My Doctor Wants Me to Take Enbrel For My Rheumatoid Arthritis-What Can You Tell me About it?
TNF alpha is a cytokine, a protein that is produced during the inflammatory response. TNF alpha is involved in inflammation from two perspectives. It is not only the product of inflammation; it also helps perpetuate and promote inflammation. Increased levels of TNF are found in several inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Drugs that block tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been found to be particularly effective for the treatment of these serious forms of inflammatory arthritis.
The first anti-TNF drug approved for such use was etanercept (Enbrel).
Etanercept is a synthetic (man-made) protein that binds to TNF alpha. It acts like a sponge to remove most of the TNF alpha molecules from the joints and blood. This prevents TNF alpha from perpetuating inflammation and the pain, tenderness and swelling of joints in patients with different types of arthritis.
Etanercept reduces the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, the arthritis of psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It also prevents the progression of joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the arthritis of psoriasis.
Etanercept is usually used in combination with methotrexate in patients who do not respond adequately to methotrexate alone.
Etanercept comes in two different preparations. The first is a powder that must be reconstituted (mixed) with a diluent. This comes as a 25 mg dose. The second is as a premixed syringe containing 50 mgs of etanercept. Etanercept must be refrigerated. The drug is given as a subcutaneous injection. Dosing will vary according to disease severity and body size.
Because etanercept reduces the immune response, it should not be administered with live vaccines.
Etanercept is not recommended for use in pregnant or nursing women.
The most common side effects are mild to moderate itching, pain, swelling and redness at the site of injection. Headache, dizziness, nose and throat irritation also occur.
TNF alpha has an important role in the response of the immune system to infections. Blocking the action of TNF alpha with etanercept may worsen or increase the occurrence of infections, and patients with serious infections should not receive etanercept. Etanercept should be discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection. It should not be given to patients with active infections or who have an allergy to its components. Etanercept should be used with caution in patients prone to infection, such as those with poorly controlled diabetes.
Since etanercept has entered the market, there have been reports of multiple sclerosis, myelitis, optic neuritis in patients using the drug. Etanercept is not recommended for persons with preexisting disease of the central nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord) or for those with multiple sclerosis, myelitis, or optic neuritis. Rare cases of potentially serious low blood counts (pancytopenia) have been reported in patients using etanercept.
Monitoring should be done according to guidelines set by the rheumatologist.
Lower Back Pain Can Be A Symptom Of Arthritis
Many forms of arthritis can contribute to back pain including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis. Arthritis pain is a hard ailment to treat and some types of arthritis, including those that cause back pain, continue to get worse as we age.
Other Symptoms
Back pain is one of the most common and difficult to treat ailments. And many times back pain is directly related to arthritis. The pain can slowly become more and more noticeable with time and be worse in the evening or when trying to relax. Morning stiffness and pain in other parts of the body are other symptoms. Of course back pain can be related to diseases other than arthritis, so a trip to your doctor is definitely warranted.
Treatments
The treatments for arthritis pain whether in your back, shoulders, neck, knees or hands is basically the same. Heat therapies have always been exceedingly popular, now more than ever. New continuous low level heat therapy has been found to be very effective in reducing pain and increasing flexibility. These heat sources consist of the over-the-counter large bandage type patches containing chemicals that offer up to eight hours of 104 degrees of continuous heat.
Other common treatments include physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections and even dietary therapies. Chiropractics and acupuncture are some other very helpful treatments. Pain management techniques for arthritis can be used alone, but most likely will be used in multiples. Some treatments will stop working in time and new methods will have to be found to control pain effectively.
Support
Arthritic back pain can be debilitating and can lead to emotional stress and psychological support may become necessary. A professional therapist should be consulted if serious problems arise.
It may even become necessary to change your profession depending on the type of work that you do and the seriousness of your disease. Back pain, whether arthritis related or not, is the number one cause of disability today. Depend on friends and family members for support and reassurance. Having loving people around you can make all the difference when facing these life-changing decisions.
If you experience any recurring pain in your back or other joints or muscles make an appointment to see your doctor. Back pain is a symptom not a disease and the root of the pain must be discovered before any effective treatment method can be prescribed.
An Overview – Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms, Causes and Prevention
There is a misconception that arthritis has been causing trouble for hundreds of years but experts say it is actually a rather modern disease. There is, for example, very little evidence of arthritic damage found in human remains before the year 1700 and even in Egyptian mummified remains.
These days, however, arthritis incidents are on the rise, affecting millions of people around the world. In the United States alone, there are more than 40 million Americans who suffer from some form of arthritis and if no measures are taken to control it, the number of people affected by it may continue to rise.
