Saturday, June 29, 2013

Steps to Be Followed After Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Surgery


After a major surgical procedure, there are some specific precautions that are expected to be taken by the patients in order to experience a fast recovery. The total knee replacement and total hip replacement are the two different kinds of surgeries that also demand some preventative measures to be followed by the patients.

The patients must follow the tips and guidelines that the doctors provide them after they undergo a major surgical operation. No one other than your doctor can give you the best techniques for your quick recovery because he is the only one person who is well aware about the overall condition of your health. He accordingly provides you the tips so that your body could bear the effort needed for it. The patients who have undergone the total knee replacement or the total hip replacement surgery must follow the relevant steps as prescribed by their doctors or surgeons.

However, it has been observed that not all the patients have similar health, fitness and motivation power and even the nature of surgery is not always same in all the cases. Thus, the procedure as well as the time taken to get recovered varies in case of the different patients. As per reports, it has been seen that the patients who have an enhanced will power get recovered quickly compared to the ones who are not so brave in showing that motivation. The hospital staffs help the inmates to carry out the different recovery techniques so that they get well soon after the total knee replacement and total hip replacement surgeries.

In case of the total knee replacement surgery, it is advised to the patients to walk with the help of the crutches or walker for first three to four weeks after getting operated. Followed by that, you are required to use a cane to walk for at least two weeks; finally you will find that you are able to walk without the usage of any such device.

During this period of recovery, you must try to keep your legs elevated to get your knees healed fast. On the other hand, there are three main things that the people necessarily need to follow to get recovered from the total hip replacement faster.

The first among them is that you must not move your toes inward as it makes your hip move leading to its rotation that ultimately causes it to dislocate. The other two things to be taken into account are no crossing of legs, and don't bend your hip beyond 60 to 90 degree. If the above mentioned precaution measures are seriously followed, then the fast recovery of the patients is ensured in both the cases of total knee replacement as well as total hip replacement.

Forgiveness in the Light


I, the Backslider
I'm slipping into the dark void of a soul where there is nothingness. The grips of the world are desperately pulling me back, but I'm resisting. What should I do? God had been so good to me, but these voices are telling me that life is much easier as a sinner. From God, the goodness and healing is but a whisper, but it's the evil, the rage, the horror that's screaming at me, "Why don't you listen? You won't have to go through attacks from the enemy. God is your enemy. I am on your side. I am your friend. Walk with me. You won't have to be disciplined by God when you do something wrong. You won't have fear of Him. It will be smooth sailing. You can have the life you want, do as you please without answering to a vengeful God." The screaming is overwhelming - more powerful than the whisper. I sink to my knees in despair and darkness.

Why can't I grasp on to my Savior's hand? Life's situations are coming at me all at once. My childhood, the goodness of my parents, the love, the joy, the happiness, death, divorce, loss, fear, unhappiness; it flows through my mind like a hurricane that willfully scatters people's lives to the four directions. My mind is so cluttered and confused. I try to pray. "God where are you?" and evil answers, "He was never there, it was an illusion, I am your path." These sinful thoughts overpower my prayers.

Temptations are disguising themselves into so many forms. Money. Travel. Gratification beyond all imagination promised evil. I am drawn to the illusion that my greatest material desires can be mine. If only. Some thoughts seem innocent but the root is so deep within me, I know that they can lead to destruction, but yet I still allow myself to weaken and be enticed by these desires. Am I the only one going through this? I feel so alone - is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody feel what I fear?

I'm in a furrow. I've turned away from the Lord. I'm out of focus. The further I go down this road away from my savior, the less that I pray. The less I find myself longing for that whisper. I fear it's no longer possible for me to hear His voice, or guided by His grace. Somewhere along the way I turned to the left and ended up in the condition that I'm in. Do I want to fit into the world and partake of all the "false pleasures" it has to offer?

Oh Lord, I have become a prisoner in the darkness of my soul. I, the backslider, can often be gazed upon and compared to a prisoner held in the dark awaiting death. I am confined. I am lost. I live in physical confinement. Both I and the prisoner are held captive, whether it's by bars or strong emotional grips. I need my God.

Shackles
Look at me now. I'm dealing with problem after problem with no relief - when I think I make one step forward, more trouble comes my way and sits atop the others on my shoulders. I've taken on three new companions. Let me introduce you to "Discouragement". He's been in my mind for a few months now robbing me of all confidence and hope. "Discouragement" appears in everyone's life at one time or another, but he just won't leave me alone. He stays at my side all day long, and haunts me in my dreams throughout the night; I can't get rid of the torment he brings no matter what I try or where I go. There is simply no escaping this demon.

I try to start my day off enthused, but the joy is quickly snatched away. As time passes on, there's a knock at the door of my heart and my second companion "Frustration" enters and makes himself right at home. He waves to his friend "Discouragement" and know He is the one who is weighing my mind down. "Frustration" takes hold and builds all the roadblocks to everything I try to do today. He ensures that my alarm clock doesn't go off, making me late for work. He ensures that the heel breaks on my favorite shoes, the hem comes out of my favorite slacks, and the strap on my purse breaks. I have to change everything twice before I can even get out the door. To make matters worse, traffic is backed up, and I arrive - LATE AGAIN - frustrated!

Now let me introduce you to my third companion, "Failure", who fills what is left of my soul, unleashing constant thoughts of disappointment, panic, dread, fear, and dismay. "Failure" settles in and finds a comfortable nook. He reminds me that all of my plans and efforts of leading a decent life has been hindered at every turn, and the crashes and disappointments are all my own fault - in my mind. Everything and everyone has become an annoyance. Disappointed in myself is an understatement. No matter which way I turn there's no relief. Defeat is branching off. My mind is bound and shackled, like a prisoner walking the last steps to death row.

My heart is heavy ladened. There's a darkness of gloom moving through it. There is no light in my soul; it's as black as the dark side of the moon, and the weight of the universe sits on my shoulders with my three unwelcomed companions. How can I make them leave? Is there any way to escape their constant presence?

My three companions greet my spirit with impassioned and brutal hellos. My mind is taking a beating from "Discouragement", my heart is in agony from "Frustration", and now "Failure" is here to finish me off; constantly reminding me of my lack of discipline in my life. I'm slowly self destructing. I must find a way out of this pitch black well I find myself drowning in.

Breaking Free
Just when I thought I was lost forever, I heard the faint whispering from God. It happened one day when a complete stranger spoke the words "Jesus still loves you" to me. What? It's been so long since I've believed those words, are they true? Is it possible? The mind, so totally discouraged, so dark, saw the faint glistening of a far away light. Like a flash of a firefly in the summer, my mind had the briefest glimpse that God may actually still linger as a faint spark in my soul. My mind that was once so overpowered by the screams of evil began to wonder, can it really be possible?

My heart had been heavy-laden with frustration, but upon the faint impression of Truth began to beat with anticipation just from that minute flash. And the spirit that was saturated with failure was lifting with excitement as the light of God became stronger and becoming alive in my soul.

Those who had been my companions, Disappointment, Frustration, and Failure where fading in the darkness as God's light came upon me and began to engulf me in the pure light of his never-ending love and grace. For the first time in what seemed an eternity, I feel an overwhelming emotion of joy and peace. A peace that had eluded me while in my darkest moments; a joy that had abandoned me while hoping for the happiness I was seeking.

I am breaking free of the shackles of the darkness and find myself running to the arms of the Father, but I hold back. Can my Father still love me after the way that I'd turned away? I talked to God. I actually listened for the whisper of God's voice, and while desperately yearning for a reply, I poured out my soul to the Lord. Will He hear the words from this sinner's heart?

What happened next was truly amazing. I heard the faintest whisper of "Welcome back my beloved". I strained to hear, amazed, afraid that my desire to be back in the arms of the Lord was just another illusion, but I heard that still small voice again "Welcome back my beloved". This time it was stronger, there was no mistaking, I had heard the voice of my God. I'm no longer outcast, my Lord has welcomed me back to His grace, I can feel his love, I can feel the warmth, I can see the light as it flows around me like the mist on the English moors. My God has not forsaken me. My Father explained that He never left, that even though I was the one who tried to turn away from His grace, He was always with me. I am a child of my Father. I am loved. I am whole again. I have broken free of the bond that bound me to the darkness, and I have found the Truth of a loving Father. I have realized God's love once again.

Total Knee Replacements and Partial Knee Replacements


Having to consider getting a knee replaced itself can be daunting to a lot of people. Their will come a time when there will have to be decision made to whether you will have a full knee replacement or a partial knee replacement.

Now of course prior to this point you have been in consultation with your orthopedic surgeon and, they have considered you a good candidate for surgery. Not everyone for instance will be able to withstand the surgery for one reason or another. Determining whether you have the option of having either a partial knee replacement or need a full replacement will depend on the condition of the knee and the overall wear and its locations.

There are some surgeons that do not do partial replacements and will prefer the full replacement only. There are a number of reasons for this but it will depend on their preference. With a partial knee replacement there are several advantages.

1. Less recovery time. Generally you are back on your feet in 3-5 weeks depending on your overall condition. With a total knee replacement you can expect 6-8 weeks in recovery.

2. Less time spent in the hospital after surgery. With a partial replacement you have the surgery one day and may come home the next if there are no complications. With a total replacement you can expect a minimum of 3 days in the hospital and up to 5 in some cases. Again this depends on after surgery results and if there are complications or not.

3. The partial knee replacement can be converted to a full replacement later down the road if needed. With a partial knee replacement the conversion is rather simple, with a full replacement this becomes a more invasive procedure when having to do a revision again with a longer rehabilitation process involved as well.

Depending on who you talk with there may be several more benefits between the two but, the three listed are the major ones to consider.

