ARTHRITIS AND THE MIND/BODY CONNECTION
 
 
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic systemic disease characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue throughout the body; however, it's usually considered in terms of its local effects on the tissues - usually beginning in the synovial membrane within the joint. It usually attacks peripheral joints and surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. It may have unexplained remissions and exacerbations that are often linked to stress.

     Studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis are full of inner turmoil, likely to be excessively conscientious fearful of criticism, frequently depressed and have a poor self-image. It's further been found that they have a personality that leads them to try overly hard to be nice to other people, to not lean on others for emotional support and to stow things away down inside, especially anger. Many rheumatoid arthritis suffers have long term tension or anger in their lives. These are people who will say everything's just fine when that couldn't be further from the truth. The anger then gets turned against the person itself - quite literally. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mutinies against the body. Emotional stress can initiate rheumatoid arthritis in a susceptible person and once the disease has established itself, stress can make it worse. There are social implications as well. Women have rheumatoid arthritis up to four times more frequently than men. The reason for this may be that, in our society, little girls are taught that it's wrong to express anger.

     Medical literature is laced with cases of arthritic remission - many of them related to the resolution of emotional conflicts, assertiveness training and relaxation techniques. Pain Management techniques are also indicated for this condition.

     Where rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation of connective tissue and a breakdown of the synovial membrane, osteoarthritis happens when the smooth lining of a joint, which is known as the articular cartilage, begins to flake and crack because of over-use, injury or for some other reason. It develops most commonly in older people, in the larger, weight-bearing joints including the hips, knees and spine but can also affect the finger joints.

Dr. Bruce E. Kaloski

V.P. / Only Nature’s Finest

www.onlynaturesfinest.com

successtrak@earthlink.net