health answers:

I can only guess she has rheumatoid arthritis which is an auto immune disease.
There are things you can do to help ease the symptoms of RA.

* Find a balance between exercise and rest. You need to keep active to prevent your joints from becoming weak and stiff but don’t try to do too much. Swimming is an excellent activity because it strengthens your muscles and joints without putting any strain on them. A physiotherapist can give you information and advice.

* Try to lose excess weight as this will reduce the pressure on your joints.

* Try and find ways of making everyday tasks easier and there may be specialist equipment that can help

* Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and cut down on saturated fats.

* A hot water bottle may help if your joints feel stiff and painful; try an ice pack if they are hot and irritated.

There are some suggested home remedies (which your mother may or may not like!)…
Http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/arthritis.htm

My mother swore by a fresh garlic and honey mixture which tasted dreadful, her arthritis did improve, but was it coincidence?
Your mom will be pleased you are trying to help her. Good luck.

health answers:

If he has arthritis, no dog food is going to help. Of course, give him/her the best quality food you can afford… There are foods containing glucosamine, but in usually such small amounts it doesn’t really help much.

First, your dog should be x-rayed to find out how serious his arthritis is. Your vet can then tell you how high a dosage of glucosamine chondroitin he should be on. My vet also recommended 400 mg of Devils’ Claw for 2 of my greys ,who are having problems and it’s made a huge difference (combined with glucosamine chondroitin).

There are also products such as Pet Bounce which are geared towards arthritis and joint pain relief. You may want to check that out.

It’s better for your dog not to wait – he doesn’t need to be in pain.

health answers:

About celebrex: It is true that it is slightly better for the stomach (GI tract in general) and it does not have the detrimental side effects (increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality) that vioxx and bextra had.
Mobic is a less specific COX-2 inhibitor and has never been shown to be any better than celebrex.

And mobic is not generic, so it is as expensive as celebrex.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to celebrex, I would recommend Etodolac, as it is generic, and overall better tolerated than ibuprofen or naprosyn.

From a personal standpoint: my mother tolerated celebrex ok, but had severe stomach problems with mobic. As always different medication react differently with who is using it.
Disclaimer: I am not a paid consultant for any of these companies and have no direct financial interest in them. This is not to be considered medical advice – you should always consult your mother’s physician and talk about what medications are right for your mom.

health answers:

One of the signs of arthritis is when one has pain when they know the weather is going to change such as when it rains. Stiffness such as during cold weather can also be a symptom of arthritis. Some people notice their pain worse during the day and others at night, too. This can often tie in to the weather as well. Sometimes swelling and redness can be symptoms of arthritis.

As to how to prevent it once it starts, the only thing that can be done is to minimize the amount of pain thru medication and other forms of treatment and sometimes exercise.

Sometimes pain in the muscles can be a sign of arthritis, too. When I first started out I didn’t have the classic symptoms of arthritis. My problem was muscle pain in my thigh area. Whenever my arthritis acts up and I know it’s going to be a bad flare I will often feel it in my thigh first and one way I’ll know it is when I start to feel a burning sensation in that area and then the pain comes next.

To learn even more about arthritis please check out: http://www.arthritis.about.com and http://www.osteoarthritis.about.com