Ankylosing Spondylitis Support Group in Hastings

FORGET WHETHER YOU’RE A RED OR A BLUE- ITS ASRA UTD. YOU WANT TO BE CHEERING FOR!

Last week, I had the fortune to come across an article in the Hastings Observer, relating to a new support group specifically for those people suffering with a form of arthritis known as Anklyosing Spondylitus (AS) and found out some facts that really made me sit up and take notice.

Did you know that there more people in the UK that suffer with Ankylosing Spondylitus than MS?  However very few people have actually heard of it as there is a great deal of ignorance about the condition among doctors and the public alike, with sufferers often seen as people with a ‘bad back’.

 In fact, Ankylosing Spondylitus causes the joints of the spine to fuse together and affects many other joints in the body. Sufferers often end up with a curved back which does not flex at all, known as bamboo spine. AS also affects the heart, eyes and other parts of the body, as well as causing debilitating bouts of chronic fatigue which impact upon everyday lives and families.

Kevin Andrews (pictured above) has suffered with AS since he was a child and in 2010 set up a support group in East Sussex to help others affected by the condition.  Now he has ASRA United which we can all support by going to www.asrautd.org .  This online forum is for fellow sufferers and aims to give those like him the opportunity to share their own experiences and get support from each other. It is a welcoming and friendly site (as I have personally experienced!) and also invites friends and families to join in order that they can increase their understanding of the condition and learn how they can help.

The group is currently about 80 strong and is growing all the time. On viewing it I was struck by the genuine warmth exhibited between users.  They have first-hand experience of what it’s really like to have this condition and are readily available to help and support. Often just someone taking the time to listen to you is all it takes to feel a little comfort.

If you suffer from or know some-one that has AS, direct them to the forum.  We wish Kevin and all those involved with the site the very best of luck with it. It’s great to see people ready to put themselves out there and take positive action to tackle their condition, and if we can do our bit to help support them, all the better.
For further support, you can also contact the National Ankylosing Spondylitus Society (NASS)

Arthritis - The Essential Guide. Gill Carrick talks about Reactive Arthritis and simple steps which have eased her pain.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting author and writer Gill Carrick. She kindly agreed to write a guest blog for The Arthritis Supermarket, highlighting her own experience with arthritis.

In the interview, Gill talks about her own experience of living with arthritis and her new book 'The Essential Guide to Arthritis'.  

"Last year I developed a rare form of inflammatory arthritis. Although I was stiff, and my joints swelled up as expected with this type of arthritis, I didn't have the other typical symptoms of pain and fatigue. In the words of my GP, I was a 'fascinating' case.

Even the rheumatology consultant at my local hospital was pretty baffled about what was going on. His answer was to stick me on immuno-suppressants and send me on my way - more or less.

I knew instinctively that I didn't need my immune system suppressed thanks very much, and decided to take charge (with a bit of help from my GP) and manage my condition with some steroid injections and changes to my diet; alongside regular, low-impact exercise. Adopting a relaxed state of mind helped too.

I’ve found a couple of dietary supplements have worked for me. One in particular is LitoZin which I add to my breakfast every morning.  It’s pretty tasteless so I don’t notice I’m eating it, which is probably no bad thing. It’s been devised by Danish scientists who discovered it worked for dogs and horses and decided to try it out on humans.

The main ingredients are rosehips (gathered from the island where Hans Christian Andersen was born, no less) with a fatty acid called GOPO. It’s high in Vitamin C which is good and can help control inflammation levels in the body. Arthritis Research UK believes a deficiency in Vitamin C can trigger inflammatory arthritis.

Other fatty acids which help control inflammation are Omega 3 & 6 which I take in the form of liquid Eskimo 3 Fish Oil Capsules – a fish oil supplement developed by Swedish researchers. (There seems to be a Scandinavian theme to my list of supplements!)   

I turns out I had reactive arthritis which is rare, with only 40 cases a year and more common in men. The causes are difficult to pinpoint, admittedly, and range from food poisoning to a virus - sometime's there's no known cause. But the possibility I had had this form of arthritis should have been considered by the experts. As my GP said, the rheumatology department had ‘jumped to conclusions.’

So the moral of this story is to push for the right diagnosis - as quickly as possible – and don’t be fobbed off.  Seek a second opinion and if your instinct tells you the doctors might be barking up the wrong tree, tell them. As nicely as possible of course! 

I’d love to hear from anyone else who’s had reactive arthritis – I’m sure I’m not unique.... “

Contact Gill via her website http://www.glcarrick-writer.co.uk/id3.html
Thank you so much to Gill for taking the time to talk about her experiences. She’s working on further health books, including one for arthritis in dogs. We’ll keep you posted about that one, and hopefully persuade her to write another guest blog!

As a writer and author, Gill's book "The Essential Guide to Arthritis" is an easy read which aims to show ALL the options available to those with arthritis, not just the ones your consultant recommends! Gill is an inspirational example that by staying positive, keeping mobile and getting the right treatment, you can manage your condition effectively- and get on with the rest of your life.
If you would like to get a copy of Gill's book you can buy it from http://www.need2knowbooks.co.uk/products/Arthritis-the-Essential-Guide.html

Gardening With Arthritis? Think of Wordsworth's 'Daffodils' !

