Get Rid of Tendonitis Now! Advice From an Expert

Tendons are ropes of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones. It is this connection that permits joint motion. When muscles contract, they pull on the tendons which cause the bones to move. In order for tendons to glide they move inside a lubricated sheath of tissue that is lined with synovial tissue. This synovial tissue is the same type of tissue that lines the inside of joints. Tendonitis refers to a condition where the sheath through which a tendon glides becomes inflamed. This leads to severe pain. The pain usually gets worse with use of the affected joint. However, when tendonitis becomes severe, there may be pain at rest.

Since muscles and tendons surround most joints, tendonitis is rather common. The diagnosis of tendonitis is relatively simple for the experienced clinician. Generally, the diagnosis is made by history and physical examination. In difficult diagnostic cases, magnetic resonance imaging is helpful in confirming the diagnosis.

Some of the more common types of tendonitis are:

Shoulder tendonitis. The tendons in the shoulder that are most often affected are the rotator cuff and the biceps tendon. The rotator cuff consists of four tendons that sit on top of the upper arm bone. The location of these tendons and the muscles they attach to are what give the shoulder such an expansive range of motion. Rotator cuff tendonitis may occur as a result of repetitive activity or tendon degeneration. Pain is felt with most movements and is located on the outside part of the shoulder. The biceps tendon allows the arm to be flexed at the elbow. Biceps tendonitis also occurs due to repetitive activity and pain is felt in the front of the shoulder. Shoulder tendonitis can be treated successfully with anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and occasionally glucocorticoid injection.

Tendonitis in the elbow is usually located either on the outside and is called lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. It may also occur along the inside part of the elbow- medial epicondylitis. This is called golfer's elbow. Treatment consists of physical therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, splints, and injections. Rarely, surgery is required.

Tendonitis in the wrist arises because of repetitive motion. A special type of tendonitis, called Dequervain's tendonitis, is felt on the out side of the thumb. Tendonitis in these areas is managed with glucorticoid injections and immobilization with a splint. Other physical therapy modalities may be helpful. Sometimes surgery is required. Tendonitis in the fingers can lead to catching of the fingers. This is termed "trigger finger." Trigger finger usually responds to injection but may require operative intervention.

Tendonitis in the knee may affect the patellar tendon. This is the tendon that connects the knee cap to the tibia (lower leg bone). Patellar tendonitis usually occurs because of excessive jumping and is actually called "jumpers knee." This is treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy.

Tendonitis in the ankle can occur along the outside of the ankle (peroneal tendonitis), the inside of the ankle (posterior tibial tendonitis), or at the back of the ankle (Achilles tendonitis). The tendonitis that occurs along the outside or inside of the ankle can occur because of trauma or because of mechanical instability. Another potential cause is an underlying arthritis condition. Achilles tendonitis often occurs as a result of excessive stress and repetitive trauma. The Achilles tendon is the thick cord at the back of the ankle that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle. Treatment involves rest, elevation of the heel to take the tension off the Achilles tendon, and physical therapy. Glucocorticoid injection should be avoided because of the danger of Achilles tendon rupture. Anti-inflammatory medication may be helpful.

A new treatment approach has made the need for surgery less likely for patients with chronic tendonitis. The procedure is called "percutaneous needle tenotomy". In this procedure, a small gauge needle is introduced using ultrasound guidance. The needle is used to irritate the tendons stimulating the inflammatory response. platelet rich plasma, obtained from the patient's whole is then injected into the area where the tendons have been irritated. Platelets are cells in the blood that contain multiple growth and healing factors. The end result is the formation of new healthy tendon tissue.

Proposed Solutions To The Four Causes Of Knee Pain

Years of stooping, kneeling and moving around truly takes a price on your legs, and ladies have it especially bad: research on women of all ages shows they are up to 6 times more likely than men to suffer from accidents like ACL holes. Got a sore, creaky, or weakened knee? Discover the real cause of suffering and check out efficient ways to fix bad osteoarthritis of the legs for good with these knee pain remedies.

Creaky Knees - Your legs pop, and you feel pain while taking rising steps or after a continuous state of relaxing.

The Cause: Though it is generally called "runner's knee", patellofemoral symptoms affect even those who are chair jockeys. The creaking you experience is due to a misaligned kneecap grating over the lower end of your thighbone. Women are especially subject to these symptoms due to their normally wide pelvises that causes their legs to incline inward, creating a greater quads angle or Q than men have. Professionals also state that this Q position places extra power on a ladies legs.

