Arthritis Articles

Easy Guide To Arthritis Pain Relief - Tips, Facts, And Treatments

2010-09-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

After years of suffering, I finally found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. There's a natural solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain that I discovered several years ago. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works.

As a result of arthritis, the bone beneath the cartilage undergoes changes that lead to bony overgrowth and the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen, and the associated muscles can weaken. Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used.

Cartilage is one of the few tissues that does not have its own blood supply. Proteoglycans are large molecules that help make up cartilage; they bond to water, which ensures the high-fluid content in cartilage Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint.

Possible causes of arthritis include lesser known: bleeding disorders, like hemophilia, that causes bleeding to occur in the joint; disorders such as avascular necrosis, that block the blood supply closest to the joint; and conditions like hemochromatosis, that causes iron build-up in the joints. Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about 50% of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases in the knee.

An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it's known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases.

The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc.

Some of the supplements commonly used for relieving arthritis pain, but I don't know if any of these work, are: glucosamine, chondroitin, bromelain, grapeseed extract, omega-3 and omega-6, cod liver oil, manganese ascorbate, MSM, boron, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement. I used a totally living food diet to completely rid myself of arthritis pain.

I know quite a few people who are drinking tart cherry juice to relieve their arthritis pain; has to the tart kind though. Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely.

An acidic diet, that is any foods not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, refined, packaged and processed food.

If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk. Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times.

Even if you don't think you can exercise, you can do some movements. Important exercises for arthritis are range-of-motion exercises, isometrics, and some weight bearing exercises. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television.

If you're going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. Be aware that the use of NSAIDs or Cox-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten the onset.

If you're planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor.

Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain. Arthritis pain relief is the ultimate goal - understanding arthritis is a good way to get there. Following these suggestions can help you get back in the swing of things and allow you to spend your days enjoying life once more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Hecker

3 Alternatives For Osteoarthritis Pain Relief to Consider

2008-09-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

If you are a person over 50 years then chances are that you may be suffering from osteoarthritis. It is a painful disease that afflicts your cartilage and tendons. In fact, osteoarthritis, the cartilage you can start to break completely and, therefore, you can feel quite a lot of pain when you are plagued with osteoarthritis. In fact, in some cases, the pain you feel may be in May so that you May not be able to take care of your daily functions.

However, when it comes to arthritis pain relief, then you're not without options. In general, using drugs such as aspirin and Tylenol May not be enough to provide pain relief you need to May. Perhaps the best thing you can do is using other alternative methods of treatment.

One such method is certainly yoga as a palliative pain relief. Studies show that the practice of yoga, you can be assured of increasing the flexibility of your joints and, consequently, your pain will be significantly reduced. Of course, certain restrictions apply May, and you should get medical advice when using yoga.

Another alternative you can use is a massage. By massage, you are assured that you will be able to reduce the pressure on the joint inflammation by increasing circulation around the affected area. Hence the stress will be reduced muscle and tendons with filaments will not be tense, which can help reduce pain.

As an added value to supplement pain control, you can also take enzyme supplements as systemic osteoarthritis pain relief. Systemic enzymes were also affect the repair of cartilage tissue. Of course, in extreme cases, your doctor will prescribe more stringent May pain control medications to help you cope with your condition and immediate result of systemic enzymes for the long term.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Drinking - Toxic Triggers, and Treatment For Pain

2008-09-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

Drinking alcohol May be more harmful to someone with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than any other person with arthritis. If you have RA, May, then you want to know how alcohol aggravates symptoms, and how to treat pain in eliminating toxic influences.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) base.

Like other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis type is represented by more inflamed joints, swollen and painful. Movement is compromised. Perhaps patients also feel a loss of energy.

Unlike other types of arthritis, RA is a disorder of the immune system. The body defends itself against the harm to healthy tissue. Its symptoms resemble fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other syndromes of compromised immunity. It develops differently from your osteoarthritis, which is more wear disease.

Much medical research on immune disorders has highlighted the toxins. A history of toxicity may contribute to disease. May toxicity included alcohol or drugs, pharmaceutical or long-term anti-biotic use, or exposure to chemicals.

Alcohol and other toxins.

Alcohol has many negative physical effects. It is a depressant. In addition, it suppresses the immune system. At its effect on the immune system is the second reason why RA patients should avoid.

The first reason why alcohol should be avoided by anyone with an immune disorder was mentioned above. Immunity had frequently been linked to a history of toxic influences.

The symptoms and treatment of the condition.

If you have a history of regular drug or alcohol then this must be the first monster that you address if you want to cure your arthritis.

Obviously, you must free of pain to live a somewhat normal life. However, if you have a toxic history, and you continue to drink, then you May your condition deteriorate.

The search for psychological counseling for drinking habits May be the greatest thing you can do to heal your body trends of arthritis.

Once you have addressed drinking or drugs, then you can start to focus on other causes of your pain.

Consult a nutritionist, and perhaps also a herbalist, to clean your body of toxins. You must be nutritional meals. You need to follow a diet plan with therapeutic amounts of vitamins and minerals.

In trying to alcohol consumption, past and present, you'll feel relief in your life beyond the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Guide to Knee and Hip Pain

2008-09-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Your hips and knees bear the full weight of your body weight and must always maintain a wide range of motion. Therefore, they are sensitive and somewhat vulnerable to injuries and developing arthritis.

The good news is that you can prevent the onset of these conditions, by following a few simple steps.

It seems that everyone suffers from Achy knees at one time or another. When knees hurt to start, try the following tips to avoid more serious problems with the card.

Maintaining an active lifestyle. Your knees have been designed to be attached weight. It goes without saying that to use them for what they were designed to help thwart further problems. However, the knees are the muscles and tendons in the legs to function properly. Keep your muscles strong will to take some pressure off the town itself and help tissue to produce synovial fluid to nourish and lubricate the cartilage.

Go low impact. Start slowly when it comes to exercise and stick to the activity that does not put too much brute force on your joints. Swimming, elliptical machines, light rhythm of walking back and all are good examples of low-impact exercise.

Keep it simple. Try to start by taking a walk every day. All you'll need a strong pair of walking shoes, a flat surface, and some will power. Another option is "running water". For people with osteoarthritis, water will march to exercise the joints while moving weight.

Try ice and compression and elevation when joints are inflamed. May you experience worsening problems during the first year to start, how to treat and prevent problems so you can stay active is imperative. For this reason, it is important to remember that the activity you need rest. After the activity and a cooling off your feet for some time and do your best to focus on complete relaxation.

And finally, do your homework. Research the best ways to both protect and exercise your joints. Talk to professionals in your area and find out what they recommend. Take time to feed yourself - your health is worth it.

