1. Seeing a doctor who’s not board-certified or a doctor who isn’t really an arthritis specialist. A lot of doctors will tell you they’re “board-eligible.” That’s nonsense! What “board-eligible” means is that they did the training for the specialty but either haven’t taken or- heaven forbid- failed the examination for board-certification. Don’t trust your health to one of those doctors. And worse yet, some specialists don’t pass on the first attempt. They keep taking the board exam over and over in the hopes they’ll finally pass. Ask the doctor how many times it took them. Would you rather see somebody who passed the first time or some idiot who took three and four times to pass?

Are they American trained? While some specialists have completed a residency or fellowship in the U.S., they’ve gotten their medical degree elsewhere. The medical schools overseas do not compare to the medical schools in the United States.

How long have they been practicing? It takes a good ten years or longer of real world experience to really be able to take good care of patients.

And are they specialists in the field of arthritis (rheumatology)? Orthopedic surgeons claim to be able to take care of arthritis. But they’re not rheumatologists. They haven’t received formal training in the medications used to treat arthritis. They don’t know about the newest developments in the field of arthritis. They don’t know about the side effects and about proper monitoring techniques for medications. They’re trained to cut and to operate. Why should they want to stop arthritis from destroying your joints? Since they are surgeons, they can always do surgery and replace your joints. Having an orthopedic surgeon take care of your arthritis is like putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop.

2. Waiting too long to be seen. Arthritis causes the most damage in the first six months. That’s a fact from the Arthritis Foundation. It you have to wait a couple of months just to see a doctor… guess what… the cat is out of the bag. Damage has already been done. You can’t afford to wait. And if you’re thinking, “Well, this doctor participates in my insurance…” Is that really a good reason to risk crippling and loss of independence? Participating in managed care is bad for your health. Insurance companies, not the doctor, dictate what kind of care you receive. Think about it?do you really think insurance company executives stay up at night worrying about your arthritis? Is that really good for you?

3. Rude staff and doctor. If you can’t get along with the staff and doctor, do you think your arthritis is going to take top priority? No way!!! Look for a practice where they treat you the way you want to be treated. Like a real human being.

4. Doctor rushes. Hey… you’re paying good money. Make sure the doctor knows what you’re there for and what is worrying you. Are your calls returned? Do they schedule timely follow-up visits? Are they interested in you as a whole person … or are you just a number… a body part. Are they open-minded about alternative treatments? Do you feel comfortable discussing them?

5. They don’t care if you’re educated or not. You have to know about your disease and the medicines you’re being treated with. You’ve got to know about the side-effects and what type of follow-up is needed. These are your rights! And do these doctors know their P’s and Q’s? Have they done clinical research? What kind of reputation do they have in their field? Are they recognized as a leader in the field of arthritis? Do you want to see a leader or a follower?

And that goes double for proper follow through. If the doctor and his staff drop the ball, you could be in for a bad time. Not only is the disease going to cause problems but the medicines need to be monitored carefully. You’ve got to be seen on a regular basis!!! And what if the doctor is a medication freak? He or she gives you a medicine and that’s the end of it. And you go back and you get another medicine… and then another without any explanation. You deserve better.

6. Your doctor doesn’t refer. If you’re seeing a primary care doctor for your arthritis and you’re not getting any better and he’/she doesn’t refer, you’re making a big mistake. Remember… the damage is done in the first six months of disease. It’s important to be seen by a specialist as early as possible! The amount of medical information a doctor has to know has increased 20 times since 1950. Can you really expect a family doctor or internist to know about the latest developments on arthritis? Remember…arthritis causes most of its damage in the first six months. You’ve got to get the right treatment early!!!!!

7. Not getting a diagnosis. This is key. You need to know what you have and what can be done. There are always many treatment options available!

=====KNOW YOUR ARTHRITIS=====

Arthritis is referred to as the nation?s number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease in people over 40, arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans.

And this figure is expected to rise to 60 million by 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Arthritis generally afflicts people between the ages of 20 and 50, but can affect all ages, even infants.

The average age of onset is 47 and about three out of every five people with arthritis are under 65 years of age.

Arthritic expenditures for just one person due to lost wages, medical treatment and other related expenses can come to more than $150,000 in his or her lifetime.

And doctors believe there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, all sharing one main characteristic: all forms cause joint inflammation.

What can be done for arthritis pain relief? Many things…

For example, weight and nutrition are only a couple of factors that play a role in arthritic pain.

And yet shedding even 10 pounds to relieve weight from knees and finding the right nutritional strategy can help relieve pain a lot.

=====EXERCISE IN ARTHRITIS=====

Exercise can be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers, often relieving stiffness in joints, strengthening muscles thereby reducing stress on joints, keeping bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy, and increasing flexibility.

