Psoriatic arthritis scaly, inflamed skin

Radon heat relieves discomfort of rare rheumatic disease

09/12/2014

Rheumatism has many faces. Doctors summarize the term over 100 different diseases together. A lesser-known form, psoriatic arthritis, affects sufferers twice. They suffer from the skin disease psoriasis and arthritic changes in the joints alike. The Robert Koch Institute estimates the number of psoriasis sufferers at around two million. About one in ten sufferers develop psoriatic arthritis. The causes of psoriatic arthritis are not yet clear. Also a causal therapy or cure does not exist. Many sufferers therefore seek help in alternative therapies. In addition to naturopathic therapies and light therapies and stays in warm Radonstollen help.

Affected suffer from the shame in the face of their reddened and flaky skin, especially under excruciating pain due to joint inflammation, tendon stimulation and inflammation and due to the frequent inflammatory infestation of the spine. „The conventional medical treatment of psoriatic arthritis relies on two main pillars: physiotherapy and systemic administration of drugs“, explains Univ.-Doz. Dr. Bertram Hölzl, radon expert and medical director of the Gasteiner Heilstollen. The disease is attributed in medicine to the so-called spondyloarthropathies. „The effectiveness of radon heat therapy is very well scientifically proven, especially in spondyloarthropathies“, explains Hölzl. This radon heat therapy takes place in former mines. Of course, radon is released from the rock. For therapeutic use, patients travel by train to different therapeutic stations. Patients take the inert gas through the skin and lungs in small amounts during an approximately one-hour therapy session they spend lying down. Doctors advise to several entrances in the context of a cure. Thus, in addition to the drug consumption, an alternative form of treatment is available to those affected. There are several controlled studies on the effectiveness of therapy for spondyloarthropathies, which show the long-term pain-relieving effect including the important painkiller savings of up to twelve months and further demonstrate an improvement in the functional status and quality of life.

„If joint inflammation is in the foreground, a high-grade state of psoriatic arthritis should first be adjusted to medication. After the acute inflammatory phase subsides, radon heat therapy is medically sensible and indicated for the alleviation of the complaint“, clarifies Hölzl. Not only the spine and joint symptoms, but also the skin symptoms show positive reactions in the months after the therapy. Only the tropical temperatures in the healing tunnel have a stabilizing effect on the skin symptoms. Radon's exposure to the skin potentiates this effect. (Pm)