When it comes to the rehabilitation of the two I have found working with both for a number of years that the partial replacement progress is rapid when it comes to pain and flexibility due to the fact its less invasive and less tissue destruction involved and, the major ligaments are preserved as well. Both however I have found get very good results if they are cared for properly during recovery and not pushed beyond their ability to recover after exercise.

If you surgeon feels a partial replacement will suffice in your case and is willing to do it then by all means have it done and save yourself time and maintain a excellent quality of life as well.

Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.

Chronic Knee Pain - Cause, Treatment and Prevention


The knee is a pretty important body part, a point I am sure most of us can agree on, however If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from chronic knee pain you can take solace in the fact that you are not alone as this is a problem that affects thousands of people worldwide. Chronic knee pain refers to pain in the knee that develops and worsens over time. There are various causes of chronic knee pain and the older one gets the greater the chances of developing any of these problems. The causes of chronic knee pain can usually be attributed to two things excessive tension/strain on the knees and diseases.

To understand the causes of chronic knee pain one must first have a basic knowledge of the structure of the knee. This may not be the way your doctor may describe it, but to be honest I don't understand half the terms my doctor uses anyway, so here it is in layman terms; the knee is a body joint made up of bones, tendons, ligaments, thickened cartilage referred to as meniscus and fluid filled sacs known as bursae. Serious damage to any of the aforementioned structures can result in chronic knee pain.

The most common Injuries that results from applying too much tension/straining on the knees include ligament injury, Meniscus tear and tendinitis. Ligament injury and tendinitis can more often than not be treated by resting the leg, soaking the affected area in with warm water, and by applying ice packs and anti inflammatory medicine. A meniscus tear is a more serious issue and will require an x-ray to detect and minor surgery to correct.

The most common disease that results in chronic knee pain is arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis to be specific. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout results in inflammation, and when these occur it usually results in an accumulation of fluids causing a cyst at the back of the knee, which causes chronic pain in that area. Osteoarthritis is non inflammatory but causes the cartilage of the knee to degenerate.

Other disease that affect the knee are lupus which is a connective tissue disorder and Bursitis which interestingly can be linked back to increased tension on the knees cause by excessive kneeling or overuse. Inflammation causes from these diseases can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, and the pain if not too severe can usually be controlled by an aspirin. If symptoms persist then it is highly recommended that one visit a physician.

Growing up I was always told that prevention is better than cure thus I would like to share some simple steps that can help in avoiding some injuries that result in chronic knee pain. These are as follows:

• Try and control body weight as the more weight the knee as to support the greater the tension it is burdened with
• When taking on new activity do so in small gradually progressive step, for example if one is thinking of taking up jogging, try power walking then slowly ease into jogging
• Wearing footwear that is comfortable and offer some leg support especially when doing physical activities that requires extensive periods standing.
Having chronic knee problems can greatly affect one's quality of life as it can often deprive us of the simple every day things we find joy in like playing with one's children and grandchildren; however with the power of knowledge we can learn to control this problem and slowly take back our lives one step at a time.

Secrets Of Attraction - Do You Understand What Makes Us Girls Go Weak At The Knees?


I'm always being asked what makes a guy attractive to me. The secrets of attraction are something people have pondered since Eve looked at Adam and set out to change him! So why is it some guys just have women eating out of their hands and some are forgotten within moments of the first encounter. You can fool yourself it's all down to drop dead gorgeous looks, but some ugly guys get the girls too.

Of course to die for looks are an advantage and girls ogling gorgeous semi naked guys in jeans ads and fizzy drink ads are there for a reason, it is real life, but only up to a point. Of course we lust after gorgeous guys the way you lust after beautiful women, but it's only one of the secrets of attraction and unless you can afford surgery it's the one that's hardest to do anything about.

Ordinarily I don't lock eyes with strange men, but if I do and he smiles it makes me tingle all over, whether he's hot or not in the looks department. He'll probably only get eye contact if I'm looking directly at him when he looks at me, when that moment happens I feel self conscious looking away, so I look straight into his eyes and I can't help it I want to see a reaction. So here's a really useful tip, don't stare, glance. If you're walking down a street and you see a hot babe walking towards you do not stare at her all the way hoping for eye contact, she'll pick up on it from miles off and avoid looking. If you're walking towards her and not gazing her way she can give you the once over and she's more likely to do that if you have good posture, nice clothes, a confident manner. When you get close just glance at her, if your eyes lock, that's the magic moment to smile and maybe say something. Sometimes in the secrets of attraction - less is more.

Of course in the street it won't necessarily lead to a conversation but the same rule applies across the room at a party for example and the beauty of it is that if you glance at her and she's looking somewhere else she doesn't know, so no rejection feelings and you can do it again, as often as you like until she does see you and hopefully locks on. Naturally you could just walk over and say hi. There was a line in a war movie where a colonel is briefing a soldier to lead an unlikely mission, he says something like "a smile from a pretty girl at a party rarely results in climax, but a man would be a fool not to push the suggestion as far as it will go". It's true and a spontaneous mutual smile is the best start you could want.

Really the secrets of attraction resolve around persona, even overweight, dodgy looking guys can pull gorgeous women if the attraction of the persona is great enough. We can't help our genes and somewhere inside we're looking for a good father, provider whether we admit it or not, even as a lover. You don't just need to be fit to fulfill that fantasy role; confidence, intelligence, a manner and a look that suggests success, shrewdness and it has to be admitted a sense of humour, these are the real secrets of attraction.

You don't need the highest IQ in the world to gain knowledge, people mistake a knowledgeable person for an intelligent one, so make sure you know about a range of things and can hold a conversation, dress to suggest success, if you're not confident learn to pretend and soon you will be confident and finally flirt a lot, you'll get knock backs, but you'll learn which secrets of attraction work for you.

Friday, June 28, 2013

How to Effectively Understand & Deal With Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis - Age-Progressive Phenomen


The musculoskeletal system exhibits a significant number of changes as we age, not only do the joints change but the surrounding tissue changes as well, thus causing varying degrees of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatic nerve pain, also known as sciatica. Two of the changes that we will focus on in this article are osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Osteoarthritis, as the label of a condition, is somewhat misleading because inflammation is not generally related to this condition, although pain may be. Degenerative joint disease is perhaps a better label. Osteoarthritis generally affects individuals over 50 years of age. Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in bone absorption over bone formation and is thought to be found most frequently in postmenopausal women. In both conditions, other factors come into play and may be exhibited in other segments of the population, other demographic groups, as a result. In both osteoarthritis and osteoporosis inactivity, immobility, and a sedentary lifestyle may exacerbate the condition leading to more neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process affecting the joints, particularly in the elderly, and may be asymptomatic (pain-free) or may cause considerable pain, particularly in the lower back and legs (sciatica). Joint changes may include erosion of the cartilaginous surface of the joints, degenerative changes to the soft tissue in and around the joints, and ossification or calcification of the connective tissue, particularly the ligaments and the edges, both superior and inferior, of the vertebrae themselves (osteophytes or bony bridges, spurs). All of the aforementioned factors may lead to a pain complex of back pain and sciatica. While it is difficult to say just how much these changes are directly associated with aging and how much is due to trauma, accident, and/or inactivity, it is obvious, both microscopically and macroscopically (to the naked eye), that aging is a factor. During research I conducted at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) The Smithsonian, it was immediately apparent that osteoarthritis is an age progressive, degenerative phenomenon. Osteoarthritis appears most frequently in the secondary curvatures of the spine, those of the cervical and lumbar regions. With each decade after the age of 30, calcification and ossification grow increasingly prevalent. It seems likely that this is an adaptive response to weakening muscles and connective tissues as we age. With decreased activity and increased age-progressive phenomena, it is likely that pain, particularly neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, will become increasingly prevalent.

Osteoporosis, as noted above, has to do with an imbalance between bone absorption and bone deposition. While generally believed to affect the long bones, the vertebrae are markedly affected by osteoporosis. A few of the factors contributing to this condition are the inability to absorb calcium through the gastrointestinal tract, diminished or loss of gonad function in postmenopausal women, inactivity, immobility, and a lack of weight-bearing stress on the skeletal system, the bones themselves. Additionally, osteoporosis may be caused by heightened levels of cortisone in the body, both exogenous (coming from outside of the body) or endogenous (being manufactured in the body). Regardless of etiology or cause, osteoporosis is increasingly evident as we age and is responsible for a large number of fractures experienced in individuals over 50 years of age. With fractures, particularly fractures of the vertebrae, neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are evident and, in fact, quite common.

Both osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are age-progressive phenomena, growing ever more prevalent with each successive decade of life. While different factors come into play, it is apparent that inactivity, immobility, and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to both of these conditions, and the associated neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. While it is true that there is a progression, it is not true that it is unavoidable or irreversible. In both instances, it seems apparent that there is an adaptive response on the part of the body to offset inactivity and immobility. The fact that osteoporosis seems more prevalent in individuals who are inactive and underweight, and osteoarthritis seems more prevalent in people inactive and immobile, this would seem to indicate that an individualized and medically supervised program of exercise would help to offset both conditions, in varying degrees. The complex factors involved in both conditions are neither inevitable nor irreversible, as noted above, and should be evaluated holistically and individually. The musculoskeletal system, and the body as a whole, is remarkably resilient and adaptive. Given the proper exercise program, an individual may, in fact, reduce his or her "skeletal age" significantly, thus alleviating or eliminating neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica.

Find Out How Knee Exercises Can Prevent Knee Injuries and Pain


Building up the actual muscle groups which support the knee joint using knee exercises is undoubtedly extremely essential in protecting your knees from harm and also from knee pain. Weak muscles are not able to effectively support the knee and also absorb shock prior to it reaching your knee and the additional stress placed on your knee may cause injury to the components of the knee joint.

