What Causes Arthritis? featuring Dr. Sculco (ArthritisMD)
“For the vast majority of people we don’t have a good explanation why it occurs.” Thomas P. Sculco, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, explains several common causes for arthritis, while noting that it’s still a relatively mysterious condition.
Duration : 0:1:8
Arthritis Pain Relief: 5 Ways to Feeling Better
Part of dealing with arthritis means taking care of your self. Treating your body with loving care and attention can not only bring about arthritis pain relief, it can give you an overall health boost. It is likely that when you are diagnosed with arthritis, your condition can make you depressed. Here are three ways to increase your sense of well-being:
One excellent way for Arthritis Pain Relief is to have regular massage therapy. Massage can greatly help reduce the muscle and joint tension that most arthritis patients have to deal with. A professional masseuse can provide substantial relief from muscle tension and joint pain. Massage also helps you feel rejuvenated especially if you have been suffering from chronic fatigue. Going for regular massages helps to relieve the stress and anxiety that often accompany arthritis.
Another easy way for arthritis pain relief is to take regular warm baths. Soaking in a warm bath is a very popular method for treating the symptoms of arthritis. The warm water relaxes you and helps to relieve pain and tension. Having a nice warm bath before you sleep is highly recommended for a night of good rest.
Other that warm baths, heat therapies also include heated pool or whirlpool, warm compresses or heat packs. Many clubs offer heated pools or whirlpools for relaxation. If you are a member, make use of the opportunity to go and relax yourself. Warm compresses or heat packs are easily available in many health stores. You can use them conveniently at home.
Conversely, cold therapies have also been shown to be effective for arthritis pain relief. Cold therapy consists of applying cold to areas of inflammation and pain. Either use a cold pack or wrapping ice with a towel on the affected areas. You can also use the bag of frozen veggies lying in your freezer on the area that you feel pain.
Lastly, you can keep a therapy journal. There are many positive benefits to writing a journal. In fact, many researchers point to the therapeutic aspects of this meditative practice. Journal writing can help keep you connected to your emotions. Also, keeping a journal can help you keep track of what arthritis treatment works and what does not. You can record your reaction to certain therapies, and learn more about how your body reacts to certain activities or medicines. Nowadays, it is easy to keep a journal through using a blog and sharing about your experiences with the world.
Sandra Kim Leong
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/arthritis-pain-relief-5-ways-to-feeling-better-69123.html
An Alarming Study Shows Arthritis knee surgery May Not Be The Best Option
With arthritis knee pain, it has been noticed that the more the patient of such a condition walks, the more the knee will hurt. Many people would thus be gravitated toward having arthritis knee pain surgery to get relief though there is some shocking and surprising news concerning such a course of action. According to a study conducted on arthritis knee pain surgery on elderly patients, it has been determined that there are potentially harmful effects to such a course of action, and that in fact, it will not significantly help improve the patient’s condition.
Severely Impacts The Health Care Community
Such a surprising outcome of studies conducted on arthritis knee pain surgery may severely impact the health care community, and change the way in which such arthritis knee pain surgery will be performed in future on the, it is believed, more than 300,000 Americans that need to get treated for knee arthritis. Such arthritis knee pain surgery is no doubt performed to provide relief from the pain of osteoarthritis, and for the continual worsening of the joints due to wear and tear that is supposed to affect as many as twelve percent of the senior citizen population.
An Arthritis knee pain surgery involves clearing out the debris and also repairing the affected cartilage that may have been damaged, and it would mean making tiny incisions so that the healing process takes place quickly. The study that was conducted had two kinds of patients in their study that included those that actually had arthritis knee pain surgery and those that had sham surgery. It was found that the latter kind of patients had no difficulty in climbing stairs and could walk faster than those who had had an actual arthritis knee pain surgery.
This is indeed quite alarming and along with the cost of having arthritis knee pain surgery that can total as much as five thousand dollars per individual and approximately one and a half billion for the industry, can lead one to think that wouldn’t the patient be better off spending the money on something more useful and effective.
