Arthritis
If you watch television, you’ve likely seen the commercials for the JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors Xeljanz and Rinvoq that make bold claims. Those ads depict men and women ziplining, moving large amounts of heavy soil, hauling furniture and riding ATVs. “The [misleading] message is that you don’t have to be…
SAMe may be one of the most effective arthritis supplements for osteoarthritis pain that you’ve never heard of. While many studies show it works as well as common pain medications, with fewer side effects, there are also studies that show the opposite. There is still some controversy about SAMe. It…
Legal or illegal, marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD) and related products are readily available to most people. These days, many patients are trying out the drugs, supplements, creams and edibles to treat diseases or symptoms like pain, anxiety and insomnia. According to a survey by Creaky Joints, a rheumatoid arthritis advocacy group,…
Pot, marijuana, reefer — whatever you call it, cannabis is the hot, new cure (some say) for everything from PTSD to cancer. It’s quickly being legalized in countries worldwide and, so far, in 33 US states. Yet there are still major gaps in our knowledge and evidence about its medicinal…
Massage can help treat symptoms of many illnesses and conditions, but not all treatments are created equal. When Phoebe Holmes’ adult daughter with special needs experienced a fall, Holmes caught her, preventing her daughter from suffering any physical injury. Holmes, however, was not so fortunate. Her shoulder burned with pain,…
This week in the news we were reminded again of body wisdom — the body is resilient and is designed to move you toward health. Read on: Biologics for Psoriasis and Arthritis The new drugs for psoriasis and arthritis are highly effective but come with significant risks. Biologics to treat…
Angela started experiencing significant side effects after starting methotrexate for her rheumatoid arthritis. She found that a change in diet, rather than medication, was the best treatment. By Angela Christine On New Year’s Day 2015, I stood at a crosswalk on Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. The light signaled for…
Pain is a common symptom arthritis, and we have a culture that promotes medicine for pain — but we can do much better. Here are steps for easing pain while avoiding pills. Pain is a common symptom associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). We have a culture that…
Concerns that methotrexate, which is used to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis, as well as some cancers, may cause liver damage are growing after an older man died from liver failure after taking the drug. Stefanos Vavalidis, 69, died in January 2016 after taking methotrexate…
It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans have arthritis, which is the top cause of disability in the United States. The disease affects women and older adults more often than men and younger folks, though people of all sexes, ages and races can have it. There are quite…
