Arthritis and Turmeric, a Different Approach - Part 2

Arthritis and Turmeric, a Different Approach - Part 2

Arthritis… A different approach

Part 2

In addition to the less conventional therapies, such as the amazing effectiveness of the Indian cooking spice turmeric, which we previously discussed in Part 1, some notable advances have been made using stem cells harvested from our bodies. This of course overcomes the problem of our body's immune system rejecting the treatment.

As a result of stem cell research, experimental therapies have already been carried out by a team of medical researchers led by Professor Frank Barry from the National University of Ireland in the city of Galway. Professor Barry is one of the world's leading experts on stem cells, and he used the patient's stem cells, which were obtained by removing a sample of fat from the patient's own body.

This fat sample then separated the stem cells; and in clinical conditions, the cells were “grown” over a period of time before being injected back into the patient’s body in damaged areas of the patient’s joints. The results were very encouraging and resulted in significantly increased joint mobility.

Professor Barry, who was the clinical lead on the trials, said: (Quote) "The results are incredibly exciting and we firmly believe that stem cell treatment will soon offer hope for millions of arthritis patients. He then continued: "Statistically, osteoarthritis affects around fifteen percent of people over 25 and more than thirty percent of people of retirement age."

Currently, there is no medical intervention, known drug, or therapy to stop the progression of this disease, and most patients only need constant treatment with painkillers. Typically, further progression of arthritis very often ultimately leads to surgery to replace the damaged joints.

One of the most common forms of arthritis is osteoarthritis of the knee. This is probably because our knee joints are usually exposed to extreme stress throughout our everyday lives. Our knees experience a lot of stress throughout walking due to stress. or while twisting and turning when we practice different sports. Osteoarthritis can affect the major surfaces of your knee joint and also the cartilage under your patella (kneecap). We are most likely to feel pain in the front and sides of our knees.

If you have severe osteoarthritis, your knees may even bend and bend, causing you to limp. Your knee joint may also become so unstable that it gives way when you put weight on it - this is usually due to muscle weakness in the thigh, but sometimes due to damage to the ligaments.

Who is more likely to suffer from knee osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is twice as common in women as in men; and when it happens, it usually affects both knees. It is more likely to cause most problems from the mid to late fifties onwards.

Should I train?

Yes, because exercise helps tone your muscles and make your joints supple. You can exercise gently without putting too much strain on your joints. Joint protection and movement work hand in hand.

Protecting your joints through gentle exercise reduces the strain on your joint capsules and ligaments, which can weaken with a lack of exercise. However, remember that putting strain on your joints can make this worse. Regular gentle exercise strengthens all the muscles and ligaments around your joints so they can give the joints the support they need.

Should I follow a special diet?

Being overweight definitely puts extra strain on our weight-bearing joints (back, hips, knees, ankles and feet), which is not good if they are already damaged or under strain. Because of the way our joints work, the pressure in our knee joints when walking is five to six times our body weight. For this reason alone, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. You can do this by ensuring you exercise regularly. Swimming, for example, is really good for people with arthritis because the buoyancy of the water supports our joints.

A Mediterranean diet is good for providing all the nutrients and vitamins we need. This should include:

• Lots of fruit and vegetables

• Lots of oily fish

• Snacks with nuts and seeds

• Good virgin olive oil.

Some people also take supplements to protect their joints. For example, glucosamine and chondroitin, which are available in most health food stores. In general, nutritional supplements are relatively well tolerated by our body. However, you should talk to your doctor about taking it, as some may interfere with other medications.

If you decide to try a supplement, it may be a good idea to write down what it does for you and base your decision on whether or not to continue if you see whether or not there is an improvement in your condition.

Lifestyle plays a big role in preventing and treating arthritis. and because it can be very difficult to change our lifestyle habits, many people find it helpful to come together with others who want to achieve the same results. You can get good, sound advice from any occupational therapy department in the hospital. They also typically offer collaborative protection programs where groups of people with arthritis come together to support each other through learning and practicing exercise activities together. This is a great idea and could be one of the desirable parts of an overall program for people with arthritis.

Inspired by Ian McKay