Such findings have even led many insurance companies into refusing to pay for arthritis knee surgery. In fact, there are a number of alternatives to consider such as using hot packs, taking pain relievers as well as cortisone shots, and arthritis knee pain surgery should only be considered as a last resort. Whatever may be the merits of such a study, it certainly does put some doubts in the minds of a number of doctors, which may lead them to using such an alternative only under certain circumstances like when the patient has an acute sports injury to ligaments.
For further information on arthritis please visit http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info
Roger Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/knee-surgery-for-arthritis-170740.html
Managing Arthritis Pain – How you Can Stay in Control of your Arthritis
Have you ever ridden on a roller coaster and felt like you were out of control? LIFE can be like a roller coaster for those of us with Arthritis. There are good days and bad days. It is what we do with what we have—that counts.
Arthritis affects nearly 70 million Americans. There are more than 100 types of arthritis including Rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis. There are numerous arthritis treatments to help manage the pain as well. Arthritis is a major cause of chronic pain and leading cause of disability in the United States.
Did you know that the word arthritis literally means “joint inflammation?” Inflammation and pain are involved in most types of arthritis. Aching, throbbing, nagging, sometimes sharp pain – arthritis hurts!
It can make simple, daily activities like opening a pill bottle, getting out of a chair or even walking difficult. There is no cure for arthritis but there are things you can do to help manage Arthritis Pain symptoms.
See your doctor: Know what type of arthritis you have. Early diagnosis is important to proper treatment and prevention of permanent joint damage. Follow your doctor’s advice.
Keep a Positive Attitude: Make a plan for managing your arthritis. Take control. Arthritis is a condition that requires your participation in ongoing care.
Control your weight: Increased weight adds stress on joints in your back, hips, knees and feet. Less weight will reduce this stress.
Exercise: Stay fit! Exercise regularly to build muscles and keep joints moving well. Inactivity can increase your weight gain and your pain. Exercise (even walking 30 minutes a day or 10 minutes 3X a day) can increase strength and stability in weakened muscles and mobility in your joints. Remember the saying “Use it or lose it” – Then MOVE it!
Relax your muscles: Stress increases muscle tension, pain and feelings of helplessness and depression. Try relaxing by tensing and releasing muscle groups. Start at your head and work down to your toes. Deep breathing also helps to reduce stress.
Use assistive devices: Specially designed tools, called assistive devices, can help you perform basic activities. Long handled reachers, padded cooking utensils, etc., are available in stores, catalogs, and online.
Avoid improper positions: Using good posture and good body mechanics will help protect your joints. Don’t slouch in your chair; keep your head, neck and back straight, your legs uncrossed and your feet on the floor. This will help you reduce unnecessary pain.
Move around: Don’t stay in the same position too long. Taking frequent stretch breaks will reduce joint stiffness and pain.
Respect your Arthritis pain: Pain is a signal from your body that something is wrong. Arthritis causes some chronic pain, but when you have sudden excessive pain after an activity, you may have overexerted yourself or have been doing the activity incorrectly. Listen to your body, learn your limits and take extra care when you have pain.
Know your limits: Rest when you are tired. Arthritis can cause fatigue muscle weakness – a deep exhaustion that makes everything you do a great effort. Give yourself permission to rest. Pace yourself – don’t overexert yourself on one project. Break jobs down into smaller pieces that you can do over a period of time with rest breaks.
With proper attention to these items you can manage your arthritis pain.
Maureen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/managing-arthritis-pain-how-you-can-stay-in-control-of-your-arthritis-154678.html
Di – Degenerative Disc Disease, Neck Pain, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Anxiety, Shingles
Patient has Degenerative Disc Disease with compressed discs at C4,C5,C6 and bone spurs. She has had arthritis neck pain and numbness of both hands for the past 15 years.
She also has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists for the past 22 years. With the NBE Treatment her shoulder and neck are more flexible.
She does not need Carpal Tunnel Surgery. In addition, she no longer has anxiety which she suffered from for many years. The NBE treatment also helped her with a recent episode of Shingles.