Strengthening exercises could make your muscles tight, therefore always combine knee strengthening exercises with stretching knee exercises. Stretching the particular muscle groups which support the knee together with exercises is without a doubt very crucial for protecting against injuries. Supple muscles are usually not as prone to injuries as tight and constricted muscles. Tightness of the muscles coupled to the knee joint could pull the knee out of alignment.

HOW DO KNEE EXERCISES HELP STRENGTHEN THE KNEE?

Whenever undertaking knee stretching exercises, always be very careful to proceed gradually and not overstretch. You don't want to tear a muscle. You should increase the duration of the knee exercises bit by bit to avoid overuse problems as well as knee pains. You must be patient. You will see success. Muscle strength must be increased steadily. Whenever muscles, ligaments or tendons are stressed above their limits, incredibly small tears develop. This is normal, and as all these tears repair, your muscles in fact end up larger, stronger and more powerful. These tiny tears must be given enough time to mend or serious complications can develop. Try to avoid exercising the identical muscle groups 2 days in a row in order to give your body enough time to recover. Carrying out knee strengthening exercises up to four times a week will usually be ample. However, you can do you stretching knee exercises more regularly than that.

HOW TO MINIMIZE PAIN CAUSED BY KNEE EXERCISES

The idea is always to protect against injury along with reducing knee joint pain, and not to contribute to it. Don't dismiss pain or muscle soreness. Pain is your body's way of safeguarding you from injuring yourself even more. It's not at all abnormal to experience minor stiffness as well as aching of your muscles that might last up to a day after working out. However barely being capable of moving for a few days following exercising indicates you have overdone it. It's sometimes difficult to recognize when to stop when you are doing your knee exercises. Sometimes, the aches won't start until a couple of days after. If it does, you will certainly get a better understanding of your personal body's limitations. If you have overdone your own knee exercises, rest is very important. When it comes to painful muscles or tendons, applying ice packs can really help minimize swelling and inflammation and also soreness and should help accelerate recovery. You should be free of any pain before returning to your knee exercises program. Having said that, gently working the painful muscles can sometimes help reduce muscle pain.

IF UNSURE ABOUT YOUR KNEE EXERCISES, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you are suffering from knee joint pain or perhaps a knee injury or reduced movement in your knee joint and are not sure which particular knee exercises will suitable for your condition, consult a doctor or physical therapist who can easily evaluate your condition and provide you with an individualized treatment or exercise regimen.

How to Relieve Back and Knee Pain


Back and knee pain often occurs when we undertake some physical activities which require quick movements. Not using right techniques when pushing or pulling large objects, a sudden knock or fall can be the cause of this kind of pain. This is because there can be a strain or a tear in the ligament. Certain activities that put strain on the knee may aggravate it making walking, running and general exercise difficult.

Those who have to stand for prolonged periods as a part of their job and professional dancers who have to make repetitive leg movements can be more susceptible to back and knee pain. Stress on your knee joint can soften and deform the cartilage between the bones. This causes pain and stiffness and sometimes you may feel a clicking sensation when you bend your knee.

Being overweight may be the cause of back and knee pain and is the single largest risk factor for joint injury and wear and tear on your knee joints. Excess weight increases pressure on the joints and intensifies the load on your supporting muscles and ligaments when you are doing some physical work. If you do not make a concerted effort to control your weight you are likely to get serious disorders of the knee joint as you get older.

Sometimes no treatment is necessary other than a complete resting of the joint from any aggravating physical activities for relief from back and knee pain. Painkillers are the first line of defense against it. Early diagnosis and treatment may give you relief from back and knee pain making it easy for you to carry on your daily activities.

In order to keep your muscles, bones and joints in your back and knee in good working order and free from pain, you should try to do some form of physical activity everyday. The aim here is to keep your joints in action always, so that they are able to cope up with the additional load when you need to do demanding physical work. People affected with back and knee pain is strongly advised to consult a medical practitioner if the pain persists.

You can also be free from back and knee pain if you follow a regimen of flexibility enabling workouts. These workouts are most useful for increasing the mobility of joints. Some other exercises like aerobics strengthen the muscles and ligaments in the knee protecting it from this kind of pain.

Ronaldo's Knee Injury - How Will It Affect the Rest of His Body?


Brazilian superstar Ronaldo suffered the tearing of a tendon in his left knee during a very competitive game against Milan. Unfortunately, media sources are claiming that this may be the end of his career. To Ronaldo's credit, he has managed to rehabilitate his right knee with similar injuries in the past, after undergoing surgery.

Many people do not realize the implication of one injury on the rest of the body. Many times, due to overcompensation, a left knee injury can cause undue stress to the right knee, hip, or even low back. Once injury occurs, our bodies are very smart systems, and so they engage in something called "muscle guarding," where all of the biggest and broadest muscles surrounding an injury are recruited to take stress away from the painful area. Unfortunately, this can result in abnormal stress placed on the opposite knee.

Abnormal stress placed on Ronaldo's right knee, especially following previous injury to that knee, may not be very well tolerated. Most likely, with every step that he takes, he will be putting asymmetrical pressure through his legs. This causes increased force translation into the low back and many times results in soreness.

It only takes a few minutes of exercise to bring the proper amount of blood and nutrients to your low back in order to allow your body to heal from the minor amount of damage caused through compensation throughout the day. The only problem is that most people do not even know where to begin, and most therapies simply cannot dedicate time to every possible issue, especially issues that have yet to arise.

Whenever you have an injury it is wise to consider the injury's implications on the rest of your body. In Ronaldo's case, as an elite athlete, he will most likely have the highest quality care and be able avoid the vast majority of complications related to a debilitating knee injury. However, if this were your knee, would you know what to do?

Knee Brace For Jogging - The Free Information Will Help You Find the Correct One! Not the Wrong One


Do you like to jog but you are hindered by a hurt knee? Maybe you do not feel the pain so much as you have a problem with instability issues. Would you agree?

Introduction: We all know that jogging is a great way to stay in shape. But what happens when you have knee problems? - People do not just want to give up, so many of us runners will look for an answer to the knee pain or instability issue that we are dealing with. This free information will discuss different kinds of braces and after reading it, you will feel much more clear on which one is best for your particular needs.

1.) Start By Evaluating Your Knee Problem

We all know that self diagnosis is not recommended. In fact only your physician can tell you exactly what is going on inside your knee. However, we all can usually feel pain, and rate our instability levels on a subjective scale. These symptoms will help you to determine if you have a more mild, moderate, or severe knee pain or instability issue. This is huge! Why? You may ask... Well, the truth is that when you go to an only website to get a brace, you will need to have an idea of how much support you need. It is probably best to determine for yourself the times when your knee problem gets really out of hand. If you go with the most severe rating, you will find that when that problem shows its head again you will be ready with the right knee brace at the right time!

2.) Different Types of Knee Braces

Let's start with mild knee braces. Usually, these kinds of supports are made from an elastic type of material. This elastic material is usually made from drtyex or neoprene. You will find that many people prefer drytex because it is "more breathable". The supports will provide gentle compression and act as a reminder not to make certain movements that will hurt you. - Or, you can go with moderate to deluxe knee braces. These kinds of supports usually have supports on either side of the leg that are attached to a knee joint. These uprights will help to stop harmful side to side movements, or front to back movements that will cause you pain. - (This free information can help, but remember to speak with your doctor about medical advice.)

The First 3 Months After Your Knee Replacement Surgery


During your knee replacement surgery, you will be under general anaesthesia and there will be an incision made on your knee to allow surgical tools to move in and out of the knee. Once the damaged portions of the knee are removed and the artificial joints placed into the knee and attached using adhesive materials, the knee will be sutured together and you will be pushed to the recovery room.

The recovery period starts immediately after the surgery and even though you are still feeling the effects of the anaesthesia, you will be encouraged to start moving your knee. High chance are that you have not used the knee for physical activities for quite some time due to the pain which led to you undergoing the knee replacement surgery. As a result, the muscles are weak and you need to start building up and strengthen the muscles to allow better control of your new joint. A physical therapist will prescribe some physical therapy exercises for you to do yourself at home. You will be able to get discharged around 3 days after surgery and during this period, you will start to learn how to move around with the help of crutches until your knee is able to take your body weight. Once the knee is strengthened and is able to bear weight, you can slowly reduce your dependency on your crutches.

The first 3 months post surgery is a risky period as the replacement joint is still not fully attached to the surrounding muscles and tissues firmly. You knee can often give way so make sure you keep doing strengthening exercises to strengthen the region. You will also feel pain in the knees rather often during this period and this is perfectly normal. You will be prescribed painkillers but do not rely totally on the painkillers. If you notice any abnormal swelling or abnormal pain in the knee, make sure you go back to your surgeon for a check. Although the operating theatre is sterile, infection can still happen but this is rare. If you see any infection in the site of the incision, you need to go back to your surgeon as well. You should aim to regain your knee's full range of motion within this 3 months and this will help to prevent any scar tissues from building up or arthrofibrosis.

The first 3 months post surgery is totally about recovery and regaining back the functions of your knees. It is probably the toughest part of the whole surgery process and you will feel extremely useless. However it is the most important part and a bad recovery can lead to even more problems in future.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pain - Osteoarthritis Medications and Topical Treatments To Help You Stem The Pain


Many people experience the occasional twinge of pain in their knees or shoulders, but if you're among the 70 million people in the U.S. who have one type of arthritis or another, joint pain is probably a fact of life for you.

"Arthritis is really an umbrella term for different diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system in one way or another," says Jason Theodosakis, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine in Tucson and author of The Arthritis Cure. Regardless of the type, the common denominators are pain and often inflammation in the joints, as well as limited mobility.

20 million people in the U.S. have OA, and that figure is expected to reach 70 million by the year 2030.

Talk with your doctor about your diet and which medications and topical treatments can help you stem the pain. Also, try quick to apply pain-relieving measures such as the application of heat, ice or capsaicin cream to the joint, and even acupuncture is effective (particularly for OA of the knee).

