increasing and requires more widespread use of existing, underused evidence-based interventions," the MMWR report concluded. "Physical activity is a proven strategy for managing arthritis, with known benefits for the management of many other chronic conditions."

The report went on to say that efforts to improve the health of adults with arthritis, including those with comorbid chronic conditions, should include wider dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions.

"These interventions meet the unique needs of adults with arthritis and have been found to reduce pain and improve function, mood and confidence to manage health and quality of life," the report said.

Because the CDC views arthritis as a large and growing clinical and public health problem, the agency is funding arthritis programs in 12 states this year to disseminate community-based arthritis-appropriate evidence-based physical activity and self-management education interventions.

"Its extremely important for primary care providers to encourage their patients with arthritis to be physically active," said CDC epidemiologist Kamil Barbour, Ph.D., in the news release. "It is just as important for them to motivate their patients to attend workshops to learn how to better manage their arthritis."

Related AAFP News Coverage New NIH Research Program Targets Health Disparity, Chronic Disease (9/7/2016)

More From AAFP American Family Physician: AFP By Topic: Arthritis and Joint Pain

Familydoctor.org: Rheumatoid Arthritis(familydoctor.org)

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Arthritis Limits Daily Activities of 24 Million U.S. Adults - AAFP News

fox6now.com

Canine cannabis: Dogs with anxiety, arthritis and more benefiting from products derived from hemp plant fox6now.com MILWAUKEE Pet owners across the country are going crazy over a hemp product they claim helps improve the health of their dogs and cats. Veterinarians are now jumping on board and recommending it to clients instead of animal pharmaceuticals.

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Canine cannabis: Dogs with anxiety, arthritis and more benefiting from products derived from hemp plant - fox6now.com

If your dog could talk, being his best friend would be a lot easier. However, he cant tell you that his knees stiffen up after he plays too long or that his hips hurt when he goes up or down stairs. Hes counting on you to recognize signs of pain and decreased mobility and to have your veterinarian diagnose and treat the condition.

Its arthritis. And it hurts.

I have it, too. Most older people do. The Pfizer Animal Health and the Arthritis Foundation have joined together the first ever partnership between a human health disease foundation and an animal health disease to explore the insights, facts and treatment solutions for both human and canine arthritis sufferers alike.

Arthritis affects over 70 million humans and 11 million dogs. It is a chronic health problem for both people and their dogs, causing pain, loss of mobility and quality of life. We know humans suffer from stiff joints, soreness and inflammation due to arthritis. Upon observation, you can see how this affects our beloved canine friends. It is up to us to help them find relief through diet, exercise and medication.

Arthritis is a painful, degenerative joint disease that affects one in five adult dogs in the U.S.

It is even more common in older dogs (my very limited experience has been that larger dogs seem to be really susceptible, too). Unfortunately, many of the cases go undiagnosed because owners attribute the subtle changes in the dogs to old age or slowing down.

Any dog can develop arthritis, and knowing the signs and symptoms of pain will help you determine when your dog may need veterinary attention. Could your dog have arthritis? Ask yourself these simple questions: Does your dog limp or appear stiff during or after activity? Is your dog slow to rise from a resting position? Does your dog lag behind or tire easily during long walks? Is your dog reluctant to climb steps or jump up?

If your answers to these questions are yes, its possible that your dog is suffering from painful arthritis. The sooner your dog is properly diagnosed and treated, the sooner he can overcome the pain. If your dog has arthritis, pain relief is possible with Rimadyl, a medication for dogs that has been proven clinically effective for the relief of pain associated with arthritis.

I dont know exactly how long Rimadyl has been on the market, but I think it has been available by prescription for a relatively short time from your veterinarian. It is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication available in caplets and in easy-to-give chewable tablets that dogs love (all dogs, except mine). Signs of Rimadyl intolerance may include loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, which could indicate side effects involving the digestive tract, liver or kidneys. This sounds horrible and even worse than the illness itself. Some of these reported side effects are really rare at less than 1 percent.

Please dont let your dog suffer with the pain of arthritis.

For the animals, thank you for caring.

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It's arthritis and it hurts - Buffalo Bulletin

Scientists have long known that there is a link between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis. People who suffer from schizophrenia tend not to develop rheumatoid arthritis, and people with rheumatoid arthritis are at low risk for schizophrenia.

Though this relationship has been clear for more than 50 years, nobody really knew why the link existed, according to University of Pittsburgh professor of psychiatry and human geneticsVishwajitNimgaonkar.

We thought that there might be genetic factors that might explain this phenomenon, he said.

