Arthritis is considered incurable. The cause of the rheumatic disease is not yet known. There is also no side-effect-free therapy yet. Those affected are given painkillers, anti-inflammatories and chemotherapeutic agents. With the right diet and other naturopathic measures, the typical symptoms of arthritis can often be alleviated – and without side effects.

Arthritis – also known as Rheumatism

Arthritis is an inflammatory, intermittent joint disease that belongs to the large group of rheumatic complaints. In addition to various types of arthritis, activated (inflammatory) osteoarthritis, gout and soft tissue rheumatism are also included.

However, when people talk about rheumatism in the vernacular, they generally mean rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – formerly also called chronic polyarthritis – which is the subject of this article. It often affects several joints at the same time, preferring the finger and toe joints.

Difference: Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refers to chronic inflammation in the joint (due to autoimmune processes) that can lead to joint damage in the course of the disease.

In the case of osteoarthritis, it is usually the other way around. Here, the joint damage (referred to as wear-related) leads to inflammation.

Arthritis: an autoimmune disease

RA is one of the autoimmune diseases. Misguided autoimmune processes lead to the body’s own immune system, i.e. the body’s own antibodies, attacking the cartilage tissue. This leads to painful inflammation and a gradual destruction of the joint or the cartilage in the joint.

Cartilage is a supple, gelatinous tissue that protects the ends of the bones from friction in each joint. As the cartilage mass dwindles more and more, at some point the bone ends rub painfully against each other, which ends in hardening and deformation.

The symptoms

The disease usually progresses in episodes.

A flare-up can last weeks or even months. Between flare-ups, the symptoms always subside.

While osteoarthritis only causes problems in the affected joint (mostly knees and hips), arthritis can cause many more symptoms.

It is often not entirely clear what is now part of the symptoms of the joint disease and what is possible secondary or concomitant diseases.

A clear secondary disease can be, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome.

Typical symptoms are:

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Fever
• Headache
• Depressions
• Skin diseases and itching
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Insomnia
• Gum disease
• Brittle and dull hair
• Vertigo
• Eye problems
• Breathing difficulties

Rheumatism nodules

Over time, rheumatoid nodules develop on the affected joints. These are conspicuous thickenings in the subcutaneous fatty tissue on the extensor side of the joints. This leads to the typical deformations of the fingers and sometimes also of the toes.

Another complication of affected joints can be the so-called Baker’s cyst in the hollow of the knee.

Children can also be affected – juvenile arthritis

There are 3 million rheumatic patients live in Australia.

Of these, about 10 percent, or 300,000 people, suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with women being affected far more often than men.

While osteoarthritis is considered more of a sign of aging (if it is not caused by accidents), RA can affect any age group, including children.

In Australia alone, 6000 children under the age of 16 are currently said to suffer from so-called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means that the cause is not known). Approximately 3 in 1000 children will be affected by JIA.

Antibiotics as a possible cause

However, an American study showed that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is in many cases iatrogenic juvenile arthritis (iatrogenic means caused by the doctor or by medications prescribed by a doctor).

According to the researchers, the juvenile form of joint inflammation can be a late consequence of frequently administered antibiotic therapies in early childhood.

Passive smoking as a possible cause

Another possible cause of the juvenile form of the disease is passive smoking, i.e. if the child has already been exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy and in the first period after birth (1) – whether by the mother or other people in the immediate vicinity.

Worse with Vitamin D deficiency

A vitamin D deficiency worsens the course of juvenile arthritis (2) and makes complications (such as uveitis (inflammation of the eyes)) more likely – according to a 2018 study with the participation of Charité University Medicine.

As with any chronic disease, it is therefore important to take care of a good supply of vital substances, whereby all vitamins and minerals should be checked – not just vitamin D.

* Here you can find a vitamin D test

Severe vitamin C deficiency as a cause

In an interesting case series published in The Journal of Pediatrics in March 2020, it was shown that severe vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) can also manifest itself masked with the symptoms of juvenile arthritis (3).

This would mean that a regular vitamin C supply can bring relief in such a case, which of course does not mean that everyone affected now has scurvy. It is only intended to show the importance of a comprehensive supply of vital substances.

The diagnosis

Interview/anamnesis

How long are which symptoms present? (How long morning stiffness? Only short or longer than 1 hour? Where does it hurt? Does the handshake hurt?) The painful handshake is considered an early sign of the rheumatic disease, as it triggers pressure on the diseased, inflamed and therefore painful synovial membrane.

If the same finger joints on both sides cause discomfort for at least 6 weeks and the following blood values are correspondingly elevated, it could be arthritis.

Blood values

If chronic joint inflammation is suspected, the following blood values are determined:

1. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (is generally increased in inflammatory diseases)
2. CRP value (is also elevated in inflammatory diseases)
3. Anti-CCP antibodies (antibodies that are directed against the patient’s own connective tissue and are specifically detectable or elevated in rheumatoid arthritis)
4. Rheumatoid factor (also an antibody, but it is only positive in half of all rheumatic patients and is therefore not a reliable value)

X-ray, ultrasound and MRI

X-rays can also be taken and an ultrasound or MRI can be done. An X-ray is usually only useful in an advanced stage, as joint damage is only visible then.