A few topical ointment applications have proven effective for OA, particularly those with Calendula Oil as one of the pain relieving ingredients in their formula. Calendula Oil is a healing carrier oil containing the active ingredients of the marigold flower often referred to as Marigold Oil. The carotenes, phytosterols, polyphenols and EFAS present in the herb allow pain relieving penetration that can dramatically improve the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected OA area of the body.

In addition, the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin appear to be effective for some people with knee OA. What's more, supplements of a natural vegetable extract called avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) may reduce inflammation and stimulate cartilage production in people with OA, notes Dr. Throdosakis.

Cold Laser Therapy: Treatment for Osteoarthritis Knee Pain


Cold laser therapy may seem like a treatment that one would read about in a science fiction novel. Just in the past decade, however, it has become a recognized and often times preferred treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain sufferers who want to avoid invasive procedures.

Cold lasers are handheld, non-surgical devices that are used in a clinical setting. They work by emitting specific wavelengths of light thereby stimulating activity in the tissue on a cellular level. Once the metabolic rate of the cell is increased it initiates a number of beneficial biochemical events. The most obvious benefit is a reduction in both pain and inflammation. For example, a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study reported in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery found that laser therapy significantly relieved osteoarthritis knee pain and swelling in patients. The study also found that range of motion increased in the knee joint, and there was less sensitivity and tenderness around the knee joint.

Recently, an abstract entitled Low-Level Laser Therapy and Its Effects On The Quality of Life for Patients Suffering From Osteoarthritis Knee Pain in the Medial Compartment: A Detailed Analysis By Questionnaire found that 79.8% of patients diagnosed with moderate to severe arthritis in the medial aspect of the knee joint (inside part- where the knees touch) who were treated with cold laser therapy reported feeling moderately to a great deal better and their quality of life improved after completing just five weeks of care.

Besides helping reduce pain and inflammation in and around the knee joint, research indicates that cold laser therapy may help an arthritic knee by doing the following:

Fibroblasts production increases: Fibroblasts are needed to make cartilage.

Interleukin-1 is suppressed: Interleukin-1 is a protein that when released plays a direct role in destroying cartilage, it promotes the release of more enzymes that cause cartilage destruction, and it inhibits type II collagen from being produced (so that cartilage cannot be rebuilt or replaced). There are high levels of this protein in an osteoarthritic knee so cold laser therapy inhibits the release of this protein allowing cartilage to be maintained.

Growth factors are released: Treatments release growth factors which play a vital role in healthy knees because they stimulate cartilage cell production or chondrocytes. Moreover, the release of growth factors inhibits the release of interleukin-1.

Tensile strength of the tissue improves: Cold laser treatment is believed to improve the inter and intra molecular hydrogen bonding of the tissue thereby improving the strength of the cartilage so that it doesn't wear down or get injured as easily.

In conclusion, for individuals diagnosed with osteoarthritis knee pain, and need relief from their knee pain, but would prefer a non-invasive procedure should consider finding a doctor who specializes in cold laser therapy for knee pain.

穢AKS 2011 All rights reserved

Recovering From Knee Surgery - What You Can and Can't Do


After your knee surgery you will be advised by your orthopedic surgeon what you can physically do and what you have to refrain from. You will also be advised of your weight bearing status on the affected knee.

There are several things that most patients that have knee surgery can do. First of all walking and staying mobile will be important to keep your conditioning intact while you are recovering. What you have been given to walk with such as a cane or walker, will be either determined by your surgeon or rehabilitation professional.

Another important area that will instituted by your doctor will be your exercise program. The exercises of course will depend again on the type of surgical procedure you have undergone. For instance if you have had ACL surgery exercises that place force on these ligaments such as forced extension will have to be avoided.

Flexion exercises however are encouraged with the help of a physical therapist to monitor them.

Staying disciplined with your exercise program will determine your overall success in your recovery. This is something you can do and must work on.

You can also use pain modalities such as heat or ice. Ice generally is used to relieve pain and swelling after exercise or several days after the surgical procedure. Heat can be used prior to exercise to loosen the soft tissue surrounding your knee allowing your knee to move freely and to help relieve muscle spasms.

What you cannot do after knee surgery is to begin walking too soon without using some sort of assistive device to lessen the amount of force you place through it. By not using your walker or cane as instructed you can cause an increase in pain and swelling which will delay your rehabilitation and, slow the healing process.

You cannot speed up the recovery process. Your knee and the type of procedure you have gone through will have its own time line for a full recovery. By pushing the recovery too fast and cutting corners you set yourself up for a possible chronic pain issue and permanent disability.

You also want to avoid the temptation of stopping your pain medication before you are well into the healing process. Many people get caught in the trap of not taking their pain medication as prescribed due to constipation or fear of getting addicted. By reducing your pain medication too soon you allow the pain to get out of control affecting your rehabilitation and, your ability to rest and recover comfortably.

Following these simple recommendations above will allow you to recover in a successful manner assuring you a complete recovery.

What Are the Joint Pain Causes?


There are many causes of joint pain, though the majority is from illnesses. Joint discomfort can also be felt from injuries, infections and some allergic reactions to medications. Treatment for joints will depend on the unique cause and situation. You may need to have joint replacement surgery, need to switch medications, or just take immune suppressant's. Most joint pain is destructive and degenerative, so you may need to change your activities or lifestyle to accommodate or find relief for the joint discomfort, depending on the severity.

Joint discomfort can be associated with pain, your nervous system, head symptoms, muscle symptoms, swelling, movement symptoms, skin symptoms, muscle weakness, fever, body temperature, stiffness, and fatigue. Some of these causes are very easy to treat while others cannot actually fix the cause, but allow you to function with the joint problems. Finger joint pain not only causes discomfort, but debilitation in some more serious cases.

Viral infections, the common cold, the flue and other bacterial infections all can cause joint pain. The many types of arthritis cause joint pain, from light pain to very sever and debilitating pain. The list of arthritic causes is extensive. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatism, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, gonococcal arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome are common culprits.

Some other common causes for aching joints are African sleeping sickness, east African trypanosomiasis, optic neuropathy, anterior ischemic, and West African trypanosomiasis. Severe joint pain causes are avascular necrosis, bartonella infections, bertonellosis, haemoglobin S/haemoglobin Lepore, Boston, Hemoglobin S/haemoglobin ), Arab, and Hemoglobin SC. Charcot joint pain, which is the degeneration of a stress bearing joint, such as your knee, is caused by repeated trauma, chronic haemarthrosis, chondrocalcinosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joint redness, painful joints, joint inflammation, joint swelling and other joint symptoms are all associated with arthritis. Some causes of arthritis are acrodysostosis, Behcet's disease, Blau syndrome, Caplan's disease, Ciproflaxin, Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hypertostosis, Escherichi coli, Farber's disease, Bone fracture, Hemophilia type A, Hepatitis A, Kawasaki disease, Mayaro virus fever, Methimazole, mixed connective tissue disease, Mycoplasma pneumonia, obesity, PAPA syndrome, pituitary tumor, rheumatic fever, rubella, sickle cell disease, Streptococcus suis, raised Urid acid levels, West Nile fever, and Winchester. And that's just naming a few.

Gout related arthritis is a joint condition associated with the accumulation of urate crystals in the joints. It can be caused by familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy, juvenile gout, Kelley-seegmiller syndrome, lesch-nyhan syndrome. Rheumatoid arthritis which causes quite sever joint pain is caused by cartilaginous deafness syndrome, chromosome 22q deletion, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, felty syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, human adjuvant disease, hyperprolactinemia, large granular lymphocyte leukaemia, systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

It is important to remember that painful joints are a symptom of many different causes. You need to diagnose and recognize, rather than target the symptoms of joint troubles. This will help in determining why you are experiencing the discomfort in joints. Joint problems are commonly found in those 45 years of age and older. Most commonly rest, exercise, massage, stretching and warm baths can effectively treat nonarthritic joint issues. There are also anti-inflammatory medications that can relieve any swelling and inflammation. There is also special physical therapy for muscle and joint rehabilitation. You may need to have fluid removed from your joints to get rid of painful joints.

Without a doubt joint pain plaques millions of individuals. In some cases treatments or medication are effective in treating this problem. In other cases a more aggressive approach may be necessary. Regardless, new developments and technologies are making treatments more and more successful.

Self Help For Fibroids Symptoms


Depending whereabouts your fibroids are and how large they are, they may be causing you some unpleasant problems. You can use self help for fibroids symptoms and this is an option many women will try. Although doctors often seem a little unhelpful as far as fibroids are concerned, this is because fibroids are rarely dangerous and will shrink eventually when the menopause comes around.

Relieving fibroids symptoms can sometimes not only help alleviate your discomfort, but can sometimes have the knock-on effect of helping with shrinkage.

Heavy Blood Flow

Menstrual blood can be very heavy when you have fibroids. Taking vitamins A, C and E plus Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Iron can all help. Anti-inflammatory drugs (without steroids) can also help to reduce blood loss.

General Pain and Cramps

Heat therapy can be a very good method of self help for fibroids symptoms-try using a hot water bottle or microwaveable heat pad on your abdomen. Place a pillow under the knees when you are lying down or alternatively lie on your side, pulling your knees up to your chest. Many women find that exercise can help as it improves blood flow which can help with pain.

Frequent Urination

This is often caused by one large, or a group of fibroids pushing down on the bladder. Always remember to urinate before leaving the house and wear a light pad if you know it is likely to cause a problem during the day when you are out and about.

Hemorrhoids and Constipation

Fibroids pressing onto the bowel can cause both of these issues. Making changes to your diet can really help. Drinking enough fluid is very important and you should ensure you drink a minimum of 2 liters of filtered water each day. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can soften stools and make them easier to pass. Also, eating plenty of wholegrains will also help to bulk out the stools.

