Rheumatoid arthritis, as opposed to osteoarthritis, results from an autoimmune response by your immune system. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the immune system attacks them until they are gone, then returns to its normal state. However, for reasons not clearly understood, the immune system can launch an attack against healthy tissue, such as joints, causing inflammation and considerable pain, not to mention limiting the use of that joint. It can cause increasing inflammation that doesn’t dissipate. The resulting damage can even change the shape of affected joints.

While rheumatoid arthritis may seem more prevalent in the elderly, it can strike people of any age.

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the finger, toe, wrist, and knee joints, although it can occur with any joint. However, it can also cause inflammation of the heart, nerves, eyes, skin and lungs. In addition, it can result in appetite loss, weight loss, fatigue and fever.

There is a wide range of treatment options that help lessen the symptoms of this type of arthritis. The Heritage Center for Functional Health can help alleviate the symptoms of this debilitating and painful disease using a variety of methods tailored to the specific needs of each patent.

Osteoarthritis results in a break down of the affected joints. It targets the spine, hips, feet, and knees for the most part and can also affect joints in the thumb and big toe. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect people of any age, osteoarthritis usually affects older people to one degree or another, and it’s thought to affect just about everyone over age 60. It is one of the most common diseases from which humans suffer.

• Arthritis is epidemic throughout the world.
• U.S. figures alone (see chart below) estimate that 200 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis.
• Millions of dogs are also afflicted with arthritis.
• Osteoarthtritis is defined simply as the inability of the cartilage to maintain and repair itself, resulting in cartilage degradation leading to joint pain, stiffness and swelling, eventually followed by decreased movement and function.
• In the past, osteoarthritis was thought to be a normal consequence of aging, inevitable and irreversible. Since the advent of Functional Medicine, that is not necessarily so. The Heritage Center for Functional Medicine offers a variety of remedies to help lessen the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Arthritis: An Alternative Solution

In addition to compounding transdermal pain gels, The Heritage Center for Functional Health offers a variety of safe and effective supplements and is the sole distributor of Rx Rebound and K9 Rebound.