Duration : 0:7:11
Acupuncture and Arthritis Pain Reliefs
Acupuncture is becoming more accepted as a legitimate way to treat a whole host of illnesses. It is yet still not completely accepted by everyone in the medical world. This is basically because of a lack of proper studies proving the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been used to take care of a many different types of pain. It has in recent times been proven to be effective in treating lower back pain. Over the years it has been used to care for arthritis related joint pain, osteoarthritis, and knee injuries. Actually it is seen as most effective when treating pain stemming from injuries.
There are a lot of people who claim to get relief from acupuncture while others do not. The reason for this may be the nature of the pain and the skillfulness of the practitioner in diagnosing the problem. Understanding the former and choosing the latter may facilitate to effectively treat back pain.
Chronic pain is somewhat that a large percentage of the population suffers from. Many people lives through the pain and unable to find relief in any way. Acupuncture for pain relief may now offer some patients a way to discover relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture for pain has now found acceptance in Europe as a rightful way to treat pain and is even covered by health insurance in Germany.
Nevertheless it has not quite received the same level of acceptance everywhere else in the world. Many still consider it as an alternative medicine though there are new trials and studies that show promising results. This could be the answer for people who have not been able to live devoid of pain for years.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a general type of arthritis knee pain; it is particularly common in young adults who are active in sports. It affects many people and there is no clear cause of it.
In spite of this seemingly clear link between knee pain and physical activity, yet there seems to be no clear link between the damage to knee cartilage and knee pain. Acupuncture chronic pain treatments are seen as an unconventional way to treat knee pain. It is preferable than by means of medication and may have long term lasting effects.
Acupuncture arthritis neck pain treatments are seen as a form of effective way to deal with neck pain. It is moreover considered more effective, even if marginally, than massage therapy. If the neck pain is happen to be caused by an injury of some kind then relief can be found within a few sessions.
Cindy Heller
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/acupuncture-and-pain-reliefs-598944.html
10 Tips to Reduce Arthritis Muscle Pain Naturally – Without Side Effects
If you suffer from arthritis muscle or joint pain you know how much it can impact your life. From not being able to play active sports to missing out on family fun – the effects can be far-reaching and upsetting. So, its natural that we search for pain remedies.
Almost everyone is familiar with pain relief formulas. Over 30 billion over-the- counter tablets and 70 million prescriptions are sold annually just in the USA. Known as ‘Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs), a few commonly known names include Aspirin, Ibuprofin, Advil, and Motrin as well as prescription products like Celebrex and Vioxx. What most people might not know is that over 16,000 Americans die from NSAIDs a year and approximately 107,000 patients are hospitalized annually for NSAID related gastrointestinal complications.(1)
There is an alternative to arthritis muscle or joint pain. Natural Arthritis Pain Relief therapies can decrease inflammation and help repair tissues. The following are some starting points for investigating natural solutions further:
1. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night: During the deeper stages of sleep the human body produces growth hormone, which results in tissue healing and repair. Inadequate amounts of sleep contribute to pain. Natural sleep remedies that can help you get a deep and restorative sleep are Melatonin, Hydroxy L- tryptophan (5-HTP), Calcium, Mangesium and colloidal gold. You can also listen to relaxing music – try searching on itunes for ocean sounds.
2.Take a green-lipped mussel oil supplement: If you suffer from arthritis muscle or joint pain, swelling or other symptoms commonly associated with arthritis, you may benefit from taking green-lipped mussel oil from New Zealand. In a clinical trial conducted at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in Glasgow, UK, preparations of green-lipped mussel extract were shown to benefit 76 percent of Rheumatoid arthritis patients and 70 percent of osteoarthritic patients (2) The omega-3s contained in green-lipped mussel oils (more potent than fish oils) cannot be manufactured by our body and decrease inflammation. The EPA and DHA essential fatty acids have been so effective that some people have been able to discontinue their use of other medications altogether.