If you are prepared to take matters into your own hands and take charge of your own healing, you can not only help to relieve your symptoms, but you can get rid of your fibroids altogether using a natural system.

More on the Science of Stem Cells for Osteoarthritis Treatment


Although they originally come from bone marrow, adult (or as they are often called, "mesenchymal") stem cells can be derived from a variety of body tissues. These tissues include fat, the thin lining on the surface of bone called the periosteum, joint lining (synovium), muscle, skin, baby teeth, and cartilage.

Their purpose is simply to act as repairmen to replace and regenerate cells that are lost as a result of injury, normal turnover, and aging. Think of them as the handyman around the house!

There have been attempts at defining exactly what constitutes a true mesenchymal stem cell. Various cell surface markers have been used to describe these cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)appear to share certain traits and characteristics in common. Finally, it has been agreed that a true MSC is capable of differentiating into bone, cartilage, as well as fat.

Although MSCs harvested from different tissues look the same, it's not clear if they behave the same or have the same capabilities.

One study, for instance, showed that the MSCs most able to become cartilage were stem cells derived from joint lining (synovial) tissue. Other MSCs that showed a good ability to become cartilage were those from bone marrow and from periosteum.

Another issue is quality of MSCs. How effective will they be under different circumstances? It's clear that stem cells placed in an environment with certain stimulatory growth factors differentiate better. On the flip side, there have been some studies indicating that advanced age may slow stem cell multiplication and division. However, other studies indicate that regardless of age, enough good quality MSCs can be obtained that do have adequate potential to differentiate into cartilage cells. (At our center, we usually use 75 years of age as our cutoff, although a few of our best results have occurred in older individuals.)

The potential application of MSCs to differentiate into cartilage cells and be used to repair cartilage damage in osteoarthritis is a hot topic nowadays.

It is a very complicated process though, and current research has used normal cartilage as the model to emulate. Most stem cell research models of cartilage have a few things in common. First, they use MSCs. Then, a matrix or scaffold is incorporated. This framework serves as a "home" for the MSCs. Finally, the stem cells are exposed to a variety of growth factors used to stimulate differentiation and multiplication.

In many experiments done in laboratory settings, the quality of cartilage derived from MSCs has been disappointing. It appears that the both the quality of stem cell as well as the extracellular environment is critical for the normal development of viable strong cartilage. The exact "key" remains elusive. There appears to be a complex interplay between enzymes and proteins that degrade cartilage such as matrix metalloproteinases and factors that build cartilage such as transforming growth factors, bone morphogenic protein, and parathyroid hormone, to name a few.

One final interesting point is that MSCs have a unique property that is often overlooked. They have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions that have been demonstrated both in the laboratory setting as well as in animal models. This has a lot of potential impact, particularly when considering their use in arthritis treatment.

For a more scientific discussion of the intricacies of MSC biology as it pertains to cartilage regeneration, readers are referred to the excellent works written by Drs. Faye Chen and Rocky Tuan.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Equine Massage For Releasing Scar Tissue


Scar tissue can restrict movement in adjacent joints, eventually creating injury to the joint itself. This type of restrictive tissue can become stronger and as non-elastic as connective tissue like tendons and cartilage. After an injury, collagen fibers are laid down in a sporadic and unorganized pattern in order to prevent the recurrence of injury. If you have ever patched a hole in a pair of jeans with the zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine, you know how this works.

Scar tissue occurs as a result of injury, surgery, or repetitive motion. These are very different types of injuries that will create a variation in the type of scar that they create. For example, a shear injury would be a cut caused by surgery, or a barbed wire cut, or you often see them on a horse's forehead from a trailer loading incident (sound familiar?) In this case, the tissue is severed, never to be matched up perfectly again.

A compression injury is caused by force trauma. An example of this type of injury would be getting kicked by another horse causing a large, round swelling under the skin that will leave a hard clump of scar tissue resembling a hard mass. The injured part becomes resistant to movement due to pain, so the non-movable area begins to lay down scarring to the bruised cells. Even though this is not the worst type of injury, it can become the thickest and most difficult tissue to break through.

Lastly, in a repetitive motion injury, tissue wears down from constant friction. The body builds scar tissue as the muscle or joint continues to break down by defying the body's signals. This type of scar buildup can be in the form of hardening of soft tissue, or bone spurring due to Osteoarthritis. If you have ever seen a horse with a giant, non-movable knee, this is a long term result of the body trying to heal a chronic condition by sending more and more bone to the site. Although this bony type of buildup cannot be removed by massage therapy, the adjoining soft tissue can be mobilized and possibly become unstuck from the bony growth.

There is no guarantee that manual therapy can break up the tissue, and you must understand that by mobilizing tissue that has grown over like a scar, you will be required to create a new injury by pulling the adhered tissue from the adjoining tissue. This can be painful, and requires a new healing process attended by more therapy.

In many cases, where an athletic horse has been retired due to an old injury, it is quite worth the time and effort. I have worked with many cases of scar tissue, and to see the benefits of my efforts has been worth the long process.

Be sure that you understand the physiology of the tissue and bone in the body part that you are working with before beginning this type of therapy, and I always recommend consulting with the horse's vet so that they can approve of your plan.

First, try to find out the exact etiology of the injury. Most importantly, how old is the scar? If an old injury carries chronic inflammation, there could be several months and maybe years of tissue built up. A rule of thumb is that it takes as long to break down scar tissue as it has to build. This might give you an idea of what you are facing.

Secondly, evaluate the injury. If there is still heat in the area, it has become chronic and might still be building scar tissue. You should not massage an inflamed area. You should discuss this with the horse's vet. It may be necessary to give anti-inflammatory medication or an icing program to stop the chronic process before going forward. Also, evaluate if the horse has been compensating by not using the part. In the event that the injury is in a limb, a horse will sometimes stop using that particular limb, and may be over developing muscles in other parts of the body. If this is the case, you may have to incorporate some additional bodywork to these areas as part of the scar therapy.

Be careful here. A long term, painful injury might have the horse on edge that you are handling this sensitive area. Do not perform these techniques unless you have checked with the veterinarian and they are confident in your ability as a handler. This can be a dangerous undertaking. Remain open to changing your plan according to how the horse responds. Remember, you will be creating a new injury by working through scar tissue. You may have to work in short sessions, mobilizing the adjacent joints, icing, then letting it rest for a day or so. As the scar begins to release, you will need to keep the area mobile while the damage that you create heals properly. Never force an adjacent joint. Release the soft tissue, then gently stretch the area while mobilizing the skin and fascia involved.

Here is an example of how to use manual therapy on adhered tissue;

Begin by Effleuraging (gentle stroking) the surrounding areas towards the heart. Either place an ice cup (paper cup with frozen water that you can tear away like a popsicle) or rub the area with an ice cup before beginning. This will desensitize the area.

Once the area is desensitized, then begin transversely stroking the scar with your thumbs back and forth and up and down to mobilize the tissue in each direction. If it is on a limb, you can use your hands to "wring" the tissue back and forth. Follow this mobilization by Effleuraging the area again towards the heart to move the blood through. You can alternately stroke the tissue in a transverse fashion, followed by Effleurage towards the heart a few times.

Mobilize the area. You can do this by walking or gently stretching. If the scar is not in a limb, but maybe a compression scar in the rib cage, you can perform "carrot" stretches by inviting the horse to bend away from the scar. This mobilization will remind the brain to re-incorporate this area back into the chain of movement.

What You Should Know About Total Joint Replacement Surgery


Because our joints don't bother us often now, we take for granted that we have the ability to walk, jog, run, bend over or reach out for things. But as we age, some may need total joint replacement surgery because of conditions that affect them like injuries that involve our joints or rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. While these have been challenging operations to recover from in the past, advances in technology and techniques have reduced recovery time dramatically.

To understand why joint replacement is necessary it's important to understand how the joints work. What makes the joints work smoothly is the cartilage where the bones come together at a joint, no matter if it is the hip, knee, elbow, ankle or the shoulder. Cartilage allows for pain free and frictionless movement and typically has a smooth texture. But movement can become rather painful when the cartilage is severely worn or damaged. When the joint is worn enough to cause bone on bone rubbing, even minor daily activities like walking, traversing stairs and even bending over becomes painful and difficult. As it becomes worse, it can become totally debilitating.

Replacing the damaged cartilage with plastic or metal joints and relieving as much pain as possible is the ultimate goal by surgery becoming an option. By replacing the cartilage, complete joint movement and functionality can be restored which in turn restores mobility. For those patients who choose total joint replacement surgery, many can have their quality of life returned and gain back their independence.

Fortunately, surgery for total joint replacement is not as traumatic as it has been in the past for patients because of the technology available today. Patients can even begin to move the new joint the same day as having the surgery with many of the surgeries for shoulder and knee replacement. Instead of being forced to spend weeks in a hospital, many patients can go home within a short time, usually a few days, after surgery and will be able to do most of their rehabilitation in a home setting.

Having a proactive health routine at home including physical rehabilitative therapy is necessary to ensure the new joint functions as well as possible. Every patient will have a different amount of time with how quickly they recover and become active after surgery to replace the joint. You can better prepare by knowing what to expect if your doctor says your best option is surgery.

Knee Pain Causes


The joints of the knees are commonly overused, which is why they are highly prone to damage. Pain in the knees has several causes. In fact, there are certain ailments that can cause pain on the knees. Also, physical activities can also cause pain on the knees. Meanwhile, ailments that are linked to knee pain include the following:

Arthritis - This is the usual reason why pain on the knees is experienced. The ailment usually affects the joints, most especially those that bear weight. The cartilage are damaged which results to pain and swelling.

Injury in the ligaments - This can also cause pain on the knees. Athletes are the ones who often experience this condition. Pain is usually felt when affected ligaments are moving.

