There’s no doubt that gout can be an extremely painful and distressing condition. Gout is traditionally treated with NSAIDS or anti- inflammatories. Allopurinal is often prescribed as it can inhibit the formation of arthritis causing uric acid within the body. However, this medication can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and inflammation of the blood vessels. Other prescription drugs can also have adverse side effects, such as nausea, weakness, thinning of bones, bruising and abnormal bleeding. Many are not considered safe to take long term.

Many people are turning towards natural remedies for treating gout. These are much safer, with little or no side effects.

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Spinal arthritis is also known as Spondylosis. It is generally caused by degeneration and wear and tear, although can also be triggered by injury or spinal surgery. It is thought that there may also be a genetic link. Spinal arthritis can affect any area of the spine, and due to the high number of nerves present within the spinal structure can be very painful.

Symptoms; You may notice increased stiffness in the spine, which can be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. There will also be pain, which may be exacerbated by movement and which may come and go. There may be additional pain or numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms or legs, including the Sciatic nerve.

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It is possible to identify Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in its early stages if you learn how to recognise the common symptoms of this condition. RA usually starts with one or more symptoms which can change over time with its progression.

RA often starts in middle age, but can also develop in younger people and even children. It causes inflammation of the joint linings (synovium), which results in excessive joint fluid being produced, causing stiffness, pain, characteristic swelling and loss of joint function. In worse cases, it can cause inflammation of the lining of the lungs, heart and surrounding blood vessels. RA can also cause the glands around the mouth and eyes to become inflamed, causing dryness- this is known as Sjogren’s syndrome.

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Sometimes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, subcutaneous nodules can develop. These tend to be firm and are not tender to touch, and develop on around a quarter of rheumatoid arthritis patients. They can vary in size and usually develop at pressure points such as the back of the forearm, the elbow, metacarpophalangeal joint and pressure points on the knees and feet. The nodules mainly occur in chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis, and can be associated with joint deformity and extra- articular menifestations of the condition, where organs such as the lungs and eyes are affected.

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Arthritis in the knee is also known as ‘wear and tear’ arthritis. It is caused by the cartilage around the knee joint gradually wearing away, exposing the bone beneath. The joint cushions, or Meniscus, may also become damaged or wear away. Arthritis in the knee is most often found in the over 50’s. Other risk factors include genetic tendencies and carrying excess weight, putting a greater strain on the knee joints. Other causes can include damage or trauma to the knee causing damage to the bones or ligaments, ie accidents or certain sports related injuries.

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The two most common types of shoulder arthritis are Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms The most common signs of shoulder arthritis are a  stiffness of the shoulder, limited range of motion of the shoulder joint, swelling around the joint area, and pain on moving the shoulder. There may also be a grinding feeling within the joint, or a feeling that something’s ‘catching’. These symptoms can vary in severity and tend to progress as the arthritis become worse. Interestingly though, the symptoms of shoulder arthritis do not always follow a logical progression; they can come and go from one month to another and often appear to be influenced by weather cycles.

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Neck arthritis is more commonly known as Cervical Spondylosis. It is a degenerative arthritis of the upper (cervical) part of the spine. The cause is generally age related wear and tear of the vertebrae and discs in the neck, although it can also be brought on by excessive and prolonged strain on the area, such as in jobs requiring much manual handling or certain sports. The discs in the neck become thinner as we age, and the vertebrae can develop rough areas of bone on the edges. These can cause irritation to the nearby nerves and ligaments.

We all undergo these changes to some extent, but Cervical Spondylosis is diagnosed when the degeneration is severe or having a greater impact than expected for an individual’s age.

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Arthritis isn’t a condition that only affects humans. It can also affect our pets too. It is believed that one in five dogs in the US suffers from arthritis, and arthritic pain is the most common sources of chronic pain.

Since your dog can’t tell you how he’s feeling, you will need to monitor him closely for the tell tale signs he may be suffering from arthritis. These signs include decreased activity levels- he may show less interest in going for a walk or playtime. You may notice him start to hesitate when he climbs or descends the stairs, and he may show reluctance to jump or run. You may notice that he has difficulty when he stands, and there may be more obvious signs of joint pain and stiffness. He may also favor a limb, at some times more than others.

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