Tofacitinib: A novel oral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Gita Kantawala, 72 from Mumbai had a complete knee replacement of left knee preceded by arthroscopy due to a meniscus tear. She talks of the failures and successes of her surgeries and the recovery and rehabilitation process. And the need for a second opinion. I was diagnosed with Meniscus tear in my left knee in April 2016. One day the knee just locked and I buckled while trying to walk. Consulted an Orthopaedic surgeon who after seeing my X-ray and MRI reports, suggested Arthroscopy the next…

There are different aspects of Arthritis Management. We have compiled multiple ebooks - ebooks that help in understanding the condition and managing it through medication, dietary changes, exercise,  yoga and home adaptations. 1. 20 Tips to Manage Arthritis Arthritis is affecting younger people - even 30-40 year olds. are getting diagnosed with Arthritis. So it is important to understand about Arthritis and manage it pro-actively. Download the ebook 20 Tips to Manage Arthritis …

Coping with Arthritis? Upper body aches and pains? Stiffness in waist, back, hips, shoulders, neck? How can you ease the stiffness in your joints? Yoga is very effective in managing arthritis. It reduces pain, increases flexibility, and lowers stress.  It brings harmony to body and mind. We have worked with Divyayog to create a set of asanas for you to do in the comfort of your own home. Volume 1 was specifically focussed on the lower body - from hip to toe.  Volume 2…

Vidya, a long-standing patient of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) narrates her experience with specialized medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, yoga, Ayurveda, oil massage, warm baths among other things to alleviate severe, chronic pain, stiffness and flare ups. Read for useful tips and better pain management. First things first. Pain and Rheumatoid Arthritis go hand in hand. Sometimes, when I reflect on my journey with RA, one thread that immediately comes to mind is how I coped with…

There is a lot to learn from the life story of Jacqueline Colaco, 68, a National Hockey Champion and highly successful banker, who was struck by Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 36. But she bravely fought the disease with surgeries, medications and a positive winning-over-whining approach. Today, she is a beacon of hope and inspiration to fellow sufferers. She was what every girl aspires to be. A school Head Girl, National Champion of Women’s Hockey, distinction in BCom in college, a highly…

Are you confused as to when to use Ice Pack and when to use Heat to deal with pain, injury and inflammation? This infographic below sums it up quite simply. According to Dr. Bhuvaneswari, a quick guideline to follow is:  Ice pack is preferred if it is a recent and acute pain episode especially injury which may be a blood clot, muscle tear or tendon tear.  For instance most sport and exercse injuries.  Heat or warmth for Chronic pain with stiffness, especially joint related…

Kalpana Kamdar, a physiotherapist from Ahmedabad, emphasises the importance of good posture to protect our bones, joints, muscles and ligaments and suggests simple ways to keep our musculoskeletal system in perfect shape. Video of webinar recording below.   You should listen to Physiotherapist Kalpana Kamdar below on how to prevent aches and pains. While this was recorded during COVID lockdown, it applies to anyone who has a sedentary lifestyle.     In the past three articles we…

The Rhythm Wellness initiative of Global ArtsCare in Singapore conducts group drumming session for the elderly to reduce loneliness, increase energy levels and morale and provide recreational and wellness activities. Tell us about Global ArtsCare and the work it does? At GlobalArtsCare we aim to transform lives-in-care through creative arts engagement. Our activities aim to make creative arts engagement accessible to as many people in care facilities. In the process, residents, care-givers, and…

How does one smile and be cheerful when one wakes up with severely stiff joints and incredible pain? In the conclusion of this two-part series, Lakshmi Menon, 63, talks about the various health issues that arise as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) progresses and offers coping mechanisms to maintain best health. I began to monitor my health condition such as increased pain, swelling or other changes so I could report these developments to my rheumatologist. In the past 8 years, other than pain, morning…

Does Yoga help people manage chronic conditions and the various symptoms? On International Yoga Day, we speak to a cross section of people who believe strongly that yoga has contributed greatly in their journey of recovery1.  Mr Purushotaman - Parkinsons Mr. Purushotaman is 77-years-old and has had Parkinson's for 4 years. An unassuming gentleman, Mr. Purushotaman is extremely regular for all meetings and yoga sessions conducted by Parivarthan for Parkinson’s. Parivarthan is a…