Who Gets Arthritis?
Arthritis is not a gender-specific disease and it can affect people regardless of their race, location or socio-economic level. Anybody can get arthritis but it often appears in adults and older people. Arthritis affects not just humans but animals as well. Dogs in their older years, for example, have an increased risk of canine rheumatoid arthritis while older cats may develop feline arthritis. When this happens, it is often necessary that animals are placed under veterinary care and symptoms treated with medications and therapy.
Symptoms Of Arthritis
There are over 100 different types of arthritis and they are often characterized by swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, white blood cells can develop rapidly in the synovial membrane found in the cartilage of the joints and result in pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move the joint. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged, which may be replaced by painful bone outgrowths.
Common Types Of Arthritis
The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Almost all types of arthritis are noninfectious although there are some which may be spread.
Lyme disease, an inflammatory form that can be transmitted by tick bites, is spread through bacterial infection. If it's untreated, it can lead to inflammation of the joints, specifically the knees. This form, like other infectious arthritis types, can be cured with antibiotics.
Preventing Arthritis
Some forms of arthritis, such as gout and infectious arthritis, can be prevented through diet and care. Gout, for example, is often the result of excessive intake of foods containing uric acid, which result in the deposition of crystals in the joints. These crystals cause the pain and inflammation associated with this form of arthritis.
Diet And Arthritis
Maintaining a good diet is doubly beneficial for arthritis because it helps shed extra pounds and eases the pressure off the joints which helps relieve the pain. Avoiding certain foods, such as high-fat meats and organ meats have also shown some promise in relieving inflammation.
Aside from having a healthy diet, using supplements may also help. Vitamins, minerals and other supplements such as fish oils may be helpful in ensuring that the body is healthy. Antioxidants may also be used to encourage cell repair.
Is There A Cure For Arthritis?
Unless what you have is an infectious form, don't expect for a cure because none has been discovered yet. However, it can be treated and symptoms can be managed. Treatment consists of medications and therapy that will reduce the symptoms of arthritis and allow the patient better joint mobility and relieve pain, regardless of which area of the body is affected.
Most medications are in the form of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Depending on the form of arthritis, drugs that retard the disease's progress may also be prescribed.
Treatment For Arthritis
Drugs are often prescribed to help relieve the symptoms often associated with arthritis, especially if they are severe. Physical therapy might also be used in order to improve mobility of the affected area, especially the knees, ankles, hands, neck and fingers.
Mild, low-impact exercises are preferable to heavy exercises because they are easier on the joints. Exercises such as yoga, tai chi and walking are beneficial. Water exercises are also an excellent option. For arthritis of the hands where the thumb and fingers are affected, special exercises may be performed regularly in order to maintain the hand's ability to flex.
An End To Pain?
Ending pain is often the goal of arthritis treatment. However, it doesn't have to be the only thing you should have in mind when dealing with arthritis. Effective treatment often goes beyond just providing relief when pain occurs. It is often a matter of addressing the problem at its roots and not just performing corrective measures when the problems begin. This is why it's important for patients to know that managing arthritis is not just about stopping pain but also preventing it.
Which Of The 100+ Types Of Arthritis Do You Have?
Arthritis is actually a group of more than 100 related diseases. Any disease that causes inflammation, damage, and deterioration of joints is considered a type of arthritis. Arthritis strikes people over sixty-five most often, but a lot of younger people are stricken with it, too. Each type of arthritis has its own causes, its own symptoms, and its own treatments.
The Different Forms of Arthritis
Doctors have to differentiate between the types of arthritis in order to diagnose and treat them properly. Each type of arthritis is called an arthritide. The one common denominator between all arthritides is pain. Each type causes severe pain which differs as to pattern and location. Other symptoms of arthritis are swelling, stiffness, and deterioration of joint function. If you experience these symptoms for over two weeks, don't hesitate to see your doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is always the best plan.
Osteoarthritis pain is worst during the night or after a person has rested. A person who is inflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, though, will suffer most in the mornings. In the case of children and senior citizens, they may suffer less from pain and more from joint immobility and lack of function.
Some of the different arthritides in addition to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid include: septic, gout/pseudogout, juvenile, Still's disease, and Ankylosing spondylitis. Common methods of treating arthritis include a variety of different medications and arthroplasty. If the condition becomes too severe, doctors will opt for prosthetic joint replacement which has become a very popular and successful way to alleviate joint pain.
How Long Have People Suffered from Arthritis?
