Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diet: Things You Can Do – Guest Post

It’s probably not the news you wanted to hear, but despite countless studies by a number of different researchers testing a number of different methods, there has yet to be any conclusive data that suggests certain foods can help with your rheumatoid arthritis.

That said, there’s still plenty that you can do to help quell your symptoms, and much of that can be predicated on what you’re eating.

Keep a Watchful Eye

First and foremost, it’s important to note that, no matter what you read here or anywhere else on the web – or even hear from a doctor – the only thing that matters is how your body responds to certain things. While many of the people giving you this advice surely know what they’re talking about, they are, of course, generalizing. And while this generalization could be backed by boat loads of experience, it’s still generalizing.

So, when trying to figure out how to deal with your rheumatoid arthritis, you must accept that you’re committing to a perpetual game of guess and check. You need to experiment, stick with what works and move on from what doesn’t.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

This should go without saying, but if you’re trying to quell the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it’s probably a good idea for you to try to eat as many foods that have anti-inflammatory properties and capabilities.

At the top of that list is fish, which are packed with huge amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven time and time over to be great for helping the body move blood around.

It’s also important to remember that, while what we said earlier about the dearth of evidence pointing to any conclusive diet that can absolutely help with symptoms no matter what, fish oil supplements are very popular for use with people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Seeing as fish oil is, well, exactly that, the extract of oils from many of the same fish you can find at the seafood department of your local grocery store, it’s probably a good idea for you to start your experimenting there and see how that works out for you.

Eating Less Altogether

This may not apply to many people, and this certainly isn’t to suggest that any of the problems you’re having are your own fault. Of course they’re not.

That said, if you’re suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, weight loss may be a great way for you to help alleviate some of your symptoms.

This is because no matter what the cause of your rheumatoid arthritis, many of the pains and swelling you’re experiencing is only going to get worse if you’re putting a ton of stress on those areas by way of weight.

This is particularly true of joints, which are often the worse sites of rheumatoid arthritis pain. Even if they’re not, it’s worth pointing out that being overweight or obese could contribute to a number of problems later on down the road, many of which will only make dealing with the rheumatoid arthritis you’ve got that much worse.

Exercise

This isn’t simply an extension of the weight loss subsection, but it’s certainly worth noting that exercise is one of the best ways to help you lose weight.

Exercise, though, is also remarkably effective at helping move blood throughout the body. This is because when you exercise, your heart begins to race to try to ensure that you’re being provided with enough oxygen-rich blood to get you through your workout.

In the meantime, though, all of that circulating can help get all of that blood away from your problem areas, which should certainly help alleviate pain.

Valerie Johnston is a health writer located in Lake Fork, Texas. She is passionate about running and clean eating and writing for Healthline.com ensures she stays up-to-date on the latest trends and news in the health and fitness industry.

Guest Post: Applying for Social Security Disability with Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you have rheumatoid arthritis which has progressed to the stage that it severely affects your daily abilities, including your ability to complete typical duties required to maintain gainful employment, then you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has two disability programs for which you may be eligible:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is a benefit program for workers who have paid into the Social Security system in the past.

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a need-based program intended to provide benefits to disabled workers and their dependents who have very limited income and other financial resource and who may or may not be eligible for SSDI.

Meeting the Basic SSD Requirements for Both Programs

To be eligible for SSD benefits, you must meet both the medical and technical requirements defined by the SSA. The medical requirements include having a medical condition that:

• prevents gainful employment
• has lasted or is expected to last a year or more or which is terminal

The technical eligibility for SSDI dictate you have:

• the predetermined number of work credits built up over the course of your employment, based on your age at the time you become disabled,

AND

• earnings from employment of $1,040 per month or less, which is what the SSA considers gainful employment (as of 2013).

SSI technical eligibility is determined by your total countable income and resources. The calculation of these resources is fairly complex, with some sources of income and some financial resources and assets being counted and others not. As a need-based program however, your income and available resources must be very limited to qualify for SSI.