Injuries in the cartilage - This happens when the cartilage is damaged due to trauma and it can occur in children and in adults.

Patellar tendonitis - This is pain that is experienced over the front of the knee. Patellar tendon is a huge tendon that is situated in front of the knees and it helps us to bend our knees. When the tendon is inflamed, movement of the knees will be painful.

Chodromalacia patella - In this condition, the cartilage located at the back of the knee cap has softened and it often occurs in children.

Burisitis - When the bursa on the knees gets damaged, it will inflame and will cause pain on the knees.

There are also some ailments that usually occur in teenagers. Back of knee pain causes include Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition wherein the growth plate is irritated, and OCD or Osteochondritis dissecans which can also occur in teenagers.

Because of the many causes of pain on the knees, it is very difficult to self diagnose and look for the right treatment. Knowing the primary reason of the pain felt on the knees is important. Seeking for a medical advice will be beneficial to have the correct diagnosis and thus to have the proper treatment.

Common symptoms of pain on the knees that are commonly observed are swelling of the joints, pain experienced while resting, pain that lasts for several days, difficulty in bending the knees, and there are symptoms of infections such as fever and cough.

There are also several home remedies to relieve the pain on the knees. When pain is being experienced, resting the knees can be of big help. Applying hot and cold compress is also beneficial. Proper stretching and physical therapy will also help relieve the pain.

Common Knee Instability Causes - Use a Knee Brace to Improve Your Stability When You Need It!


Do you have knee instability?

Hey, we hope you do not have this problem, but when you do it is time to face it head on!

While there are several factors that could cause your knees to become unstable, one of the most common instability causes is a torn ligament. This often happens to those who have injured themselves or have used the joint in a repeated fashion over the years. Other common causes of instability include too much weight on the joint as well as arthritis of the knee. - This may all seem like a good review for you, nothing you haven't heard before, but the following segments of this article will help you move forward after you have realized you have knee instability.

Treatment for Torn Knee Ligament

There are a couple things that can be done with a trick knee - surgery to repair the ligament or conservative treatment with exercise and physical therapy. Most people who have a torn ligament will use a brace as a way to treat this condition, coupled with exercises to try to build up the muscles in the area. This can often help stabilize the knee. A torn ligament is not life threatening and many people would rather use the a well designed brace than have to face surgery for this condition.

Too Much Weight on the Joint

Losing weight is always a good idea if you are overweight. You will not only feel less pressure on your joints, but you will also feel healthier. Most doctors will advise you to lose weight and to also wear a brace to help support the joints. Hey, we are not saying that you are fat, but maybe losing a few extra pounds would help some individuals keep their knees more healthy...

Treatment for Arthritis

Arthritis does not usually cause instability although it can cause swelling and pain in the knee. Arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the joint. If you have arthritis, the doctor will most likely prescribe anti- inflammatory drugs for your condition and advise you to wear a brace. There are many "OA" knee braces that help you to maintain proper knee alignment and reduce your pain as a result.

Most of the instability causes you will hear of are due to stress on the knee, either from previous injuries, playing sports or being overweight. This is not a life threatening condition but can cause someone to become less active because of the trick knee. In cases where the joint pops, you will often hear the popping sound and feel a bit of pain. This is most often caused by turning the wrong way and putting too much pressure on the joint.

In many cases, instability of the knee will repair itself by keeping the knee stable with a brace. In other cases where the instability starts to interfere with life and causes pain, surgery may be recommended to repair the knees.

Knee Ache When Cycling - Does it Have You Spinning Your Wheels? Effective Ways to Reduce Discomfort


Whether you are an avid cyclist, or just like to take an occasional jaunt on your bike, your knee aches and pains when cycling can cause you to "put on the brakes", if you know what we mean...

Cycling is considered by many to be, a healthy and enjoyable sport. Unfortunately, it can quickly become an unpleasant chore if your knees are sore. The pain problems may start while you are riding, or it may not occur until after the ride is through. Moreover, it can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours on end.

Rest may help, but can certainly infringe on your desire to cycle. Some cyclists ice their knees after they dismount their bikes, and this may also help reduce the pain. But if your knee ache occurs while you're cycling, how practical is it to ride around with ice packs strapped to your knees?

Over the counter pain medications (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) may also help reduce the knee aches when cycling, but they may offer only a temporary fix. - Speak with your physician before using any medications.

So, if you experience knee ache when cycling, aside from the temporary solutions listed above, and aside from giving up the sport entirely, what options do you have?

The solution to the dilemma of your knee aches may be something as simple and affordable as a knee brace. You should seriously take a moment to think about this knee pain relief option. Knee supports can help reduce your knee pain because of the meaningful support that they provide, and they are not super expensive either. Nor, do they have to be big and bulky.

If you experience discomfort in your knees when cycling, whether it is consistent, or whether it comes and goes, you should always seek the advice of a qualified physician to determine the cause of the pain. Knee aches when cycling can stem from a number of different issues. Most likely, though, it is caused either by inflammation within the knee join, or wear and tear on the knee cap and/or the cartilage disc underlying the knee cap (such as found with chondromalacia patella). Meniscus tears can also be at the root of your current pain issues. There are a host of other, possible causes of discomfort when cycling and only a qualified professional can properly diagnose the cause of your particular symptoms. Still, whatever the cause of the symptoms, a brace can help alleviate the ache when cycling.

A support is designed to cradle the knee, fitting snugly around your leg. This will help to relieve the stress on the joint that may cause knee ache when cycling. Furthermore, the knee brace can help keep the patella in its proper place as it tracks over the joint during activity. When the knee is properly positioned, and the excess stress is taken off the joint itself, the inflammation often associated with knee ache when cycling can also be reduced, thus helping to reduce the achy sensations that have been slowing you down.

Knee braces come in a variety of styles and designs to fit your personal needs. They do not have to be custom-made, and are generally affordable. All are designed to offer mobility and added support to help keep you cycling.

In the end, you are the one that has to live with the knee pain if you do not become proactive. Hopefully it will disappear by itself, but when it does not, you should consider a knee support because it is a low cost option that you can use right away to help stabilize your knee.

A Medial Collateral Ligament Injury - Knee Braces & Other Long-Term, Non-Surgical Treatment Options


The knee joint is one of the body's most complicated joints. Ligaments help to ensure the stability of the knee joint and when their is an injury to one of them, you will probably start to have stability and pain problems as a result. - There are two cruciate ligaments and two collateral ligaments.

The two collateral ligaments are the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). As their names imply, they are located in the inner and outer sides of the joint. The MCL binds the thighbone or the femur, and the shinbone (tibia). The Lateral Collateral Ligament and Medial Collateral Ligament work together.

There are three factors that can cause an MCL injury: contact injuries, non-contact injuries, and overuse injuries. Contact injuries include direct hit to the knee joint that can cause a ligament injury. Non-contact injuries include landing, running, and jumping in an awkward manner. Overuse injuries, on the other hand, include injuries occurring due to repetitive loads on the knee.

When one has an MCL injury, the patient may have pain or swelling. He or she may feel that the knee is giving out or is not stable. The intensity of these symptoms may differ with the severity of the injury.

Short-Term Self-Help Treatment & Long-Term Self-Help Treatment.

For immediate treatment after injury, medical personnel recommend R.I.C.E. Its first attribute is rest. Avoiding all weight-lifting and sports activities will allow the ligament to have rest that will help in healing the injury. The second step is to ice it. Placing ice on the injured area in the knee helps to reduce swelling and pain. You can apply ice by using Active Wrap Knee Hot/Cold Therapy.

The third is compression. You can apply bandages but keep it comfortable so that it will not disturb the blood circulation between the leg and the knee.

The last attribute is elevation; keeping your knee elevated will help in reducing the swelling.

For long-term treatment, the process of rehabilitation is suggested. Surgery is mostly recommended only if the injury is serious. Mostly, knee braces are used because they help in reducing the pain, and they also help to prevent the knee joint from further injuries, and letting the patient come back to his daily routine soon.

Considering a knee brace can greatly help out a person with an MCL injury to help promote healing and this conservative treatment option can be very helpful in promoting the future health of your knee.

This is medical information. It is not the same as medical advice. Speak to your physician for medical advice.

Horse Joint Supplements: Prevent and Protect Your Horse From Arthritis


Horse joint supplements are the only possible prevention tactic for equine arthritis. These supplements can help manage arthritis and give pain relief but it is better to make use of supplements before this problem arises if you want to ensure your horse's optimal performance. Arthritis is more widespread in dressage and racing horses or those who have performance careers. The usual symptoms of arthritis would be swollen joints in animals, joint pain and stiffness, lack of movement around joint.

Arthritis is one of the most common bone related diseases that can affect horses. It is a type of degenerative disease that impairs mobility and causes inflammation of the joint. The pain from equine arthritis can render a horse unable to move without being uncomfortable. Since arthritis is a progressive disease and only gets worse with time, it can completely ruin a horse's professional riding career. And that's not all - joint deterioration from arthritis can also cause deformities and in time, even serious disability.

Joints may also be warm to touch, with some difficulty in motion and pain after exercise or limping. The horse may also be constantly uncomfortable and show signs of changed demeanor. Equine arthritis develops due to deformation and deterioration of cartilage. Cartilage is the tissue that surrounds a joint and acts as a kind of shock absorber for active motion. With wear and tear and intensive routines this cartilage breaks down and starts to erode. Some areas of the bone may also start to deteriorate along with the cartilage, causing extreme pain and stiffness in movement.

Equine arthritis frequently affects the front fetlocks, front feet coffin joints, upper knee joints and hocks. This problem can be caused by wear and tear and poor nutrition but it can also be caused by some kind of infection, age, over-exertion without the use of proper supplements, injury, nutritional deficiency and mineral deficiencies. Horse joint supplements like easy joint liquid or joint suppleness powders can improve the health of joints because of the various types of substances like Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM.

