When you're diagnosed with arthritis, you have to learn how to live and cope with chronic illness. You need to learn what to do and what not to do. Not only what to do to keep arthritis under control but how to minimize its negative impact on your life.

At first, you may not know if what you're doing is the best thing. Trust your gut -- but also learn from others who have plenty of experience living with arthritis. We've put together 10 do's and 10 don'ts. Start with those and build your own list too. Here's our list of Arthritis Do's and Don'ts - Practical Advice to Help You Cope.

Related Resources:

• 8 Best Things to Do for Arthritis
• 10 Ways to Improve Your Life With Arthritis
• Ways to Manage Your Pain
• The Living With Arthritis Checklist
• Striking a Balance With Arthritis

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• Join Us in Our Arthritis Forum / Message Board

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Arthritis Do's and Don'ts originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 00:29:46.

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People with arthritis sometimes become impatient when their treatment isn't producing results. Especially when it comes to DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). In a significant number of rheumatoid arthritis patients, 3 months is not long enough to achieve the desired response.

According to the August 2010 Rheumatology News, a review of 51 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis who had been enrolled in the Toronto Early Arthritis Cohort revealed exactly that -- some took longer than others to respond to DMARDs. All of the patients were older than 16 (average age 46) and experienced symptoms that ranged from 6 to 52 weeks. They had at least two swollen joints, or one swollen MCP or PIP joint and at least one of the following rheumatoid arthritis characteristics: positive rheumatoid factor, positive anti-CCP antibodies, morning stiffness longer than 45 minutes, response to NSAIDs, or pain in a metatarsophalangeal joint in a squeeze test.

Of the 51 patients, 27 had low disease activity at 3 months while 24 did not. Also, 17 reached remission after 3 months while 34 did not. When the patients were assessed after 6 months, 15 more had achieved low disease activity, and 15 more had gone into remission.

This shows that it's difficult to precisely determine when a treatment should be stopped because it hasn't produced the desired effect. What you don't want to do is give up too soon.

Related Resources:

• More About DMARDs
• Biologic DMARDs Explained
• Methotrexate - 10 Things You Should Know
• When Should You Switch Your TNF-Blocker?
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments - ACR Recommendations

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DMARDs for Rheumatoid Arthritis Are Slow-Acting originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 23:23:26.

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People with arthritis often get discouraged and say, "My family doesn't understand", or "My friend doesn't get what it's like for me". Family and friends aren't trying to be difficult or lack compassion. They truly don't understand.

If someone doesn't live with arthritis, it's hard for them to understand exactly what it's like. Remember the famous Elvis Presley lyric? Walk a mile in my shoes, just walk a mile in my shoes.

What do you wish people would understand about arthritis that you think most don't understand? Here's your chance. What Do You Wish People Would Understand About Arthritis?

Related Resources:

• 7 Misconceptions About Arthritis
• Arthritis Can Affect Self-Esteem
• POLL: How Understanding Is the Person Closest to You?
• 10 Basic Facts Most People Don't Know About Arthritis
• 12 Tips to Help Family and Friends Understand Arthritis

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• Join Us in Our Arthritis Forum / Message Board

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What Do You Wish People Would Understand About Arthritis? originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 23:12:36.

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Scientists believe that production of a protein, known as GM-CSF, may be the reason rheumatoid arthritis appears to protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system goes haywire and proteins that attack the body are produced, including GM-CSF. It had been thought that the protective effect was the result of rheumatoid arthritis patients taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) but results of a study published in the August 2010 Journal of Alzheimer's Disease point to GM-CSF.

In the study, mice were genetically-altered to have memory problems like those in Alzheimer's disease. Researchers then treated the genetically-altered mice and some of the healthy mice with GM-CSF. Other mice, some healthy and some with Alzheimer's-like symptoms, were given placebo. By the end of the 20-day study, the mice with Alzheimer's symptoms treated with GM-CSF performed better on memory and learning tests than mice not treated with GM-CSF -- similar to the level of mice that were not genetically-altered to have the condition. Genetically-altered mice that received placebo performed poorly on the tests.

Researchers have suggested GM-CSF may draw microglia from the peripheral blood supply into the brain to remove Alzheimer's plaques. GM-CSF-treated Alzheimer's mice had a 50% decrease in beta amyloid -- the substance that forms Alzheimer's plaques.

Related Resources:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis - Explained With Pictures
• Fast Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• How Much Do You Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis - What You Need to Know
• Do You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms or Risk Factors?

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Protein Produced in Rheumatoid Arthritis May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 23:52:20.

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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas easily recognized by its rotten egg smell. It has now been shown to reside naturally in our bodies, specifically, in knee joint synovial fluid. Acting as a protective fluid, synovial fluid is found in joint cavities and reduces friction between cartilage during movement of joints.

The study, published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, compared H2S in blood samples and knee joint synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis patients, osteoarthritis patients, and healthy people. Rheumatoid arthritis patients had higher concentrations of H2S in their synovial fluid compared to controls. Higher levels were linked to disease activity and lowered counts of inflammatory cells. This suggests H2S may play a role in controlling inflammation -- and this opens the door to further research and potential development of H2S-based treatments.

Related Resources:

• Joint Fluid Analysis
• Inflammation - The Battle Within
• Test Your Knowledge - Inflammation
• Knee Osteoarthritis - Facts You Should Know
• The Cause of Knee Pain - Step-by-Step

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• Join Us in Our Arthritis Forum / Message Board

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Knee Arthritis - Hydrogen Sulfide Is Present in Joint Fluid originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 23:14:25.

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