Arthritis affects a large percentage of the population, so you most likely know someone who suffers from the condition. Or, perhaps you have arthritis. It’s a disease that makes your joints stiff, painful, and swollen. There are different types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
RA is rarer than osteoarthritis, which is the most common type. RA can be more severe and needs a holistic approach to treatment. Let’s take a deeper look at the functional medicine approach to treating RA.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
RA differs from osteoarthritis because it is an autoimmune disease, which means the root cause is an underlying issue with the immune system that leads it to attack the body’s own tissues. Autoimmune disease can target any part of the body, including your brain, eyes, skin, and colon.
In RA, your immune system attacks the joints and the tissues and fluid surrounding them. It causes the bone, cartilage, and ligaments in the area to deteriorate, which leads to swelling, stiffness, and pain. RA most frequently targets the wrist and hands or the feet, ankles, and knees.
What are the symptoms of RA?
Because RA stems from an issue with the immune system, the symptoms of RA can be more centralized than other types of arthritis. You may also experience muscle aches, fatigue, low-grade fevers, and loss of appetite along with the more common symptoms of RA such as:
- Joint pain
- Swelling or heat around the joints
- Stiffness in the morning or after sitting or lying down
- Loss of mobility
- Nodules under the skin around the joint that are hard to the touch
If RA is not treated, it can escalate into a more systemic illness called “inflammatory arthritis,” which can cause other complications like an increased risk for rheumatoid nodules, cardiovascular disease, shortness of breath and chest pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney problems, anemia, brittle bones, frequent infections, headaches, and drastic appetite changes.
A holistic approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis
If you’re struggling with RA, a functional medicine doctor will take a more holistic approach to your treatment. These are some of the options that most people with RA will benefit from:
1. Move regularly
If you have RA you may not feel like moving or feel pain when you do. Here are some low-impact exercises that you can start with:
- Yoga
- Stationary bicycle
- Water aerobics
- Pilates
- Tai chi
- Walking
2. Incorporate anti-inflammatory ingredients
Focus on a diet that includes foods that help heal. The following is a great list of anti-inflammatory ingredients that may help you feel better!
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Turmeric
- Capsaicin
The ingredients above can be taken in food form or as a supplement. For example, you can get omega-3s from foods like chia seeds and fatty fish; you can get turmeric by drinking fresh turmeric tea or eating curry, and you can get capsaicin by incorporating chili peppers into your diet.
3. Try CBD
CBD and other cannabis-based remedies have shown some promise for RA. This is because cannabinoids not only reduce inflammation and fend off the pain, but they also target T4 cells, which are the cells of the immune system involved in an autoimmune disease that leads to the body attacking itself. So, while more research needs to be done, CBD and medical cannabis is definitely something to try alongside your more traditional medications.
4. Alleviate stress
Stress never helps a medical condition and frequently exacerbates the condition. RA is no exception. If you have any chronic medical condition but especially an autoimmune condition, make sure you’re prioritizing self-care and carving out time to relax. Here are some of my favorite stress management techniques:
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Epsom salt baths
- Reading
- Any one of these done regularly will go a long way towards reducing symptoms and preventing any stress-induced exacerbations of your condition.
5. Remove trigger foods
For every medical condition — especially those related to pain and inflammation — there are foods and ingredients that help and those that hurt. With RA, some interesting trends have developed that are worth knowing about. The following is a list of conditions that may exacerbate arthritis. If you suffer from RA, it would benefit you to limit them or remove them from your diet for at least 30 days to see how you feel:
- Coffee
- Tobacco
- All sugar except natural fruits
- All citrus fruits
- Wheat, corn, and soy
- Animal protein
- Dairy
- Vegetable oils
Coffee and tobacco are a particularly high priority because studies have established a clear connection between these two ingredients and RA. For example, one study showed that coffee consumption may be a risk factor for increased rheumatoid factor (a protein produced in RA patients) in the blood.
A rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis can feel overwhelming and scary. However, some lifestyle and diet changes can help improve symptoms. Take a functional medicine approach to RA and begin down the path to a greater overall feeling of well-being.