Definite Knee Condition More Common in Women

2008-09-22T00:18:00.000-07:00

Patellae chondromalacia, also known as patellofemoral syndrome appears to be more prevalent among young women. Unfortunately, this condition is poorly understood and is orthopedic broad debate on the causes and treatments for the disease. However, it is commonly accepted that the condition itself is caused by some kind of softening in the tissues under the kneecap.

If you think you might be suffering from this condition, the symptom (s) occur when the load on your femur and patella are at maximum. For example, when you travel up and / or down stairs, when you stand from a seated position (of a chair or the floor), and when you're squatting or kneeling.

Believe it or not, this condition is often seen among adolescents and young adults, again, especially women, and is often associated with "growing pains" and unsustainable.

Because the jury is still on the disease, little is known about the best treatment for pain associated with the disease. Most doctors recommend rest and the town to take a more against pain relief. It is also recommended to limit activity until the pain decreases.

The good news is that you can avoid this by strengthening the leg muscles, especially your hamstrings and quadriceps, and do your best to maintain maximum flexibility in the legs and hips.

Some great exercises for the Prevention of Chondromalacia Patellae are squats, knee bends, leg extensions, paralyze loops, the reverse plate, and "hill" walk (hiking up and down moderately steep hills).

You should also keep in mind to stretch every day for at least ten minutes. The more flexible muscles and tendons of the hips, legs and knees, the lower your chances of becoming suffer from this painful condition.

Ladies, it's time to take care of you. Exercise and diet play an important role in the fight against diseases, and as the saying goes, a "prevention is better than cure".

What Causes Arthritis? Is it a Disease Or Disorder? And, Natural Remedies to Help Arthritis Pain

2008-09-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Many of us are affected by arthritis, or know someone who is. Arthritis is a condition of moderate to severe pain that affects the joints, but what exactly is it that causes some people to get arthritis while others don't?

The quick and easy answer as to what causes arthritis is that we really don't know yet. There's no one answer that explains every case. There's no "arthritis disease" that you catch like a cold that causes you to develop symptoms. Arthritis is simply a joint disorder that develops with time. In fact, there are over a hundred types of arthritis and many of them are probably caused by different factors.

What we do know is that there are some risk factors that increase your chances or having a problem. While they may not be the root cause of your arthritis, they could definitely be helping to further the problem along.

One of the biggest risk factors associated with arthritis is age. You know that as you get older, there's more wear and tear on your body. Arthritis may not be caused specifically by wear and tear on the joints, but it will definitely speed up the process or increase symptoms. That is why a large number of people over 65 have arthritis, regardless of the other factors.

Another factor that can increase your chances of developing arthritis is weight. If you are overweight, you're going to increase the stress on your joints and will likely have more problems with arthritis. Starting a diet and exercise plan now may reduce symptoms or slow the progress of the disease.

Joint injury is often a factor in developing arthritis. Just like all the other factors, it's not a root cause; however, you're more likely to develop arthritis in a joint that has had a previous injury. If you do injure yourself, be sure to care for it properly so it heals quickly and doesn't get damaged again.

Doctors aren't really sure how big a part genetics plays into the development of arthritis, but they do know it's related. If your parents have arthritis, it's more likely that you will as well. Although this doesn't mean that just because your parents had it, you will too. By reducing the likeliness from other causes, you can reduce your risk.

Many people associate arthritis with athletes and other physically active people. While it would make sense that physical work would put more stress on joints and increase the likelihood of arthritis, studies really haven't shown this to be true. While the risk of athletes developing arthritis is higher, this is associated with their increased chance of joint injury. This means you can continue your daily exercise routine (it will probably even help), but always take precautions to avoid injury.

When most people think of arthritis, they're often thinking of osteoarthritis. However, rheumatoid arthritis is a less common but very serious illness. While symptoms can be similar the causes are not. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body is actually attacking itself and causing damage to its own joints.

While you can't prevent arthritis or control all these factors, you can take steps to reduce them, keeping yourself pain free for longer. Here are some natural remedies to help control your arthritis pain.

Gout Risk Factors

2008-09-12T00:27:00.000-07:00

Gout risk factors are strongly correlated with the occurence of gout attacks, so it is important to be familiar with the risk factors in order to avoid gout symptoms.

High levels of uric acid in the body may cause gout to develop, so if any of the gout risk factors apply to you it is a good idea to actively work to keep your uric acid levels lower. Factors that may increase the uric acid include:

1. One of the biggest gout risk factors is your lifestyle, and more specifically your eating habits. If you are a heavy drinker or eat foods that are high in purines, your uric acid levels may rise and cause gout.

2. Family history is another risk factor for gout, you are more likely to develop symptoms of gout if your family members have had the condition. In some families, an enzyme that helps to break down purines may be missing.

3. Gender and age play a big role in gout risk factors. Gout occurs more often in men than in women, but after menopause women become more susceptible (and closer to the risk factors of men).

4. Excessive eating and obesity may cause gout to occur. It has been found that heavy eaters are more susceptible to higher uric acid levels because of the larger amounts of food that enter the body.

5. Other medical conditions and the consumption of certain medications may also be a gout risk factor. Some of these medications and conditions reduce the body's ability to remove uric acid from the bloodstream.

6. Certain conditions may cause a gout attack, some of these conditions include: having surgery, being dehydrated, or having an infection.

Learning If You Have the Signs of Arthritis

2008-09-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

A sudden twinge in the elbow, shoulder, knee or other joint is probably not arthritis. Most forms of arthritis develop slowly, striking first in their hands.

Instead, you probably irritated soft tissue around the joint. This condition - really a family of diseases including bursitis, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome - calls for a slightly different approach to treatment of arthritis.

Suffering arthritis last several days in pain, the experience of several days with little ability to perform daily activities, and are more difficult to make personal care routines that people without arthritis. As for other conditions of chronic pain, arthritis has negative effects on mental health.

Soft-tissue inflammation is not a natural consequence of aging. Most cases can be attributed to excessive exercise ... or work-related activity involving repetitive movements. The pain is usually apparent within 24 hours of overuse. It can range from a dull ache with pain shooting.

Common soft tissue injuries

Cap rotator tendinitis affects the tendons that hold the shoulder in place. Common among swimmers and other athletes, this condition can make it difficult to dress or lie down.

Shoulder bursitis - very common among gardeners and House Painters - is caused by repeated pressure on shoulder scholarships, fluidfilled "cushions" that protect the joints. It becomes painful to move the arm of the body.