The Knee Pain Remedy: If you regularly do high-impact routines such as running or enjoy golf, cut back (but do not stop in general or the muscle mass that supports your legs will weaken) and add milder actions such as diving and yoga routines to your schedule. You can also purchase new training footwear.

Achy Knees - During training, you experience a distinct amount of suffering between your kneecap and shinbone. The suffering remains as a regular, chronic pain.

The Cause: Tendonitis, which happens when the ligament attaching your kneecap to the shinbone becomes infected because of recurrent stress and running. Symptoms are set off when you increase the concentration of your routines.

The Knee Pain Relief: To relieve suffering and reduce irritation, take a non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) such as Advil, apply ice, relax and increase your resting period, particularly following a training session. Also, check with your medical professional about a patellar muscle tie. Velcro bands can be placed just under your kneecap, which reduce suffering by getting stress off the muscle. If suffering remains, quickly check with your medical professional.

Stiff Knees - If it is inflamed and swollen, and you have trouble moving or bending it.

The Cause: Arthritis. The fibrous muscle that blankets your bones deteriorates due to use, age or fat. When the fibrous joints break down completely, you are left with bone tissue eradicating and shattering bones.

The Remedy: Shedding just 11 pounds can take stress off your legs and reduce suffering by 50%, according to one study. Additionally, getting NSAIDs, getting plenty of sleep and using ice can be a solution to osteoarthritis. If your knee becomes red or warm to the touch, check with your medical professional, who may drain the substance with a hook. About 25% of people with osteoarthritis need knee-replacement surgery treatment.

Twisted Knee - You experience and sometimes listen to a "pop", and then your knee buckles, causing immense pain. Generally this injury happens while participating in athletics.

The Cause: The anterior cruciate structures (ACL), and elastic band that stabilizes the knee tears. According to experts, a ladies kneecap moves a little to the side after a leap due to her greater hips. As a result, the quads attract tougher resistance on the knee. Professionals also suspect that higher levels of oestrogen (in the latter part of the monthly cycle) ease fibrous structures and challenges their ability to secure bones.

The Knee Pain Remedy: About a third of those who harm their ACL can restore energy and movement after 6-8 weeks of relaxation and remedy. But if the kneecap remains weak and painful, arthroscopic surgery treatment may be needed. On the other hand, if you enjoy athletics, doing physical routines that enhance your hip and buttocks muscle mass, as well as training properly, can reduce your risk of ACL accidents.

These solutions and knee pain remedies can allow a sufferer to begin living a pain free and active life.

Am I Wearing My Knee Brace the Wrong Way? - 3 Things to Look Out For If You Think Something is Wrong

Are you wondering why your knee brace is not working that well? Here are some of the things that you need to look out for when you are having trouble with your knee brace.

1.) If your knee brace has hinges it is best to make sure that the hinges are located at the side of the knee joint and that the brace is not crooked. If the hinges are not lined up very well, and the brace is crooked, this will make one hinge slide forward in comparison to the other. When the joint is improperly aligned a simple motion like bending your knee can feel awkward.

2.) Usually, knee supports are made so that everyone from outside of you can read the writing on the brace the right way up. Typically, you should not be able to look down at the brace, while it is on you and be able to read everything very easily.

What we are trying to say here is that if people from outside of you can read the brand name of your brace the right way up, that means that you have the brace on right side up (i.e. it is not upside down).

At a glance many knee supports can look the same, and we have seen enough people put braces on upside down; even doctors. Therefore, we decided to include this section about making sure the brace is right side up.

3.) Is the brace slipping down when you wear it? Well, one reason why this is happening is that the knee support is not on snug enough. When you get a knee brace, no matter what brand it is etc., it is important to wear it snug (not tight where you loose circulation. There is a balance.) A loose brace will slide down and do you no good!

Moreover, if you are having trouble with the brace fitting you properly, you should think about when you got it. Although some knee supports will last you a long time, you will need to think about whether the elastic material is over stretched. If you use an elastic knee support, for example, and you wear it when you work out or walk a good distance then you are naturally going to sweat. - Over a year or two this might add up and cause the elastic part of the brace to stretch. This can cause a problem over time for you, if you are trying to reach the optimal fit you once had with the support.

Is There Any Hope For Osteoarthritis Pain And Aches?

If you suffer from osteoarthritis pain, you are certainly not alone. According to the Mayo Clinic, osteoarthritis affects nearly 21 million people in the United States alone.

Osteoarthritis of the knee - Pain Relief

Although many people suffer osteoarthritis of the knee, it can afflict any of the jointed areas: fingers, hands, neck, and more.

