Re: What you can do: pain management

From: debbie m. (dm8_at_roman.net)
Date: 01/06/05 

Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 07:09:58 -0500

some good ideas

debbie m.
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/angels1/

"Zee" <zwalanga@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e5f4a9c2.0501051527.bfd3667@posting.google.com...
> http://tinyurl.com/6s32a
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk
>
> As drugs used to ease osteoarthritis are withdrawn, what should
> sufferers do? Christine Doyle reports
>
> ------snip----------
>
>
> Now, some specialists predict a new era with a greater emphasis on
> prevention through lifestyle changes and a simpler approach to
> treatment. Take regular exercise, lose weight and take paracetamol as
> the first line of treatment rather than NSAIDs, is the advice of
> Michael Doherty, professor of rheumatology at the City Hospital,
> Nottingham. With epidemiologist Dr Ken Muir, Prof Doherty is currently
> leading a £400,000 ARC clinical trial of 400 obese people to discover
> whether exercise and slimming will reduce their knee pain.
>
> Unsupervised exercise in 800 people with arthritic knee pain led to a
> substantial fall in pain and disability over two years, according to
> an NHS-sponsored trial. Prof Doherty advocates advice from nurses and
> doctors about simple changes that could make a big difference. He also
> says doctors need better education. "Many lack both the training and
> confidence to deal effectively with the many arthritic conditions they
> see on a daily basis."
>
> In the January issue of ARC's magazine, Paul Dieppe, Medical Research
> Council professor at Bristol University, says: "Worldwide sales of the
> new NSAIDs are colossal, in excess of £20 billion a year." He is
> critical of drug companies and the drug regulatory agencies. "They
> should be under a legal obligation to reveal data on all
> side-effects."
>
> Of all the forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the commonest cause
> of misery. Although paracetamol is a mild painkiller, it can be taken
> at the recommended dose of up to eight 500mg tablets a day without
> causing liver damage. If pain is really severe, the next step is a
> form which contains codeine, a stronger painkiller.
>
> Marilyn Brown, 58, a solicitor, says. "I have moderate osteoarthitis
> which waxes and wanes. I decided against the new generation of drugs
> and have stuck with paracetamol, regular exercise and a herbal remedy,
> called Tabritis. I have occasional sessions of acupuncture for my
> knees, and take glucosamine. I am doing really well. I think there is
> a lot that people can do for themselves."
>
> The power of new shoes and exercise
>
> Keep moving: regular exercise is critical for supple joints. Hard
> training or marathon running, however, is not always a good idea.
> Athletes and professional footballers who place huge demands on their
> joints at an early age are more prone to arthritic damage. Try to
> walk, swim or cycle for at least 30 minutes a day. Gradually build up
> speed. Add in daily stretching and strengthening exercises.
>
> Unwind your spine: the spine is prone to arthritic degeneration. At
> least 10 times a day, consciously unwind your spine from a slump, tuck
> in your stomach and draw yourself up to your full height - it could be
> two inches more than usual. Maintain the pose for 30 seconds. Take up
> yoga or join a pilates class.
>
> Keep trim: maintain the weight range appropriate for your height and
> frame. Even being moderately overweight, especially in those over 40,
> will add to inherited or acquired risks of decrepit joints. The extra
> pounds bear down through your hips, knees, ankles and feet.
>
> Eat your omegas: a healthy, balanced diet both prevents and slows down
> osteoarthritis. Follow a low-fat, low-sugar diet with plenty of
> colourful fruit and vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli and
> beetroot. Eat more oily fish and poultry than red meat. Mackerel,
> sardines, salmon, tuna and other oily fish contain omega-3, an
> essential fatty acid that helps control inflammation.
>
> Omega-6, mostly found in plant seed oils, such as evening primrose and
> sunflower seeds, also helps. "One of the most exciting recent
> discoveries is that these oils help some people with arthritis," says
> the ARC. "The benefits might be small, but they could be cumulative
> over time."
>
> Food flare-ups: there are many claims for exclusion diet miracle cures
> - but very little hard evidence. Anecdotally, however, some people
> link a flare-up of symptoms with dairy products, wheat and plants in
> the nightshade family, including potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines.
> Others believe that they react to spinach and grapefruit.
>
> Go shoe-shopping: buy the best-fitting shoes you can afford,
> especially if your joints are starting to creak. "Many trainers have
> excellent shock-absorbing qualities," says Prof Dieppe. "Some ordinary
> shoes are well-cushioned, but we need more manufacturers to take up
> the challenge of producing well-fitting, well-designed shoes. There
> would be plenty of customers."
>
> Supplementary evidence: "I have taken glucosamine for five years and I
> no longer feel my hips are seizing up," says Sally Herbert, 50. "I
> walk and cycle and take the supplement to keep my joints youthful."
> Once controversial, glucosamine, which is derived from shellfish, is
> rapidly moving into the mainstream. New studies, to be published soon,
> are expected to confirm that it reduces the need for hip and knee
> replacements.
>
> Cod liver oil, the war-time staple, is a favourite with ballet
> dancers. Until feet, which have 26 bones and more than 200 interacting
> muscles, ligaments and joints, start to suffer, they are often
> ignored, says the ARC, which supported research showing that cod liver
> oil slows the destruction of joint cartilage in patients with
> osteoarthritis.
>
> Complementary techniques: many people swear by Chinese acupuncture to
> prevent their knees losing their spring. This belief is backed by
> recent research showing that acupuncture reduces the pain of
> osteoarthritis and improves mobility. Magnetic bracelets, which cost
> between £30 and £50, are the latest technique to gain scientific
> approval. A study among almost 200 patients in Devon found a
> significant fall in arthritic pain up to 12 weeks later. Massage,
> aromatherapy and relaxation techniques can also help to ease pain.

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