Felty Syndrome and Pain Management.

• If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Felty Syndrome, you are probably feeling overwhelmed. As this is a relatively rare disorder, confronting the fact that it is affecting your physical health can be difficult. Through taking a look at a few facts about the disorder, however, you'll be able to face it calmly and make reasoned decisions for your care. Felty syndrome is a disorder that combines rheumatoid arthritis with a swollen spleen and a lowered white blood cell count. Due to the decreased white blood count, people who suffer from Felty syndrome are prone to repeated infections.

• The first thing to understand is that the cause for Felty syndrome is currently unknown. Though it appears most commonly among people who have had rheumatoid arthritis for an extended period of time, it does seem possible to develop the disorder and rheumatoid arthritis simultaneously. With only around 1 percent of those afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis developing Felty syndrome, it make sense that this disorder can be difficult to detect.

• Felty syndrome can be diagnosed in several ways. An ultrasound of the stomach can show evidence of a swollen spleen, as can a physical examination. When a blood count is performed, the lowered number of white blood cells can point to Felty syndrome as well. Before a doctor's examination even is done, Felty syndrome might make itself felt in symptoms like fatigue, appetite loss, a swelling and stiffening of the joints and unintentional weight loss. Someone suffering from Felty syndrome might also run get recurring, inexplicable infections, a discharge from the eyes or look constantly pale. It is also likely that people who have Felty syndrome will develop a painful swelling or deformity in their joints, but this may be due to the rheumatoid arthritis.

• After diagnosis, treatment of Felty syndrome is usually performed symptomatically. Treatment is not always required, and the symptoms can be quite mild if the rheumatoid arthritis is under control. Repeated infections and leg ulcers may require treatment with antibiotics, while some people require weekly injections that will raise the number of white blood cells. In extreme cases, where the infections have been severe enough to require repeated hospitalization, the spleen can be removed surgically.

• When it comes to pain management, there are several tactics that sufferers from Felty syndrome can use. The first is prevention; it is possible to go for long stretches without feeling the more painful effects of Felty syndrome if a few simple precautions are taken. For instance, several sources recommend that people who suffer from Felty syndrome should get their flu shots annually and do to their level best to stay away from people who are ill Similarly, cuts and scrapes should be taken care of quickly to prevent the chance of infection.

• Modern acupuncture practice, extremely thin needles are inserted into various points in the body at a depth of 3-5 mm. Based on traditional Chinese medicinal practices, acupuncture has helped many people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and Felty syndrome during periods when more conventional Western medicine could not. While there is no generally accepted reason why acupuncture should help to cure arthritis pain, it cannot be denied that it is extremely effective for some people; more than 15 million people in the United States alone have had at least one acupuncture treatment.

• People have also found that recurrences of the pains associated with Felty syndrome can be controlled with eating a healthy diet. Obesity and being overweight are things which can severely affect your ability to cope with the symptoms of Felty syndrome, so keeping an eye on how much you eat and what you eat is a good idea. Foods that are high in antioxidants, like leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts, are excellent in terms of alleviating the pains associated with Felty syndrome. Similarly, studies show that regular ingestion of vitamin D can help as well; many people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and Felty syndrome suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, and this can be found in fortified milk, fish like salmon, catfish and tuna, and mushrooms.

• If you have been diagnosed with Felty syndrome, keep in mind that although living with it can be difficult, it is by no means impossible. For more information, head to www.help-with-arthritis-pain.com. Take a good look at your health care regimen and find out what else you could be doing to improve your quality of life!