A Holistic Approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis

There’s a good chance that you or someone you know suffers from arthritis, a disease that makes the joints stiff, swollen, and painful. What you might not know, however, is that there are different types of arthritis, and one that doesn't discriminate is rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 1 in 12 women and 1 in 20 men will develop an inflammatory autoimmune rheumatic disease during their lifetime.

RA is rarer than osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, but can be more severe and requires a holistic treatment approach. RA is different from osteoarthritis in that it is an autoimmune disease, which means it is caused by an underlying issue with the immune system that leads it to attack the body’s own tissues. Autoimmune disease can target virtually any part of the body, including the skin, the brain, the eyes, and the colon. But in the case of RA, the body’s immune attack is geared towards the joints and the fluid and tissues that surround them, causing the cartilage, bone, and ligaments in that area to deteriorate and cause stiffness, swelling, and pain. RA most frequently targets the wrist and hands or the feet, ankles, and knees.

Because RA stems from an issue with the immune system, the symptoms of RA can be more general than other types of arthritis. For example, you may experience fatigue, muscle aches, loss of appetite, or a random low-grade fever along with more common symptoms of RA, like:

Joint pain

Swelling or heat around the joints

Stiffness in the morning or after sitting or lying down

Loss of mobility

Nodules under the skin around the joint that are hard to the touch

If RA goes untreated, it can turn into a more systemic illness called “inflammatory arthritis,” which can cause other complications like an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, shortness of breath and chest pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney problems, anemia, rheumatoid nodules, brittle bones, frequent infections, headaches, and drastic appetite changes.

If you’re struggling with RA,, here are a few suggestions I know almost everyone can benefit from regardless:

1. Move regularly: If you have RA you may not feel like moving or feel pain when you do. Consider these low-impact exercises to start with:

Yoga (specifically restorative)

Thai chi

Walking

Stationary bicycle

Water aerobics

Pilates

2. Alleviate stress: If there’s one thing I know for sure it’s that stress has never helped any medical condition and RA is no exception! If you have any chronic medical condition but especially an autoimmune condition, make sure you’re prioritizing self-care and carving out time to relax. Here are some of my favorite stress management techniques:

Journaling

Meditation

Yoga

Epsom salt baths

Reading

Acupuncture

Visualization

Being in nature

Any one of these done regularly will go a long way towards reducing symptoms and preventing any stress-induced exacerbations of your condition.