Nimgaonkarshunch has been backed up bynew research identifying 29 genetic markersin the human genome that are associated with both diseases.

One form of the marker increases the risk for schizophrenia and another form of the marker increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, he said.

A genetic marker is an individual gene or a sequence of DNA.

Nimgaonkarsaid all 29 of the markers they identified were within eight genes already thought to be possible culprits for both schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Nimgaonkarsaid he hypothesizes that there is a complex relationship between the proteins produced by these genes and the likelihood someone might develop either disease. Genes produce proteins that carry out the genetic instructions to generate particular attributes such as hair color, height or susceptibility to specific diseases.

Probably there are thousands of genes, each of small effect, that may be together causing the risk for this illness and interacting with each other to produce the risk, said Harvard Medical School psychiatry professorMatcheriKeshivan.

KeshivansaidNimgaonkarswork is consistent with the theory that schizophrenia might have some auto-immune component, similar to rheumatoid arthritis, wherein the immune system attacks healthy joint cells.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system attacks healthy joint cells, creating inflammation, leading to pain and swelling. About 1.5 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause permanent joint damage and disfiguring if not treated early, according to theArthritis Foundation.

Keshivansaid that in patients with schizophrenia, genes might overproduce proteins that are meant to clean up neurons in the brain, a process known as synaptic pruning, which can lead to healthy neurons being damaged.

Keshivansaid hes hopeful that better understanding of the genetic causes of schizophrenia can lead to new treatments and added that the disease is likely caused by genetic factors.

But at the same time, we do not have a very good idea as to which particular genes might be causing this disease, Keshivan said.

According to theSchizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America, orSARDAA, about 3.5 million Americans and 1.1 percent of the worlds population are affected by the disease, which is characterized by delusions, hallucinations and disorganized speech and behavior.

Keshivansaid other symptoms of the disease include a lack of motivation and impaired cognition, which he called negative symptoms. He said, while treatments currently available are reasonably effective at treating the delusions and hallucinations, treating the negative symptoms is much more difficult. He said hes hopeful that understanding more about the genetic causes of the disease can lead to more holistic therapies.

SARDAAreports that about 75 percent of patients reach full or partial recovery, while a quarter do not see improvements with existing therapies, which include medication and psychotherapy.

While there are many questions left unanswered,Nimgaonkarsaid the findings represent a good starting point for further research. Because the analysis depended completely on existing datasets, he said laboratory experiments will help confirm and clarify his teams results.

What we are trying to do is to reach out to our colleagues inrheumatology, and what wed like to do is test these theories using actual tissues from patients: brain tissue, synovial (joint) tissues, or blood cells, he said.

The findings are published in the journalnpjSchizophrenia.

Photo Credit: Timothy K. Hamilton

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Pitt Study Sheds Light On Genetic Link Between Schizophrenia And Arthritis - 90.5 WESA

Millions of people around the world are living with arthritis. In the United States alone, the Centers for Disease Control puts that figure at nearly 23 million, or one in every four adults. But as common as it is, arthritis is actually just one word used to describe the joint inflammation associated with over 200 musculoskeletal conditions that affect everyone differently. This means people who seek out information about their condition online are often met with a barrage of confusing literature or conflicting pieces of advice that dont address their individual symptoms.

So British charity Arthritis Research UK and IBM Watson are trying to solve that problem with the introduction of a web and mobile-based virtual personal assistant for people in the UK, where about 10 million people are living with the condition. Created with the Watson Conversation API which allows for quick, simple building of chatbots or virtual agents across mobile devices, messaging platforms or physical robots the digital assistant draws information from the Arthritis Research UK library and specific input from the user to offer personalized, immediate advice on symptom management, treatment options and any other questions they may have.

We know that there are millions of people in the UK living with arthritis whose lives are severely limited as they struggle with unanswered questions. We want to ensure that everyone has access to information and support, whenever and wherever they need it, Arthritis Research UKs CEO Liam OToole said in a statement. Were really excited to be working with IBM Watson on this innovative new service that will enable us to have conversations with anyone seeking help, that we simply wouldnt be able to answer so quickly otherwise. Were confident that this new virtual assistant willhelp more people push back the ways arthritis limits their lives.

The tool is currently being tested by 300 people with arthritis in the UK, and it was developed over five months using Arthritis Research UKs eight decades of research and expertise as well as advice from health care professionals and IBM Watson cognitive computing experts. Additionally, more than 350 people with arthritis helped to develop, test and improve the tool, which will learn over time to develop more personalized feedback to users.