Osteoarthritis causes damage to the cartilage over time....by engendering stiffing in the joints. This stiffness, in turn, results in loss of elasticity.

The cartilage, in short, can be worn down in such jointed areas. As the cartilage wears away, osteoarthritis pain increases because the cartilage's job was to act as a protector -- a shock absorption mechanism, in other words, that prevents bones from literally rubbing against each other.

Now when it comes specifically to osteoarthritis of the knee - pain relief, there are many people who suffer from this because our knees are used a lot in our daily activities. Constant bending of the knees, sports and certain exercises like running or jogging can exacerbate and speed up the condition.

Regardless if you suffer osteoarthritis pain in the hands, the knee, or elsewhere you undoubtedly want to know what you can do to alleviate the pain.

One thing that many people may not know is that increasing your intake of omega 3 fatty acids may help a great deal because they are naturally rich anti-inflammatories.

Inflammation can result because of the stiffness in the joints, making the situation much worse.

But don't just take my word for it.

According to the University of Maryland's Medical website:

"Based on laboratory studies....many researchers suggest that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids....may benefit people with other inflammatory disorders, including OA [Osteoarthritis]. In fact, several laboratory studies of cartilage-containing cells have found that omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and reduce the activity of enzymes that break down cartilage. Patients also showed increased improvement when fish oil supplements were used...."

The University of Maryland's Medical Website also mentions an interesting source very high in omega 3 fatty acids that most people in the United States are not aware of, but is available to them. This source is called the New Zealand green lipped mussel and is used in that country for osteoarthritis pain, among other things.

On their website, they state:

"....New Zealand green lipped mussel ( Perna canaliculus ), another potential source of omega-3 fatty acids, has been shown to reduce joint stiffness and pain, increase grip strength, and enhance walking pace in a small group of people with osteoarthritis."

Now, none of these statements should mean that omega 3 fatty acids are going to cure your condition if you have osteoarthritis. That's just wishful thinking.

However, omega 3 fatty acids are well known to benefit both brain and cardiovascular health. So to think you can take something that will improve your overall health while also possibly alleviating your osteoarthritis pain, it makes a lot of sense.

You should note, however, that fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids are natural anti-coagulants. This means they help thin the blood, which can be a good thing. However, if you are already on blood thinners, especially prescription blood thinners, check with your doctor before using fish oil or green lipped mussel supplements for osteoarthritis pain.

Given that the prescription COX-2 inhibitor drugs, like Vioxx, have proven themselves to have serious health risks -- having been implicated in the deaths of tens of thousands of people with ongoing class action lawsuits -- it makes sense to us to try natural alternatives and remedies as the first resort.

5 Ways to Knock Out the Performance Jitters

Feel like you're never going to stop those shaky knees and pre-performance nerves? Here are a few ideas to help you get past the debilitating effects of the jitters:

1. Appreciate them. I know it sounds crazy, but acknowledge the nerves as though they are an old friend, and know they are there because you care about what you are doing. That's a good thing. Those swirling butterflies in your tummy can be asked to fly in formation and energize you... that way they work in agreement with your goal. You might actually visualize this and get the feeling that those butterflies are your support team, and NOT there to derail you at all!


2. Another visual exercise: Imagine a time when you were totally confident. Put yourself back in that time, and remember every sight, smell and thought in your head at that time. Once you can experience that memory fully, move the feelings of that time into the future time of your presentation. Picture yourself standing with that confidence you know you had in the past. If you did it once, you are perfectly able to feel it now. Really lock in that feeling, like an athlete would in an important race, and then anchor it in somehow, maybe by a physical touch on your tummy, or some other part of your body. Touching that spot before you step up to speak should trigger that sense of confidence automatically.


3. Avoid physical stumbling blocks; work out to relax your muscles, and skip the caffeine (seriously). Coffee can make a brain shortcircuit when under stress, so it's just not worth it. And eat a balanced meal before you are asked to present or be on set, to properly fuel your brain.


4. Do your homework. The biggest stress factor is to not be prepared. If you feel the need to consult with a coach to prepare do so. It pays to make the most of every media and speaking opportunity and if you need help in prepping the perfect message, then seek it. It is a wise investment. Leveraging the opportunities is the goal! Don't play it small.


5. Remember the big picture. By focusing on your big picture you will be outside of yourself and into the projected outcome of your intention. Instead of thinking about your knocking knees, you will be picturing the school you want to build, or the sales you want to reach, or the lives you want to save. It's hard to think of yourself when you are focused on what you can do for others.

Jitters need not be a bad thing at all. Once you don't see them as a problem, they may just quiet down completely!

