Thursday December 31, 2009
Assistive devices can be very useful for people living with limitations related to osteoarthritis. There are mobility aids, such as canes, walkers, and scooters and other gadgets to help with just about any activity of daily living.
Assistive devices are available to help you in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, car, and more. Many arthritis patients are unaware of just what's available -- and when they hear about a useful assistive device, they wonder how they ever lived without it. Which assistive devices have been invaluable to you? Share Your Advice and Experience: What Assistive Devices Can't You Live Without?
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Sunday December 27, 2009
In the January 2010 issue of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, there is a discussion of the current evidence of risk factors for knee osteoarthritis. Results of the review and meta-analysis are important to know, because some of the risk factors may be modifiable. Awareness of modifiable risk factors could lead to prevention of knee osteoarthritis.
These were the main risk factors associated with knee osteoarthritis:
- obesity (BMI)
- previous knee injury
- hand osteoarthritis and presence of Heberden's nodes
- female gender
- older age
- intense physical activity
- certain physical occupations (kneeling, squatting)
Is there anything on the list you could change (obviously not your age or gender) which would lower your risk of developing knee osteoarthritis? Discuss with your doctor to see if it would benefit you to modify your activities.
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Photo by David Peeters (iStockphoto)
Sunday December 27, 2009
Researchers studied 2096 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 1440 osteoarthritis patients, and 1073 fibromyalgia patients in a clinical setting and even more through surveys -- 14,607 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 3173 osteoarthritis patients, and 2487 fibromyalgia patients. The goal was to determine whether fatigue is an inflammatory variable, to assess the contributions of rheumatoid arthritis variables to fatigue, and the levels of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis compared to osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.
The conclusions may surprise you. According to study results published in the December 2009 issue of Journal of Rheumatology, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis fatigue levels do not differ. Fatigue is not an inflammatory variable and is not unique to rheumatoid arthritis.
The prevalence of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients is said to be between 88% and 98%. It has previously been reported that osteoarthritis patients experience significant amounts of fatigue which substantially impacts their lives. In all three conditions, fatigue is a problem which must be dealt with.
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Photo by Duane Ellison (iStockphoto)
Thursday December 24, 2009
NicOx, a French drugmaker, has filed for approval to market naproxcinod in the European Union. In September 2009, the company sought approval in the United States. It is expected that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will complete its review by July 24, 2010.
Naproxcinod is a Cyclooxygenase-Inhibiting, Nitric Oxide donating, anti-inflammatory drug. It is the first in a new class of drugs referred to as CINODs. NicOx believes the data from the clinical trials involving several thousand patients proved naproxcinod is safe, effective, and well-tolerated.
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Photo by Brad Killer (iStockphoto)