The eventual goal -- that users will simply speak to an AI-powered chatbot about their specific condition and receive highly personalized advice in return -- wont be available right away. The initial UK deployment will start out slowly, with users typing their inquiries into the site and the virtual assistant providing general information about arthritis and exercise that users can save online or print out. As use increases, the knowledge base will grow, enabling Arthritis Research UK to answer more questions such as those around diet and treatment options.

Considering the joint pain and limited dexterity in their hands many people with arthritis experience, its expected they will want an option that relieves them of the need to type. There is a plan for that. IBM Watson computing will learn from each interaction to refine the information retrieval tool for each user, and eventually, the tool will leverage the Watson cognitive voice input and output features (as well as location services) to understand questions spoken to the virtual assistant.

Arthritis Research UK developed the Watson-powered digital personal assistant themselves, providing a terrific example of how IBM's open, cloud-based Watson development platform is making cognitive computing broadly accessible to organizations and individuals worldwide, Cameron Brooks, IBM European Director for Watson in the Public Sector, said in a statement. Further, Arthritis Research UKs use of Watson APIs is a model for organizations thinking about how they might integrate cognitive computing into their services in order to positively impact the lives of people living with a serious health condition.

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UK arthritis resource charity taps IBM Watson to build virtual assistant - MobiHealthNews

A new treatment for a common kind of arthritis replaces damaged cartilage to cushion painful joints.

The synthetic cartilage is made with the same material as a contact lens. Nichelle Perry opted to try it after her arthritis became so bad that she could barely put shoes on, let alone walk. Six months after her surgery, she's a back in the gym.

"This is a revolutionary type of product that potentially is a lifelong solution to a lot of patients to maintain motion and decrease the pain that they're suffering from," Dr. Selene Parekh, who offers the treatment at his orthopedic clinic in Durham, N.C., told NBC News.

Arthritis affects 54 million Americans mostly women and that number is growing every year.

Many cases are simply treated with painkillers. Some patients get surgery. Perry was offered the option of having the bones in her painful big toe fused. She opted for the implant.

So far, doctors in the United States only use it for big toes, but European doctors are using it in knees and thumbs, also.

Data about use of the implant so far shows pain reduction in 91 percent of patients, and more than 100 percent improvement in their ability to play sports and participate in other mobile activities.

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New Arthritis Implant Uses Contact Lens Material as a Cushion - NBCNews.com

Miami Herald

Arthritis afflicts about 1 in 4 adults in the US, CDC says Miami Herald About 60 percent of those with arthritis were between the ages of 18 and 64, that is, working age. Activity limitations from arthritis increased by 20 percent since 2002, the report found. Simple, everyday tasks, such as walking or lifting bags, are ... 1 In 4 US Adults Are Disabled By Arthritis: CDC ReportsI4U News all 2 news articles »

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Arthritis afflicts about 1 in 4 adults in the US, CDC says - Miami Herald

David Mikolyzk, M.D., For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 12:40 p.m. CT March 13, 2017

David Mikolyzk, M.D.(Photo: Provided)

Question:I have been having pain at the base of my thumb near the wrist, and am having increased difficulty opening jars and turning doorknobs. Is there such a thing as thumb arthritis?

Answer:Thumb arthritis is a very common problem. It affects up to 10 percentof middle-aged women. In people older than 75, it affects 40 percentof women and 25 percentof men.

Thumb arthritis is the No. 1 cause of arthritis surgery in the upper extremity. Often, patients have arthritis in many parts of the body, including the hip and knee joints. In the thumb, the pain is located where the thumb attaches to the wrist (at what is called the carpometacarpal joint). The normal cartilage surfaces get worn away and bone starts rubbing on bone causing pain. Over time, daily activities become increasingly uncomfortable. Pain occurs with pinching and twisting motions, such as opening a jar, turning a doorknob, and even writing or brushing teeth. Lifting objects is often difficult as a result ofthe pain.

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The diagnosis of thumb arthritis is made with a history and physical exam as well as plain X-rays. Expensive tests are rarely, if ever, needed. The arthritis can range from mild to very severe. X-ray findings do not always correlate with the amount of pain.

Often,the pain of arthritis is very debilitating as a result ofhaving to use our thumbs for a lot of activities.

The good news is that treatment is very effective. Treatment of thumb arthritis often starts with non-operative measures. Splints, anti-inflammatory medicationsand cortisone injections can be helpful. The goal of a splint is to limit the bone-on-bone motion that causes pain in the joint. Anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections aim to control the pain of arthritis.