Tennis Elbow strike by carpenters, gardeners, mechanics, dentists ... and tennis players who misuse or form well strung racket. The pain makes it difficult to shake the hand or a briefcase ligt.

The carpal tunnel syndrome is an inflammation of tissue surrounding the median nerve of the hand. Symptoms include weakness, pain, burning sensation or accompanied in the wrist and / or by hand. Usually caused by multiple requests, like those used by the checkout clerks, seamstresses and computer operators.

Prepatellar bursitis in inflammation of the award in front of the patella (kneecap). It is common in people who have to stand or kneel for long periods. The pain is rarely serious.

BK pain at the front of the lower leg. Most cases are caused by repetitive exercise - especially walking on hard surfaces. This can injure muscle and tendon tissue.

Achilles tendinitis - inflammation of the Achilles tendon - is common among basketball and squash players and runners (especially those which run on concrete or shoes fragile). Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness in the heel.

Fascéite plantar implies a torn ligament in the arch connecting the heel. It causes a painful burning sensation on the sole and heel, which makes it painful to walk or stand on your toes. Common among the riders.

Trochanteric bursitis is an inflammation of the award, near the hip. Symptoms include pain in the hips and thighs, especially when you walk, rising from a chair or lie on the affected side.

Imagine your life without joint and muscle pain. Imagine the freedom of effort, and without notice, go to the exercise of your life, participating in sports activities, walking on the beach, play with your kids, Living Life As You once. Without agonizing pain. Without Aching joints. Without muscle pain!

Please review some of our products for the municipality and the relief of muscle pain conditions such as neck pain, sore lower back, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or more.

Arthritis Care - How to Care For Someone With Arthritis

2008-09-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

People who receive a diagnosis of arthritis May have changed their way of life quite dramatically. May Now they must face many challenges and disadvantages of their daily walk of life, but they deserve all the support and care as possible to the people around them. They are not the only ones who have to cope with new challenges and changes, but also those around them. These people, who are usually spouses, children or brothers and sisters, will now take on new roles as primary caregivers in caring for arthritis patients

The role of a caregiver varies from case to case. Some people with arthritis can cope quite well and with only a few minor adjustments in their daily routine. On the other hand, the situation of some other May be much more difficult.

First and foremost, as a caregiver, it is very important for you to get as much information as possible about the type of arthritis your loved ones and what kind of treatment they receive and how that affect them. To the extent possible, to accompany them when they visit their doctor because it allows you to be kept informed of their progress and any adjustments that need to May you bring to your care system arthritis. Psychologically, it is more comfortable for patients to have you and businesses to help remember the details or instructions given by doctors who, otherwise, May just go in one ear and others.

The next important process is to have an open and honest communication with patients. This is not always easy May and require a great deal of tact and patience. It is not easy to understand what patients are going through but you want them to know that you try your best to understand and be with them whenever possible. Studies have shown that people who have this disease, improving faster when they are under no stress or negative situation.

It is normal and possible for you sometimes feel discouraged in your patient care, arthritis, but please do not be too discouraged because it is a normal part of the process of care. As you try to adjust your life to help your family, do not forget that you must still take care of you as well. Try not to be too tired or taxed. If this happens, you May need to strengthen back a little and maintains support groups that can understand your situation and give you ideas on how to relieve stress. Above all, try to maintain an honest approach in your arthritis care of the patient so that all parties can move forward in a positive way.

On a practical note, in your care arthritis patient, you must May be the most active in the management of courses and take the heavy workload. But it is also important for you to keep in mind that your family must be involved and active for their health. As a caregiver, that does not mean you have to do everything for the patient. It simply means that the situation where both are involved you need a readjustment. Look for ways to make simple functions around the house a little easier as the installation of closed bars in the bathroom, find more comfortable furniture, or the purchase of tools that are easy to use people with arthritis.

Another area of support is fine to be a good listener. So much aid can be granted if a person can talk about their fears and anxieties. Be as easy and convenient as you can be, even if it is an emotional situation. This will help to maintain a positive attitude and before moving attitude that is essential to finally achieve the best possible quality of life.

In summary, arthritis care is a long learning process by which arthritis patients and you, the caregiver, needs to give you time to adapt to the situation and, finally, the move 'forward in a positive way.

10 Foods Your Arthritis Hates

2008-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

The foods that cause arthritis do not exist - but that the May foods trigger your arthritis to worsen certainly do.

Arthritis is a group of common conditions (more than 100 different conditions, for that matter) that cause inflammation, pain and damage in the joints of the body. It can go very mild to very severe bear common and debilitating progressive disease. Clean maintenance organization is crucial in the fight against any form of arthritis.

Many people think that prevent or relieve arthritis some high flame is possible through good nutrition. That there foods that can cause inflammation and that there are foods that can help relieve symptoms. But is this true?

The short answer is yes, in many cases of arthritis it is slight. Effects of a diet changes are different from person to person, however. This is particularly true when it comes to foods to avoid. The foods that trigger allergic reactions can generate an immune response that can cause your arthritis to react.

May It requires a lot of your own experimental work to your diet, but many people with arthritis reported certain foods to be commonly problematic for their arthritis. Giving these foods May help some people with arthritis:

-- Red meat
-- Food in the nightshade family (white potatoes, peppers, tobacco, eggplant and tomatoes ... May reaction come as long as 48 hours after eating these foods)
-- Gluten (a composite protein in wheat, barley and oats that triggers generally poor immune system response)
-- Dairy Products
-- Sugar
-- Caffeine
-- Citrus
-- Salt
-- The food additives (including a greater variety of foods you'd expect May. Avoiding especially processed meats such as those used behind a deli counter)
-- Foods that are easily molds can cause your immune system to react to the mold

Many of these foods cause your immune system to react (aggravating your arthritis) or they have properties that cause inflammation of your body response to be triggered or intensified. Try to reduce some of them from your diet one by one to determine which ones May be problematic for your body and arthritis.

Super Strategies For Joint Pain

2008-09-04T19:27:00.001-07:00

If you are on the quest for super strategies to relieve your pain, you May unique advantage to explore alternative treatments. Alternative treatments for pain often just as good, if not better, than traditional approaches. Consider the following "unique" treatment options and decide for yourself whether or not they will work for you.

The infrared light therapy

The infrared light therapy is widely studied and approved the strategy to alleviate the pain. The benefits noted in patients who have undergone therapy infrared light for a period of time are staggering. The infrared light therapy can be applied medically or at home. There are a number of devices available for home use without a prescription and, in most cases, therapy provides dramatic pain relief.

