There are millions of people in the United States that have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common. Joint inflammation is the biggest issue with arthritis and can cause people a great deal of pain.
Once a person has been diagnosed with arthritis, a doctor will usually prescribe medication to help control the disease and help minimize its effects. For some, medication is not enough. The pain can be so severe and frustrating that many people will do anything to find relief. You must be careful, however. While there are some alternative treatments that seem to work, others do not work and some can be downright dangerous.
Some alternative therapies that people try include acupuncture or acupressure, practicing tai chi or yoga, glucosamine, meditation, biofeedback, capsaicin, ginger, magnets, and relaxation. Some of these work and some don't. While these are usually considered to be safe you should probably discuss these with your rheumatologist before you use them.
Alternative therapies that do seem to help are tai chi, yoga and acupuncture. Keep in mind, however, that just because a certain treatment works for some people there is no guarantee that it will work for you.
Doctors often recommend exercise as part of an arthritis treatment plan. Two forms of exercise you could do are tai chi and yoga. Tai chi and yoga provide gentle, low-impact exercise that improves flexibility and can help strengthen muscles. Tai chi and yoga take the practitioner through a series of gentle, flowing movements, which are not as hard on the body as some other exercises. (You should note that some yoga classes are a pilates/yoga combination that can be more difficult than a yoga only class.)
Among all of the alternative treatments out there, tai chi and yoga can be an excellent choice. Jeanie Davis, in a webmd.com article, writes "Virtually all major health organizations - including the Arthritis Foundation - recommend tai chi as an activity for seniors because it provides balance of body and mind." If you think that tai chi or yoga is something you want to try, discuss it with your doctor to make sure that it is an appropriate activity for your type of arthritis.
Acupuncture originates in China and has been gaining popularity in the U. S. as an alternative treatment for a variety of conditions from arthritis to helping people quit smoking. In acupuncture, needles are placed in specific places to help realign the body's energies. Under the care of a licensed professional acupuncture can be successful. Acupuncture should not be used as a solitary treatment for arthritis, however. It should be used to complement the treatments that your doctor has prescribed.
One popular treatment whose efficacy is debated is the use of glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine and chondroitin are dietary supplements that some people take to help deal with osteoarthritis pain. For people who are allergic to seafood this should not be used as an alternative treatment because glucosamine comes from shellfish. Glucosamine may also affect blood sugar in diabetics so it is important to speak with a health professional before using these supplements.
When these supplements are taken together they seem to help relieve moderate to severe knee pain but have very little effect on mild pain. About.com reported the results of a clinical trial in which "results revealed that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is better than placebo but the benefits seem to depend on severity of pain." Taking only glucosamine, however, does not seem to have any benefits for arthritis sufferers. What it boils down to is, you can talk to your doctor about taking glucosamine and chondroitin as part of your prescribed treatment but there are no real guarantees that it will work.
When considering alternative treatments, be wary of scams or treatments that could be harmful. For more information on what alternative treatments are available, as well as which ones are legitimate, visit webmd.com, mayoclinic.com or ask your rheumatologist.