| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| Home
| Health Conditions
& Concerns | Health Condition A-H |
| Arthritis:
Osteoarthritis
& Rheumatoid
Arthritis
|
| The
word Arthritis actually means joint inflammation.
The term Arthritis is used to describe more
than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints,
the tissues which surround the joint, including muscles, tendons,
and other connective tissue. Arthritis can
cause stiffness, pain, swelling and deformities of joints. The
most common forms of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis
and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
|
| Osteoarthritis |
| Osteoarthritis
is known as the “wear-and-tear” kind of arthritis.
It is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of
the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint
that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement
of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub
against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement
in the joint. |
| Osteoarthritis
most commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips,
knees and lower back. It also affects the neck, small finger
joints, the base of the thumb and the big toe. Repetitive injury
and physical trauma may contribute to the development of Osteoarthritis. |
| Rheumatoid
Arthritis |
| Rheumatoid
Arthritis is a chronic condition, mainly characterized
by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to
long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function
and disability.In addition to affecting the joints, Rheumatoid
Arthritis may occasionally affect the skin, eyes, lungs,
heart, blood, nerves or kidneys. |
| Symptoms
of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint pain
and swelling, stiffness, especially in the morning or after
sitting for long periods, and fatigue. |
| In
most people, joint symptoms develop gradually over several years.
But in some, rheumatoid arthritis may progress rapidly and yet
other people may have Rheumatoid Arthritis
for a limited period of time and then enter a period of remission. |
| How
we can help |
| Dr.
Shikhman will design an individualized, comprehensive treatment
protocol with the goal to alleviate the factors that are known
to be associated with the disease, such as gut permeability,
circulating immune complexes, free radicals, and immune dysfunction,
that are known to cause the disease. |
| Dr.
Shikhman will use naturopathic therapies, such as Acupuncture
and Chinese medicine, herbal
medicine and clinical
nutrition, which will help to reduce inflammation and promote
joint regeneration. |
|
| To
learn more about Arthritis, please call White
Oak Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at 203-323-0500
to schedule a free consultation
or make an appointment. |
|
|
| |
| © 2005 White Oak Medical Center, LLC.
All rights reserved. |