Meditation

That's right. Meditation. A regime of meditation can be a powerful coping mechanism for pain. You can train your mind to focus on pain and healing. Believe it or not, the power of human spirit to heal the body is scientifically proven successful. Learn meditation (which can be classified as a whole, time of prayer simply tuning out) may take some time, but when practiced regularly, it can provide some powerful healing effects.

Inversion

Inversion is especially beneficial for people suffering from arthritis and degeneration noted neck and spine. The process of inversion is just as it seems. Inversion tables are padded but firm tables as well as the work of a see-saw. Once you're safely on the table, you can reverse slowly until your feet are above your head. As you become used to the process, you can progress until you're completely upside down. Most people experience relief from neck, shoulder, back pain and hip throughout the process of reversal. In some cases, people who practice regularly until the end of inversion greater than they were before the process! This is due to the decompression of the spine and reverse the effects of gravity.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

2008-09-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

In the USA, an estimated 2.1 million people have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that causes the body's immune system to attack the joints healthy. This auto-immune disease causes painful inflammation in the lining tissue common but it can also attack other parts of the body as the heart, lungs, eyes and blood vessels. Some permanent damage and disfigurement is inevitable if the disease is not treated.

The first stage of treatment and prevention of loss of value is to understand and identify signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Sore, stiff joints in the hands, knees, elbows and feet are common, and are symmetrical which means it will happen on both sides of the body. Stiffness morning with a duration of 30 minutes or more, fatigue, accompanied and / or feelings such as influenza, redness or swelling of the joints are likely symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

If one or more of these symptoms occur a doctor of the appointment should be made as soon as possible for a true diagnosis. Blood tests are taken to screen for rheumatoid factor, the car turns the immune system against its own tissues. X-Rays May done for the doctor to have a perspective on the achievement possible. A rheumatologist, a specialist in rheumatoid arthritis who is able to give a contribution, should be associated with other patients in health care.

There are new procedures and treatments for symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis more and more each year. The sooner a patient is diagnosed most likely to prevent joint damage, putting the disease in remission, and conduct business, a normal life.

What is Causing My Gout?

2008-07-24T01:39:00.003-07:00

People with gout may be wondering, what is causing my gout? Most attacks of gout start because of poor lifestyle choices including drinking too much alcohol, eating rich foods, and being overweight. However, about 10% to 15% of gout patients have it due to certain metabolic problems. A deficiency of certain enzymes (like xanthine oxidase) that break down the purines can also be a cause. The body may also produce too many purines.

Purines exist in our DNA and RNA as a natural part of our body's cells. The purines break down into uric acid, which then passes out through the urine. If you have too many purines, you have a problem with uric acid buildup. The uric acid which causes painful crystals to develop between the joints, hence causing gout.
There's good news for those who can control their purine intake.

Habits and conditions that increases the purine content in our body fluids can be changed. Even being 15% overweight can cause gout to develop. We have the option to adopt a healthier diet and cut calories.

The next primary factor in developing gout is drinking too much alcohol. Beer is especially high in purines, so think again before breaking out a "cold one".

You need to be careful of the foods that you eat. Avoid purine rich foods like organ meats, beans, soy, processed meats, milk, eggs and certain seafoods (like crab, mussels, and shrimp).

Another thing to be aware of is that taking aspirin and diuretics can put extra stress on the kidneys. Up to 25% of gout attacks are attributed to these drugs. As a matter of fact, kidney problems, such as stones are found in approximately 90% of gout patients. The urate crystals also grow in the kidneys.

There are quite a few things we can do to help prevent developing gout. We do have control over what we put into our bodies and certainly, eliminating many of the factors that may be causing our gout seems like it would be a powerful motivator!

The Joint Deformity Associated With Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:39:00.001-07:00

Exercise is essential for people with the joint inflammation known as arthritis. Increasing strength, flexibility and mobility is achieved through the repeated stretching and strengthening of muscles, which support the joints. For many arthritis pain sufferers, the task seems insurmountable.

Even the walk from the house to the car is unbearable. However, starting with aquatic exercises can prevent you from becoming completely immobile. Exercise can help you sleep better, make you feel more energized throughout the day, strengthen bones and muscle tissue, help you lose weight and give you a better self-opinion.

Many patients are asking, "How can I prevent the joint deformity associated with arthritis?" It's bad enough that you're suffering the pain on the inside, let alone exhibiting the unsightly bumps and crooked, protruding lumps associated with arthritic hands. One study (Scott J. Zashin, M.D., 1998) indicates that TNF Blockers, such as Enbrel, Remicade and Humira, are most effective at halting the progression of arthritis.

Researchers found that while 25% of patients on Methotrexate achieved clinical remission, 70% of the patients who did not respond to Methotrexate had success with the other three drugs. Of course, the drugs are far from a cure, but rather serve as a pain management tool for those who suffer most.

If you are afflicted with arthritic pain, then there are ways of exercising the joint(s) without injuring yourself. Range-of-motion exercises, like raising your arms over your head, rolling your shoulders in circles and stretching can be effective if done daily. Strengthening exercises, like light weight training will help build muscles, taking a load off strained joints.

Aerobic/endurance exercises improve overall fitness, controls weight and moves joints in natural motions, so consider walking, bike riding and swimming for 20 - 30 minutes/day, 3 times/week. The most important thing is to find something you like to do and regularly incorporate it into your life. If you question your motivation, then you may find a yoga or tai chi class to be the best pain management solution.

There are over 100 medical conditions known to cause the joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Many times, inflammation of the joints comes along with an injury, disease or other ailment as well.

For seniors health, it is imperative that you try your hardest to remain fully mobile. If you need drugs or a low impact exercise routine to help you get past that initial hurdle of chronic pain, then ask your doctor what kind of options are available to you.

Better Joint Movement With Liquid Glucosamine Chondroitin

2008-07-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

How can liquid glucosamine chondroitin help with joint movement? That is the question many people ask when they first discover liquid glucosamine chondroitin products. Here is what it can do for you:

- Reduce joint pain
- Assist in the rebuild of cartilage
- Increase joint movement

Joint Movement Glucosamine & Chondroitin costs around $30 online and contains 2000mg Glucosamine, 1200mg Chondroitin & 500mg MSM per dose. It is sugar free, low sodium and comes in a great tasting berry flavor.

In addition to that, it is highly absorbent due to being a liquid. It is also incredibly easy to take, unlike some capsules and pills which are often rather large to fit all the ingredients inside.

Current scientific research has shown that liquid glucosamine chondroitin provides support for healthy joint functions. It is well known that glucosamine is an excellent way to treat arthritis as it can assist in regenerating joint cartilage.