3. Take MSM, or “organic sulphur”. It can lessen inflammation, pain, and stiffness due to arthritis, muscle, or back pain and helps to balance the blood chemistry in these conditions. MSM helps supply the sulfur amino acids needed for healing.
4. Massage a blend of essential oils of arnica, Calendula and St John’s work into the affected painful area. Applying essential oils directly on the area nourishes cells and enables the body to metabolize waste and heal injuries more quickly. Herb Pharm makes a a blend called “Trauma Oil” which is very effective. Essential oils can help relax tense muscles and improve circulation.
5. Eat a whole food, mineral rich diet with plenty of vegetables and whole grains. Vegetable juices and green chlorophyll-rich foods can help relieve muscle inflammations by promoting the elimination of toxins from the body. Cut back on the amount of meat containing large amounts of saturated fat, which impacts the effective functioning of the liver – possibly leading to inflammation and irritation. Animal fats also contain arachadonic acid which can stimulate inflammation.
6. Take Glucosamine sulfate: Glucosamine is a naturally occurring element in the body that plays a crucial role in the building and healing of cartilage. Glucosamine may be efficient in treating and even delaying the progression of osteoarthritis. Some studies have hinted that glucosamine may be as effective as NSAIDs in treating joint conditions, while having fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
7. Magnetic therapy: Magnetic therapy is a safe method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It helps speed the healing process and improve quality of sleep without any adverse side effects. A study from the University of Virginia showed that that a magnetic field of moderate strength can result in significant reduction of swelling when applied immediately after an inflammatory injury. Dilation of blood vessels is a major cause of swelling, and it’s thought that the magnets worked by limiting blood flow to the affected area. Individuals wearing magnetic jewelry have reported diminished muscle soreness and lessening of cramps. Try sleeping on a magnet mattress pad to help ease the pain of arthritis muscle soreness or apply magnet straps to sore muscle or tendonitis areas.
8. Take Vitamin D: Researched conducted by the University of Minnesota found that 93% of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient. Taking Vitamin D and CoQ10 can help alleviate arthritis muscle pain caused by cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Vitamin D can also be synthesized naturally by the body upon exposure to sunlight.
9.Cayenne pepper:A teaspoon of cayenne shaken in 2 ounces of olive oil can be used as an ointment and rubbed directly into sore muscles. Cayenne contains capsaicin which eventually inhibits secretion of the neurotransmitter Substance P, that transmits pain to the brain, lessening muscle soreness, sprains and cramps.
10. Try an Epsom salt bath: The magnesium sulfate of Epsom Salt acts as a muscle relaxant, and by easing Arthritis Muscle pain it helps the body to eliminate harmful substances. Due to changes in agriculture in the past century, most Americans are deficient in Magnesium. Studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Fill a bathtub with water as hot as you can stand. Add 2 cups of Epsom salts. The heat of the bath will increase circulation and reduce inflammation.
About Alchemy Radiant Health:
Alchemy Radiant Health offers services to help people achieve premium physical performance, mental clarity, and well-being through holistic wellness programs that promote radiant health and longevity. Our approach and philosophy is based on ancient Chinese nutrition combined with the latest developments in super-foods.
Sources Used in this article:
(1) July 1998 issue of The American Journal of Medicine
None of the statements in this article have been approved by the FDA. Any products or services referred to are not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease or health condition.
All content in this article is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Alchemy Radiant Health assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this article indicates your agreement to these terms.
©2008 Alchemy Radiant Health. All Rights Reserved.
Josse Ford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/10-tips-to-reduce-muscle-pain-naturally-without-side-effects-749262.html
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Is a Poor Diet Causing Your Symptoms
Causes of Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common chronic autoimmune disease in our society at present. This disease is characterised by symptoms such as pain and inflammation in bone joints. It’s a debilitating condition that effects a high percentage of the worlds population, and it can affect anyone at any age.
All races have an equal chance of suffering from arthritis. For some people it will only effect one part of their body with the most common being the hands, but it can become systemic. This means that for some sufferers it will cause pain over the whole body, and in extreme cases can include internal organs.