A recommended 30-minute minimum of daily activity is the norm.

Using aquatics: exercising in a pool-is a great way to exercise as well.

Water is an excellent aid because it provides resistance that builds muscle in the entire body while reducing shock to the joints at the same time.

Additionally, because the whole body tends to become involved in aquatic exercise the added benefit of cardiovascular exercise is enjoyed.

If at all possible, find a heated pool to work out in. Warm water is soothing to the joints and will cause the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation.

With that in mind, it is often beneficial to add using a spa to your regimen, perhaps after your workout, in order to provide some soothing jets of water to your muscles and even more help with increased circulation, which is always vital when dealing with arthritis.

=====DRUGS IN ARTHRITIS=====

There are many over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications for arthritis pain sufferers that can be purchased without physicians? prescriptions.

Some are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ? some are OTCs / some require a prescription, acetaminophen and various topical medications.

Users need to be aware of possible risk from long term use or product abuse, though, and consult their medical advisors before and during use.

The most common OTC NSAIDs are ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.

However, the misuse of some of these can cause blockage of an enzyme in the body that aids in the protection of the stomach lining and other areas.

Misuse can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding, and liver and kidney trouble. (The same drug abuse issues can result from prescription NSAIDs, too).

Use the right way, these drugs can help with pain relief, inflammation and fever reduction, and blood clot prevention.

=====JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IN ARTHRITIS=====

There are currently many options in orthopedic (bone) surgery for people with arthritis.

Joint replacement is the most common option. According to the National Joint Replacement Foundation, (NJRF) over 435,000 Americans underwent this procedure last year.

These numbers have boosted joint replacement to one of the most successful medical discoveries and the absolute most significant surgery in the field of arthritis treatment.

Joint replacement is the process of removing one?s entire joint as well as any damaged tissue and replacing it with a metal prosthesis.

This prosthesis provides the patient with much need relief from pain.

This surgery most effective on the weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and ankles, however, it has been used for all joints with successful results.

However, all health care planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioner.

There are a lot of fabulous stories about Cetyl Myristoleate (also known as CMO or CM) floating across the Internet. Mine is one of them. There have been a number of articles published in little known journals or magazines. There have been four small booklets published. One making fantastic claims, all four filled with anecdotal evidence but offering no real research to back up the claims. There are a number of Doctors sharing the results they are having with their patients but so does every other wonder-working product. The question is, are there any scientific studies to back up any of these claims? The answer is yes. To date there are several patient studies and two double blind studies completed. I will mention the three most prominent below.

Dr Len Sands of the San Diego Clinic completed the first human study on the effectiveness on Cetyl Myristoleate in 1995. There were 48 arthritis patients in this study. All but two showed significant improvement in articular mobility (80% or better) and reduction of pain (70% or better). Obviously the study had its flaws. One doctor conducted the study, there was no control group and the number of participants was small. Even so, it suggested to many that maybe there was some hope here and that more scientific studies should follow.

The first double blind study followed two years later. Dr. H. Siemandi conducted a double blind study under the auspices of the Joint European Hospital Studies Program. There were 431 patients in the study, 106 who received cetyl myristoleate, 99 who received cetyl myristoleate, and glucosamine, sea cucumber, and hydrolyzed cartilage and 226 who received a placebo. Clinical assessment included radiological test and other studies. Results were 63% improvement for the cetyl myristoleate group, 87% for the cetyl myristoleate plus glucosamine group and 15% for the placebo group.

In August of 2002, a double blind study was published in the Journal or Rheumatology. The study included sixty-four patients with chronic knee OA. Half of the patients received a cetyl myristoleate complex and half a placebo. Evaluations included physician assessment, knee range of motion with goniometry, and the Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LAI). The conclusion was that the CM group saw significant improvement while the placebo group saw little to none. In fact in their conclusion the state that CM “may be an alternative to the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of OA”.

Advanced Medical Systems & Design, Ltd completed the last study I would like to mention in Oct 2001. It was not a double blind study but the study included 1814 arthritis patients. The results showed that over 87% of the subjects had greater than 50% recovery and over 65% of those showed from 75% - 100% recovery following a sixteen day regimen. I know that this is not the most scientific study but a study this large does suggest that there could be a positive benefit to the use of CM in the treatment of arthritis.

Conclusion: There is mounting evidence that CM can be effective in the treatment of many forms of arthritis. While it is true that the evidence from these three studies can not be considered conclusive, it is a beginning. It should challenge you to think out side the box and consider that just because it did not come from a drug company does not mean that it will not work. With over 10,000 people a year dying from Nsaids would it not be great to find a safer and more effective product. Especially with the cost of prescription treatments for arthritis costing into the hundreds and good Cetyl Myristoleate products can be found for between $20 and $40.