Open Heart Surgery - The Best Treatment at a Competitive Cost

With such an operation as open-heart surgery, the expertise of the doctors and the techniques they use is of paramount importance.

Here you will discover how you can have world-class medical care at a cost you can afford.

Reducing the Cost

Open heart surgery in the UK costs around £12,000 - £15,000, but in India this cost can be as little as £2,000 - £3,000 for the same treatment.

An Introduction to Open Heart Surgery

Any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart directly is called open-heart surgery. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself, which may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery involved.

Open-heart surgery includes surgery on the heart arteries, muscle, valves, or other related areas.

The definition open-heart surgery is sometimes used for operations that include techniques that are performed through smaller incisions. This form of invasive surgery is still however classed as open-heart surgery.

Open Heart Surgery - Why it's Necessary

If non-surgical techniques such as diet and exercise are not effective in treating heart disease, medication can be prescribed.

If the heart disease persists in causing discomfort, an invasive procedure is then performed.

Diagnosis

To locate the arterial blockages in the heart, coronary arteriography (mapping of the coronary arteries) is done using a procedure called cardiac catheterization.

A plastic tube (called a catheter) is guided through an artery in the arm or leg leading into the coronary arteries. A liquid dye is then injected through the catheter. X-rays are then taken that follow the courses of the dye and by monitoring the dye's flow, blocked areas are identified.

There are several types of procedures that are commonly performed:

Coronary angioplasty

This is a common operation called percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), also known, as angioplasty or balloon angioplasty.

A catheter is inserted toward the blocked area of the artery. A second catheter with a small balloon is passed through the first catheter. When the balloon reaches the blocked area, the balloon is inflated; this widens the artery allowing the blood to flow more freely.

Coronary Bypass

A coronary artery bypass graft is another common operation.

A healthy blood vessel is taken from another part of the body and is used to create a detour around the blocked coronary artery.

One end of the vessel is attached below the blockage, the other is attached above the blockage as a result, and blood flows more freely.

Heart Transplant

The most radical operation in open-heart surgery is that a transplant is needed.

The operation is complicated because so many blood vessels need to be disconnected and re-connected as one heart replaces the other. While the operation is taking place, the patient is connected to a heart-lung machine that keeps blood circulating around the body.

India - A World Leader in Open Heart Surgery

As we stated earlier with such an important operation as open heart surgery, the quality of treatment is paramount, but getting high quality treatment at a much reduced price is also attractive.

Indian medical care in private hospitals is renowned worldwide, as is the expertise of Indian doctors.

The expertise and facilities available mean that patients are getting the best treatment available at an affordable cost.

Treatment Options and Preventive Measures For an Unstable Knee Cap - Knee Braces For Support

If you have an unstable patella, you do have treatment options. You can consider surgery, rest and pain medications, or get a knee brace to help stabilize your knee.

Take a look at the positive and negative aspects of both of these choices.

Surgery to Repair an Unstable Knee Cap (Patella)

Depending on what exactly is going on with your knee, surgery can be an option. Many physicians however will not rush you into the surgery room if you are having patella instability though. If you have severe symptoms, then yes, surgery may be the primary recourse, but there are other conservative treatment methods that can help you hold off on even considering surgery.

Other Treatment for an Unstable Knee Cap

Most doctors will look to treat an unstable patella in a more conservative manner first. This involves using a brace as well as over the counter pain medication for any pain (speak with your physician prior to taking any medications). Most of the time, the unstable patella will not cause a severe amount of pain. When the knee cap slips out of the joint, it may cause a flash of pain, but this will soon fade and the pain will move to a dull ache. Over the counter pain medication can help solve your discomfort problems temporarily, but what happens when you get too used to the medication? Moreover, will this help solve your kneecap stability problems? Rest and pain medications have their place, and you should speak with your physician about any meds you are talking, but you can do other things to help promote knee cap stability.

A brace is one ideal way that you can deal with most knee problems including an unstable patella. A knee brace will help keep the kneecap in alignment. Many people who have this condition will rely on the knee brace as a way to treat the condition permanently, wearing the brace whenever they are planning on walking or standing for a long period of time.

How to Prevent an Unstable Knee Cap

While there are a few options you can consider to prevent an unstable patella from migrating, one of the best things you can do to take care of your knees is to keep your weight down. People who are overweight tend to have more problems with their knees than others who maintain a healthy weight.

Athletes are typically more susceptible to suffering from problems because of the continuous impact on the knees. Wearing protective braces whilst participating in any kinds of sports and doing the full range of warm up exercises will help keep the joint warm and will afford the knees with maximum protection.