Another liquid glucosamine chondroitin product is SYMTEC advanced 2000 mg Glucosamine liquid formula. In this product you will find glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Collagen, and Vitamins C & D. there are no fillers in this product nor are there any of the popular allergens yeast, wheat, gluten, sugar, soy, dairy or starch which means the chance of an allergic reaction is very rare. Other ingredients in SYMTEC include Filtered Water, Natural Cherry, Vanilla and Mixed Berry Flavors, Vegetable Glycerin, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Sucralose, Xanthan Gum and FD&C Red #40. Glucosamine comes from shellfish shells so if you are allergic to shellfish always use glucosamine with caution.

Syn-Flex Glucosamine has been proven by real patients to assist in the pain relief of arthritis conditions. Joint pain occurs once the body stops manufacturing enough glucosamine. By supplementing your body's own supply, you are providing your joints and cartilage with the nutrients they need to be in optimal health.

Recent studies have shown that glucosamine and chondroitin may be effective in relieving severe pain from osteoarthritis. The best way to take it is in liquid form so the body can immediately absorb the nutrients into the bloodstream. It should then take 10 days, sometimes less, for the positive benefits of glucosamine to take effect. The result will be less pain in your joints and more joint movement.

There are many liquid glucosamine chondroitin products on the market so make sure you do your research before deciding which one is best for your needs.

What to Look For in Liquid Glucosamine Products

2008-07-24T01:37:00.002-07:00

You need to become education before buying a liquid glucosamine product. Due to the vast number of choices out there it is important to be able to quickly determine the good from the bad. A good liquid glucosamine product will contain high quality ingredients, minimal "extra" ingredients, a high dosage of glucosamine and of course actually be available as a liquid rather than a pill form (the top brands will have both methods available to cover all customer preferences).

Syn Flex is a best selling liquid glucosamine product. It has consistently shown to be one of the most effective joint care and osteoarthritis products currently available. Even many doctors recommend SynFlex liquid glucosamine to patients who are not responding to other treatment methods. Syn Flex has been designed from the ground up to ease arthritic joint pain, to assist in the rebuilding of damaged cartilage, to rehabilitate damaged cartilage, to reduce joint inflammation and to improve overall mobility in sufferers. Customers have noted that Syn Flex liquid glucosamine performs very well at all its intended tasks.

Syn Flex contains glucosamine as its main ingredient but also 10 other ingredients of the highest quality. There are no filler ingredients as is often seen in inferior brands. When it comes to liquid glucosamine, you get what you pay for. It is worth paying a little extra to confirm you are getting the highest quality ingredients. There is little point buying a product if it will not work, as is the case with cheaper liquid glucosamine products. You may be saving money but in reality you are wasting every cent if the product does nothing for you!

Glucosamine is effective for the relief and treatment of osteoarthritis. It has been clinically proven to be beneficial in treating this widespread yet extremely painful illness. Liquid glucosamine from Synflex is unique since it is one of the few liquid forms of glucosamine available. Most brands only come in pill form, which takes longer for the body to absorb.

Pills contain the powdered form of glucosamine which as you can imagine, takes the body some time to digest. A lot of the ingredients also go to waste if the pill does not dissolve properly or quickly enough. This problem is eliminated with liquid glucosamine as there is nothing to be dissolved so it works from the second you ingest it.

When looking for liquid glucosamine products make sure you choose the highest quality that you can afford.

Which is the Best Liquid Glucosamine?

2008-07-24T01:37:00.001-07:00

There are many brands of liquid glucosamine on the market so choosing the best one is often a case of trial and error. One of the most popular brands is Syn-Flex. Thankfully the internet makes your research a little easier and ensures you make fewer errors. Searching for online reviews of various this important supplement can quickly point out the best products and the ones which will be most effective for you. As always, check with your doctor before you begin taking Syn-Flex for the first time.

There are generally two forms of glucosamine - liquid and tablet form. So which is the easiest to take and the most effective? Without a doubt, Syn-Flex liquid is easier to take than a pill form. You can simply drink it down on its own or mixed in with another drink of choice. In addition to ease of use, Syn-Flex is also absorbed much quicker by the body. Liquid does not have to go through a break down process as a pill needs to. It is immediately absorbed by your body as soon as you drink it. Compare that with a glucosamine pill, which must first makes its way to your stomach and then go through a slow break down process. It is obvious which is the more effective method.

When looking for a liquid glucosamine product you will want to find the highest quality one that you can. There are many low quality liquid glucosamine brands around but these usually contain inferior ingredients and also a lot of filler ingredients including chemicals and other unwanted and useless ingredients. A high quality liquid glucosamine will clearly state on the packaging exactly what is in the liquid, without hiding anything.

These are the points you must look for when choosing a glucosamine product:

Liquid or pill form
Size of dosage
Product type
Other ingredients
Cost

We already know that Syn-flex is the best form as it produces better results, less (or none) goes to waste and it works immediately.
The dose of the glucosamine is a highly important yet often overlooked aspect of a product. You will need a product which contains at least 1000mg of glucosamine. Some inferior brands sell just 300mg of glucosamine which is very ineffective.

Some other ingredients you may find in a glucosamine product include MSM and Chondroitin which are commonly used as an important additive. These are considered beneficial ingredients. Also commonly added are other beneficial ingredients including aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin E, vitamin C, Yucca and Bromelaine.

Syn-Flex is the brand which contains the highest quality ingredients and sufficient dosage of glucosamine.

Hot Stone Massages Help to Keep Arthritis Out of Your Joints

2008-07-24T01:31:00.001-07:00

Have you ever suffered from arthritis? Many of us often have misconceptions about certain medical conditions. For instance, because elderly people often suffer from arthritis, we may conclude that it cannot affect younger people. That is wrong. Also, arthritis itself is technically not a disease. So what exactly is it? Arthritis is a medical condition that causes people's joints to become swollen and painful.

Just the facts

Here are some interesting facts about arthritis:

- It includes more than 100 unique diseases that impact regions in or surrounding joints

- It affected about 46 Americans (1 in 5 adults) in 2006.

- It is the top cause of disability among Americans (at least 16-years-old)

- It yearly costs the U.S. economy $128 billion.

- It yearly causes over half a million hospitalizations

- It affects almost 300,000 children

Joints, bones, and antagonistic muscles

To better understand arthritis, we need to comprehend how our joints function. The bones of our skeletons work as a group of levers that move around joints, which are points where pivoting takes place. This happens as muscles switch between contracting and relaxing. Meanwhile, the muscles surround the joints in pairs. So each group of muscles directs bones in one particular direction, while a twin "antagonistic" muscle group moves the bones in the converse direction.

