Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you have been struggling with Rheumatoid Arthritis for some time and traditional treatments have not worked or caused additional symptoms, a different approach, called Functional Medicine may help you.

Functional Medicine Physician, David Blyweiss, MD, utilizes Functional Medicine, to uncover the root cause of the symptoms. Not just the symptoms themselves. With a  two hour (or more) comprehensive visit, physical exam and detailed 20-page medical history, Dr. Blyweiss takes the first steps in identifying what  stressors, toxins, etc. you have in you that need to be removed.

Additional testing (above and beyond your typicall doctor’s panel) is sometimes performed to confirm what the physician suspects may be your unique issues.
Treatment classically will include:

• Improving the health of your GI tract - where it has become accepted that most autoimmune disease begins
• Scrupulously avoiding those food intolerances or allergens identified during testing
• Identifying any nutritional deficiencies and replenishing them  

As the insulting agents are removed, necessary nutrients are replaced and the gut is restored to health; within 12-16 weeks most symptomatology resolves and people feel better than they have in years.

Case Study: Misdiagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis

Amy, a 55 year-old in the health care industry, was misdiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in December 2007. Under traditional drug treatment, which included five daily pills and injections, Amy's condition only worsened, and the side effects of the medications were wearing her down. She was miserable, unhealthy, overweight, and moody. Like many patients, Amy thought that the side effects were things that she HAD to endure but the constant crying and fatigue were the last straws. She couldn't continue living her life under the current conditions. Her joint pain was so bad that she could not even use a stapler. As a result, Amy decided to turn to Functional Medicine.

Amy described the treatment as a "lifestyle change," because that is essentially what it is. After identifying the toxins, food sensitivities and triggers in Amy's body that were causing her symptoms, and noting how badly her GI tract was affected, I put her on a two week detoxification plan. Then, I worked with Amy on a new diet plan that eliminated toxic foods and infused probiotic and essential mineral and nutrient supplements into her diet. She began to feel a difference immediately. Her results were not only physical, but emotional as well. She no longer feels worn down, depressed, or anxious about her limitations. She was overjoyed to find that "being healthy actually makes you feel much better about yourself. Functional medicine gave me my life back." Amy's joints, 32 originally affected, have all regenerated.  She is healthy, happy and back to living a very active lifestyle.

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