When these treatments are no longer working or the pain is severe, surgery is very helpful. Surgery involves removing a small bone in the wrist where the bones are rubbing and causing pain. A tendon is used to suspend the thumb and prevent further bone-on-bone pain. After surgery, the thumb is immobilized for a short time, and then therapy is started to regain motion and strength of the thumb. My patients are extremely happy after this procedure. Their pain is gone and the thumb still moves and functions like normal. This is the most gratifying procedure I performbecause patients have tremendous pain relief.

David Mikolyzk,M.D.,is a fellowship-trained hand and wrist surgeon at Holy Family Memorials Lakeshore Orthopaedics.

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Ask A Doctor: Treating thumb arthritis - Herald Times Reporter

March 13, 2017 6:01 PM By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine are conducting a study to see if stem cell therapy will ease the pain of arthritis and the results of their research could benefit human patients as well.

Its Zoeys last check up,walking on a special mat called a forceplate to measure how much weight she puts on each leg.

It was just a year ago that putting weight on her front legs was painful.The 2-year-old Golden Retriever was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia, a condition that created arthritis in both elbows.

It is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs, saidDr. Kimberly Agnello at Penn Vet.

Zoeys owner, Christine Brown, says she was a bundle of energy when she first got Zoey.

She was so sweet, said Brown. She was your typical energetic puppy.

But soon Brown knew her dog was hurting.

After coming back from a walk and taking a nap, she would get up and limp, said Brown. With her being a puppy it was devastating.

Zoey was enrolled in aPenn Vet trial to determine the benefits of stem cell therapy as a treatment to ease arthritic pain.

They are randomized into three groups, whether they receive an interarticular joint injection of hyaluronic acid or they geteither stem cells derived from their bone marrow or stem cells derived from fat, saidAgnello.

The stems cells from the dogs bone marrow are injected back into the elbow joint. Doctors hope it will relieve the arthritic pain.

We also remove a little fragment of bone that can be causing some more pain, saidAgnello.

The research isnt just about arthritis in dogs but humans as well.

The goals of this study are to look for different treatments to not only help our canine patientsbut also to help human patients with arthritis, saidAgnello.

For now results are promising.

Oh my gosh, she is not limping, she runs and jumps, and has a great time, said Brown.

The trial is ongoing so there is no hard data yet to show final results if stem cells are effective for treating arthritis, but Dr.Agnello says there are many dogs in the study and almost all of them have improved during the year-long research.

Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3 and The CW Philly 57s Emmy Award-winning health reporter, is featured daily on Eyewitness News. As one of the television industrys most respected medical reporters, Stephanie has been recognized by community and he...

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Veterinary Doctors Conduct Study Looking To Ease Arthritis Pain - CBS Philly

By News Bulletin contributor

CRESTVIEW Area residents may participate in a lunch and learn seminar titled Arthritis: What it is and What We Can Do about It.

The seminar begins at 12:30 p.m. March 17 in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room, 125 Cracker Barrel Road, Crestview. Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast is hosting the event, which is free to attend.

Dr. William Markowski, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Bluewater Orthopedics, will present information on arthritis and discuss advancements in adult reconstruction. He specializes in joint replacement; hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopy; sports medicine; direct anterior hip replacement; hand surgery; and fracture care.

Markowski will discuss diagnosis and treatment options for degenerative or inflammatory bone disease and the benefits of minimally invasive, direct anterior hip replacement.

After the seminar, attendees may discuss areas of concern and ask questions. Reservations are required due to limited space.

After non-surgical treatments for arthritis have been exhausted, hip replacements can be beneficial to ease pain, according to a Sacred Heart media release. This procedure has gained widespread popularity because of the proven accelerated recovery time for patients.

Call 278-3600 to register for the seminar. Visit http://www.sacredheartemerald.org for more information about Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast.

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Seminar to focus on arthritis - Crestview News Bulletin

Prevention.com

5 Best Sex Positions If You Have Arthritis Prevention.com Some 53 million adults in the U.S. suffer from arthritis, according to the CDC, and while it's an oft-talked about condition, there's one not-so-pleasant aspect of it that's harder to open up about: Living with debilitating joint pain and fatigue can ...

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5 Best Sex Positions If You Have Arthritis - Prevention.com

HURSTMorris People welcomed a record number over 100 to their barn dance which raised funds for Arthritis Research UK.

One important guest was forced to sit and watch the dancing in Hurst Village Hall. June Forbes, a retired bookkeeper, who has had arthritis pain for 35 years, is waiting for her knee to be replaced.

Her sister, Ann Wilson of Wokingham, is a Hurst Morris (Hump) dancer and proposed the charity as Humps annual good cause.

