Italian version

If possible, I would like to know the exact meaning of:
-arthrosis
-deforming arthritis
-rheumatoid arthritis
I would also like to know if an early diagnosis or one that is made immediately after the first symptoms appear can halt or slow down the disease's progress. Are there any effective instruments for easing the pain? What are the best therapies?
Thank you very much for the answers that you can give to me and best wishes for your work.

Dear Reader,

As in the case of all rheumatic disturbances, arthrosis is part of Man's nature. Ever since we have assumed the erect position, our bones have borne the harmful  consequences.

Therefore, let's take a moment to define the terms that you inquired about. We all suffer from arthrosis in our life: it's part of the ageing process within our structure: whether it be cartilage, tendons or bones. Generally speaking, the build up of free radicals causes a progressive, and fortunately slow, loss of elasticity; arthrosis in itself, however, doesn't hurt.. On the other hand, when a joint becomes inflamed, one has arthritis and its causes can be many. As a matter of fact, inflammation can be due to infection, food intolerance, trauma, or an immune disorder. Persons who declare that they suffer from  cervical arthrosis in reality have arthrosis of the spine which doesn't hurt, but in some cases (poor neck position, chills or wet hair) the small joints and muscles nearby become inflamed. When this happens, they have a case of cervical arthrosis, which is really the effect of  temporary arthritis and the inflammation of the nearby tendons and muscles that do actually hurt.

The processes that lead to arthrosis can sometimes cause deformities in the fingers or other joints and this is referred to as deforming arthritis. This corresponds to the deformities that are often seen in very elderly persons, but this is not the same thing as rheumatoid arthritis or polyarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis in particular is a disease that stems from an immunological imbalance or a more intense general imbalance within the body. In this case the inflammation of the joints is secondary to an auto-immune disease in which the immune system is involved in a specific way. In recent years, we have discovered that often one of the major causes of rheumatoid arthritis is the presence of food intolerances that cause inflammation in the joints and surrounding areas. Since rheumatoid arthritis damages the bones and cartilage and thus gives rise to a structural rearrangement, deforming arthritis may be a consequence of the disease

For information regarding natural therapy, please consult the detailed section on "Arthro-rheumatic disturbances"

As far as cortisone is concerned, though this medicine is extremely useful in acute manifestations, prolonged use results in serious side effects

Before systematically opting for cortisone, it's important to evaluate a patient's psycho-physical balance and to understand any alterations. The patient's tolerance and defense abilities must also be stimulated. At the same time it's necessary to reduce any possible general inflammation, which in turn can be caused by  diet errors or the presence of food intolerances.

Another important aspect in the treatment of arthro-rheumatic forms is the study of the body's mineral balance, paying attention to the presence of toxic minerals by way of a hair analysis

Cordially,

Gabriele Piuri and dr. Attilio Speciani
Medical Staff

Italian version