Symptoms:
Vague pain, stiffness, weight loss, numbness, and tingling of the hands and feet may precede its onset.
Swelling, stiffness, redness, and often crippling pain in joints, which eventually may fuse together. There is fatigue, anemia, weight loss, and fever.
Affected joints sound like crinkling cellophane. In contrast, osteoarthritis joints sound like popping, clicking, or banging. Joints of the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles are most commonly involved.
Upon awakening in the morning, there may be a joint stiffness which lasts an hour or longer. Swelling will occur in a specific finger or wrist joints, and also around the joints. Pain may, or may not, be present.
The condition can worsen or remain the same for years, and later worsen again.
Cause:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory arthritis. It is an autoimmune disorder. So many acids, purines, etc., have collected in the joints; and the calcium supply has been so low for so long, that the body gets mixed up—and begins attacking the synovial membranes in the joints. Cartilage, nearby tissues, and even the bone surfaces are destroyed.
This damaged area is then replaced with scar tissue, which tends to fuse together the joints—making them immovable.
Oddly enough, this form of arthritis most commonly occurs between the ages of 35 and 45, but may occur at any age. It also occurs even in children. Two-thirds of the 3 million Americans who have RA are women. Among those under 18, 70,000 have it, most of them girls.
Causes include poor nutrition, bacterial infection, and/or physical or emotional stress. Stress seems to be the active agent which initially brings it on. Exposure, overwork, or acute infections can also do it.
Unlike osteoarthritis (which see), which only affects joints here or there, RA affects all the synovial joints in the body.
In the first year after the disease appears, 75% improve without any treatment at all. Therefore natural treatments should help the situation even more. Keep in mind that 10% of those with RA become disfigured in one way or another. So this is a problem which is worth taking the time and effort to reduce or eliminate.
The likelihood of remission is greater early in the course of the disease. Each attack seems to be worse than those preceding it.
Treatment:
• It is important that you also read the article on "Arthritis." It contains much important information which also applies to rheumatoid arthritis.
• Take calcium, magnesium, selenium, copper, B6, histidine, and bromelain every day.
• Do not take iron supplements (such as ferrous sulfate, which is commonly given for anemia). These will intensify RA and arthritis.
• Fasting brings temporary relief to RA, but the pain, swelling, and stiffness tend to return a few days after the fast is ended. However, some recommend a longer vegetable juice and vegetable broth fast of two or more weeks as having more lasting effects.
• Food allergies can be involved. One study showed that 86% of a group of rheumatoid arthritics could trace the onset of their problem to allergies; most common were soy products, milk, eggs, coffee, and sugar foods. Try avoiding all those foods. (See "Arthritis" for other helpful and problem foods.)
• One research study noted that peoples who use large quantities of wheat, rye, and oats tend to have high rates of RA.
• People with RA were found to have lower blood levels of folic acid, protein, and zinc than other people.
• Lose weight, to reduce the strain on your joints.
• Stretch nylon gloves, worn at night, help keep the hands warm. Better yet, keep your arms and hands under the covers at night.
• Deep breathing exercises out-of-doors helps those with RA.
• Alternating hot and cold baths help. Give 6 minutes for the hot and 4 minutes for the cold, to increase blood flow to the area. The healing is in the blood.
• Aloe vera gel helps relieve pain.