June has arthritis in her feet, knees, back, hands and one shoulder. Shes had her other shoulder replaced. Her bad knee stopped her dancing on Saturday.

June gave a moving speech, to explain that more than one in six UK people have arthritis. She wanted more research into alleviating arthritis pain, and even finding a cure.

She is determined. Being positive is important. At times I feel like death when I get up. But its no good lying in bed, you stiffen up, she said earlier. I have quite aggressive rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoporosis.

Five years ago she started a new drug which helps the pain. She still suffers extreme fatigue, but believes exercise keeps her so mobile. I walk one mile a day. Even sitting on a bus I do exercises to stop my toes curling under, she said.

She also credits a private clinics diet for helping her but says the diet is not supported by many doctors.

Humps squire (leader) Karen Ricketts said: Were delighted to support this worthwhile charity. And were grateful to all the people who came, making it a memorable barn dance. We had superb music by Chris, Patsy and Friends and good, clear, calling by Howard Ballard.

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Hurst Morris People barn dance helps Arthritis Research - The Wokingham Paper

By Margaret Farley Steele

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, March 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Arthritis is expanding its grip on Americans, with 24 million adults limited in their everyday activities because of the debilitating joint disease, U.S. health officials say.

Overall, 54 million adults -- or one in four -- report an arthritis diagnosis. And the number of people disabled by it has jumped 20 percent since 2002, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.

"Arthritis symptoms keep millions of Americans from going about their daily routines," CDC acting director Dr. Anne Schuchat said in an agency news release.

The joint aches, stiffness and swelling of arthritis can make holding a glass, carrying a grocery bag, or walking a short distance difficult or even impossible, the agency said.

Why so many Americans have arthritis isn't clear, and can't be attributed solely to an aging population. Almost two of five adults with arthritis are of working age -- 18 to 64 years old, the CDC said.

The most common types are osteoarthritis, which is age-related wear and tear; rheumatoid arthritis; gout; lupus; and fibromyalgia, the CDC reported.

Arthritis costs at least $81 billion in direct medical costs annually, the agency said.

Although narcotic painkillers are often prescribed for arthritis, other options are safer, the CDC added.

Instead of opioids, doctors and loved ones can encourage people with arthritis to exercise and watch their weight. "Physical activity is a proven strategy to ease pain and reduce symptoms among people with arthritis," Schuchat said.

Exercise -- such as walking, swimming or biking -- can reduce symptoms by as much as 40 percent. Yet, about one-third of adults with arthritis aren't active, the CDC noted in its March 7 Vital Signs.

Self-management education is another important arthritis tool that doctors need to recommend, the report co-author said.

Along with physical activity, "it is just as important for them [doctors] to motivate their patients to attend workshops to learn how to better manage their arthritis," said epidemiologist Kamil Barbour, of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

People are more likely to attend an education program if a health care provider recommends it. But to date, only 1 in 10 Americans has participated in this type of program, the CDC reported.

The report also found that arthritis frequently occurs with other health conditions, namely heart disease, diabetes or obesity. These conditions become harder to manage with arthritis, the agency said.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCE: Vital Signs, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 7, 2017

Link:
1 in 4 US Adults Disabled by Arthritis: CDC - WebMD

When she gets home after basketball practice, Hayley Henke appreciates the chance to soak in the familys hot tub. The fact that the hot tub is outside doesnt bother her, even when the weather is cold.

The hot water brings relief to her knees.

Henke, 13, has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint inflammation and stiffness.

For Henke, the discomfort is worse when she gets up in the morning or after shes been active. An eighth-grader at Central Catholic, she takes part in volleyball, basketball and track.

The arthritis bothers her fingers, ankles, toes and wrists, but the greatest pain is in her knees.

After shes been running a while, she sometimes has to take a break at practice. Last year, she ran the 400 meters in track, but this spring she will concentrate on the 100- and 200-meter dashes, because the longer distances are harder on her knees.

Henke was diagnosed with arthritis when she was in first grade. It was especially difficult in the first six months before the condition was diagnosed and in the following six months it took to see a doctor. The pain was so bad that Henke would sometimes curl up in her mothers lap.

Henke has undergone 10 knee surgeries. During those procedures, a doctor scopes the knee to assess damage to the joints, drains the fluid and injects steroids.

Both of her knees will have to be replaced before she turns 18.

Henke returned last week from Washington, D.C., where she was one of two Nebraska representatives at the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit. The event ran March 5-7 at the Renaissance Arlington Capitol View in Arlington, Va.

Henke was one of about 45 people who spoke at the Capitol to an audience that included members of Congress. She also met with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and people who work on medical issues for Sen. Ben Sasse and Rep. Adrian Smith.

