The Arthritis Action Program: An Integrated Plan of Traditional and Complementary Therapies [Paperback]

Michael E. Weinblatt M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 2001

If you suffer from the aches and pains of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or related conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or Lyme disease, this book will give you the latest information on managing and minimizing symptoms -- with results your grandma never dreamed of! Although no "cure" exists yet for arthritis, today's breakthrough therapies, innovative medications, and complementary treatments have the potential to banish forever the image of arthritis as a devastating and untreatable disease. Included in The Arthritis Action Program * New medications, including COX-2 inhibitors and TNF blockers, to control pain and inflammation * Exercises to increase range of movement, improve balance, and minimize stiffness * Tips on how to protect joints * Techniques for stress reduction * Breakthroughs in surgery * Questions to ask your doctor * Periodic updates on our special Web site

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Often considered an "old folks" affliction, arthritis is the medical term for more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect the joints of about one out of six Americans--old and young. Treatment for this debilitating, chronic condition is complicated, so Harvard Medical School professor of medicine Michael Weinblatt, M.D., developed a comprehensive guide to explain arthritis "in plain English" and offer preventative and prescriptive suggestions for successful pain management. His goal: to foster equal optimism and skepticism, thus empowering the patient to make informed decisions.

Weinblatt begins with a helpful refresher course on bone health (titled "Why Good Joints Go Bad") and outlines steps to find a health-care provider. In the chapters on pain, he describe symptoms and their common treatments and offers charts that outline various drugs, their brand names, standard doses, and estimated costs. Special attention to the many current medical treatments (including COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex and Vioxx, and biological-response modifiers such as Enbrel) include each option's benefits and risks. Weinblatt also addresses conditions that mimic arthritis (carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, fibromyalgia) and provides an unbiased guide to several "complementary" (often referred to in other texts as "alternative") therapies, from A (acupuncture) to Z (zinc supplements). Despite his desire to squash all the hype surrounding "breakthrough"--and usually unproven--arthritis treatments (magnets, bee venom, the "Arthritis Diet"), Weinblatt's tone remains engaging--never condescending--throughout the book's 300-plus pages. Lists of questions to ask your healthcare provider and to assess a patient's status, plus an invitation to visit a Web site for online updates, make this book a valuable reference and resource. --Liane Thomas

About the Author

Michael E. Weinblatt, M.D., is the director of the Robert B. Brigham Arthritis Center at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, president of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and author of more than 100 professional papers. He is coauthor of the textbook, Treatment of the Rheumatic Diseases: Companion to the Textbook of Rheumatology. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684868032
• ISBN-13: 978-0684868035
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,438,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harvard Physician Demystifies Arthritis, October 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arthritis Action Program: An Integrated Plan of Traditional and Complementary Therapies (Hardcover)

This brilliant Harvard physician has written a comprehensive, well organized presentation which encompasses the etiology, treatment and classification of the various types of arthritis. This book could only have been written by a doctor with absolute understanding of the subject matter. It is clearly presented in a practical no nonsense format, which allows the reader to find data on any aspect of the disease in a matter of minutes. It is up to date, presenting all of the medication options right up to and including the latest Cox 2 inhibitors and TNF blockers, as well as the various surgical procedures and alternative treatments.

This book is a must have for any patient who is trying to overcome this debilitating and painful disease, and for any doctor who is treating such patients in his or her practice.

It is a source of hope that with proper treatment arthritis can be managed in a way that allows the patient to pursue a normal and active life, without becoming disabled.

Thank you Dr. Weinblatt. Good job.

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat outdated, good general review, October 31, 2008

By 

Carolyn Dumond "decalgal" (San Francisco area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Arthritis Action Program: An Integrated Plan of Traditional and Complementary Therapies (Paperback)

I have several books on Rheumatoid Arthritis, purchased since diagnosed two years ago. While this book spends half the time on Osteoarthritis, and the other half on Rheumatoid Arthritis, it still managed to give me a few new pieces of information. Good discussion of the stages of the disease in the joints. However, being written in 2001, some of the medications described, while still current, have had some very negative press, and even been pulled off the market due to fatal side effects. The section on nutritional supplementation was pretty minimal, tho it confirmed another book I have that goes into much more detail about anti inflammatory and anti oxidant use to combat flares. No mention of Leaky Gut...which has been widely acknowledged as a key contributor to the development of RA.