You can learn more about the differences between SSDI and SSI HERE.

Meeting the SSA’s Listing for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The SSA maintains a list, which is known as the Blue Book, of conditions known to be disabling. Rheumatoid arthritis is included on that list and falls under the listing in Section 14.09, which is titled “Inflammatory Arthritis”.

To qualify for benefits under this listing, your application and your medical records must specifically show one of the following to be true:

1. At least one of your major joints that support your weight or which allow you to walk, reach, grasp, or perform other essential functions is affected by ongoing inflammation or persistent or advancing deformity.
2. deformity or inflammation of at least one of your major joints that is accompanied by:

• severe affects to one of more of your organs or body systems

AND

• a minimum of two full body symptoms of the autoimmune affects of rheumatoid arthritis, including any of the following:
  • unintentional and uncontrolled weight loss
  • severe fatigue
  • persistent fever
  • malaise

3. inflammation in your spinal column, or fusing of vertebrae in your spine resulting in significant malformation of the spine and an inability to maintain a proper stance
4. continuous symptoms with at least two of the autoimmune symptoms listed above, which also results in:

• pronounced reduction in your overall daily abilities
• significant effects on your ability to function socially
• an inability to complete tasks in a reasonable timeframe or to maintain a consistent pace, to concentrate, or remain on task

Submitting Your Application for SSD

You can complete your disability application online at the SSA’s website or in person at your local SSA office. The online application is often the fastest way to file a claim, as there is no need to wait for an appointment.

You may wish to get help with your claim from a Social Security advocate or disability attorney. Having help from someone more familiar with the process can potentially increase your chances of being approved for benefits.

Article by Ram Meyyappan

www.disability-benefits-help.org

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Helpful Tips to Relieve the Pain (Guest Post)

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by inflammation of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased function that may interfere with the ability to perform everyday activities.

Because RA is a chronic condition, treatment often incorporates various pain management techniques.

Flare-Ups

Some RA patients are prone to worsened symptoms at particular times of the day, but flare-ups can occur out of the blue. Swelling and pain are usually worse after resting, which is why many RA patients experience greater stiffness in their joints in the morning. Trying something as simple as starting the day with a hot shower or bath can loosen up joints for the day.

Patients report that moist heating pads, available at most pharmacies, are particularly helpful in relieving RA pain. Many keep these on hand to be ready for painful flare-ups. Paraffin wax or soaking tubs for the hands and feet are relatively inexpensive and also have been successful in relieving joint pain.

When managing chronic pain, mental exercises have proven to be immensely effective. Patients can try meditation, controlled breathing and relaxation exercises. Creative outlets also can help, like listening to music or repeating a mantra. Keeping a positive attitude and practicing positive self-talk can be very effective in reducing pain.

Preserving Healthy Joints

Preserving joints with a supportive, healthy lifestyle is equally important. Extra body weight increases pressure on the joints, and fatty tissue may increase inflammation. Losing extra weight and eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help.

Exercising and stretching were once thought to worsen pain, but overwhelming evidence now suggests they are critical to arthritis management. Patients should not exercise when experiencing pain, and should start slowly with low-impact exercises like cycling, swimming or yoga.

Small modifications to everyday activities can help preserve healthy joints and keep patients pain-free. Using ergonomic tools and maybe even using a cane—which can take up to 20 percent of body weight off of hips, knees and ankles—also can help.

Joint Replacement

RA is not only chronic; it is also a disease that gets progressively worse over time. Even with effective management, weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips may require replacement surgery in the future.

It is important that patients discuss the safest prosthetic joint options with their doctor to avoid painful complications like those associated with defective metal-on-metal hip implants. Tens of thousands of patients who received problematic implants from DePuy Orthopaedics and Stryker Orthopaedics are left to deal with severe pain and the likelihood of revision surgery just a few years after their original surgery.

Linda Grayling is a writer for Drugwatch.com. She enjoys keeping up with the latest news in the medical field.