Henke urged the Nebraskans to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus. Nebraska is one of five states not represented in that group. The health representative from Smiths office seemed especially interested in her information, Henke said.

In her talks, Henke told her story and reminded people that children and teenagers can be victims of arthritis.

Stephanie Henke appreciates her daughters strength. Its been fun to watch her grow and be able to speak to the groups in Washington, she said.

As a Junior Platinum Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, Henke is given a monthly task to call attention to arthritis.

On the trip to Washington, she and her mom were accompanied by Hayleys fraternal twin, Kennedi.

Every Sunday, Stephanie injects a medicine called methotrexate into her daughters thigh. That drug prevents joint damage and is helpful.

But every Sunday night and Monday, Henke is nauseous. Fortunately, methotrexate doesnt make her throw up anymore.

Henke has trouble typing as fast as her classmates. After she types for a while, her fingers get stiff. But shes still up to 32 words a minute.

After each one of her knee surgeries, she needs crutches or a wheelchair to get around for about a week.

When she wakes up each morning, she knows if the weather is about to change. She feels stiffness or pain in her joints.

Because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, regular illnesses take a greater toll on Henke.

She ended up in the hospital last year for just a common flu, Stephanie said. That hospital stay lasted five or six days.

Shes partially blind in one of her eyes from the arthritis, her mother said.

But Henke is a member of Central Catholics student council.

Twice, she won scholarships to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis conferences one in Florida and one in Arizona.

Hayley appreciates that her dad, Brad, bought the hot tub. Soaking in a bathtub also helps her knees.

Hayley is one of four kids in her family. She and Kennedi will turn 14 on April 28.

Connor, 15, is a ninth-grader at Central Catholic.

Cedric, 8, is in second grade at Stolley Park Elementary School.

Stephanie works at Central Catholic as a library technology aid weekday afternoons.

Because of the support of local Shriners, Henke receives medical care at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Minneapolis.

She also sees a childrens rheumatologist twice a year in Omaha.

Stephanie is the only other member of the family who suffers from arthritis. She has arthritis in her ankles.

The family is grateful for the Affordable Care Act, because the insurance covers pre-existing conditions. They hope that the replacement for ObamaCare will do the same.

In sports, Henke puts her practice time to good use. Even when she cant run, shes able to do other things, such as sit-ups.

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Central Catholic student goes to Washington to talk about arthritis - Grand Island Independent

About one in four adults in the United States suffers from arthritis, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vital Signs report published Tuesday.

Of the 54 million people in the United States who have this debilitating condition, not all are elderly. About 60 percent of those with arthritis were between the ages of 18 and 64, that is, working age. Activity limitations from arthritis increased by 20 percent since 2002, the report found. Simple, everyday tasks, such as walking or lifting bags, are challenging for 24 million people affected by the condition in the United States.

Even though movement is painful and difficult for people with arthritis, the report suggests that increased physical activity can mitigate arthritis symptoms by 40 percent. Despite the proven health benefits of physical activity for arthritis symptoms, about 1 in 3 adults with arthritis in the United States self-reports being physically inactive.

Arthritis is typically treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, among other types of medication, including opioids. However, the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain recommends use of other strategies known to have less risk associated with them, such as exercise therapy.

Other coping strategies for arthritis symptoms, such as interventions to help people understand and manage the disorder, can help boost peoples confidence when dealing with the condition and reduce pain, stress, depression and fatigue by 10 to 20 percent, the report found. But only 1 in 10 adults takes part in such education programs in the United States. They are more likely to participate in these programs if a health-care provider recommends them, according to the report.

The report found that prevalence of arthritis among adults with pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease and obesity, is high. About half of all the adults diagnosed with heart disease had arthritis, and nearly one-third of adults who were obese had arthritis. These conditions in combination with arthritis can be difficult to manage, according to the report.

The researchers analyzed data collected between 2013 and 2015 from the National Health Interview Survey, which is a nationally representative annual in-person interview survey of the health status and behaviors of the non-institutionalized civilian U.S. adult population.

The study has some limitations. Among other things, people who responded to the survey self-reported that a doctor diagnosed them with arthritis, which was not confirmed by a health-care professional. Social desirability might have also biased peoples responses about their level of physical activity in daily life.

Because so few people participate in education programs for arthritis self-management strategies or are physically active, the CDC hopes to conduct future research to convince people to become more active and learn more about self-management strategies for arthritis, said Charles Helmick, a senior medical epidemiologist with the Arthritis Program at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the CDC.