These substances present in various horse joint supplements will improve joint lubrication and aid in the growth of cartilage tissue around joints. These supplements can also help main the functionality of joint structures and improve muscle formation in horses so the horses can perform at their maximum potential. But the most important function of joint supplements is to make sure that the horses are prevented from the onset of arthritis and other degenerative diseases and illnesses.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis


Aromatherapy

To help reduce inflammation, try drinking ginger-castor oil tea daily at bedtime.

Chiropractic

Although chiropractic cannot do a lot to turn back the clock, it can prevent progression of the disease. Specific chiro practic adjustment (SCA) can help patients with rheumatoid arthritis by increasing joint flexibility, decreasing swelling in the joint areas and joint capsules, and decreasing fluid accumulation that results from arthritic changes. For example, if the patient's hands are affected, care includes SCA of the affected joints, moist heat application, and hot water soaks with Epsom salts to promote mobility. In some cases, care may include paraffin (hot wax) baths.

Herbal Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have many similarities, including herbal remedies. However, there are some subtle variations. For rheumatoid arthritis, take a combination tincture of meadowsweet, willow bark, black cohosh, prickly ash, celery seed, nettle' wild yam, and valerian to help temper arthritis symptoms. To make the blend, mix equal amounts of the tinctures; take 1 teaspoonful of the mixture 3 times daily. The blend is safe and can be taken for a period of time. (See also "Osteoarthritis" entry.)

Herbal products are available in health food stores and in some pharmacies and supermarkets. Follow package for specific directions.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture To treat rheumatoid arthritis, which commonly affects the wrists, knees, shoulders, ankles, and elbows-acupuncturists may focus on the heart, kidney, back of head, and internal secretion points. They may also target any points that are associated with the afflicted joint.

To help quell arthritis-related foot pain, the practitioner may manipulate Liver 2, Kidney 3, Bladder 60, Liver 3, Stomach 44, and several points on the ear. Arthritic ankle pain is often treated by inserting needles into Stomach 41, Bladder 60, Gallbladder 40, and additional auricular points.

AcupressureFor rheumatism-related ankle pain, a practitioner will probably target two points: Large Intestine 4 (in the webbing of the hand between the thumb and forefinger) and Bladder 60 (in the depression behind the outside ankle bone). Several points on the foot and on the ankle itself also may be targeted.

Elbow pain may be relieved by massaging LI 11 (toward the outside of the elbow); knee pain will be helped by manipulating several points on and around the knee itself; shoulder pain is best helped by performing acupressure on several points, including Large Intestine 15 and Gallbladder 21; while wrist pain is alleviated by applying pressure to several acupoints on the wrist. In addition, ear acupuncture may be used to help further relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Generalized joint pain may be relieved by pressing the two Gallbladder 20 points on the back of the neck.

Chinese Herbal TherapyThere are many Chinese herbal arthritis formulas available at health food stores or by mail order, such as Angelica and Loranthes Combination for lower back and knee pain; Xiao Huo Luo Dan for stiff joints; Feng Shih Hsiao Thng Wan for finger, shoulder, knee, and hip pain associated with rheumatism; and Tian Ma Wan for general rheumatic pain.

Total Knee Replacement - Know More About It


Knee bears a great amount of weight especially when we stand or walk. So if it is not working properly, you do not have any other way but to hobble around. If the condition worsens over time then you will feel pain even when you are reclining on the beds. The consultant orthopedics will suggest some sorts of physical exercises to lessen the pain. But if the problem has reached to a critical stage, then the total knee replacement is the only way to provide the healing touch.

Know more about the total knee replacement: This surgery is termed as arthroplasty in medical jargon. It is a major operation that aims at replacement of the damaged knee joint cartilage, responsible for the severe pain. The lower end of the femur and upper end of the tibia are shaped to allow the insertion of the specially built up metal components into the gap. The metal tray that is fitted to the upper end of tibia is teamed up with a plastic bearing.

Varieties of total knee replacement: The plastic bearing comes up only in two varieties. The orthopedic surgeon will ultimately decide which one will work best in case of a typical individual. The plastic material, inserted as the replacement of the original knee joint can be of fixed type or have enough mobility. The former bearing is the most common and it works for longer time span. The moving or rotating total knee replacement technique is used in case of the younger persons or those who are bulky in shapes and sizes. The doctors have devised an improved technique of medical pivot implant. It is a superior technology and the implant can do all the functions of a knee and it gives the patient a feel of an original knee.

Success of the total knee replacement surgery: The main objective of the knee replacement is to restore the normal flexibilities of the knees. It is a major operation and the recovery time stretches to a long period. Success of the total knee replacement depends upon the constellation of several factors such as the age of the patient, general health condition etc. etc. The rehab programs will also be of short duration if the person is in the finest and fittest shape. It deserves a special mention in this context that the success of the total hip replacement surgery is also a function of the various criteria among which the age and health of the patient are the major factors. The patients often complain about pains in the post surgery period. In some of the cases, the pain lasts for too long and the patients are forced to think that total knee replacement is an utter failure in their cases. Hopefully, there are some powerful medicines that can reduce the suffering by significant margin. Once the initial stage of the rehab period passes by, the patients will be handed over the walking supports for the sake of locomotion. The total hip replacement as well as the total knee replacement surgeries offer high success rate if accompanied by the timely and progressive rehabilitation mandates.

Fully Cement-Less Total Knee Replacements Using Trabecular Metal Technology, Revolutionary Implants


Joint replacement surgery involves replacing irreversibly damaged cartilage and bone with artificial surfaces. The goal is to alleviate pain and improve function. With advanced implants the artificial joint lasts longer and the limb has improved motion.

With the Zimmer trabecular metal implant, components are cementless. Trabecular metal is an innovative material made with tantalum in an interconnecting, 3-dimensional lattice structure which is 80% porous. It closely resembles the microstructural architecture and mechanical properties of bone making it an ideal material for orthopedic implants. When used in joint replacements, human bone grows right into and through the trabecular metal in a rapid fashion creating a very strong bond. This allows the orthopedic surgeon to implant artificial joints without the use of bone cement. Bone cement can weaken and crack over time and generate debris. By eliminating bone cement from the implant, we can perform a simpler procedure that can last longer than the traditional cemented implantation.

Late November, 2007, Dr Michael Greller, MD, FAAOS, President of the Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, and I performed the first fully cementless, minimally invasive total knee replacement using trabecular metal technology in the history of CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, New Jersey. The patient, a 50 year old retired police officer from Jackson, was referred to the Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute when the constant grinding pain from his knee, the stiffness and the lifestyle changes necessary because of reduced mobility overcame his fear of joint replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis, trauma, genetic factors and 25 years in the police force probably all contributed to the irreversible damage to his knee. Joint pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility are symptoms experienced by about 450,000 Americans who seek surgical treatment each year.

We used a minimally invasive procedure through incisions now less than half the length of incisions made in traditional surgery in the past. Mini-incision or minimally invasive knee replacement surgery combined with new techniques in pain management and anesthesia has a significant advantage; shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, lower rates of complications. There is no violation of the quadriceps muscle with the quad-sparing approach.

The patient opted for an advanced anesthetization, a femoral nerve block, which meant less post-operative pain and a further contribution to his rapid recovery. He remained awake throughout listening to music on his iPod. A Zimmer sales assistant remained in the operating room throughout the procedure, a common approach to ensuring the product is implanted correctly. Post-op x-rays showed the Zimmer cementless trabecular metal knee replacement in perfect alignment with the patient's upper and lower leg.

This technology has the most potential benefit for young, active patients in need of knee replacement surgery.

Relieve Arthritis Pain With Honey and Cinnamon


Arthritis pain is nothing to joke about. It makes for miserable lives. While checking into natural remedies, I came across how to relieve arthritis pain with honey and cinnamon. I know it sounds a bit weird - but who cares if it works!

There are a couple of ways to take the honey and cinnamon - as a daily drink or as a tincture to put on painful and swollen joints.

For the drink: For your health, the best quality organic honey would be preferable as well as good quality cinnamon. It seems though there are many 'recipes' out there, so there seems to be no need to obsess about exact measurements. One cup of hot water with two spoons of honey in it and one small teaspoon of cinnamon. This can be taken once or twice during the day (i.e. in the morning and before bed). If this is too sweet, then reduce the honey to one teaspoon. Similarly if the cinnamon taste is too hard to take, then reduce it to half a teaspoon. It seems only important that honey and cinnamon are present in the mix. It really depends on what works for you.
For the tincture: Mix one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder until it forms a paste. Massage this paste onto the itching/painful part of your body in a slow circular motion. Many people have found that their pain gets noticeably less within a matter of minutes.

Considering that there are a large number of people being helped every day by taking this concoction of honey and cinnamon to relieve their arthritis pain, I would imagine it's definitely worth a try. If it doesn't work right away (although many people do report an immediate effect), please try it out for a minimum of four weeks. There really is nothing to lose and everything to gain!

It seems that this combination is also helpful for the common cold, coughs and sinus infections, hair loss, bladder infections, stomach aches, high cholesterol and even toothache (where you put the tincture made with honey and cinnamon without any water on the aching tooth up to three times a day. This mixture taken daily also strengthens our immune system, protecting the body from harmful bacteria and viral attacks. Honey itself has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.

To summarize this is definitely something to include in your family's medicine cabinet - even though honey and cinnamon reside in the kitchen!

Total Hip Replacement Means You Need To Change Your Life


Hip replacement is one of the most successful medical technologies. Hundreds of thousands of people have their hips replaced every year, the vast majority with every expectation of many years of pain-free function from their new joint.

