Read on to find out what supplements can be beneficial in relieving the pain of arthritis naturally.

New research indicates that diet may influence traditional rheumatoid arthritis treatment. This article summarizes the current science and recommendations.

Vitamins & minerals are essential for arthritis as it can assist the symptoms & effects of arthritis. Find the link between arthritis and a daily multivitamin.

Movement is one of the best ways to find relief for arthritis pain, aches, and stiffness. Try this 10 minute routine to ease your arthritis pain.

So what does osteoarthritis feel like and what should I expect? Common symptoms of osteoarthritis include joint pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. It is

You may have given up activities you love for fear of worsening shoulder pain. Find out what exercises will actually help relieve arthritis pain.

I've joyfully been living a mostly pain-free life even with rheumatoid arthritis. I have found it possible to go med-free and manage this RA naturally!

***I’m posting this late – on February 5th. I had originally decided not to, since I missed Awareness Day, but I decided it’s still important to talk about. – So I’m j…

Fatigue is a physical symptom that is difficult to overcome. 25 tips to manage rheumatoid arthritis fatigue from people living with rheumatoid disease.

There are many types of arthritis that can affect the neck. Learn more about the symptoms of neck arthritis, possible diagnoses, and available treatments.

Arthritis is actually an umbrella term, one that is used to define several different arthritic conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, swelling, and pain in your joints. It is common to experience symptoms in your hands, knees, ankles, hips, and elbows.

Part of living with RA is the rheumatoid arthritis flare up. In this post, RA patient Kate the (Almost) Great shares the beginner's guide to a flare.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are found in so many other illnesses. That's why diagnosis is problematic. Here are 14 reasons why it may NOT be Fibromyalgia... Fibromyalgia has many, varied and fluctuating symptoms. It should be considered when a patient describes a history of widespread pain, with no evident cause, that lasts three months or more. As well as this chronic musculoskeletal pain, whichaffects the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons they have fatigue and sleep problems and stiffness. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a number of other conditions such as sensitivity to chemicals, irritable bowel or restless legs and depression or anxiety. The symptoms can often start, or worsen, during a period of severe psychosocial or physical stress. Fibromyalgia presents a unique medical problem: Its symptoms are so common, that it is both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Because there are no blood tests or scans to easily diagnose it, many physicians have trouble detecting the disorder. It can NOT be easily confirmed or ruled out with a simple blood test. It can't be seen on an X-ray or MRI. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. The key symptoms of fibromyalgia are also commonly found in many other illnesses, and a thorough examination and investigation needs to be undertaken in order to ensure there is not another pathological cause for the symptoms – particularly if there are any ‘red flags’ in the patient’s history suggestive of another serious pathology (Table 1). Table 1. Red flags Older age at new symptom onset Weight loss Night pain Focal pain Fever or sweats Neurological features History of malignancy Doctors need to rule out: arthritis lupus multiple sclerosis chronic fatigue syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica hypothyroidism depression polymyositis hyperparathyroidism adrenal insufficiency myasthenia gravis cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease So if a doctor asks you about your mood, or skin rashes, or sends you for a blood test of your antibodies or an MRI they are just doing their job. They are ruling out these 14 conditions which have similar symptoms to Fibromyalgia. It is important to do so because these 14 conditions have specific treatments. Symptoms NOT usually found in Fibromyalgia include: arthritis: swelling and redness, loss of motion in joints lupus: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, anemia, abnormal blood clotting multiple sclerosis: brain lesions on an MRI chronic fatigue syndrome: profound fatigue that is more intense than pain, sore thoat polymyalgia rheumatica: average age of onset is 70, elevated levels of inflammatory proteins in blood. hypothyroidism: thyroid autoantibodies are common depression: polymyositis: muscle weakness in proximal muscles: upper arms, thighs. hyperparathyroidism: presence of hypercalcemia adrenal insufficiency: severe exhaustion, not typically associated with chronic widespread pain. myasthenia gravis: neurologic signs characteristic of specific disease. cushing’s syndrome: characteristic facial and skin signs of Cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome: dry eyes and dry mouth, presence of anti bodies specific to Sjogren's Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease Getting a Diagnosis I suggest that you keep a diary of your symptoms. This should make it easier to talk to your doctor or specialist. Especially if you have memory problems, writing things down will provide the doctor with the information that they need to make a correct diagnosis. When you go to a consultation go with: a list of questions a list of current medications a brief medical history including your parents main conditions a list of your symptoms When writing the list of your symptoms try and remember what were your first symptoms and what year they started and then the next symptoms and the year etc. as many doctors ask these questions. More clues for fibromyalgia diagnosis (from MayoClinic) People who have fibromyalgia also often wake up tired, even after they've slept continuously for more than eight hours. Brief periods of physical or mental exertion may leave them exhausted. They may also have problems with short-term memory and the ability to concentrate. If you have these problems, your doctor may ask you to rank how severely they affect your day-to-day activities. Fibromyalgia often coexists with other health problems, so your doctor may also ask if you experience: Irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Jaw pain Anxiety or depression Frequent or painful urination Remember that all ongoing pain should be evaluated. I am saying this because after a while of not getting a diagnosis you may start to question whether the pain is all in your head. Lee Good has 20+ years of experience helping people with chronic illness to understand research information and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy. She is the WEGO winner, 2018/19 for building the best patient community around Fibromyalgia and editor at Fibro Blogger Directory, which is a community of fibromyalgia bloggers. RESOURCES: Fibromyalgia: Understand the diagnosis process MayoClinic Diagnostic challenges: Australian Family Physician Musculoskeletal Pain: Cleveland Clinic

