Just looking for a bit of help really regarding natural ways to treat Arhritis. I started suffering with something called ankylosing spongalitis when i was 16 but it wasnt diagnosed until i was 21. I originally just hada bad back but as the years went on my hips and legs became affected. The disease i have is included in the arhritic group but the bones and joints actually join and fuse together. I have it in my spine and as the fixing progresses its like a bamboo effect causing fixing and curving.Recently i have noticed my rists and arms becoming weak and very sore, also some small swellings around my rist"anybody no what thats all about". Anyway i have tryd all the medication available but the side effects are terrible,ie stomache probsete. Would be gratefull for any help regarding more natural remedies ete as at the moment i feel like im falling to bits. cheers in advance , brooksy:help:

I've started drinking lots of Green Tea, seems to be helping, i don't like the smell or taste of it but if thats whats doing the job, i'll keep it up.

You did mean Arthritus didn't you ?

Sorry to hear that, Brooksy.

I'm not an expert in these matters but have you seen this site?

http://www.nass.co.uk/index.htm

Hope it helps,

Joe

Cheers poppins, yes its a form of arhritis which causes joints to fuse together, and im sick of it.

Thanks for that joe, take a look :thumbsup:

Originally posted by brooksy
Anyway i have tryd all the medication available but the side effects are terrible,ie stomache probsete. Would be gratefull for any help regarding more natural remedies ete as at the moment i feel like im falling to bits. cheers in advance , brooksy:help:

What is stomache probsete?

Not a very nice disease brooksy, and like other forms of Arthritis it affects your moods as well as your mobility, so feeling like fed up and sick of everything is just another symptom of the disease so don't think it's just you having an off day.

Try these web site and see if they help you.

http://www.arma.uk.net/#

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/home/index.cfm?region=uk

http://www.arc.org.uk/

They all contain information that teaches you to live with the disease instead of the disease ruling your life.

Remember Arthritis can't kill you, but it can take your life away......if you let it.

TThanks for that owd lad , ill take a look:thumbsup: wendygs i meant stomach probs, as you well no?.

I can only imagine how distressing your condition must be and I asked to ensure understood you meant endoscopy/ gastroscopy procedures in which case I think if they are essential to assist your consultants with your on-going medical care it seems quite unlikely to me that any complementary practitioner would wish to discontinue such diagnostic procedures.

I feel it may help to know that a naturopath wanted me to have these probes to help him decide the most effective treatment after I was diagnosed with a degenerative disorder in 1993 (totally unrelated to my voice loss)

On the dietary side I have heard it helps to eliminate acid forming foods, eg citrus, potatoes, aubergine, tomatoes for all conditions involving arthritis, but I couldnt say how effective that advice would be in your case. Although I may be wrong about this I think I have heard a vegan diet is probably most helpful for arthritic conditions.

Sorry, and thanks wendygs.The main problem was or is that the medication i was given really upset my stomach and was told that eventually i would develop ulcers. One course of tablets called phenellbutosone"sorry about spelling: actually knock out the white cells in your blood. This meant a blood test every month and all became very deppressing along with all the pain.Thanks for your info, brroksy.

Just another thought Brooksy, with the medicine you are currently taking upsetting your stomach you ought to be going back to your GP to get them changed, there are a lot of different meds for treating Arthur and they don't all suit everyone who tries them, so just keep going back.

Cheers owdlad, just one more point im not on here just whinging over my condition. I work in quite a physical job fabrication and welding which apparently helps my condition,"keeping active stops the fixing process". It just grinds you down a bit when your in your early 20s and you feel 60.Having seen some of the little kids in the hospital suffering arthritis i count my blessings. thanks for all your info and thoughts, cheers brooksy:thumbsup:

All I know about arthritis is that anything acidic make it worse. So avoid all the usual, red meat, dairy, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus, potatoes, aubergines, olives, wheat (I've got a whole page of things you can eat if you are interested). I tookmeds for a frozen shoulder once and it knocked my stomach acid off balance so much I became depressed. HORRENdous stuff. Poor you.

Cheers lizzmobile, if you could pm me with that info would be gratefull, thanks again ,brooksy.:thumbsup:

Hi Brooksy, - my wife has a similar condition and has tried several drugs suggested by her GP to relieve the symptons and the pain. The one that proved most effective, 'Indomethacin', caused her quite severe stomach problems so her GP switched her to a suppository form of the drug.