The oldest known case of human arthritis has been traced back to 4500 BC. However, the disease is known to have been around even longer than that. Paleontologists have discovered evidence of ankle arthritis in dinosaur bones. On the American continent, the bones of ancient Native Americans found in Tennessee and Kansas are the oldest to have exhibited signs of arthritis.
Scientists have discovered a mummy dating back to 3000 B.C.which they believe suffered from arthritis. The earliest form of arthritis medication that has been discovered, to date, is willow bark which was in use around 500 B.C. and which may or may not have helped with the pain. In our modern world, there have been estimates made that people have taken over a trillion tablets of aspirin and other pain killers to try and alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
Doctor.Why Does Arthritis Cause Fatigue?
Fatigue is extremely common in patients who have arthritis. While it is a common complaint in patients who have "bread and butter" types of arthritis like osteoarthritis, it is even more common in patients who have inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Fatigue is often a sign of a flare of disease.
Another condition often accompanied by fatigue is fibromyalgia.
There are many factors that may be responsible for fatigue.
Sometimes it is the body's method for dealing with a chronic painful condition. The body craves rest because it uses so much energy to combat the pain.
Another common reason is that arthritis often interrupts sleep. Not only is it more difficult to get to sleep but patients will wake up during the night, they will have difficulty falling back to sleep, and they will awaken early in the morning. This early morning awakening may also signal the presence of depression which is also a common problem in patients who have arthritis. Depression is also a cause of fatigue in patients with arthritis.
A corollary to this is stress. Stress not only aggravates the pain of arthritis; it can also aggravate fatigue.
Patients with more serious types of disease may have anemia which compounds the fatigue problem.
Medications can also contribute to fatigue. For instance some patients who are on methotrexate often report a "washed-out" feeling that occurs for one to two days after taking their methotrexate dose.
Fatigue has a major impact on the life of a person with arthritis. It causes daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and limits interpersonal relationships. Participating in all types of activities becomes more difficult. Also, some people fall into a nasty cycle of feeling tired, taking a nap during the day, which prevents them from getting to sleep that night.
So what can be done?
The most important thing is to get the arthritis under good control. That often improves fatigue by itself. Effective medications often make a big difference!
Correcting anemia is another action step. Sometimes the anemia will correct itself when the disease is controlled. Other times iron deficiency or other problems need to be addressed.
Improving the quality of sleep can help. Changing to a mattress made of memory foam is reported by some patients to be useful.
Getting into a regular sleep cycle is a good idea. Avoid large meals and caffeinated beverages before going to sleep. Sounds like common sense but too many people don't follow common sense rules1
Medicines that adversely affect sleep like prednisone and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) should be taken in the morning rather than in the evening.
A nice hot bath or shower before going to bed sometimes is helpful. Using warm moist heating pads is also a nice thing to try. Getting into a regular relaxing routine that consists of reading, listening to soft music, etc. can also ensure good quality sleep.
Regular exercise is another contributor to good quality sleep. Lack of exercise often causes fatigue. Regular exercise provides more energy, increases stamina, and improves sleep.
Stress reduction is an obvious benefit.
Eating a well-balanced diet can also contribute to less fatigue.
Patients should try to avoid prescription sleeping pills if possible. Herbal remedies may be useful though.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments – A Must Read For People Who Love Salty Foods
I'm going to share with you facts about rheumatoid arthritis treatments available in today's market. Of all types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is the most common one. There are several ways to handle the symptoms of this disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments - Ways To Treat Arthritis Fast
And almost all of them require the guidance of a doctor. To fully treat rheumatoid arthritis, a lifestyle change, the use of appropriate drugs, and undergoing physical therapy are all required.
A lifestyle change is mandatory for everybody suffering from arthritis, regardless of what type it is that they are suffering from. Eating right is very important. There are many foods that can trigger an arthritis attack. Consult with the doctor every time you're in doubt. Your doctor would know the right medicines for you to take and the food items you should avoid.
The best drug for rheumatoid arthritis is going to be the one that can provide an immediate relief to your condition. NSAID is the most popular drug used for rheumatoid arthritis. NSAID means non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Most of these drugs can be bought over-the-counter.
Naproxen and ibuprofen are good examples. But then again, some NSAIDs require a doctor's prescription. These ones are more potent than the regular NSAIDs so their dispensing is regulated.
Arthritis patients should also heed the instructions of their doctor when it comes to avoiding certain types of foods. Arthritis patients are not allowed to eat foods that are rich in salt and uric acid such as processed foods and most menu items at fast food establishments.
All unhealthy habits should be stopped as well. This means no drinking or smoking for you. If you really want to be healthy, living right should be easy for you.
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