Did you know that 3.85 million Australians suffer from aching joints, inflammation and pain?  It costs the government over $29.8 million per year. There are over 100 different joint diseases.  Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout account for 95% of the health burden. Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of loss of mobility and pain in the aging population. Approximately 2.1 million people in Australia suffer from Osteoarthritis.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory, degenerative joint condition that mostly affects the spine and joints such as knees, ankles, hips and hands. It causes pain, stiffness, swelling and structural changes to the joint. Unfortunately, it gets worse over time. Damage to the cartilage causes irritation to the joint which would normally move easily and without friction.  Bony growths often develop causing more pain. Eventually as the joints become more enlarged, motor skills become affected often impairing the ability to perform everyday activities. The sooner the inflammation is managed the less the damage will occur. This means less pain and better mobility and improved quality of life. You don’t have to accept pain or even the future of arthritic pain.

Isn’t some inflammation a healthy response to injury?

The body produces a natural inflammatory response to injury and to foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria.  It does this this to protect, repair and restore normal tissue function. This repair is usually localised. Signs of damage include pain, redness, swelling, or heat.

When does the Inflammatory response go bad?

When inflammation hangs around for a long time it eventually starts to fuel the very thing it was originally sent to mop up – pain, redness, swelling and heat.  As a result it may cause damage to the body’s tissues and cause degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis.

What exacerbates inflammation?

• Wear and tear of the joints, especially from repetitive high-level activities
• Digestive issues
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Injury or surgery to a joint
• Being overweight
• Genetics
• The effects of aging
• Poor dietary choices
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Smoking & alcohol
• Poor oral health

What are the effects of long term osteoarthritis?

Without question, pain is the biggest problem.  But that pain leads to loss of mobility. This contributes to other problems such as weight gain, cardiovascular disease, further joint issues, mood disturbances, sleep problems, headaches and other inflammatory conditions. What can you do to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis?

• Moderate exercise to improve muscle strength and mass
• Healthy wholefood diet (such as Mediterranean)
• Healthy digestive function
• Weight control
• Healthy blood sugar levels
• Remove toxins from your lifestyle, including smoking.
• Include supplements that are relevant for your disease progression:
• Fish oil, krill oil, green lipped mussel
  • Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM
  • Turmeric
  • Herbs such as boswellia, devil’s claw, ginger

Remember that early intervention can delay the impact of osteoarthritis and other degenerative and inflammatory diseases.

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Janne Ramsay - Naturopath

In 2001, Naturopath Janne Ramsay literally smashed her ankle in a sporting injury. Three hours of surgery to put two plates, 11 pins and to vacuum out the bone chips left Janne unable to walk for many months.  The surgeon said “it’s not a matter of if you get arthritis, it’s a matter of when”. Seventeen years later, there are only a few minor twinges of pain. Pretty good for a baby boomer who loves outdoor activities. If you are already suffering the effects of osteoarthritis or want to slow down the damage, you can book an appointment to see her in clinic or contact her if you have a question? Book an appointment to see Janne

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“You don’t have to live with pain” Workshop

In March Janne will be running a workshop to talk about arthritic pain – why you don’t have to  accept it or why you don’t have to accept the future of having arthritic pain. This 40 minute informative workshop will discuss, the role of inflammation in the management and development of arthritis along with recommendations on essential diet and lifestyle choices and the right type and dose of supplements to manage your pain. Click here to find out more and to book your place for this free workshop.

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