Chronic Illness and the Loss of Identity

Do you ever miss the person you used to be prior to your diagnosis? Sometimes, when I look in the mirror, I see someone else and someone I am not sure I recognize. Some days, that makes me sad because I am still mourning the person I once was and on other days, I am content with who I have become. 

Interrupted

Chronic illness has an overwhelming effect on a person’s life and the grief that comes as a response to the loss of identity is not unusual. Our lives become interrupted by the disease and we start to see psychological changes that are a normal part of dealing with chronic illness. Because illness is so unpredictable, it forces us to constantly change our plans and we never know how things will work out. We start to lose control of things we once controlled like our personal identities and our independence and with that comes a loss of self-esteem. 

Many have to change jobs, or leave them all together, and we lose financial security and status. We all have to change our lifestyles in order to adapt to our conditions. Some have to let go of hopes and dreams and we are constantly wondering what we will lose next. Certain roles in our lives start to change such as family, work, and social life and that involves adjustment – not just for us but for others in our lives. Our friends, family members and partners all start to feel uneasy about the unwanted adjustments to their own lives because our illnesses affect their lives as well. What is worse is that if these issues do not work themselves out, we are set for more losses that further add to our loss of self-esteem and loss of identity. 

Before we got sick

The biggest transition is the loss of identity that we had before we got sick. Here are we changing everything about the way we once defined about ourselves and the way we used to interact with the rest of the world. It can be really difficult to deal with because feeling mentally well means feeling good about yourself. To add injury to insult, we start to lose once supportive relationships that aren’t standing the test of chronic illness. 

If you suffer from a condition that is invisible to the rest of the world, you will not always receive validation or support from those you expected to receive it from and you start to feel angry and frustrated. This is a time when you need love, compassion, sympathy and support and what you are met with is skepticism, disbelief and anger. You start to feel angry, hopeless, helpless, resentful, damaged and depressed. Coping is overwhelming and your new identity isn’t as helpful as your old one.

Prevailing  

Is there is a simple answer to prevail? No, but prevailing takes time and patience and learning to accept your new identity and how to work with it. Find support with those who understand your struggles. Communicate your feelings to your loved ones about your loss of identity and focus on not feeling angry and resentful simply because they don’t understand. Educate yourself about your condition and take care of yourself the way you would a small child with love, kindness, pampering and nurturing. It is okay to grieve but don’t focus too much on your loss of self-worth and instead, focus on who you can become. Make peace with your illness and listen to your body. Last, let go of society’s expectations and the expectations of others you are better without in your life.

 The person I used to be is a memory

Every day, I find old memories of the person I once was. Sometimes, I miss her but I have moved on. I am not saying that I don’t grieve for that person because loss of identity isn’t something we easily get over. I have, however, learned to accept the person that I am now and the person that I am now has limitations and a breaking point. The person I used to be didn’t have limitations or a breaking point but having unlimited pity parties aren’t going to bring the old me back.

Adapting and Adjusting  

Living with chronic illness isn’t easy but it is a lifelong process that requires us to keep adopting and adjusting every day and with every situation. Illness is unpredictable, intrusive, and interfering and you have to learn to expect the unexpected at any given moment. You will learn that there will be painful periods and periods of improvement and you have to be able to move back and forth from acceptance to adjustment. It is a slow process but we have to learn to let go of the past and accept the people we have become and with time and patience, we eventually master acceptance and adjustment.

Parenting with Chronic Illness is no cakewalk

As you know, chronic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are progressive, meaning they will get worse over time. As a parent with a chronic disease, do you wonder if it prevents you from being the kind of parent you want to be?

From experience, I can tell you that raising kids while struggling with RA is no cakewalk. Pain, fatigue and stiffness are still my daily realities and they make parenting a challenge.

As you know, being a parent means you draw attention away from yourself and you give it to your children because they need you. That can be especially difficult when you are dealing with chronic pain, disease symptoms and fatigue. Further, you are not the only one who suffers from the effects of your disease. Children whose parents living with a chronic illness and/or chronic pain condition have many questions about the effects of chronic and while this can be difficult, it is important for parents to ease their children’s fears about chronic illness and pain.