But can you go on with your life just the same after your hip is replaced? Not exactly. Even though your pain will be gone, it is wise to remember that a new hip is not your old hip. You will find you can go back to do all the things you used to do, the walking, the activities, the hobbies and the jobs, without pain. But it's useful to observe a few thoughts about your new hip if you are going to get the best long term use from it.

Your new hip is different. It is steel alloy and plastic, the ball of the hip being much smaller than your original one. The steel thigh component is often cemented into the shaft of the femur. The metal and plastic parts bend in different ways to the bone into which they are inserted, setting up stresses across the junctions. The artificial materials do not have the ability to become inflamed and then heal like our own tissues, so if they become altered then they will either stay that way or worsen.

You want to ensure a long, pain-free life for your hip replacement. Revision surgery, where the hip is redone, is not the same as the original surgery in many ways. Apart from the fact that it is another operation to undergo with its attendant risks, revision surgery is harder to perform and the satisfaction scores of patients afterwards are lower than with first time surgery. First time is best.

There are things you can do to keep your new joint in good shape for as long as possible:

1. Observe the post-operative advice. The team who take you through the procedure are experts at getting the best results. If they ask you to do this or to avoid that, then observe their recommendations. There are always good reasons behind treatment programs, along with many years of experience. Use this knowledge.

2. Observe the weight-bearing instructions. Every operation is different and there may be different instructions for you depending on how the surgery went and what the surgeon hopes to achieve. Sticking to the recommended weight through your joint is very important. You may well find you can put much greater weight, even your whole bodyweight, on the new hip. However, what you can do and what is wise are two different things, so pay attention to the instruction and carry it out until told otherwise.

3. Avoid getting your thigh too close to your chest. The angle between the chest and the thigh should not be less than 90 degrees. If your new hip bends too much, the neck of the thigh component can impinge against the plastic socket component, levering the hip out of the socket. This is called dislocation and is potentially a significant problem as it can then recur. When you reach down to your shoes, let your knee fall outwards so you reach down between your legs, and do it slowly until you feel secure.

4. Watch putting your feet up. You may feel you want to put your feet up for a rest or to reduce swelling. This is fine as long as you don't lean forward for something. If you want to lean forward, take your feet down first.

5. Avoid rotating with your weight on the new joint. This is similar to point 3 above. Standing on your replaced hip and swinging your bodyweight around puts huge leverages on the hip. Get used to moving your legs to get into a new position, leading with the replaced one.

6. Take care when sitting down. The correct technique will soon become automatic, but sitting down can be a risk. When we sit, our body weight forces our hips into a new position. This is fine as long as it does not happen too fast or go too far. Sitting onto an unexpectedly deep sofa would be an example of an risky scenario. Know your chair heights so you don't get surprises, with 18 inches being a minimum. Chairs with arms are best as they allow you to let yourself down in a controlled way.

7. Avoid high impact activities. I know you want to do things you haven't been able to, but there is a price to be paid for having an artificial joint, if you want it to last. What you can do with it and what you should do are two quite different things.

Avoid sports and activities such as running and jumping, carrying heavy weights, repetitive heavy work, football, rugby, soccer, squash, downhill skiing and anything else which requires extreme joint stresses. You really want your joint to last more than twenty years. Invest the care in it and it will.

Suitable activities could include walking, cycling, swimming, bowls, cross-country skiing, amongst others. Take advice if you are unsure.

For more detail about what goes on in the interfaces between the metal, bone and cement, see The 5 facts of implant fixation.

8. Avoid crossing your legs when you sit. This puts the hip into a more vulnerable position and should certainly be avoided during the first three months after surgery. Many people do cross their legs later on without ill effects but it remains a risk to some extent.

7. Avoid bending over rapidly. This can cause impingement on the socket like leaning forward too far, and risks dislocation. Using a long handled reacher and a long shoe horn can be sensible.

8. If you get an infection, tell your doctor straight away. Infection is the single biggest risk for successful joint replacements. Infections such as teeth, urinary or chest can spread to an artificial joint via the bloodstream, either in illness or during a procedure. Consult your doctor or dentist and get the problem sorted early on. This applies no matter how old your replacement is.

9. Enjoy yourself! Despite these restrictions, the positive aspects of joint replacement vastly outweigh the negative ones, so go on, enjoy all the things you've wanted to do, without the pain.

Even though these precautions are mostly more important during the initial 6 to 12 weeks after surgery, they remain sensible guidance over the long term.

Specialty Knee Braces


There are many types of knee braces available on the market today. They range from a simple sleeve of Lycra to complicated contraptions with moving parts and external water coolers. Once upon a time, knee braces served solely as protective devices, providing compression and sometimes immobilization. Times have certainly changed when it comes to knee braces! Not only can the knee braces help to heal knee injuries more quickly, in some cases they can prevent them altogether. Many top professional athletes wear knee braces every time they compete in their sport. Referring to his own use of DonJoy knee braces, motocross champion Grant Langston said, "Prevention is better than any cure" and that couldn't be truer.

One of the specialty knee braces on the market today is the DonJoy Protective Armor Knee Brace. This is one of the most sophisticated knee braces available without a prescription and is worn by many athletes, both amateur and professional, who require knee protection during their vigorous sports activities. This brace is great for mild to severe knee injuries as well as preventing injuries. It can be used by people of all ages and provides adjustable, comfortable protection for the knees and shins as well.

Another specialty brace is the DonJoy OAdjuster Osteoarthritis Knee Brace specifically for people suffering from osteoarthritis. This brace has been shown to help reduce pain for many people. This brace also stabilizes the knee joint to prevent injuries. Perhaps most interesting is the fact that these types of knee braces can actually help to build muscle which will further stabilize the knee joint and provide added relief to the OA sufferer. These braces relieve the strain on the joint through a process known as "off-loading" which redistributes the person's weight bearing load to an area that can handle it.

Patella bands are other types of specialty knee braces that provide unique support for runners and jumpers. An example of this type would be the Aircast Infrapatellar Band which is designed to relieve symptoms of patellofemoral pain and Osgood-Schlatter disease often associated with running and jumping. These knee braces provide compression on the patellar tendon which usually provides the desired relief. These types of knee braces may also be worn to prevent injuries from running and jumping.

The knees play an important role in the body and are subjected to a lot of wear and tear from everyday life, let alone vigorous jarring sporting activities and diseases. It is good to know that the knees can be protected and that injuries can be healed and weakness can be overcome by using the right knee braces.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Men


Arthritis is the word used to describe inflammation of the joints. It is often described as an auto-immune disease as it relates to the system within the body which produces antibodies.

In the modem medical approach to arthritis, anti-inflammatory drugs are used which are either steroidal or non-steroidal. Unfortunately joint disease is poorly understood and the treatments have not advanced for a long time. Hopefully more research into the causes and the cure of joint diseases will be done over the next few years.

Naturopathic approaches are certainly worth trying. They may not cure the disease but they can certainly relieve much of the discomfort and slow down the debilitating symptoms. Diet plays a huge role in controlling the symptoms and some plant medicine and nutritional supplements can be very beneficial.

My father, who had severe arthritis in his knees, was always joking about the fact that there was no cure for joint problems, and he was very disturbed that the anti-inflammatories he was prescribed were upsetting his stomach, which is a very common side effect. Just by increasing his intake of water each day (elderly people tend to be dehydrated because they don't consume enough water daily) and including some vitamins helped him.

In all treatment of joint problems, solutions must be looked upon as long-term: a lifestyle change and a commitment to taking the supplements regularly to stop degeneration and further damage to the immune system are essential.

Treatment & prevention program

Follow the diet for health and vitality. This is imperative. All junk food, white sugar and white flour products must be eliminated. Foods that nourish joints are those containing omega 3 and 6 oils, such as deep-sea fish, flaxseed oil, and vitamin E in avocados and wheatgerm oils.

Eat high-quality proteins such as legumes, eggs and white meat, which are more suitable than red meat, as one of the waste products from digestion of red meat is uric acid which can aggravate joints.

Drink celery juice daily as it assists the balance of potassium and sodium being carried to the joints. It can be mixed with carrot juice.

Avoid acidic foods such as rich sauces, white wine, white vinegar, and some fruits such as oranges, strawberries and other berries which can aggravate joint problems. It is best to stay off these foods for six weeks and introduce them back into your diet slowly and see if they affect your level of joint pain in certain quantities.

Drink lots of pure, filtered water.

Encourage mobility of the joints through exercise such as water exercises and walking. Running is very aggravating to any joint, especially on a hard surface.

Supplements

Two omega 3 and 6 oil capsules twice daily. It lubricates joints. Double the dose if in severe pain.

One glass of celery juice daily or two celery tablets daily. For taste and health, mix with carrot juice.

Two tablets of the standardized extract of boswellia twice daily or one tablet daily as a preventative. Boswellia, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, is excellent for arthritis (and also for inflammation of the bowel). There is often a link between inflammation of the bowel and arthritis. You may find this herb mixed with ginger and turmeric (both natural anti-inflammatories).

One or two ginger capsules three times a day. Ginger tablets have relieved many joint problems because they stimulate the circulation. They are especially useful for those in cold countries, to assist mobility. In fact they are very useful when skiing or participating in water sports in cold water.

Glucosamine sulfate one tablet two to three times a day.

I have made many wonderful tonics for arthritis using traditional herbs, and if the client stays on these daily over the winter period, when joints seem to be at their worst, the aches and pains are kept under control without the long-term effects of anti-inflammatories. The following tonic is recommended. Equal parts of celery, dandelion, prickly ash, boswellia (you can also take this herb separately as a tablet for better results), willow bark, devil's claw, liquorice, ginger and astragalus (which helps the immune system in chronic conditions). Take one teaspoon in water twice daily.

A liniment containing the Chinese herbs kadsura, pothos and curcuma, and menthol, camphor and some wintergreen oil. These are available at your health store. Rub on the affected area.