Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition mainly affecting the joints. The body’s own immune system attacks cells in the fluid and tissues of the joint capsule causing inflammation and the breakdown of cartilage, bone and ligaments. This can result in pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, affecting mobility and day to day tasks, and can be debilitating. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands, wrists, feet, ankles and knees.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated effectively with natural evidence based treatment strategies, such as those that our rheumatoid arthritis specialists provide. Reducing pain, improving the immune system response, and reducing triggers and inflammation can all be achieved with natural herbal medicines, supplementary nutrients, dietary changes and lifestyle medicine. Our rheumatoid arthritis functional medicine practitioners use effective and holistic treatment strategies personalised to suit you.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms develop over weeks or months, with fatigue and stiffness commonly showing as early symptoms. Symptoms can vary from day to day, with flares of more intense pain, fatigue, and inflammation occurring.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people at any age, but usually occurs between 30-60 years of age, and affects women more than men.
The causes of autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are still not entirely clear, however emerging evidence shows that most cases arise from a combination of genetic and epigenetic factors.
People with a genetic predisposition towards rheumatoid arthritis can trigger the condition, as a result of exposure to risk factors, such as:
These factors have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and may contribute to the ‘turning on’ of specific genes that trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
A link between food reactions and rheumatoid arthritis exists, which the following foods being common triggers for rheumatoid arthritis flares:
Research has found people with the ‘atopic triad’ have a defective barrier of the skin and upper and lower respiratory tracts.
These genetic alterations cause a loss of function of filaggrin (filament aggregating protein), which is a protein in the skin that normally breaks down to create natural moisturisation and protect the skin from penetration by pathogens and allergens.
Filaggrin mutations are found in approximately 30 percent of people with atopic dermatitis, and also predispose people to asthma, allergic rhinitis (hayfever), keratosis pilaris (dry rough patches and bumps on the skin), and ichthyosis vulgaris (a chronic condition which causes thick, dry, scaly skin.)If one parent carries this genetic alteration, there is a 50 percent chance their child will develop atopic symptoms. And that risk increases to 80 percent if both parents are affected.
Food hypersensitivity has been found to cause or exacerbate atopic dermatitis in 10-30% of cases, and 90% of these are caused by eggs, milk, peanuts, soy and wheat.
The connection between the gut microbiome and skin health is complex, however, research has found the microbiota contributes to the development, persistence, and severity of atopic dermatitis through immunologic, metabolic and neuroendocrine pathways.
Deficiency of Omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFA) has been linked with the increased incidence of atopic dermatitis, along with the inability for the body to efficiently metabolise EFA’s to gamma linoleic acids (GLA) and arachidonic acids (AA).
Changing weather conditions can certainly aggravate eczema symptoms, but the triggers are subject to change among individuals.
Mould exposure and susceptibility to mould can cause Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), of which dermatitis is a manifestation.
The conventional approach to rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Australia involves diagnosis and treatment to reduce the impact of symptoms. Your doctor may first require blood tests to look for signs of inflammation, and specific rheumatoid arthritis antibodies in tests such as:
Not all people with rheumatoid arthritis will test positive for antibodies, so your doctor may also require X-rays to look for the degree of joint damage. If it is suspected that you have rheumatoid arthritis, you will most likely be referred to a specialist rheumatologist.
There is no conventional treatment cure for rheumatoid arthritis, however, your doctor may prescribe medications, such as:
Unfortunately, all of the above medications have side effects, may cause further complications or additional symptoms, and do not address the causes and contributing factors.
Your doctor may also prescribe exercise, as a way to keep muscles and joints strong and flexible. Surgery may be considered in severe conditions where there is loss of function or joints are very painful.
Many people seek more natural treatments like the functional medicine approach to avoid unwanted side effects of medications, and improve their symptoms and quality of life by addressing the root cause.
The best diet for rheumatoid arthritis is one that is tailored specifically to what you require. No two people are exactly alike, and each person will have different triggers that may not just be limited to food. It is important not to exclude any whole foods that are not triggering, as this can lead to nutritional imbalances which can make symptoms worse.
Generally, an anti-inflammatory diet is recommended for anyone with an autoimmune condition as inflammation is a common factor. In addition, the following foods are often included in a personalised rheumatoid arthritis diet plan:
Having the guidance of a nutrition expert who understands the nutritional requirements of autoimmune conditions, especially in rheumatoid arthritis, will help create a dietary food plan for your specific set of circumstances.