The most common treatments for arthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), coricosteroids, and disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Along with these drugs patients are also advised of lifestyle changes that include changing their diet and exercising.
Other medicines that can be prescribed are immune suppressants. These are used when the patients immune system is no longer in control.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that creates antibodies in the blood which attacks the sufferers own body tissues. This is what causes the pain and inflammation.
The most commonly affected joints are hands, feet, wrists, shoulders, hips, elbows, knees and neck. Once someone is suffering from this disease it will last the rest of their life.
All sufferers should talk to their doctor about possible treatments for their symptoms. And they should regularly update their doctor of any changes in they way they feel.
Diet plays a massive role in the symptoms of arthritis. Many foods will help your symptoms while many will make them worse. Some research will help you discover which are the foods that you eat that are triggering your symptoms.
Many sufferers have been known to eliminate a lot of their symptoms when they change their diet. Some foods contain chemicals called prostaglandins which are known to trigger some symptoms.
Some of the foods that you should avoid if you’re suffering from arthritis are…
Alcohol
Foods containing white flour
Tinned foods
Foods containing E numbers and too many preservatives
A diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and oily fish will help to ease your symptoms. You are what you eat, and the healthier you eat, the healthier you will become.
Always consult your doctor first before making any changes in your lifestyle that regard a diet and exercise plan. If you feel that your diet is making you feel worse then it’s not that difficult to make yourself feel better.
Jennifer King
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/rheumatoid-arthritis-is-a-poor-diet-causing-your-symptoms-553387.html
Natural treatments for arthritis that combine the best of natural and prescription therapies.
Duration : 0:6:28
Arthritis Pain Relief – Natural Tips And Treatments That Work Fast
I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain forever by doing one single thing – read on. Yes I finally found complete relief from my arthritis pain naturally, and you can do it too.
To get the arthritis pain relief you’re seeking it’s helpful to understand how arthritis works. Sometimes arthritis occurs in the wrist, elbows, shoulders, and jaw but you generally don’t find it there. In osteoarthritis, any one or more affected joints experience a progressive loss of cartilage, which is the slippery material that cushions the ends of bones.
It’s important to learn plenty of facts about joints and arthritis to help you understand how to treat arthritis better. Collagen is the main protein found in all connective tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Damaged joints cause pain and sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve the pain.
Researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children or between siblings than between husbands and wives. Injuries sometimes can be the start in the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later even after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint. Possible Causes of Arthritis include lesser known: bleeding disorders, like hemophilia that causes bleeding to occur in the joint; disorders such as avascular necrosis, that block the blood supply closest to the joint; and conditions like hemochromatosis, which causes iron build-up in the joints.
Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets, like I did, and noticed significant or total improvement. An acidic diet, that is any foods that are not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. I learned to eat and enjoy all living foods. Living foods are foods that are alive, like fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. There are plenty of raw food cookbooks out there with great recipes, too.
If you’re not already doing so, make a big effort to change your diet. Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten-containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely.
Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost — no one will ever know.
Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. Keep in mind, if you take a joint supplement it should help do three things — build cartilage, relieve everyday joint pain, and enhance your flexibility and movement.
Some people swear by morning drinks of raw apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis pain relief. If your osteoarthritis is affecting your load-bearing joints, keeping your weight within a normal range is important.
Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. At bedtime try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those who have arthritic hands. To be on the safe side always seek your doctor’s advice before starting or changing your exercise program. Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible.
For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements. Use Taiji health balls, with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints: hold two balls, move in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try counterclockwise and do throughout the day.
If you’re going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. If you’re planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor. Once you become more informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both.
More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don’t object to patients trying them. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it. Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of Arthritis Pain. Changing the diet to a diet of mostly living foods is the fastest way to get rid of arthritis pain – I did it, you can too.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/arthritis-pain-relief-natural-tips-and-treatments-that-work-fast-126183.html
News:Arthritis