5 Ways to Limit Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain without Pain Medication

April 2nd, 2010

admin

Pages: 1 2 3

4. Dietary Supplements

While there are 101 supplements different complementary or alternative medicines that someone might try to sell to those with RA, most have no benefit with respect to disease symptoms. In an evidence-based study conducted by the Arthritis Research Campaign in the UK, researchers found that 13 of 21 common complementary medicines had no measurable effect. The one that was found to have a pronounced effect was fish oil.

A similar finding from Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee Scotland found that almost 40% of those taking cod liver oil were able to reduce their level of painkillers by more than 30% without increasing the level of pain that they felt daily.

Another supplement that has very recently shown value to RA patients comes from research at Anhui Medical University in China. There, researchers determined that consumption of chicken cartilage capsules helped to moderate the effects of the immune system in patients with RA. They compared the effects of the supplement with the commonly used drug Methotrexate and found the capsules to be very effective.

5. Effective Use of Medications

Last but not least, for managing RA pain, it is important to follow the directions provided by one’s doctor for when to take the often numerous drugs associated with managing Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In one study, McGill University researchers found that more than 50% of patients reported considerable pain despite being under the care of a physician for the condition. Looking further, the researchers found than many were not taking the medications as directed because of concerns related to drug addiction, drug interactions and fears that the drugs would prevent their knowing about the progression of the disease.

A different study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine also found that not taking drugs as prescribed was a contributing factor in poor quality sleep amongst women with RA. The poor quality sleep contributed to depression and previous research has associated the intensity of pain experiences with depression. As a result, taking the disease controlling medications appropriately helps to limit the need for pain medications.

Without a permanent fix for RA yet identified, and research suggesting that the number of people with the disease increasing, those experiencing Rheumatoid Arthritis pain will continue their efforts to cope. Understanding the role that the individual can take to minimize his or her own pain is an important part of this process.

If you suffer from RA pain and have found ways to cope, please share your thoughts in the RA forums.