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably recently been told you have Rheumatoid Arthritis. If you’ve just joined the millions of people in the world with RA you probably have a lot of question…

The fibro diet, paleo and fibromyalgia are directly proportional to one another - if you mess with either, you will see an effect on fibromyalgia.

Nuts, berries, yogurt and more can be on the tasty and varied rheumatoid arthritis snacking menu.

1. It is so much more than joint pain! You also deal with swollen joints, stiff joints, deformed joints, red joints, flaming hot joints and that is before we even move on to the non-joint related symptoms. Can I interest you in a sizeable dose of crippling fatigue? How about daily flu like symptoms? Oh, and … 16 Things You May Not Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis Read More »

Part of living with RA is the rheumatoid arthritis flare up. In this post, RA patient Kate the (Almost) Great shares the beginner's guide to a flare.

This easy DIY recipe features a trio of herbs (cayenne, ginger and arnica flowers) that have been shown to help relieve pain, inflammation and arthritis.

Here is the scientific evidence about vitamins for Sjogren's Syndrome (Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E)

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the entire body, including the lungs. Learn how chronic inflammation from arthritis can cause types of lung disease.

A percentage of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) go on to develop Sjögren's syndrome (SS) which is another autoimmune disorder. When someone with an established autoimmune disease, such as RA, develops SS it is called Secondary Sjögren's syndrome. The basic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth but the list of symptoms is long and not everyone gets all of them. In a 2013 study researchers found that RA patients with secondary Sjögren’s syndrome had distinct features that set them apart from those with RA alone: higher RA disease activity. more severe arthritis, with a greater number of swollen, tender, and deformed joints. tended to be older and have a longer duration of RA. appeared to have stronger hereditary component to their disease. a clearer history of autoimmune disease in their family. presence of certain antibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF) as well as other auto-antibodies (SSA and SSB). more likely to have blood abnormalities. more likely to have fever and rash. were more likely to have Interstitial lung disease, a common lung complication. Find out more about Sjogren's Syndrome at Sjogren's Syndrome Info

Dysphagia is a therapeutic term that implies that a patient experiences issues gulping. There are many reasons / conditions that can cause dysphagia. Furthermore, somebody who experiences dysphagia frequently finds that it makes life exceptionally troublesome. Contingent upon their condition, gulping can be extremely excruciating, which makes eating and getting enough sustenance a test. What’s […]

After seeing hundreds of people with osteoarthritis, I have compiled as list of 11 arthritis must haves to help you find pain relief. Keep in mind, each

Signs and symptoms of RA occur in the wrists, hands, or feet. While there are many, here are the top 4 symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Using essential oils for joint pain and other body aches can help you find quick, targeted, and all-natural relief.

Dealing with pain, day in and day out, can be extremely tiring. While there is no cure, there is definitely hope for pain relief. Yoga for fibromyalgia relief is what we are talking about

You probably know the common fibromyalgia symptoms, but have you ever thought that some of your bizarre symptoms are fibro-related?

Explore the key distinctions in symptoms, causes, and treatment between rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis

Costochondritis, or chest wall pain, is painful and can cause mobility problems. These are the exercises that help me manage this condition.

There are five types of psoriatic arthritis! Learn the differences, what treatments are available, and how to modify your life.

What to look for—and what to do about it.

Dealing with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the knees can be tough. The constant pain and stiffness might make you feel helpless sometimes. But don't lose heart! You can do a lot to manage your symptoms

One of the hallmarks of arthritis is, of course, pain. If you don't know anything about arthritis, you probably know that pain is involved. But what a lot of people don't realize is that the pain can differ from one type of arthritis to another. And it can be different from one patient to another, even if you have the same type! So today we're going to answer the question, "What does arthritis pain feel like?"

What is Fibromyalgia? Living with fibromyalgia is tough. It invades all parts of your body and affects your quality of life. The major symptom is pain,

If you have painful fingers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or arthritis, these gorgeous rings may help.