Unusual Type Of Arthritis Painful, Disabling

March 18, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In my mid-40’s I began experiencing knee pain and buckling. My doctor told me it was probably arthritis. The pain then started to move to other areas of my body.

I am now 50 and have just been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and several herniated and bulging discs following an MRI of my spine.

I have pain down my legs into my feet and am unable to bend my legs sometimes. I received a spinal injection but it didn’t work. I experienced extreme pain in the joints of my fingers, wrists, hips, neck, and legs. My two pinky fingers have bent inward and I can no longer straighten them.

I have seen a neurologist who disclaimed nerve damage. I have even experienced severe needle-like sticks in my skin and am totally exhausted.

Is all of this really the result of arthritis? [Read more...]

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October 9, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a firm believer of grape seed extract. I was taking Celebrex daily for arthritis and still living with a backache. A friend was determined I take the supplement. I’ve been free of pain for three years. The grape seed allows me to bend over the sink, pick something off the floor and rake leaves. As you can tell, I’m sold on this product.

DEAR READER:
You’ve had a positive reaction to an herbal remedy. As long as it works, keep it up. Arthritis can be very difficult to treat. Be grateful you can find relief in an over-the-counter medication.

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September 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Please discuss the difference between bursitis and arthritis.

I went to my orthopedic doctor because of pain in my hip. It starts in the joint and travels down the thigh and is especially painful at the tendon along the shinbone. I also have right leg weakness when pressure is applied or when walking upstairs. He said the pain was caused by bursitis, not arthritis. He showed me an exercise to try and told me to continue my regular walks.

I take over-the-counter pain relievers, use castor oil and Castiva. Should I continue using these joint medicines or should I use muscle creams to relieve the nighttime pain? I am 88 and do not consider this worthy of surgery but it would be nice to sleep though the night. I’m tired of having to wake up to take another pill.

DEAR READER:
Arthritis and bursitis [Read more...]

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July 12, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 70-year-old male and have been tortured by gout since about my 50th birthday. I have been to several doctors and most prescribed a limited diet, excluding fish and red meats. The attacks are becoming more frequent and occur in a different spot each time.

Please tell me who to see to get to the bottom of this agony.
DEAR READER:
Because gout affects joints, it is considered to be a form of arthritis. It frequently affects the big toe, but can also appear in wrists, ankles, knees, elbows, and other joints.

Gout results when too much uric acid is present in the body. Excessive alcohol consumption, radiation, crash diets, and certain medications can trigger an attack.

Because gout can mimic several other conditions, a primary care physician might have difficulty [Read more...]

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July 4, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a lot of health problems. One is polymyalgia that makes me stiff and in a lot of pain. I’ve taken prednisone but the side effects were terrible, so I stopped that drug.

I have sleep apnea. During my sleep test, they discovered my restless legs syndrome. I now take Mirapex and Clonazepam and that is controlled.

Would massage therapy be helpful in reducing my pain and stiffness? Also, I’d like to know if there’s a support group I could attend in my area with people who have these same symptoms.

DEAR READER:
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles of the hips, neck and shoulders. The disorder occurs most often in women and in the elderly.

If you are willing to try prednisone again, [Read more...]

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June 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m at my wit’s end. My problems are all musculoskeletal in nature.

I’m a 65-year-old woman. Last August my right knee began hurting and I could not bend it. I don’t remember injuring it. After an X-ray that was negative, my doctor gave my knee a cortisone shot and I followed up with physical therapy for eight sessions. That helped until I wrenched my right foot while going down a step. My knee also twisted with the action. It was first believed there was a hairline fracture of the 5th metatarsal and my foot was in an air cast for eight weeks but it turned out the injury was to the tendons and soft tissue, not bone, confirmed by an MRI. After nine visits to the physical therapist for my foot I was “almost” better and I started resuming my daily activities. That’s when my knee started the same problems all over again. To make matters worse, [Read more...]

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May 28, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My right thumb pained me constantly from arthritis. I read about the castor oil treatment you recommended and although it seemed like a stretch, I thought “nothing ventured, nothing gained“. I rubbed a few drops every night over the painful area and after a few days, the pain subsided. As long as I keep rubbing the oil on, I’m pain free. I still don’t have strength in that thumb, but it’s wonderful not to have constant pain. So, one more advocate of the castor oil treatment.

DEAR READER:
Thank you for sharing your experience. There are numerous endorsements for arthritis, including grape juice and pectin, anti-inflammatories, over-the-counter Castiva, and prescription drugs. Plain castor oil is simple and effective. If it works, stick with it.

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May 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 62-year-old female. I have no major health problems, but I do get stiff and sore occasionally. Sometimes I can go a few days with little pain and others it will be really bad. It usually happens after sitting for a while. Could it be arthritis? Is there any possibility (please don’t laugh) that it could be from the mercury in my fillings? I worry that the cause of the pain and stiffness could be poisoning my body.

DEAR READER:
I believe that your pain is caused by age-related osteoarthritis. Given the fact that it comes and goes, I do not blame any possible mercury in your fillings as the culprit.

The issue of mercury-induced illness from old fillings has, to my knowledge, been largely ruled out. Some consumers remain skeptical, however. Mercury can be very dangerous, primarily in those people exposed to moderate amounts regularly. Because a tooth filling is relatively small and contains very minimal amounts, I don’t believe you should be worried. If you are still concerned, visit an oral surgeon who can explain about older fillings. He or she should also be able to remove them and replace them with safer, modern material.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Osteoarthritis”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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April 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I just wanted to tell how much your advice on arthritis has helped me. The grape juice and pectin home remedy has improved my condition more than anything else I have tried. I thank you and am sure there are many others out there who do also. Keep up the good work.

DEAR READER:
Thank you for sharing your positive experience. I have received hundreds of letters endorsing the purple grape juice and liquid pectin treatment. It is safe, easy, and inexpensive. For this reason I have included it in my newest Health Report along with many other home remedies.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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April 8, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My husband and I are doing the grape juice and pectin cure for arthritis. One of your readers recently remarked that the sugar content of purple grape juice was too high. We have found that Welch’s makes a white grape juice that is light, with only 17 grams of sugar. Our problem is finding a cheaper source for the pectin. It’s not available in bulk in any store we’ve checked with. Kraft maintains that even if you are a major jam maker, you have to buy the 6 oz. package. Doesn’t that seem strange?

DEAR READER:
All reports I’ve received refer to purple grape juice for arthritis pain. If the lower sugar content of white grape juice works for you and your husband, stick with it.

Unfortunately, pectin purchased in a grocery store is only available in small packaging, because the volume is tied in to the amount required to make a batch of jam or jelly. Perhaps fewer people are making home-made goods and packaging larger volumes is not a money-maker. How sad. It’s one thing that could certainly be sold in bulk, since many individuals with arthritis profit from the grape juice/pectin combo for relief of their joint pain.

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