Among the numerous types of arthritis, here are some of the most common:

Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis. It causes the joints to worsen. Cartilage covering the tips of bones within the join wears down. The result is that as the bone starts to scrape against the bone, one's range of motion is reduced, and pain is created.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks normal cells. The result of is that the lining of the joint becomes red or swollen. This type of arthritis mainly strikes women, and is one of the most powerful types of arthritis.

Gout: This condition primarily affects males. It usually results from a blemish in the chemistry of the body. In the majority of cases, this condition affects small joints and the big toe in particular. But there is good news for you! Gout can nearly always be totally managed with changes in diet, and certain medication.

Fortunately, you can use several types of treatment s for arthritis:

Medication: Numerous types of drugs can be used to treat arthritis, and they have different purposes. These can include reducing pain, lowering soreness, and attacking the disease itself.

Surgery: The majority of people who experience arthritis could never require surgery. On the other hand, surgery can be very beneficial for those with extremely damaged joints, and when other types of treatments are not effective. Joint replacement is the most popular form of arthritis surgery.

Physiotherapy: This can improve people's strength, flexibility, and mobility. When used with medication, pain can be significantly reduced. Physiotherapists can create a treatment plan especially for you, which could include exercise, hydrotherapy, and pain relief methods.

Massages with hot stones are another type of effective treatment for arthritis sufferers. When we suffer from stress, our bodies produce too many hormones. Thus, the body attacks its own joints, resulting in rheumatoid arthritis. Through massage, the body's muscles, ligaments and tendons are relaxed, thus creating balance within the body.

More specifically, a massage moves the muscle and regions around the joints, increasing the body's circulation of blood and lymph. Thus, the body gets rid of more toxins. The ultimate result is that the movement of the joints is significantly improved. In addition to massages improving the condition of the actual joints, they also relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Massages warn arthritis to stay out of your joint!

Living With Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:30:00.002-07:00

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint and for those who live with arthritis it can be a painful, frustrating and debilitating disease. So much so, in fact, that back in the days of the Roman empire, citizens with severe arthritis were exempt foromm paying taxes during the time of Emperor Diocletian. Unfortunately today's government does not afford such privileges to arthritis sufferers but there are a few things you can do to help to manage it.

According to The National Arthritis Data Workgroup of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases one in seven people in the United States has arthritis and that number is expecting to increase to 60 million people who have it by the year 2020 as the baby boomer population ages. And while not all forms of arthritis are the same or have the same degree of severity, it is important for those who do have it to understand it and how to cope with it.

The word Arthritis comes from the Greek words "artho", meaning joint, and "itis", meaning inflammation. It usually affects people who are fifty-five years of age or old but can affect those younger as well. Although there are many different types of arthritis the most common form is known as osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease which could be the result of infection of the joint, age, or trauma to the joint.

With a normal joint cartilage, which is at the end of each bone were it meets another bone, protects the joint and provides smooth movement. Pain in the joint is caused when this cartilage starts to break down and in extreme cases this can lead to the bare bones in the joint touching and rubbing together. In these cases the joint starts to lose its shape and spurs are formed by the thickening the the bone ends.

The most common treatment of arthritis is to take some form of anti-inflammatory drug which helps to keep the inflammation down had also has some painkilling effect as well. The most common of these being drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen. As always though, before taking any medication for relief of arthritis pain it is a good idea to speak with your doctor who can prescribe the best treatment for your needs.

Drugs are not the only treatment for arthritis and exercise and diet has been shown to have benefit in the treatment of arthritis. Exercise has been shown to not only reduce the inflammatory associated with arthritis but it can also have the potential of slow the progression of the disease. Keeping active can help maintain or improve the mobility with the joint not to mention the added benefit of keeping yourself in generally good health overall. Again however, it is advised that before starting any exercise program speak with your doctor to help determine your level of fitness and design an exercise routine that suites you and your arthritis.

Living with arthritis does not have to be debilitating experience with no end in sight. In most cases it is manageable with a little effort, knowledge and guidance from your health care professional.

What is Arthritis? An Overview

2008-07-24T01:30:00.001-07:00

The general term "arthritis" refers to a group of diseases that, in one way or another, attack the joints of the body. These attacks cause the joints to swell up and break down, resulting in pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and loss of movement. There are over 100 diseases that fall into this group, but here are some of the more common ones:

Osteoarthritis - this is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by wear and tear on a joint, due to either normal aging or by excessive strain from sports or heavy work. This condition is often seen in farmers, football players, people who have worked in manual labor jobs, and people of advancing age. Excess weight can increase the severity of this condition. Often only one joint is involved, although people who are elderly may have problems in several joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis - this disease causes a person's immune system to attack the joints, causing pain and swelling. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple joints in the body and is known as a "systemic autoimmune" disease, as it attacks a person's system. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are more noticeable in the smaller joints of the body, such as the finger, wrist, and ankle joints. This disease can onset at any age. When it occurs in a person under the age of 18, it is labeled "juvenile rheumatoid arthritis". Severe deformities in the joints can occur as this disease advances with disability resulting.

Gout - this form of arthritis causes uric acid to build up in the affected joint, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. The big toe is the joint most often affected, but other joints may also be affected by gout. Men are affected by gout more than women and onset is most often between the ages of 50 and 60.

Lupus - Systemic lupus erythematosus, or "lupus", is another systemic autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks all the parts of the body. Arthritis symptoms such as joint pain and swelling are only one component of this disorder. Although lupus is a severe disease and is historically considered fatal, recent advances in medication and treatment have increased the survival rate of people who have this disease. Lupus occurs at any age, but onset is seen most often in women.

Psoriatic arthritis - this form of arthritis occurs in people who have the skin condition psoriasis. Its symptoms are similar to rheumatoid arthritis, described above.

Gout Causes

2008-07-24T01:29:00.002-07:00

Gout causes inflammation and intense pain for people who have this ailment. Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. It is a medical condition that occurs when the blood contains high levels of uric acid. In order to understand the causes of gout, it's helpful to have a simple working knowledge about uric acid and purines.

The body naturally produces uric acid when it processes, or breaks down, purines. Purines are natural substances found in all of the body's cells. Virtually all food sources contain purines as well. Protein sources such organ meats; certain fish and yeast contain higher levels of purines than other plant and animal food sources.

When purines are broken down naturally, uric acid is formed. It will pass through the kidneys and into the urine. However, in the case the kidneys are unable to excrete the normal amount of uric acid, the levels of uric acid build up abnormally in the body. As a result, urate crystals form and collect around the joints. Urate crystals are needle-like and sharp. They literally 'poke' the joint and the tissue surrounding the joint, which causes inflammation, pain and swelling. Gout causes deposits of uric acid to build up in and around the joints for some people as well, creating hard lumps in those areas.

