A Natural Approach To Health

Living With Psoriatic Arthritis

I had a question the other day about psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system attacks your own tissues.

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis affecting people who have psoriasis.

There are five types of psoriatic arthritis:

1.  Symmetric psoriatic arthritis:  Symmetric arthritis affects the same joints on opposite sides of your body.  It can be disabling.

2.  Asymmetric psoriatic arthritis:  Asymmetric arthritis typically involves 1-3 joints in your body, like your knee, hip, or fingers on one side of your body.

3.  Distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP):  Distal interphalangeal predominant psoriatic arthritis involves mainly the small joints in your fingers and toes closest to the nail.

4.  Spondylitis : Spondylitis affects the spinal column and may cause inflammation and stiffness in your neck, lower back, spinal vertebrae, or sacroiliac region, making motion difficult.

5.  Arthritis mutilans: Arthritis mutilans is a severe, deforming, and destructive form of psoriatic arthritis primarily affecting the small joints in your fingers and toes closest to the nail.  Fortunately, this type of psoriatic arthritis is rare.

Affecting men and women equally, about 10 – 30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis may develop at any age, but usually affects people between the ages of 30 and 50.

The cause isn’t known, but genetic factors, along with the immune system, likely play a role.

Up to 40% of people with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of skin or joint disease.

Having a parent with psoriasis triples your chance of getting psoriasis and thus increases the chance of developing psoriatic arthritis.

Certain factors may trigger psoriasis, including the following:

>Injury to the skin.

>Sunlight.

>Streptococcal infections.

>HIV.

>Drugs.

>Emotional stress.

>Smoking.

>Alcohol.

>Hormone changes.

Symptoms include pain and swelling in your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, feet, and spine; morning stiffness; and fatigue.

Psoriatic arthritis can also cause inflammation in other areas of your body, including your eyes.

There’s no cure for psoriatic arthritis but many treatments can be used to prevent and ease symptoms.

By understanding psoriatic arthritis and knowing what to expect, you can learn new ways to perform daily tasks or plan activities during the times and days you’re least bothered by the disease.

To deal with psoriatic arthritis it’s helpful to:

*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water every day to hydrate  your cells.

*Discover and avoid triggers.

*Moderate regular exercise may relieve stiffness and pain.

*Try water therapy in a pool.

*Try heat and cold therapy alternating moist heat and cold to affected joints

*Breathe deeply to oxygenate cells.

*Alfalfa is extremely helpful for inflammation; take throughout the day; try as a tea.

*EFAs (Omega 3, flaxseed oil, fish oil) help lubricate joints and decrease inflammation.

*Avoid nightshade vegetables, like peppers, tomato, eggplant, and potato.

*Try Epsom salt baths.

*Try hot castor oil packs (apply white cotton dipped in warmed castor oil, cover with plastic wrap, cover with heating pad if desired for up to 2 hours).

*Maintain a healthy weight.

*Test for heavy metal toxicity.

*Try Kombucha Tea.

*Ensure proper footwear.

*Fresh, raw pineapple and papaya contain bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme.

*Consider liver support and/or a liver cleanse.

*Avoid MSG and artificial sweeteners because they are neurotoxins.

*EZ-Gest between meals may be helpful to ease inflammation.

*Have chiropractic or osteopathic evaluation/treatment.

Recommendations:

It’s essential to use:  Vita-Lea, Protein, Pain Relief Complex, Joint Health Complex, Alfalfa, B-Complex, OmegaGuard, Calcium/Magnesium.

It’s important to use:  Vitamin D, Vivix, Optiflora, Vitamin C, VitalMag, Zinc, CarotoMax and/or FlavoMax.

It’s beneficial to use:  Stress Relief Complex, Gentle Sleep Complex, DTX, Herb-Lax, EZ-Gest (between meals), Joint and Muscle Pain Cream, Performance (maintain electrolytes).

email:  lenay@dickandlenay.com

PS:  If you have any questions about psoriatic arthritis, and would like to know how supplements can help, give us a call at 715-431-0657.  We’re here to help.