Arthritis

Arthritis is often debilitating disease triggered by many causes from metabolic changes to injuries.

 

The human body consists of joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons and bones which give the shape and structure and the means of motion and it is these structures which are affected in condition of arthritis. October 13 is dedicated as the  216;World Arthritis Day’ and the significant limiting factor due to this condition is pain. If pain can be relieved, arthritis will never be a complaint! Arthritis is varied and is usually due to the degenerative changes that happen in the joints due to loss of calcium from the bones termed as osteoporosis and is classed under Osteoarthritis.
Certain disease involving the other systems and organs of the body can also have an impact on the joints like Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Infection is another cause like tuberculosis that can cause the said arthritis to trigger. Metabolic changes can cause deposition of uric acid into the joints and cause gouty arthritis. Last but not the least is injury which can cause structural changes and set off early, unwarranted changes leading to arthritis. Certain individual afflictions of the locomotor system are also known to cause the condition.

The predominant feature of arthritis is pain. Pain as such is the body’s alarm system that tells you something is wrong when certain chemicals are released from the affected area that reach the brain a01snd in turn causes a reaction.

Like if one happens to touch something hot, as a protective reaction, the brain “pulls” the hand away. Arthritis produces a sort of long-lasting pain which is difficult to relieve.

To start with, arthritis causes an inflammation of the affected joint leading to redness and swelling. Thereby degeneration ensues and the pain only worsens as there is affliction of the movement of the joints. Pain over a period of time causes a fatigue and in turn makes it harder to handle.

Increased disease activity causes significant pain but that state can occur due to stress, anxiety, depression and increased physical activity.

If one focuses on pain too often it can only worsen into fatigue. On the other hand, a person with more positive attitude rallies around from the pain in quick time.

To manage the pain is the challenge and to start with heat and cold applications, massage, appropriate exercises are all necessary.

Exercise will help in strengthening the muscles around the joints, keep the bones healthy, improve energy, self-esteem and a sense of well-being.
Along with the lifestyle changes, homeopathic medicines can be used which have the potential to relieve pain, decrease intensity and frequency, also work as a complementary in chronic pain depending on the type of arthritis. Calcarea Phos, Calcarea Flour, Symphytum, Asafoetida, Ac.Flour are few remedies which have an action on the calcium metabolism of the bone and thereby keep them healthy. Ruta, Ac.sulph, Cuprum have an action on the ligaments when they are involved in the pain cycle. Rhus tox, Rhododendron, Phytolacca have their seat of action when the tendons are affected.

Arnica, Cimcifuga, Gelsemium and Mag Phos relieve the muscular pain.

Depending on the type of arthritis, Homeopathic medicine has good remedies to slow down further degeneration of bones, push the disease into a state of inactivity in cases of Rheumatoid arthritis and relieve infections which can lead to pain.