Functional medicine is well placed to treat chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. As a holistic healthcare modality, your functional medicine rheumatoid arthritis practitioner will first take a detailed case history to identify the triggers and other contributing factors that may be aggravating your condition. In your initial 4-hour consultation, your practitioner will investigate:
With this information, your rheumatoid arthritis specialist practitioner will have a greater insight into which body systems are affected, and design a personalised treatment plan. Your evidence based treatment plan will include dietary modifications, to remove any food intolerances, allergies or sensitivities, and any foods that are triggers for pain and inflammation. Your diet plan would include anti-inflammatory foods that provide specific nutrients to support your body. This multi-pronged approach will be designed to reduce triggers, improve joint healing, and address other factors contributing to pain and inflammation.
Your treatment may include the following strategies:
Reducing systemic inflammation which contributes to flare ups:
Reducing pain and inflammation with herbal and supplementary medicines such as:
Modulating immune reactivity with herbal and supplementary medicines, such as:
Reducing fatigue and supporting the nervous system function (particularly, with corticosteroid use) with herbal and supplementary medicines such as:
Lifestyle practices to promote weight loss, for stress resilience and promote mobility such as:
In our signature six month program, your rheumatoid arthritis specialist will guide your treatment, while your health coach will support and empower you to make the changes necessary to reduce pain and inflammation and improve your health and quality of life.
Are you ready for a personalised, natural functional medicine treatment? Our unique model of care was designed with you in mind. Find out how below, then book a call today!
Yes, the susceptibility to develop rheumatoid arthritis is most often inherited. However, having the genes does not necessarily mean you will develop the disease.
Functional medicine autoimmune disease specialists often say “The genes load the gun, and the environment pulls the trigger” and that environment can be anything from smoking to air pollution, allergy, viral infections, poor diet or other exposures.
If you can minimise your exposure to triggers, and improve your immune resilience to give yourself the best chance of avoiding switching on those genes that trigger the expression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Firstly, it’s important to identify what your triggers are. They can include:
The next step is to treat, eliminate and reduce these triggers. Measures to reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing can be applied, such as:
Seek the help of a rheumatoid arthritis functional medicine specialist who will make a personalised treatment plan that helps address your overall health picture for effective, long lasting results.
Osteoarthritis is damage to the joints that occurs due to wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s own immune system attacks cells within the joint capsule called synoviocytes which then causes the breakdown of the cartilage, tendons and bone of that joint.
Osteoarthritis is much more common, and may occur in large joints such as the knees or hips, in only one place, or to one side of the body. Generally, pain is more intense after work, or at the end of the day.
Rheumatoid arthritis is usually found in the small joints of the fingers, wrists and hands, toes, or ankles, and is generally symmetrical i.e. on both sides of the body, equally. Less commonly it affects large joints such as the knees or hips. Early morning stiffness and pain that usually subsides with movement is a key feature. Rheumatoid arthritis pain can become more severe in flares, which are often associated with triggers such as specific foods, allergens, stress, and environmental exposures e.g. mould, exhaust fumes and silica dust.
Yes, pain and inflammation can be reduced and the immune system modulated with herbal medicines such as:
Identifying your specific triggers is important, as every person is different and this is why a holistic rheumatoid arthritis specialist in Melbourne can help.
A rheumatoid arthritis functional medicine practitioner in our Melbourne clinic will identify your triggers and sources of inflammation, and help to reduce your immune reactivity with a personalised treatment plan, and your health coach will support you to implement it to turn your health around.
Yes, a rheumatoid arthritis specialist at Melbourne Functional Medicine can help you feel great again in our unique 6 month program, where we provide personalised, comprehensive treatment and the support you need to get better.
Practitioners like Rebecca Hughes, Mark Payne or Vicki van der Meer will create a rheumatoid arthritis natural treatment plan, and one of our health coaches will help you implement your plan to meet your health goals.
Everyone will have a different experience, however, fatigue and stiffness in the joints, particularly on rising in the morning are common early symptoms.
Naturopathic or functional medicine rheumatoid arthritis specialist practitioners use holistic treatment strategies that are personalised.
They will identify and address the underlying triggers, food intolerances, food allergies, and environmental exposures that may be causing flares.
They will reduce the inflammation in your body that makes symptoms worse, and treat the fatigue and other symptoms you may be experiencing using natural or naturopathic remedies for rheumatoid arthritis.
While rheumatoid arthritis is considered a disabling condition because of the loss of function and disfigurement that can develop in severe cases, according to the list of disabilities cited by Australia's Department of Social Services, rheumatoid arthritis is not considered a permanent disability in Australia.
However, you may be able to get a disability support pension or other payments to help support your living expenses. See here for more information.
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