Ultrasound shows changes in the joint at an earlier stage, such as joint effusions or changes in the synovial membrane.

MRI shows inflammatory processes as well as changes in the joint at an early stage.

The causes

The best way to alleviate an illness is to know its causes and triggers. From a conventional medical point of view, the cause of arthritis – as with so many autoimmune diseases – is unknown. It is assumed that any infection and a corresponding genetic predisposition lead to a derailment of the immune system, i.e. that it suddenly attacks the joint structures with violent inflammatory reactions.

The question we should ask is: what leads to an immune system that allows itself to be so disturbed by an infection that it spontaneously turns against its own body in the first place?

Therapy of conventional medicine

In the case of arthritis, cold applications and exercise therapy can be part of the conventional medical therapy concept. However, the therapy mainly consists of various medications (4):

1. In acute rheumatism attacks, cortisone and anti-inflammatory painkillers, e.g. ASA, diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam, naproxen, celecoxib. The cortisone (glucocorticoids) is either taken in tablet form or administered as an injection directly into the joint during an acute flare-up. At the end of this page, we explain how you can keep the side effects of cortisone low or avoid them.
2. In the long term, so-called basic therapeutics e.g. methotrexate, sulfasalazine or so-called biologicals (e.g. monoclonal antibodies) which only take effect after many weeks or even months, are intended to alleviate the symptoms by suppressing the immune system.

Cortisone

Cortisone has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but can also have strong side effects, e.g. high blood pressure, a stronger feeling of hunger (and consequently obesity), full moon face and muscle weakness. In the long term, serious eye diseases (glaucoma and cataracts), diabetes, skin changes (pimples, bleeding that can be seen in bruises under the skin), depression and osteoporosis can also occur.

Since cortisone only inhibits inflammation because it weakens the body’s own defenses, a cortisone-treated organism is also more at risk of infection.

Cortisone and painkillers: Risk of stomach ulcer increases

If cortisone and painkillers from the group of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs) are taken together, the risk of a stomach ulcer increases, so that acid blockers should also be taken, which are then referred to as “stomach protection”, but which themselves can have so many side effects (especially with long-term use and high doses) that protection against stomach protection would basically also be necessary.

Painkiller

Painkillers from the NSAIDs have an anti-inflammatory effect (5) and relieve pain. Side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort to stomach ulcers with stomach bleeding and anemia, serious cardiovascular events, high blood pressure, kidney failure and the exacerbation of existing cardiovascular diseases.

The painkiller paracetamol is not an NSAID. It also does not work very well on rheumatism. Nevertheless, it is taken again and again to relieve arthritis complaints. However, the drug is the frontrunner among those drugs that can lead to acute liver failure. In fact, it is responsible for two-thirds of all cases of acute liver failure caused by medication.

Basic therapeutics

The so-called basic therapeutics are those drugs that you may be more familiar with under the name chemotherapy. They are usually used for cancer – only in higher doses.

In arthritis, they come into play when cortisone and NSAIDs no longer have a satisfactory effect. These are active ingredients such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, azathioprine and chloroquine, which massively suppress the immune system.

In the case of azathioprine, for example, they specifically inhibit the proliferation of the body’s most important defence cells. In other words, those cells that actually protect us from illness and death, are blocked, so that noticeable side effects can occur.

Side effects of basic therapeutics

Basic therapeutics are only effective after a start-up period of several weeks to months. If you are one of those people for whom the basic therapeutics work, then the arthritis can temporarily disappear and painful inflammatory episodes and the threat of joint stiffness can be prevented.

But what good are all these wonderful (often only temporary!) reliefs if you now suffer from the side effects of the drugs instead, such as nausea, gastrointestinal complaints, loss of appetite, changes in the blood count (including anemia), chronic fungal infections and headaches? Hair loss can also occur, liver damage and susceptibility to infections increases.

Methotrexate: Folic acid deficiency develops

When taking the basic therapeutic drug methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid deficiency can occur because the drug inhibits an enzyme that would activate folic acid. Therefore, folic acid must also be taken, which can reduce the rate of side effects caused by MTX. However, folic acid may only be taken 1 to 2 days after MTX.

Folic acid is a vital vitamin, which is usually already scarce in today’s diet anyway and whose deficiency is suspected of contributing to Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, do not forget to take folic acid when taking MTX!

Biologicals: Serious infections can occur as a side effect

Biologicals are other basic therapeutics that are prescribed for arthritis in the long term. They are recombinant, i.e. genetically engineered drugs.

Biologicals include, for example, monoclonal antibodies, such as adalimumab, infliximab or etanercept. They throttle the immune system so massively that it can no longer protect the organism and severe infections can occur as a side effect.

Natural measures

As you can see, conventional medicine does not have a causal (causally effective) therapeutic approach with a prospect of a cure for arthritis. You also always have to expect strong side effects here.

The right (alkaline) diet plays a very important role here.

Most things that apply to Gout also apply to Arthritis – read more in our article on Gout solutions.

Other natural measures to reduce uric acid can help too.