Over the course of the last 15 or 20 years, the burden of arthritis has only been growing, said Rowland Chang, a professor at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine, a rheumatologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and chair of the Arthritis Foundations Board of Directors.

Like the CDC, the Arthritis Foundation hopes to improve the lives of people with arthritis.

The foundation really believes we need to accelerate research into the pharmaceutical side to find better treatments for osteoarthritis because if we dont, we wont be able to bend the cost curve in this country, Chang said.

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Arthritis afflicts about 1 in 4 adults in the US, CDC report finds - Charleston Post Courier

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Scientists have discovered the drug combination, which has few or no side effects, can both relieve pain and potentially reverse the damage caused by the disease.

Preliminary data has been so promising that experts at Liverpool University have launched an accelerated programme of trials and hope to have a therapy on the market within five years.

Until now medications have been designed only to help relieve pain, but these have side effects, including stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and even stroke.

However, the researchers say this combination of drugs is likely to be almost free of side effects. Now human trials are to be launched into the therapy, known as APPA.

Scientists say the results could be a game changer in the treatment of the condition, which is the leading cause of joint pain and stiffness in the UK, affecting more than eight million people.

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They also believe it has the potential to treat other painful inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

This could herald a new dawn and new era in the treatment of this disease

Professor Robert Moots

Professor Robert Moots, of the universitys Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, who is leading the study, said: There have been many false dawns in the past in the treatment of osteoarthritis but this is without doubt the most promising.

The severe pain from osteoarthritis is usually managed with prescription drugs that are often not effective and that also, in many cases, induce unacceptable side effects. In many cases, major joint replacement surgery is needed to help deal with the pain.

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This drug contains synthetic versions of two natural products, neither of which appears to show toxicity. Each on its own could be helpful but the combination of the two seems to be a potential winner. This could herald a new dawn and new era in the treatment of this disease.

The trials are designed to test how well this therapy works and evaluate the safety. This could save large amounts of money for the NHS and provide improved quality of life for millions of patients.

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Professor Moots added that APPA also had phenomenal potential for other conditions.

This might be effective in treating a range of other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and might even help prevent muscle ageing, which may be driven by inflammation. The potential of this drug could be phenomenal, he said.

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New natural treatment hailed as a 'new dawn' for arthritis sufferers - Express.co.uk

Wichita Eagle

Arthritis advocacy gives hope and control for Kansas woman Wichita Eagle Penner, who is from North Newton, was honored this week with the Arthritis Foundation's 2016 Edward M. Kennedy Advocacy Award. She was joined in Washington, D.C., by around 400 other arthritis patients and met with members of Congress to ask for ...

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Arthritis advocacy gives hope and control for Kansas woman - Wichita Eagle

Holly Dwyer never knows when shes going to wake up in pain and unable to move.

The 21-year-old college student from Hill Point has a condition many associate with old age: arthritis. Dwyer has lived with the condition since she was about 6 years old, and now shes working to spread the word about juvenile patients.

Holly has been chosen as the adult honoree for this years Walk to Cure Arthritis in Dane County. Prior to the May 6 event, Hollys family will host a few fundraisers to raise money for their team. The funds will support research efforts to find a cure.

Most days Holly can find a way to stretch and manage her pain and stiffness but there are times where she needs to stay home. She said shes studying psychology at Viterbo University in La Crosse and doesnt like to miss out on school or work but sometimes her body gives her no choice.

There are days where I try to make it down the steps of my apartment and Im crying, she said. Its days like that where you have to hope for a better tomorrow.

Hollys struggles started in kindergarten when her gym teacher noticed her unusual gait while running. Her mother, Kathy Dwyer, was advised to take her daughter in for medical evaluation. Kathy said she hadnt noticed anything off about Holly but heeded the teachers advice. Holly said she initially believed she was flat footed but doctors finally figured out what was wrong around her 8th birthday.

Kathy remembered being shocked by the diagnosis.

Your initial reaction is you just cant believe a child can have this, she said.

Holly said she has juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which differs from rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. No one knows what causes this condition and it affects everyone differently.

To this day, Holly needs to take NSAIDs and low-grade chemotherapy medication to treat this autoimmune disease. She started with pills but ended up needing injections. Kathy said adults administered the shots in the beginning but Holly was brave enough that she could do them on her own by age 10.

The chemotherapy has lovely side effects like grogginess and nausea, she said.

Shes also had several surgeries. She had her first total hip replacement at age 16, followed by the other at age 18. She also needed nerve relocation in her hand and elbow to prevent muscle atrophy and loss of sensation. Holly said almost all her joints are affected in some way by arthritis.

