Rheumatism Speciality Centre

Kriston Clinic is one of the best Osteopathy clinic in Chennai for the management of Auto immune diseases such as,

Rheumatoid Arthritis,

Ankylosing Spondylitis,

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE),

Psoriatic Arthritis,

Inflammatory Arthritis,

Reactive Arthritis etc.

If you are suffering from Pain due to Chronic Degenerative Conditions such as rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, SLE, Psoriatic Arthritis,

AND

If you are looking to avoid invasive surgery or still suffering despite prior surgical intervention Please Contact us.

WE  CAN HELP

How KRISTON CLINIC can help you:

Kriston Clinic is Acknowledged as one of the best Rheumatism speciality care center in chennai  as we have research based treatment programme and US FDA approved equipments:

There have been several studies which demonstrate that osteopathy is particularly effective in treating chronic autoimmune diseases. The holistic approach of an osteopath takes into account the patient’s full life situation (for example; stress, mental health, living conditions) and uses a combination of treatments to restore balance and function to all systems. Any disease is a complex experience, many patients benefit from the comprehensive approach of osteopathic techniques.

WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue, including joints. In severe cases, it attacks internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis affects joint linings, causing painful swelling. Over long periods of time, the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can cause bone erosion and joint deformity.Osteopathy, physiotherapy and medication can help improve patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis..

Uncontrolled inflammationdamages cartilage, which normally acts as a “shock absorber” in your joints. In time, this can deform your joints. Eventually, your bone itself erodes. This can lead to the fusion of your joint (an effort of your body to protect itself from constant irritation).

Specific cells in your immune system(your body’s infection-fighting system) aid this process. These substances are produced in your joints but also circulate and cause symptoms throughout your body. In addition to affecting your joints, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes affects other parts of your body, including your skin,eyes, mouth, lungs and heart.

WHAT’S THE AGE OF ONSET FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

RA usually starts to develop between the ages of 30 and 60. But anyone can develop rheumatoid arthritis. In children and young adults — usually between the ages of 16 and 40 — it’s called young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA). In people who develop symptoms after they turn 60, it’s called later-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA).

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. In some people, joint symptoms develop over several years. In other people, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms progress rapidly. Many people have time with symptoms (flares) and then time with no symptoms (remission).

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in more than one joint.
• Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods.
• Pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of your body.
• Fatigue(extreme tiredness).
• Fever.

DOES RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS CAUSE FATIGUE?

Everyone’s experience of rheumatoid arthritis is a little different. But many people with RA say that fatigue is among the worst symptoms of the disease.

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting. And fatigue can make it more difficult to manage your pain. It’s important to pay attention to your body and take breaks before you get too tired.

What are rheumatoid arthritis flare symptoms?

The symptoms of a rheumatoid arthritis flare aren’t much different from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But people with RA have ups and downs. A flare is a time when you have significant symptoms after feeling better for a while. With treatment, you’ll likely have periods of time when you feel better. Then, stress, changes in weather, certain foods or infections trigger a period of increased disease activity.

Although you can’t prevent flares altogether, there are steps you can take to help you manage them. It might help to write your symptoms down every day in a journal, along with what’s going on in your life. Share this journal with your rheumatologist, who may help you identify triggers. Then you can work to manage those triggers.

WHAT CAUSES RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Researchers think it’s caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors.

Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. An infection, smoking or physical or emotional stress may be triggering.

Is rheumatoid arthritis genetic?

Scientists have studied many genes as potential risk factors for RA. Certain genetic variations and non-genetic factors contribute to your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Non-genetic factors include sex and exposure to irritants and pollutants.

People born with variations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. HLA genes help your immune system tell the difference between proteins your body makes and proteins from invaders like viruses and bacteria.

What are the risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis?

There are several risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis. These include:

• Family history: You’re more likely to develop RA if you have a close relative who also has it.
• Sex: Women and people designated female at birth are two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
• Smoking:Smokingincreases a person’s risk of rheumatoid arthritis and makes the disease worse.
• Obesity: Your chances of developing RA are higher if you have obesity.

WHAT ARE THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Diagnostic criteria are a set of signs, symptoms and test results your provider looks for before telling you that you’ve got rheumatoid arthritis. They’re based on years of research and clinical practice. Some people with RA don’t have all the criteria. Generally, though, the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Inflammatory arthritis in two or more large joints (shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles).
• Inflammatory arthritis in smaller joints.
• Positive biomarker tests like rheumatoid factor (RF) or CCP antibodies.
• Elevated levels of CRP or an elevated sed rate.
• Your symptoms have lasted more than six weeks.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

What are the goals of treating rheumatoid arthritis?

The most important goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint pain and swelling. Doing so should help maintain or improve joint function. The long-term goal of treatment is to slow or stop joint damage. Controlling joint inflammation reduces your pain and improves your quality of life.