I am mother to a four year old and a teen. My four year old understands that mommy hurts and I find that on the days I am dealing with high levels of pain, he responds by acting act. My thirteen year old has questions about the future and whether things will get worse for me. I respond by telling them that I will be do everything I can so that I don’t get worse. He worries about schedules and routines and often asks how he can help. He wants to know who will care for his brother and him and he wants to know that someone will. What I have learned is that my honesty holds me credibility than telling him that “I don’t know” or that “I will be better tomorrow” when that may not be true.

I know that as my kids get older and my RA worsens their questions will change and I don’t know what my responses will be. I just know that life for us isn’t normal or easy because I am not healthy. What I do know is that my children understand empathy a lot more than their peers do. I also know that as they get older they will learn to deal with life’s obstacles with the lessons we have learned as a family dealing with effects of RA on our lives. For now, I try to offer than normalcy as often and as best as I can.

The best any parent living with chronic illness can offer to their children is to share their good days and good moments and prepare them for when bad days arise. It is also important to stay on top of your children’s moods and behaviors because they are just as affected as you are emotionally. However, their responses will be different than ours.

So, parenting with chronic illness can be hard but the good news is that new medicines for treating autoimmune diseases can halt joint destruction and reduce the chances of disability significantly. Moreover, early and aggressive treatment can improve the quality of life for parents with chronic disease and hopefully help them to  avoid disability.

How to Manage Arthritis with Exercise

There was a time when doctors told arthritis patients to rest their joints and avoid exercise. These days, doctors agree unanimously that being active can help patients to minimize pain and increase function. Additionally, mobility, mood and quality of life can be improved through activity for people living with arthritis conditions.

People with arthritis are often reluctant to exercise because they fear they could injure themselves through activity. If this is a concern, patients can work with physical therapists and trainers to ease fears and to learn to exercise safely.

Benefits of Exercise for Arthritis Patients

Exercise offers double benefits for arthritis patients. It can help to improve overall health, reduce the risk of disease and help to manage arthritis pain. People with arthritis who exercise regularly can expect less pain, increase in joint strength, better range of motion, improved function, and delay in disease progression.

For years, scientists have been interested in finding out how exercise helps joints affected by arthritis. Research has revealed that exercise can strengthen the muscles around the joints and help to them to stay flexible. Flexible muscles can support and stabilize joints much better than weak muscles do. Further, stronger muscles can help to relieve arthritis pain and prevent future pain if patients are staying active. Exercise can also relax stiff joints and increase range of motion. Additionally, exercise accelerates heart rate and breathing and also promotes the release of brain chemicals to help the body reduce inflammation and foster good mental and emotional health.

What Types of Exercise Are Best for Arthritis?

Doctors recommend that arthritis patients have a balanced workout program that includes range of motion exercises, muscle strength training, and endurance exercises. Before you begin any exercise program, it is best to check with your doctor — especially if you have not exercised before, are dealing with high levels of pain, or if you have had a surgical procedure.

Range of Motion Exercises. For most people with arthritis, range of motion exercises offer the most benefit. They involve stretching exercises that can help to minimize joint stiffness and increase range of motion in affected joints.

Muscle strength training. Strengthening exercises, such as lifting weights, can help to increase muscle strength. Strong muscles can help to support and protect your joints. Lifting weights can also help arthritis-affected joints to function better and minimize stiffness and pain.

Endurance Exercises. Endurance exercises increase breathing and heart rate for a period of time. Walking, swimming, dancing, jogging and even yard work are all examples of endurance exercises. You should build endurance up slowly, starting with five-minute increments and moving up to at least 30 minutes per day.

Some Things to Consider Before You Start

It is always important to listen to your body and not push yourself because doing so could lead to injury. Keep the following in mind:

• Always warm up before you begin exercising. Try stretching and walking for at least five to 10 minutes.

