Arthritis Overview

Arthritis is a joint condition characterized by inflammation, pain, and stiffness. There are several types, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most prevalent.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects joint cartilage, leading to its degradation over time. This condition is most commonly seen in the hands, knees, hips, and spine, and is characterized by pain, stiffness, decreased mobility, and swelling. It develops gradually and worsens progressively.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the body’s tissues, affecting not only joints but also the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Symptoms include painful and swollen joints, stiffness (often worse in the mornings), and sometimes fatigue and fever. It typically starts in the fingers and toes and can extend to larger joints.

Treatments strategies

The main therapy for arthritis is use of steroid or non steroid anti inflammatory drugs.  Other than the long list of side effects from use of steroid anti inflammatory injections often used in treatment of arthritis the most important fact is that steroid injections are further destroying articular cartilage and often worsening long term outcomes of the patients. The recent study published in Radiology journal revealed that 8% of patients who received one to three steroid injections in their knees or hip joints showed signs of osteoarthritis progression and rapid joint destruction with bone loss.

Acupuncture for Arthritis

Acupuncture treats arthritis by stimulating the production of endorphins, blocking pain signal transmission to the brain, and enhancing blood flow to nourish tissues and joints. Electric muscle stimulation is often used along with acupuncture to reduce the inflammatory process, facilitate healing and alleviate pain. Herbal medicine is also used to reduce inflammatory processes. A good example of that would be the use of Turmeric or Arnica that would be a part of traditional herbal formulas used for pain management.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture

Research supports acupuncture’s efficacy in reducing arthritis pain and inflammation. A significant NIH study reported a 44% reduction in pain and a 40% improvement in mobility for patients undergoing acupuncture. A 2007 study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that 87.2% of rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced pain reduction following acupuncture. Moreover, a 2018 systematic review concluded that acupuncture has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and regulatory effects, affirming its effectiveness in treating arthritis symptoms.

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