Why Do Arthritis Patients Hate to Ask for Help?
Thursday January 15, 2009
Sometimes people with arthritis need help -- but you may be surprised to learn how many people
hate to ask for help. Why won't they ask? What is it that holds them back?
Think about it for a moment. Arthritis causes physical limitations that interfere with daily living activities. Usual movements that most people take for granted can be affected. Because there is decreased range of motion in the joints -- certain tasks are harder to do. If you want something done, you either do it yourself or ask for help, but people with arthritis who cannot do some tasks are forced to ask for help -- and most hate having to ask.
It's obvious that people would rather be self-sufficient, but in some instances, when they can't be, many arthritis patients would rather do without. Interestingly, the type of person who hates to ask for help is usually the first in line offering to help someone else. They just resist asking for help themselves. Do you hate to ask for help? Read what some of our forum members said and then share your feelings on our arthritis forum.
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Antibodies Within Joints May Cause Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Tuesday January 13, 2009
Joint damage associated with
rheumatoid arthritis may be caused by
antibodies within the joint itself. Researchers from Barts and the London School of Medicine analyzed joint biopsies from 55 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The biopsied tissue was transplanted into mice without immune systems.
According to the study published in PLoS Medicine, there are tiny structures in the joint lining that mimic the functions of antibody-producing lymph nodes. The structures are involved in the production of a destructive enzyme, known as activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). Because AID was produced four weeks after the tissue was transplanted into the mice, researchers suggested that production of the enzyme can occur in the joints independently of the body's lymph nodes. Targeting that enzyme may lead to new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.
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Arthritis Patients Should Be Aware of Complication Tied to Bisphosphonates
Saturday January 10, 2009
It's not uncommon for arthritis patients to be prescribed one of the bisphosphonates.
Fosamax (alendronate),
Boniva (ibandronate),
Actonel (risedronate),
Aredia (pamidronate), and
Reclast (zoledronic acid) are among the bisphosphonates -- a class of drugs prescribed to treat bone conditions such as
osteoporosis and
Paget's disease of bone.
Reports have suggested that osteonecrosis of the jaw can develop after using bisphosphonates. Drugmakers said, however, that bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw was only associated with intravenous use of the drugs -- not oral use. A study published in the January 1, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association disputes the claim that it's only intravenous or longterm use that's a problem.
Study results from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry revealed that 9 of 208 healthy people (or about 4%) developed osteonecrosis of the jaw while using or after using the oral bisphosphonate Fosamax. Further studies will provide more information about the association of oral bisphosphonate use with osteonecrosis of the jaw -- but this study suggests that even short-term bisphosphonate use can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw. The risk is even greater following oral surgery procedures that expose the jaw bone.
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Thursday January 8, 2009
The tragic death of
Jett Travolta, son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, has brought a lot of attention to a little known disease --
Kawasaki Disease. Did you know Kawasaki Disease is recognized as one of
over 100 types of arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation? Kawasaki Disease is a form of systemic
vasculitis that develops in young children -- 80% of Kawasaki patients are under 5 years old.
Kawasaki disease may be associated with the development of coronary arteritis (inflammation of the coronary arteries) and the formation of aneurysms. In the United States, Kawasaki disease is considered the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Learn more about the symptoms, cause, prevalence, and treatment of Kawasaki Disease in Kawasaki Disease - Fast Facts.
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