There are risk factors linked to the causes of gout. This means that you are more likely to develop gout if the following factors are true for you.

· Heredity - gout is hereditary. If other family members have developed gout, there is a higher risk within that family.
· Alcohol - when men drink more than two drinks daily and women drink more than one daily, it increases the risk of developing gout.
· Obesity - children who are obese and adults who carry extra weight are at a higher risk.
· Sex - men are more likely to have gout due to higher uric acid levels in the body. However, following menopause, women's bodies produce more uric acid and are at a higher risk of getting gout.
· Age - Men between the ages of 40 and 50 are at the age when gout seems to occur the most often. The age for women varies, depending on when menopause occurs.
· Medical conditions - There are certain diseases that increase the possibility of gout developing. These include diabetes, high cholesterol, leukemia, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and hyperuricemia.
· Medications - some medicines used to treat the diseases mentioned above, (and others), can sometimes increase uric acid levels in the body, which could lead to gout.

Other triggers for those at high risk of developing gout that could result in a gout attack are dehydration, severe injury to a joint, a fever, overeating consistently, and sometimes surgery. In some cases, gout causes are linked to only a few of the risk factors. For some people, gout attacks suddenly and seemingly without cause. Interestingly, not everyone with high levels of uric acid in the blood develops gout.

Gout causes severe joint stiffness and pain. Gout can affect manual dexterity and mobility for those who suffer from this condition. There is no permanent cure for gout. However, the good news is that there are several steps that can be taken to effectively manage gout symptoms. Gout causes vary from patient to patient, but your physician will be able to recommend the best treatment for your specific symptoms.

How to Cope With the Pain of Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:29:00.001-07:00

The pain of arthritis affects people differently. Physical sensitivity of the nervous system varies from person to person, as do emotional and social factors that affect how the body processes pain. Anxiety and negative thoughts can trigger the release of chemicals that magnify arthritis pain.

Stress, overworking the body, not sleeping enough, focusing on the pain and feeling depressed can contribute to greater pain. However, pain management strategies, such as low impact exercise, positive thinking, massage therapy, medication, laughing and using heat treatments, can reduce the most chronic pain, helping sufferers to live a relatively enjoyable life.

Arthritic pain may come from inflammation of the tissues that line the joints. Other times, pain comes from muscle, tendons and ligament swelling or strain. Sometimes fatigue and our emotional center affects how we process pain too. To measure arthritis pain, your doctor will ask you a series of questions related to your hurting.

Before you visit your doctor, it may be a good idea to keep a diary of symptoms that appear over a week or two. Write down the intensity, sensations, severity and what you did to ease the aches. You may then undergo a standard physical exam, submit blood or urine samples and get X-rays to determine the damage done. Once the first steps are taken, your doctor will find the best coping skills and medical treatments for your unique case.

Long-term pain relief for arthritis typically involves more advanced medications (compared to your typical Advil or Ibuprofen). Prescription-strength NSAIDs (such as Enbrel and Remicade) or DMARDs (such as Arava, Methotrexate and Penicillamine) can correct deformities and reduce pain. Corticosteroids are a form of hormone therapy that may reduce joint inflammation to stop pain.

Weight reduction, swimming and physical therapy are other pain management treatments that are good for the long haul. In severe patients, joint replacement therapy, removal of the inflamed membrane or joint realignment surgery may be needed to ease the pain.

Coping with arthritis pain can be difficult, as you're battling depression, frustration, anxiety and stress. It is never easy to accept that you cannot perform every day functions like opening a jar or some of your favorite activities, like riding a bicycle. To break free of your pain cycle, you should meet with other people who suffer to get tips on managing the pain.

You should see your doctor regularly to discuss specially-tailored treatment options, medication and therapies. Eating a healthy diet, getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, keeping a diary of your pain and staying informed on the latest treatments can be a great asset to you, since there is no absolute arthritis cure.

Arthritis - Gaining Relief Through Natural Remedies

2008-07-24T01:28:00.002-07:00

It may come as a surprise to many people, but aromatherapy can be used to help treat arthritis pain. Using the scent of natural plant oils, aromatherapy has provided much relief for many arthritis sufferers.

Some of the more beneficial plant oils used in this form of treatment includes derivatives of cloves, eucalyptus, cinnamon and thyme. In this form of treatment, the oils are generally rubbed onto the affected areas to help relieve the pain of arthritis. Another non-conventional treatment for arthritis involves fruit and vegetable juices. These juices have been proven to help treat the disease from the inside out, by nourishing the body. The vitamins and minerals that are jammed inside every fruit and vegetable carry antioxidants in their juice that help to fight disease and increase the power of the body's immune system. Drinking juice is one of the best ways to quickly improve the health of your body. Juice provides your body with the ability to better ward off any diseases, as well as increasing your stamina and strength.

Another natural arthritis cure, Green Lipped Mussel Extract, may not sound very appealing, but it's been shown to have some of the strongest natural medicine for easing arthritis pain. The extract helps to reduce the swelling of tissue associated with the disease, providing even more comfort for the sufferer.

This extract is derived from a shellfish found in the waters around New Zealand, and has proven to be effective to the pain of arthritis without any of the side effects of some prescription medicines. This extract is one of the most potent forms of natural medication used to treat the pain of arthritis.

Other natural medications used to treat arthritis pain are ginger, white willow bark, turmeric, cayenne pepper and devil's claw. All of these remedies are great, but it's still important to remember to check with your doctor before taking any natural or herbal remedy, because he may suggest ways for you to safely try some of these treatments. Interactivity between these treatments and any medication you may be on can have unhealthy consequences for you, so always ask your doctor first.

Herbal or natural treatments also work by altering aspects of the body's physiology such as affecting blood sugar, or decreasing blood pressure. Many of the same active ingredients in these natural supplements are similar to prescription drugs, and thus have the same potential to cause harm as well as any good. Some supplements that contain fish oils have worked well on relieving arthritis pain, but some side effects include stomach problems and fishy breath.

Some herbal medicines may not list all of their many ingredients on the labels, which can lead to dangerous interactivity with other medications you may already be taking. Many herbal and natural remedies have not been adequately tested for health and safety by any regulatory board, so you're definitely taking a lot on faith when you take these supplements into your body. Many extracts, for example, have hundreds of different chemicals in their composition and each manufacturer of the same extract will have vastly different assortments of these chemicals in their products. Some of these supplements can have the ability to cause burning pain in the stomach and intestines and can interfere with blood clotting. This is especially dangerous for people suffering from high blood pressure or heart problems.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Gout

2008-07-24T01:28:00.001-07:00

Gout is a condition that results when crystals of uric acid are deposited body tissues, and is characterized by an overload of this acid. It causes joints to become inflamed and is often very painful. Chronic gout can lead to deposits of hard lumps in and around the joints.