I know a lot of people baulk at taking drugs this way, but if it solves the side effects problem and is effective it's a bit silly to be squeamish about it.

She also uses a 'tens' machine which is quite effective for pain relief, and you can use it at the same time as you're using the forum. ;)

http://www.bodyclock.co.uk/acatalog/tensmachines.html

Hope you find something that helps, - I've a good idea of what you're going through.

Thanks for your info greybeard much appreciated:thumbsup:

TENS machines are a really useful way of fairly natural pain relief and they work on the principle of introducing a very mild electric charge to the area where you feel pain. I'm surprised your GP didnt refer you to the Chronic Pain Clinic at the Hallamshire. They have been extremely good in helping a friend of my who has a broken back.

Also I know if my Naturopath's patients were on any medication for such serious conditions he never interefered with that medical advice because of the risks involved to the patient.

I suffer with arthritis in the neck & spine.Its been quite bad for the last two weeks but Ive been taking Collagen capsulles for a year now.Its a supplement from Holland & Barrett.Yes the antiinflammatory drugs do upset your stomache but Collagen doesnt at all. Found it quite effective.

Someone mentioned cutting out acidic foods. My gran tried this and it virtually cured her!! Apparently, you have to cut out all dairy products except skimmed milk and have no citrus fruit or red meat. Also you have to avoid everything processed, salty or pickled and drink no alcohol. You have to eat lots of fish and vegetables and take multivitamins; and bizarrely take a tablespoon of cider viengar and honey mixed with hot water every day!! It certainly worked so it's worth a shot.

I think someone mentioned the Arthritic Society and wondered if you'd been in touch with them yet to see if anyonne had any helpful suggestions.

Hiya Brooksy, is there any news on the treatment front yet, and is this damned weather causing you any extra problems ?

hi owdlad, well iv just come back from gran canaria and not really had any probs basically because of the hot weather.Been back to the docs and changed my tabs. My guts seem ok but the tabs take atime to get in your system. To be honest when im of work and not active then the condition becomes worse, so i think keeping active is the best course of action.Also my drinking and smoking habits are if possible both getting kicked into touch. Thanks for your interest, chhers brooksy:thumbsup:

TENS machines are very good for chronic pain, I use one for fibromyalgia and disc problems. Certain painkillers upset my stomach and I cant take them, but there is usually another sort. TENS machines wouldnt be that great if you did an active job though, cos of the electrodes and wires. They interfere with the pain messages being sent to your brain by an electrical pulse. I bought mine from Boots and it is very good, has lots of different programmes. I can walk about the house with it clipped onto my belt, and use it in bed or in my chair, I have even used it whilst a passenger in the car and, bizarrely whilst on an open top bus tour of Dublin (didnt want to miss the fun!).

I wouldnt mind seeing a homeopath, but would have to save up I think! Ive heard they are really good for all sorts of things.

Tens machines don't suit everyone alyson, I loaned one from Boots after they told me to try it prior to purchasing one and it inflamed my Arthritis, so I was glad to take it back. I do however know of others who swear by them, so my advice to others would be to hire one and see if it does you good.

Hi brooksy. I am sorry to hear of your suffering. I have heard that stinging nettles contain magical properties in the relief of arthiritis. I know that you can make nettle soup and tea but I would imagine that you would need a field full of the pesky things in order to be of any use. Perhaps there is a herbal remedy on the market that contains nettles? Good luck anyhow and I hope you find some relief in whatever form.

Originally posted by owdlad
Tens machines don't suit everyone alyson, I loaned one from Boots after they told me to try it prior to purchasing one and it inflamed my Arthritis, so I was glad to take it back. I do however know of others who swear by them, so my advice to others would be to hire one and see if it does you good.

Yes, this is true. Its the same with everything though, one painkiller or remedy suits one person and not another. Also I dont have arthritis, so I cant really comment on that. My chronic pain comes from fibromyalgia and a disc injury.

Forgot to mention, I know someone who had a lot of success with Devils Claw from Holland and Barratt (its a herb!).

I tried that as well Alyson, and the only people who got anything out of that were the shareholders at Holland & Barrett :( come to think of it there aren't many of the natural remedies I haven't tried.

So if anyone is feeling inclined to try something new just let me know and I will tell you if it did me any good.

You have to remember that Arthritis won't kill you but it can take your life away. :(