At this time of year my mind is always drawn to William Wordsworth’s famous poem “Daffodils”.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

When you look around you and see the daffodils at last starting to come into bloom, it’s a sure sign that the days are getting lighter and warmer (hopefully!) and that Spring is just round the corner.

It always amazes me that even after the harsh winter we have had, shoots are starting to appear and glorious golden daffodils still emerge from the cold earth to brighten the day

I’m sure many of you will be looking to your garden and are busy planning what to prune and plant, but for those with arthritis, the pain felt in hands, wrists or knees can spoil this pleasurable experience.

At the Arthritis Supermarket many customers are keen gardeners and so that your gardening needs can be met there is a range of products that may help ease joint pain.

When holding a conventional trowel or fork, stretched tendons on the upper part of the wrist can compress the tissues on the lower part of the wrist and thus cause pain.

The ergonomically angled handle on our Garden Hand tools keep hand and wrist in a natural position, preventing strain whilst gardening

Sometimes bending or working on your knees can also be painful and so our Long Reach range has been designed for gardeners working from a seated position, or those with bending difficulties.

The additional arm support cuff utilizes the strength of the forearm thus improving control and offering more support and stability, allowing you to complete some tasks one handed.

We really hope we can help you get into your garden this Spring and enjoy the flowers, because as Mr Wordsworth says,

“And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”

Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Seignalet Diet

I recently received a Facebook message from a friend in Spain who is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.  She had been on medication including regular doses of painkillers, but had made a discovery which, in her own case, had enabled her to come off them within three weeks.

She had discovered the Seignalet Diet, so called after Jean Seignalet a doctor and professor from France.

The philosophy of this diet is that some foods have changed in their original protein structure due to modern farming methods. However, our digestive system has not and thus the proteins we eat may not be digested completely.  The theory is that the undigested protein alters the balance of the intestinal flora which in turn creates toxins that are absorbed and disturb the body balance.

The diet excludes certain food groups and as my friend readily admits the first two weeks were a bit tricky but the fact that her pain had reduced considerably made it worth sacrificing a cheese sandwich or two!

For more information visit http://seignaletdiet.wordpress.com/

Following her message I checked out the website and saw a number of testimonials advocating the benefits of the diet. The idea that diet plays an important role in managing arthritis symptoms is not new. Two hundred years ago, doctors were prescribing cod liver oil to treat rheumatism and gout and there are many scientific studies that show the benefits of good nutrition in the battle against arthritis.

People with arthritis may often wonder which way to turn when deciding the best way to manage their symptoms. Scientific data may often seem conflicting as to what works and what doesn’t.

Here at the Arthritis Supermarket, we believe that it is the individual who is important and that if they find a treatment or therapy (alternative or conventional) that works for them, then all to the good.

If you have any comments about the Seignalet Diet or your own experience with it, please do post a comment.

Low Back Pain Treatment – New video showcases innovative infrared treatment to help you manage your low back pain.

Low back pain affects nearly 80% of us at one time or another.  Arthritis of the spine or any number of causes of low back pain can lead to stiffness, a lack of mobility and a down ward cycle of pain, further stiffness, possible muscle spasm and further restrictions to mobility and life.

Infrared has traditionally been used to increase blood flow and aid healing.  Infrared is typically thought of in terms of lamps but the cumbersome nature and impracticalities of lamps has meant that you will rarely find an infrared lamp in a clinic.

Now that is changing.

       
New technology sees a carbon impregnated fabric emitting infrared via a pad worn against the body.  If you get any degree of comfort from heat, you will love this product.

The Thermedic Infrared Low Back Support is a 3 in 1 product offering support, a cold pack insert for acute pain and injury and importantly the infrared element which is used as a low back pain treatment, particularly for chronic low back pain.

Delivering a consistent heat, use the infrared for thirty minutes at a time over or under your clothes.

Thousands have been sold internationally and The Arthritis Supermarket is pleased to offer this remarkable innovation to people with arthritis back pain, general low back pain or for general comfort and warmth.

For more details, click here to see the Thermedic Infrared Back Support Belt.

Danielle Lineker has suffered with Arthritis since her teens.

It was surprising to hear in the news this week that Danielle Lineker has had juvenile arthritis since the age of 15.

It goes to show that arthritis can affect anybody.  At the same time it is always positive to see an intelligent beautiful woman living life to the full.  You can read more about her story here. 

The article tells a familar story of how arthritis impacts people's everyday lives.  Danielle talks about knee pain during a trip to the ice rink with her daughter. Precious moments interrupted by pain.

People with knee pain can get pain relief from different treatments and products.  Sometimes a cold pack can ease inflammation and at other times, a deep penetrating heat can help ease pain and aid mobility.

The sort of thing you might think about include



Polar Powder COLDPAK



Therapeutic knee suport including advanced infrared and cold therapy.

The therapeutic knee support has the best of both, with a support plus cold pack, but crucially a new infrared heat pad. 

Having been ice skating in Peterborough with my own daughter recently, the cold packs also come in handy when you inevitably fall on your derrière ...