I am a strong believer in Cetyl Myristoleate for the treatment of arthritis. For the last three years I have been researching and writing about Cetyl Myristoleate. I am constantly searching for new research and contact and interview every doctor I can find that works with it. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the claims made about Cetyl Myristoleate on the myriad of web sites that sell it. It you want more information on the research that documents the effectiveness of Cetyl Myristoleate then do a search for my article, “Cetyl Myristoleate: Science or Speculation”.

Cetyl Myristoleate is an Immune Modulator. This is a tough question. We do not have any medical research yet that documents that it is an immune modulator. Many doctors believe that it is based on observations of their patients. Some people respond so well it appears that the benefits go beyond joint lubrication and a decreases in inflammation. Base on these results some doctors theorize that it is helping to correct some peoples immune systems. While this sounds wonderful it is a bold statement to make. I am not ready to call it an immune modulator.

Cetyl Myristoleate is a cure for arthritis. This is not only a bogus claim it is a lie. Not only is it a lie it is illegal to make that claim. If you are at a web site that makes this claim, leave, this person is not the kind of person you want to do business with. They need to be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

All you need is one 15 or 20 day protocol. There are several companies that make this type of claim. You will notice that the companies that make this claim are among the most expensive. I believe that they use this to justify their high prices. Who would pay this price on a regular bases. While the double blind studies show that many people start finding relief in this amount of time, they were all short term studies and did not evaluate how long the results lasted. Every doctor I have talked to has disagreed with this statement. The people who find relief from Cetyl Myristoleate usually start seeing good results by the two week mark. But they continue to improve for the next two to four weeks. Almost everyone who discontinues use finds that with in a couple of weeks their symptoms begin to return. But they also find that once they max out their benefit they need much less to maintain that level of relief.

Cetyl Myristoleate helps 97% if the people who use it. I have seen this claim several times. It is simply not true. The research does not back it up and neither do those doctors who use it in practice. The percentage is closer to 70%. Of course the percentage changes depending on the type of arthritis you have. With nearly 100 types of arthritis nothing is going to work well on every type.

Cetyl Myristoleate is an anti aging agent. This is a powerful marketing tool. Every one wants to look and stay young. There is no research to back up this claim. Some of the doctors I have talked to believe it base on their observations. I have over a dozen family members and friends who take CM faithfully and none of us look younger. Yet almost all of us feel younger because we can now do things again that we had to give up because of our arthritis. If this is what they are talking about I concur. But if they are claiming it will make you younger or keep you from aging I think they are stretching it.

It is necessary to take digestive enzymes with Cetyl Myristoleate. This is a hard one. I personally do not think everyone does. Some people have a hard time digesting fats. If taking CM causes you stomach upset then you need to take a digestive enzyme. Make sure it has lipase because it is the enzyme that digests fat.

Cetyl Myristoleate will help you grow new cartilage. This is another unfounded claim. There is nothing in CM to help you grow cartilage. Once the inflammation is down then your body may find it easier to replace the cartilage damaged by the inflammation.

Will Cetyl Myristoleate help me with my arthritis? I would like to end the article with the question most ask of me. The answer is I do not know. All I can say is the research and my experience and the experience of the doctors I have talked to says that there is a 60% to 70% chance. Be reasonable about your expectations. CM is not going to repair bone damage, remove calcium deposits or repair other types of damage created by your arthritis. If you decide to try it do not pay too much. There is no need to pay $50, $80, $100 dollars or more. There are several good products in the $20 to $50 range. If the first bottle does not work for you do not waste your money on a second.

Hi Rusty. A few days ago, I slightly injured a finger on my hand. Now my hand is swelling with severe joint pain in the fingers. At first I thought this was a possible sprain in that region, but now my other hand is showing the same swelling of the fingers and pain of the joints. Should I go check this out right away? It doesn’t seem to be getting worse today, but the pain and swelling are persistent. Could this be a sudden arthritis attack? I’m 38 years old and in good health (I just had a check-up at the doctor last week and the blood work came back okay).

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer

Ouch, a little sprain is not supposed to do that. Unfortunately some times it does. I am sorry to hear about this. It is not unusual for arthritis to begin in an effected joint. It is not the norm for it to set in so quickly. There are different kinds of arthritis that can effect the hands and feet that can cause swelling. It is possible that arthritis was already beginning but not showing symptoms yet but this triggered a symptomatic response.

I am concerned that the pain is bilateral, effecting both sides. I doubt it is anything extremely serious but it would be good to see your doctor. The sooner the better. If nothing else, your doctor will be able to treat the pain and swelling. But if it is arthritis or one of the other conditions that can cause this type of swelling in the fingers the earlier the diagnosis the better.

I wish you good health.