Where Now?

Thanks for following this blog and the lead-up to our Choose Well arthritis event.

We'll be organising another positive and uplifting health seminar in the near future, but in the meanwhile you can keep following us and getting health advice and inspiration on our Align blog: Aligned and Well.

If you want more information about Chiropractic and the health benefits it can bring, contact us here...

:-)

Choose Well on BBC Radio Sussex

We've had county-wide publicity today, courtesy of BBC Radio Sussex.

All set for tomorrow's event, it'll be an inspiring and uplifting experience!

Listen to the interview here... it starts at 0:49.30

Arthritis Day Seminar is Growing!

Our FREE seminar, Choose Well, is taking on a life of its own...

I've been asked to talk about it on BBC radio (BBC Sussex, Drivetime with Sarah Gorrell), the local GP practice is advertising it for us, and several organisations have shown an interest in taking part and promoting it.
So we could potentially have more people than we can fit in the building! But if that's the case we'll just run it twice.

Included in the talks will be a medical perspective from Dr Paul Aron, an East London GP. The pros and cons of medication and examples of how he has seen people help themselves.

There will also be professional fitness and lifestyle advice from Rob Callow, owner of Health and Vitality Individual Training. How simple exercises can improve how well we can move and how good we feel.

If you would like to reserve your place please email: ca@align.org.uk

Choose Well... Free Seminar 10th October!

World Arthritis Day is on 12th October

So we're organising an FREE event called Choose Well, which will be an inspiring and positive seminar for people with arthritis. The purpose is to give people awareness of how they can help themselves, and provide them with easy access to the resources they need to do so.

It's for people who want to stay active and enjoy their lives to the fullest!

There will be speakers on:

• Nutrition:  Which foods harm and which ones heal
• Movement and Exercise:  Simple ways to stay fit and active
• Medicine:  Finding the right medications for you, the pros and cons.
• Chiropractic:  A natural way to stay mobile and reduce pain
• Social life:  How an active social life, emotional and spiritual health are so important to wellbeing

 The event will be held at Southwick Community Church. It is free and anyone is welcome.

For more information please contact us at ca@align.org.uk

What's this blog all about then?...

Arthritis affects over nine million people in the UK. Many of these people feel disempowered by this “disease” they have been diagnosed with, and do not realise there are ways they can help themselves feel better and enjoy the things in life they love.

This blog will explore the different elements involved when it comes to gaining control over your health. This is actually a fundamentally important concept – your goal and focus should be on gaining health and wellness, not on reducing or controlling pain and sickness. You will gravitate towards what you focus on, so make it something positive!

The Problem with Drugs (here’s the only negative part of this blog!)

Medications, such as painkillers, have a part to play. They can alleviate symptoms temporarily and provide short term relief; for some people with severe pain they are a lifeline. But masking the symptoms is not dealing with the problem, and painkillers will not help your body’s healing processes; in fact they can hinder it.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, are commonly used to treat arthritis, and may mistakenly be thought of as safe because they are so easy to get hold of. These drugs kill approximately 1 in 1000 people who take them for more than two months. They can cause bleeding in the stomach and are responsible for over 12000 hospital admissions in the UK every year. 

These risks aside, they stop your body regenerating cartilage and actually make arthritis WORSE in the long run.

A newer class of NSAIDs are called Cox-2 inhibitors, eg. celecoxib. These are safer than traditional NSAIDs for gastrointestinal problems, but can double or triple your risk of death if you have already had a heart attack.

It is worth noting that the risk of serious complications from these medications significantly increases over 65 years of age, also with the length of time you take them for. As many people with arthritis are older and have chronic pain, it is important that they weigh up these risks when choosing how to manage their health.  

There are other medications available besides NSAIDs, but all have potential side effects and can cause harm to the kidneys or other organs. “Always read the label”.

As I said before, medications have their place. The key is to realise that if you do use them, they are only one piece of the puzzle.

So what else can you do? (positive stuff from now on!)

Nutrition

Inflammation is a key factor in the pain you experience with arthritis.

Some foods make inflammation worse, others reduce it. Making simple food choices can mean the difference between a lot of pain and a little. Making some basic changes to your shopping list, one thing at a time, is an empowering step you can take towards feeling healthier and a lot better. Even the process of making these changes helps you feel like you’re gaining control.

I’ll cover this subject in more detail in a future post, but here are some tips to get you started:

·         

•   Omega-3 fatty acids (eg. flax oil and cold water fish) help reduce inflammation and encourage healing.   

•  Processed or hydrogenated fats (eg. some margarines and many processed foods) increase inflammation and can cause disease. 

•  Certain food supplements can actually help to regenerate cartilage in joints. 

Exercise

Movement is essential for health, and it doesn't even have to be that vigorous.

Whatever your level of ability, there is somewhere you can start; later on I'll give you some ideas for how you can enjoy the benefits of regular exercise.

The trick is to make it enjoyable and regular. A part of your life you feel good about doing, and maybe even look forward to! Here are some of the benefits you can expect:·       

• Stronger muscles which protect your joints more.

•  Better circulation and more energy for life.

•  More freedom of motion, as your body is reminded of what it can do. 
  

  

Natural Remedies

Certain food supplements and remedies can be effective in reducing pain and inflammation. Turmeric (the spice) and pagocid (a root extract) have both been shown to help with arthritic conditions. Ever heard of MSM (methyl sulphonyl methane)? It's an organic sulphur compound used for controlling pain and helping tissue healing.

Substances like these can take a little while to have a beneficial effect, but can often be taken long term with few or no side effects. But remember, just because something is “natural” still means there is an ideal dosage for it, and it may not be suitable for everybody. Asking your GP or nutritionist about any of these is advisable.

Social Network

Having people to talk to and share things with, interesting things to do, and a curiosity about the world, keeps us young. I’ll be recommending some ways do all of those.

The way to deal with arthritis and live a life you enjoy is the same as doing anything which is worth the effort - one step at a time!