Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition in the blood circulation that damages synovial (fluid bearing) joints. It is different to osteo-arthritis in that it tends to affect the base of the thumbs on both sides. Osteo-arthritis affects weight bearing or joints that have been damaged in the past. It might only affect one side. During a flare up you could feel heat or swelling in some joints.
Some accepted causes are:
1) Auto-immunity - the body reacts to antigens in the bloodstream by forming immunoglobulins. Tests would include looking for an immunoglobulin that is specific to IgG. Immunoglobulins engulf bacteria, viruses, allergens and antigens. Antigens are protein substances that cause the immune system to react. Rheumatoid arthritis is an over reaction in which the immune system starts to inflame the synovial joints and break them down over a period of time. (Synovial means 'like an egg'. It refers to the slippery fluid that lubricates your joints).
Antigens might include undigested proteins that come through the walls of the gut into the bloodstream, (known as leaky gut syndrome). If you think about most of the reactive foods that cause intolerance they contain proteins. For instance egg whites, milk casein, wheat gluten, soya proteins, brazil nuts. Intolerance is different from allergy. If you had an allergy say to shellfish like prawns, coconuts or to peanuts you would react quickly in a matter of minutes to hours. Your lips might swell and feel numb. You might feel tingling, nausea. You might develop a skin rash or itchiness. The immunoglobulin reaction is often IgE related. Intolerance however takes longer to develop. The antigen in the food has to reach the bloodstream and lead to an immunoglobulin IgG reaction. That might take between 12 and 72 hours. You need to remember this if you are keeping a food diary. Examples might be a persistent cough due to a reaction to yeast or to hazelnuts or a reaction to white fish, carrots or garlic.
Avoiding one food at a time and keeping a diary
2) Genetic - some families have a disposition to inflammatory arthritis of which rheumatoid is one. Ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, lupus erythematosis, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis are other examples. They are less common in under developed countries which might point to food allergies or environmental factors. Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to some forms of inflammatory arthritis.
3) Infections from bacteria, mycoplasma (bacteria without a cell wall), viruses, or fungi.
4) Major stress in your life or a sudden change of circumstances has a dramatic effect on your immune system. It can tip your body into a state of emergency. Stress management can help you combined with a course of acupuncture.


Conventional medical treatment is quite crude. It relies on masking the pain and suppressing the immune system with steroids. Steroids are the body's emergency drugs. They have a wonderful effect at first but are extremely hard to come off and cause unpleasant long-term side effects. It is better to find someone who will help you to examine possible allergens or infections.
For more information or specialist help with treating the disease refer to the Breakspear Medical Group Ltd.
http://www.breakspearmedical.com
If you want help with musculoskeletal effects and commonsense food approaches book with us for an appointment: info@johnperrott.com