polyarthritis therapy

On the other hand, the disease can be a side effect of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, Ross River fever, Crohn's disease or Whipple's disease. Acute polyarthritis cannot be ruled out even in infections with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, Epstein-Barr and rubella. It can be triggered by a parvovirus B19 infection, especially in young women who have frequent contact with small children. The disease occurs less frequently in ulcerative colitis.

Since it is a Autoimmune disease acts, the body's own immune system attacks its own cells. It is therefore a faulty reaction of the immune system, which is normally supposed to protect us from outside invaders. Many patients carry the HLA gene DR4/DRB1, while only 25 percent of the healthy population have this gene variant. HLA, Human Leukocyte Antigens, mark cells as self or foreign, allowing the immune system to know which structures to attack. If this distinction does not work correctly and your own cells are marked as foreign, the immune system attacks the body's own structures. This is called an autoimmune reaction. In polyarthritis, the cartilage is particularly affected. This is where inflammation occurs, which is responsible for the symptoms.

Since the immune system is active throughout the body, soft tissues or organs can also be affected - this is where the biggest difference is compared to rheumatism, as this disease only affects the joints. In the case of osteoarthritis, the cause also lies elsewhere: the joint inflammation occurs due to wear and tear. In the case of polyarthritis, wear and tear only occurs due to inflammation.

It is also discussed which substances have a positive effect on the development of polyarthritis - such as tobacco smoke. According to the latest findings, inflammatory hormones, the so-called cytokines, could also contribute to the disease.

When and why and in what form polyarthritis breaks out is still being researched. In addition to environmental influences such as allergies or infections, the immune system is crucial here, as it turns against its own body and produces cytokines that cause pain and swelling as well as signs of wear and tear in the joints.

The treatment of polyarthritis with the natural remedy radon

Are you noticing symptoms of polyarthritis?

Radon – the natural remedy helps!

Radon drinking cure

Diagnosis: polyarthritis

In the early stages, many polyarthritis patients first visit their family doctor. Unfortunately, the non-specific symptoms can often be misinterpreted as a harmless flu-like infection. If you know that there are cases of polyarthritis in your family, be sure to pass this on to your family doctor. Although they cannot make a diagnosis, they can refer you to a rheumatologist. The specialist has the necessary specialist knowledge and experience to make the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy.

blood test

Further follow blood test and imaging examination procedures such as an MRI. If joint changes have already occurred, these can also be clearly visible on an X-ray.

In the case of polyarthritis, changes in blood values ​​occur:

• increased C-reactive protein (CRP)
• greatly accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• reduced hemoglobin (Hb)
• increased ceruloplasmin
• increased α2 and γ bands in electrophoresis
• Anemia

Other laboratory values ​​such as rheumatoid factor, CCP antibodies and other autoantibodies can indicate the disease.

Imaging procedures

They make a decisive contribution to finding a diagnosis. It is also easier to determine the stage of the disease. During an X-ray of the hands and feet, the doctor can detect changes in the joints that indicate polyarthritis:

• Cartilage loss
• Narrowing of the joint space
• ossification
• Joint dislocation

Other imaging procedures that can assist in making a diagnosis include:

• Ultrasonic
• Scintigraphy
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

anamnese

It is also not easy for the doctor to diagnose polyarthritis with certainty at the beginning of the disease. Because at this early stage there are often no clear indications. The specialist will first examine you and probably apply the ACR criteria at (American College of Rheumatology). According to this method, polyarthritis should have at least four of the following symptoms:

• Morning stiffness lasting at least an hour
• Inflammation in three or more joints
• Arthritis of the hand
• Symmetrical arthritis
• Rheumatoid nodules
• Rheumatoid factors in the blood
• Joint changes visible on x-ray

The test was carried out by the EULAR, the European Rheumatology Society, because not many symptoms often occur, especially in the early stages. Among other things, a points system is used here. If a patient is assigned six or more points, the diagnosis is polyarthritis.

Actively support the doctor by helping with the diagnosis. If you suspect that you have polyarthritis, prepare thoroughly for your visit to the doctor. Possible questions your doctor may ask include:

• Do your relatives suffer from polyarthritis or joint inflammation?
• When do the symptoms become particularly severe?
• Which joints are affected?
• How many joints have symptoms?
• Are your joints very stiff in the morning?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Have you been or are you exposed to harmful substances or high physical stress in your job?
• Is your diet varied?

Your doctor will ask you many more questions about previous illnesses, operations, allergies and other areas. Be sure to answer honestly and don't hide anything. If you smoke, mention it because smoking increases the causes of arthritis and could be a cause.

Living with polyarthritis

You have been diagnosed with polyarthritis. Now it's about living with the disease and maintaining your health as much as possible. Therefore is a holistic therapy approach with medication and physical therapies is very useful in order to enable the best possible quality of life. Psychotherapy can also help you cope with the disease, for example if you need to stop smoking or go on a diet.

The general goal is always to provide you with one To enable people to live as painlessly and independently as possible. You can actively contribute to this by leading a healthy lifestyle. This includes exercise, a varied diet and avoiding obesity and avoiding nicotine or cigarette smoke. You feel fitter and healthier and the risk of developing polyarthritis in the first place decreases. With a healthy attitude, you can delay the progression of the disease and live longer without symptoms.

If you as a woman suffer from the disease at a young age, the symptoms often diminish during pregnancy.

If you are overweight, it is worth losing weight. This relieves pressure on the joints and reduces pain. Furthermore, a diet that is as low in meat or vegetarian as possible has a beneficial effect on polyarthritis patients. The arachidonic acid contained in meat and the substances formed from it promote inflammation. A good supply of calcium and vitamins to strengthen bones and joints is advisable.

As the severity of the autoimmune disease increases, you can have grab bars installed on the bathtub. The entire bathroom can also be made barrier-free if there is a greater degree of immobility.

You can also find many in the medical supply store aids such as a rollator or walking stick, dressing, buttoning and gripping aids that make everyday life with polyarthritis easier. Please contact your health insurance company beforehand to find out which aids and services are covered.

It is helpful to apply for a nursing degree. This will give you special care services from the health insurance company for support. Whether you prefer assisted living or home care is entirely up to you.

As is usual with incurable illnesses, the symptoms increase over the years and the symptom-free periods shorten. Surgery and injections into the affected joints may be necessary at some point to correct misalignments and relieve pain.