Easing arthritis pain - Protein therapy studies provide hope

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-lab14jun14.story

Easing arthritis pain
Protein therapy studies provide hope that researchers can reduce the inflammation that destroys the joint.
By Shari Roan
Times Staff Writer

June 14, 2004

Diseases in which the body attacks its own tissue are among the most difficult to understand and treat. But in the case of one such disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, researchers may eventually be able to reeducate the body, teaching it to halt its self-destructive ways.

The therapy, called immune modulation, could ease the pain of 2.1 million Americans affected by the joint condition. <snip>

In a recent study, Albani and his colleagues demonstrated that a synthetic peptide — a chain of amino acids — in the form of a tablet, appears to disrupt the immune response in people with rheumatoid arthritis without causing side effects.

"We're getting to a level of treatment that is more sophisticated: figuring out what triggers the autoimmune response in these patients and going after that," says Dr. Joan Merrill, head of clinical pharmacology at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. "If you could just figure out how to turn off the immune response to this thing — without affecting the body's ability to fight off viruses and bacteria — that would be so much more clever and strategic."<snip>

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. As a 24 year old overridden with arthritis

this sounds like music to my ears!

[chimpymustgo]

13. Have you tried essential fatty acids, EFA's?

Oils from fish, such as salmon and sardines, as well as flaxseed oil have shown promise in reducing joint inflammation. The NIH is doing a full-fledged study on this "alternative remedy" after it showed early success in helping arthritis patients.

Do a little research on this - the oils are available in capsule form at health food and herbal supplement stores.

Good luck - hope you find some relief.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. Hadn't heard this

I might give it a try though! Thanks for the tip!

[Eurobabe]

15. have your thyroid checked?

email me at DU if you want more info.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. Yeah, I have had mild thyroid problems

I didn't know the two are related... I thought it was mostly my 10 years of football and 12 years playing baseball as a catcher

[NMDemDist2]

2. i get good results from drinking a

liquid mineral, fruit shake with Knox's gelatin powder daily

My pain had decreased a bunch and the joints seem to work better too

[aquart]

18. What's the mineral?

[MuseRider]

3. That would be heaven

if true. I have had RA since I was in my early 30's, am now 50. I have been very lucky in that my joints are still relatively undamaged because of all the drugs I have cycled through. I have great fears of the IV drugs they are using now and can't afford them anyway so when the Immuran stops working I am out of luck. Thanks for posting this, it is good to see that there are therapies being developed that may help without the side effects. Now, if we can just afford them.

[Mithras61]

6. Have you tried any of the other new therapies?

I understand that there are several (besides Enbrel - my current try-it-out) that have been around for only 5 or 6 years that have good effects on many patients that have stopped responding to other treatments...

[MuseRider]

10. I have tried

everything except the injectables. They work for a while then I have to switch. I am really doing quite well for the moment but I do know what may be next, this has been a problem for other members of my family. I simply watch my hands, I am a musician so my hands are my key. If I flair bad enough that movement is hampered I do the prednisone thing, otherwise I am OK for now. Thanks. I hope Enbrel keeps working for you.

[Mithras61]

12. I'm glad prednisone is helping...

Prednisone wouldn't touch mine. I haven't found out yet if Enbrel works or not, since today is only my second dose, but I have hopes for it. I hate shots, but if it makes movement less painful, I guess I can tolerate them.

[papau]

7. Thanks for the nice comment - and I agree "if we can just afford them"

I get very tired of wondering if the pain is worth the movement.

:-)

[MuseRider]

11. I have found

that the pain is always worth the movement because to not move guarantees more pain! Keep moving. "If we can afford them" We will probably live to see a cure but for whom?

[Mithras61]

4. Hope springs eternal!

Wow! This would indeed be a nice relief.

I recently (last Friday, in fact) started taking a protein-based injection treatment, so I don't know if it will help. The methotrexate started nicely, but stopped working after about 5 weeks.

My step-mother is also burdened with RA, but has found a treatment that seems to be working for her (1x monthly injections!).

Just count us in with the millions of other Americans that find hope in this and other research.




Now if we could just get the HMOs to agree to pay for some of the newer treatments. Calling them "experimental therapy" after they've been approved by the FDA & had many successful clinical trials is just a dodge to avoid paying for expensive treatments. Also, if we could get the pharmaceutical companies to reduce their cut in profits on this stuff, it would certainly help...

[Imalittleteapot]

5. A Chinese pharmacist told me that I didn't need to

spend the bucks on a drug prescribed for arthritis in my hands. He said to take 1 aspirin a day. Since taking his suggestion, I have been pain free. Granted, my affiction is minor, but aspirin, as it turns out, has been a preventative wonder drug for many ailments such as stroke, heart disease, and I've heard lately it has been associated with the prevention of breast cancer and gum disease.

[Mithras61]

8. I'm glad aspirin is working for you

Aspirin stopped working for me a little over two years ago, at which point I started dosing with Aleve (in steadily increasing ammounts). When my Aleve usage reached the point that 8 to 10 tablets per day wasn't helping, I consulted a physician (again - the first time I was told "oh, it's only a little depression") and was finally referred to a rheumatologist. I'm lucky in that there is minimal damage (mostly thinning of the cartilage in my wrists), but that will likely change over time.

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Encouraging!

I'm convinced that stupidly buying a pair of shoes with wooden soles about 6 years ago completely screwed up my feet.

I have it in the joints in my toes, and sometimes I can barely walk. I can no longer wear heels or any really pretty shoes.

My doctor has me on Relefen, and I got orthotics to put in my shoes. But somedays the ache really kills me.

Thanks for the news!
FSC

[FlaGranny]

16. Encouraging!

I have several autoimmune problems, but not RA - yet (but do have osteoarthritis). I hope they come up with an answer. Autoimmune problems can be very severe.