Many people with arthritis are seeking alternative ways to help them cope better, writes Sylvia Thompson
THE THEME of Arthritis Ireland's national arthritis week, which was launched yesterday and continues until Sunday is "Live Well with Arthritis".
The aim is to encourage people with arthritis to understand their condition better, take back control of their lives and reduce pain so that they can have as good a quality of life as their condition allows.
Through self-management programmes, Arthritis Ireland introduces people to techniques such as cognitive pain management, distraction, guided imagery, meditation, relaxation and positive thinking.
Most arthritic and rheumatic aches and pains come and go and even a persistent condition such as osteoarthritis may only be painful at times, often because the joint has been twisted and strained. This means that it is extremely difficult to know whether improvement is due to the illness waxing and waning naturally or because of a specific treatment.
Yet many people with arthritis are now seeking out alternative and complementary therapies to help them cope better with and/or relieve the pain of their condition.
The organisation, Research Arthritis Ireland, produces a booklet on various complementary therapies which discusses whether they are appropriate for people with arthritis.
Sarah Gahan, communications manager with Arthritis Ireland, says: "We advise anyone who is considering the use of a complementary therapy to research what therapies may or may not work for them and ideally to seek a referral from someone they know who has tried and can recommend a particularly therapy."
Here follows a brief guide to complementary therapies that have shown some positive results for people with arthritis.
Acupuncture:Acupuncture has been found to help people with arthritis at all stages of their illness, although it cannot cure or reverse the condition.
Some studies have shown that six to eight weekly sessions of acupuncture can bring pain relief to people with arthritis for up to nine months. Research into the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to other therapies or an alternative for those who can't tolerate medication is ongoing.
Hands-on therapies:Manipulation of inflamed joints is not recommended and osteopaths, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists are all trained to avoid areas of the body which are inflamed.
However, one survey of patients attending a rheumatism clinic in London found that manipulation was the most helpful of the complementary therapies they had tried.
Herbal medicine:Concerns about side effects from the use of conventional drug treatments for arthritis (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) is one of the reasons people seek alternative and complementary medicine.
There has been a particular growth of interest in the use of western herbal medicine. Studies on both single herbs (eg devil's claw, white willow) and combinations of herbal extracts (avocado pear and soya beans, poplar bark, ash leaves and goldenrod) have shown reductions in symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Ginger (and ginger extract) and turmeric also have anti-inflammatory properties which have been found to reduce morning stiffness and joint swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Traditional herbal combinations, as prescribed by Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine systems, have also shown some promising results.
As always, it is crucial to seek advice from practitioners registered with a professional organisation who would liaise with GPs regarding possible herb-drug interactions.
Hydrotherapy:Although not specifically an alternative therapy, it's worth mentioning that hydrotherapy has been found to be an excellent way for people with arthritis to build up strength, ease stiff joints and relax sore muscles. It involves special exercises carried out in a warm water swimming pool (often within a hospital physiotherapy department).
The warm temperature and buoyancy of the water allows the muscles to relax and eases the pain in joints, thus making it easier to exercise. Sufferers of arthritis who partake in regular hydrotherapy sessions say that it relieves pain, makes movement easier and helps them relax. Regular sessions in a hydrotherapy pool can also prevent arthritis from getting worse.
Nutritional therapy:A good, healthy, balanced diet is the starting point for anyone with a chronic medical condition. In the last 10 years, there has been an explosion of interest in dietary supplements for chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Oils that contain Omega 3 (oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and herrings) and Omega 6 (plant seed oils) essential fatty acids have been found to reduce inflammation. Olive oil has also been found to help people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Dietary supplements containing chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine sulphate came to widespread public attention as part of the "medical miracle" promoted in the book, The Arthritis Cure(St Martin's Press, New York, 1997). There is evidence that both together and separately, they relieve pain and increase mobility in those with osteoarthritis, however, the quality of supplements on sale varies hugely.