The surgeries were necessary for her to attend college and pursue a career, so she perseveres through the pain. Stiffness is common in the morning so she uses stretching and monitors her physical activity. Its been this way ever since she was a little kid.

My family used to joke and call me Grandma, she said.

Sometimes she needs crutches to get to class but she does all she can to make it, she said.

Juvenile arthritis is more frequent than most people think. More than 300,000 children and teens are living with arthritis in the U.S. Of those, about 6,000 live in Wisconsin, said Hana Johnson, market relations coordinator for the Arthritis Foundations Madison-area office.

Johnson said the walk not only tries to raise money but also spread the word about the far-reaching effects of arthritis.

A lot of people think of arthritis as an old persons disease, she said.

She said the office chose Holly as an honoree because she has been active with the Foundation since she was a little girl. She previously attended Camp MASH for children with autoimmune disorders and now volunteers as a counselor. Holly has also been willing to tell her story.

Holly will speak during the Dane County walk and will help kick it off with other honorees. Participants do not need to be residents of Dane County to participate, Johnson said.

Holly said shes glad to be part of the Arthritis Foundations efforts to support patients and their families.

We dont have to accept the pain as a forever situation, she said. We may have arthritis but arthritis doesnt have us.

Follow Heather Stanek on Twitter @HStanek1.

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Hill Point 20-something endures through arthritis - Reedsburg Times Press

Running, as a sport or hobby, confers undoubted health benefits.

Runners tend to be less overweight and more fit from a cardiovascular standpoint. Running may also mitigate against depression, diabetes and other ailments.

Researchers, however, are consistently unable to agree whether running is harmful to joints.

A new study, published by investigators from major medical centers across the country, suggests that running does not predispose runners to symptomatic knee degenerative arthritis. The authors also contend that running is not detrimental to the knees.

Previous studies of elite runners have yielded conflicting results.

For example, a propensity to develop more arthritis was observed, but not consistently. The problem is that elite runners tend to be a self-selected cohort. In lay terms, they are the holdouts who escape major joint pain, and therefore keep running.

No one is interested in the ex-runners who quit the sport, due to knee or hip pain. Consequently, researchers sometimes under-estimate the amount of joint damage running causes. Or they might overestimate the damage, by focusing on intense runners with punishing fitness routines.

No one knows, really.

Grace Lo and her collaborators, using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative public-use data set, attempted to address these concerns, publishing a study of 2,637 recreational runners in Arthritis Care & Research.

Participants were studied retrospectively, or looking back in time. The likelihood of developing knee pain, or symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, appeared to be no higher in runners, compared to non-runners.

Data collected over eight years after enrollment in the Osteoarthritis Initiative seemed to confirm the findings. Physical activity surveys, and X-rays bolstered the conclusions, that Running does not appear to be detrimental from a knee health perspective.

Intriguing as this study is, it still does not completely settle the question of whether recreational running damages knees. That would be too much to ask from a single study.

I note that 2,159 of the original 4,796 persons enrolled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative did not complete the full survey process.

How did those participants fare?

The authors reached overly broad conclusions regarding knee health in runners.

Could some participants have suffered minor structural damage from running that the study was not designed to capture?

Criticisms aside, Lo and colleagues deserve credit for casting their gaze beyond elite runners. Their subjects were an average of 60 years and pursuing running as a top-3 recreational activity.

We need more data on the Average Joe and Average Jane runner. Nearly two-thirds of the self-reported runners in this study, by the way, were men.

Perhaps a prospective study, looking into the future, would be more enlightening.

We could conceivably randomize young adults into groups that run, perform low impact exercise, or are sedentary. Follow-up study with interviews, examinations, and radiographs could be performed one or two decades later.

Who would want to sign up for managing such a long process? Imagine the costs and commitment, for subjects and researchers alike. At the gym, I see athletes in their 20s sprinting on the running machines. Middle-aged persons walk purposefully, on the same devices. The elderly walk even more slowly, or switch to stationary bicycles.

A small amount of knee pain may be physiologically useful. Pain fibers tell us, as we age, how to exercise prudently. We dont want to be tore up from the floor up, as a gentleman once described his health status to me.

A cost-benefit analysis makes sense. It might be worth incurring a bit of arthritis, if our recreational activities ward off heart disease.

Watching television all day is not the answer.

Good luck in finding an exercise program that works for you.

Scott T Anderson, MD, PhD (email [emailprotected]), is Clinical Professor, UC Davis Medical School. This article is informational, and does not constitute, medical advice.

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Verdict still out on whether running contributes to arthritis in the knee - Fairfield Daily Republic