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

Joint damage generally occurs within the first two years of diagnosis, so it’s important to see your provider if you notice symptoms. Treating rheumatoid arthritis in this “window of opportunity” can help prevent long-term consequences.

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis includes Osteopathy, Physical therapy, lifestyle changes, medicine and surgery. Your provider considers your age, health, medical history and how bad your symptoms are when deciding on a treatment.

Will changing my diet help my rheumatoid arthritis?

When combined with the treatments and medications your provider recommends, changes in dietmay help reduce inflammation and other symptoms of RA. You can talk with your doctor about adding good fats and minimizing bad fats, salt and processed carbohydrates. These dietary changes are safer and most successful when monitored by your Dietician.

But there are lifestyle changes you can make that may help relieve your symptoms. Your Dietician may recommend weight lossto reduce stress on inflamed joints.

People with rheumatoid arthritis also have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol (a risk factor for coronary artery disease) can respond to changes in diet. A nutritionist can recommend specific foods to eat or avoid to reach a desirable cholesterol level.

OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people who have rheumatoid arthritis?

There are many effective methods for decreasing your pain and inflammation and slowing down your disease process. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are very important.

What types of lifestyle changes can help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Having a lifelong illness like rheumatoid arthritis may make you feel like you don’t have much control over your quality of life. While there are aspects of RA that you can’t control, there are things you can do to help you feel the best that you can.

Such lifestyle changes include:

REST

When your joints are inflamed, the risk of injury to your joints and nearby soft tissue structures (such as tendons and ligaments) is high. This is why you need to rest your inflamed joints. But it’s still important for you to exercise. Maintaining a good range of motion in your joints and good fitness overall are important in coping with RA.

EXERCISE

Pain and stiffness can slow you down. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis become inactive. But inactivity can lead to a loss of joint motion and loss of muscle strength. These, in turn, decrease joint stability and increase pain and fatigue.

Regular exercise can help prevent and reverse these effects. You might want to start by seeing a physical or occupational therapist for advice about how to exercise safely. Beneficial workouts include:

• Range-of-motion exercises to preserve and restore joint motion.
• Exercises to increase strength.
• Exercises to increase endurance (walking, swimming and cycling).

TREATMENT

Osteopathy and Physiotherapy help clients cope with chronic pain and disability through the design of programs that address flexibility, endurance, aerobic condition, range of motion (ROM), strength, bone integrity, coordination, balance and risk of falls.

The main components of Osteopathy and physical therapy treatment are

• Exercise therapy,
• Joint protectionadvice and provision of functional splinting and assistive devices
• Osteopathic Manual Thewrapy
• Patient education.

The therapy goals in most cases are:

• Improvement in disease management knowledge
• Pain control
• Improvement in activities of daily living
• Improvement in Joint stiffness
• Prevent or control joint damage
• Improve strength
• Improve fatigue levels
• Improve the quality of life
• Improve aerobic condition
• Improve stability and coordination

Treatment techniques

Cold/HotApplications: cold for acute phase; heat for chronic phase and used before exercise.

Matrix Therapy, Laser Therapy, TENS, IASTM, is used to relieve pain.

Osteopathic manual therapy.

Exercise Therapy: exercise with minimal load on the joints.

Joint Protectiontechniques.

Orthopaedic Manual Therapy: Osteopathic manual therapy helps to align the misaligned joints  and helps in the improvement of function, pain reduction, reduction of disease activity improve flexibility and welfare (dimension of depression, anxiety, mood and pain).

Therapeutic Exercise:

• Physical exercise helps to increase the physical capacity of the patient.
• Exercise improves general muscular endurance and strength without detrimental effects on disease activity or pain in RA
• Before beginning an exercise program perform a global evaluation of the situation: joint-inflammation local or systemic, state of the disease, age of the patient and grade of collaboration.
• Exercise therapy is aimed at improving daily functioning and social participation by means of improvement of the strength, aerobic condition, range of motion, stabilisation and coordination.

Programs for Patients with RA

• Includes; ROM-exercises; aerobic exercise: stabilisation/coordination exercises.
• Start with a moderate-intensive exercise program.
• Progress to a high-intensive exercise program if possible aimed at improving aerobic capacity, strength and endurance.
• The duration and intensity of the exercises should be based on the individual patient and their assessment.

Precautions:

• When the patient experiences an exacerbation and the joints are acutely inflamed then isometric exercises should be done
• Avoid stretching in acute cases.
• Revise the exercise program if pain persists 2 hours after the activity or there is an increase in joint swelling
• Patients with active RA in their knees should avoid climbing stairs or weight lifting as it could lead to intra-articular pressure in the knee joint
• Avoid excessive stress over the tendons with stretches and avoidballistic movements.