• Start slow and increase your activity slowly.

• Seek the advice of a professional and ask that person to help you to set rules to follow as you work out and progress.

• Listen to your body. If you are in pain, rest and do not exercise during a period of flare-up.

How to Stay Motivated

Once you have started exercising, you want to continue being active on a regular basis to produce the best results. Here are some ways to stay motivated:

• Make exercise a daily thing. When it becomes as routine as brushing your teeth, you are less likely to become unmotivated and stop.

• Make sure that exercise is easy and safe.

• Remember, exercise can be interesting, fun and social when you enlist friends and family to participate.

• Seize every opportunity to be active. Park your car farther away so you can walk, or walk instead of drive if your destination is nearby. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or stretch muscles often when you are working at your desk.

It is important to be as active as you can. Think of exercise as something you are doing for yourself so that you feel secure, focused and grounded. This is also the one time you can be alone to think freely and to be one with your mind, body and soul.

Originally posted at Arthritis Connect.

Fibromyalgia Patients Benefit from Exercise

Studies show movement keeps muscles strong and flexible

There was a time when most doctors believed that exercise would worsen fibromyalgia pain or even fast track the disease. Doctors would advise patients that they needed rest rather than activity. Nowadays, doctors inform fibromyalgia patients that they can benefit from low impact activity and that these exercises are safe and easy.

The Benefits of Exercise

Newer studies have shown that exercise is vital to keeping muscles strong and flexible, maintaining weight and helping you to keep an active lifestyle. Moreover, exercise can help fibromyalgia patients to have some control over fibromyalgia symptoms and the amount of pain they feel.

If you are living with fibromyalgia pain, exercise is not something you want to think about. However, exercise can offer you the symptom relief you need in order to maintain control of your life and your disease. Low-impact exercises — such as walking, stretching, swimming and yoga — can help you stay fit and to manage the pain and symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Get Started and Stay Motivated

Where do you begin? Here some strategies to help you to get started and to help you stay motivated as you adapt exercise into your fibromyalgia treatment plan.

• Acknowledge that exercise helps, not hurts. Fibromyalgia pain can be debilitating and uncomfortable. The idea of exercising can seem daunting, but acknowledging that exercise can offer countless benefits can make getting started seem less intense. Exercise can help fibromyalgia patients to control weight, reduce pain, sleep better, and increase mobility and it can also guard against other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

• Start slowly. To keep from getting discouraged and to keep you from being overwhelmed, try a slow and gentle approach to exercise. You can change your activity level over time and as you gain results. Some low impact exercises that you can start with include walking, yoga, golf and swimming.

• Listen to your body. At first, you may experience pain and soreness after exercise. Some muscle soreness is normal but sharp pain is a sign that you have overworked muscles. Be sure to stretch and warm up before physical activity and do not overwork yourself. You may want to start exercising at a very low level such as five to 10 minutes per day. You can then increase your activity gradually until you are at about 45 to 60 minutes per day.

• Move every day. To get the most benefit from exercise, you should be active daily. The best daily options for exercising include walking and making use of exercise equipment. You can go swimming or try biking, yoga or running. It is important to find something that you actually enjoy doing. Further, you should take every opportunity to be active. Go for a walk after dinner, play a sport with your kids, or to spend the day playing golf.

• Be patient. Feeling pain may tempt you to just want to sit down, be motionless and do nothing. However, you will accomplish more and make more of a difference in the quality of your life through movement. Getting better with exercise takes time and hard work. Allow yourself the time to become active because once you do, you will find there is a lot you can actually accomplish.

Find Out What Works For You

Remember that each of us is different. Setting an exercise plan depends on your age and the severity of your symptoms and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Always listen to your body and find ways to fine tune your exercise routine until you find what works for you so that you continue to stay active and motivated. The end result is that you will be healthier, stronger and in less pain.

Orginally Published at Fibromyaliga Connect.