As a result, patients with gout can experience decreased kidney function and kidney stones, which are also very painful. When these problems occur, they must be treated immediately.

Gout has the distinction of being one of the most recorded medical illnesses throughout history. It is also said to be related to an inherited abnormality in the ability for the body to process uric acid. Uric acid is a break-down of pureness that is part of the many foods frequently consumed. This inability to process uric acid can cause the painful attacks of gout, along with the other serious conditions mentioned above.

One of the most common problems that can be associated with gout and kidney function is blockage of these organs. This blockage occurs in the tubular filters that allow the kidneys to rid the body of unwanted materials. When they become clogged with uric acid crystals, the kidneys are unable to perform their proper function. When this happens, kidney failure can occur. This condition must be treated right away in order to restore proper function to the kidneys, and to the body.

Not everyone who has gout will experience such severe symptoms. Some patients may only develop elevated blood uric acid levels, a condition that is known as hyperuricemia. These patients may not have the arthritic joint pain and other symptoms. The actual term "gout" is often used in reference to the painful joint attacks.

Gout, when referred to in this way, is usually an extremely painful arthritic attack with a rapid onset of joint inflammation. The deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid that helps to facilitate proper motion precipitate this inflammation. When this occurs, this fluid is unable to correctly do its job because the crystals are in the way. Because of this, the joints are not able to move properly, and movement becomes very painful.

While hyperuricemia and gout often occur together, there is currently not medical evidence that shows their exact relationship. Some patients with hyperuricemia do not develop gout, while others with repeated gout attacks show normal or low blood uric acid levels. Still, it continues to be a common problem, and should be treated to keep other more serious conditions from occurring. Because it is painful, and, therefore, very distinguishable, it can usually be easily diagnosed and quickly treated.

What is Osteoarthritis?

2008-07-24T01:27:00.003-07:00

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is also known as degenerative joint disease. In this form of arthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones that connect at the joint wears away, exposing the bone and causing pain. This condition may also involve a decrease in the amount of joint fluid, called synovial fluid, that cushions the joint, as well as changes in the ligaments and muscles that stabilize the joint.

Osteoarthritis, or OA, can be a condition that develops without any pre-existing factors, or can occur as a result of another condition. When OA occurs without another condition present, it is usually associated with age, although not every older person develops OA. There is a strong hereditary component to OA, as members of the same family often develop the condition. OA also develops as the result of other conditions, such as prior injuries, congenital hip deformities, diabetes, obesity, and infections.

The primary symptom of OA is pain. Swelling is usually mild. Stiffness does occur, especially as the disease advances. A joint may become painful and stiff to the point that it becomes immobile if no treatment is provided.

OA is not curable and the damage caused is permanent. The symptoms can be controlled through conservative treatment of the symptoms, including:

*getting enough rest

*regular exercise

*diet and weight control

*joint protection techniques

*anti-inflammatory pain medication

*topical pain treatments

These techniques are often enough to slow the progression of OA and preserve the joint for many years. Chiropractic or Physical Therapy may also be helpful periodically to manage periods of increased pain or instability.

When OA becomes advanced or a joint becomes too unstable to use, surgical intervention may be necessary. One form of surgery used is a joint fusion, where the joint involved is fused together to provide stability and relieve pain. The joint becomes immobile. This type of surgery is often done on the neck or back. The other type of surgery used is a joint replacement, where the worn out ends of the bone are removed and replaced with metal ends, providing a metal joint. A hip replacement is a common example of this type of surgery.

Treat Your Arthritis With Miraculous Homeopathy

2008-07-24T01:27:00.001-07:00

Skeleton, the body frame, the attached muscles, ligaments and sheaths form the basic structure of human beings. So, the disorders associated with these parts form the biggest malady in human beings.

Back: There is a statistical record that the disorders of back are the commonest cause of sickness related absence from work. Back problems can be roughly divided into:

1) Disorders related to vertebral column

2) disorders related to spinal musculature.

How Homoeopathy helps?

Homoeopathic remedies help to tackle the root cause of the disorder. They alleviate the pain as well as prevent further damage to the stressed ligaments, muscles and bones.

In cervical spondylosis, there is spinal disc degeneration in cervical, i.e., neck region. The symptoms may include neck pain, giddiness etc. Remedies like Rhus tox, Lachananthes, Gelsemium, etc. along with certain neck exercises can avoid inconvenient neck belts.

In case of lumbago (low back pain) one must rule out spinal pathology, kidney stones, white discharge in women due to pelvic inflammatory disease, prostate pathologies and chronic fatigue syndrome or paraspinal musculitis. The treatment must be directed to tackle the cause. For example, women who have undergone caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia often complain of lumbago (low back pain). Remedies like Hypericum, Ledum pal etc. help them to get rid of it. Other remedies like Sepia, kali carb, Rhus tox, Arsenicum album, Lucopodium etc. help to relieve lumbar pathologies.

Arthritis of various joints: Arthritis is an inevitable degenerative process that affects various joints with age.

1) Shoulder pain: Though there can be various causes of shoulder pain, the most common are traumatic, degenerative or inflammatory in origin. Remedies like Ferrum met, Sanguinaria, Arnica, etc. are helpful particularle in shoulder pain.

2) Hand and wrist pain: Remedies like Ruta, Actea spicata, Kalmia, etc. act particularly in wrist pathologies.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that mainly occurs as a result of aging process. It affects different joints including hip, knee, joints of hand, etc. There is aching type of pain usually provoked by the use of the joint. As the disease progresses, there can be limitation of movements and in later stages, there can be deformities.

Homoeopathic medicines like Ruta, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, etc, act in 3 steps.

1) Alleviate pain

2) Arrest further progress of the disease and

3) Revert the pathology to certain extent. (Depending upon the individual response to drugs)

In Rheumatoid arthritis, RA factor, i.e., rheumatoid factor is positive. If it is an early rheumatoid arthritis, Homoeopathic remedies are capable of curing it completely. In later stages when deformities set in, Homoeopathic remedies arrest further damage and revert them to some extent. At least with these remedies, without any side effects, patients can carry out day-to-day activities without any hassles!

Conquering Arthritis With Exercise

2008-07-24T01:26:00.001-07:00

Arthritis can cause a lot of pain and severely alter the day-to-day activities of an individual. However, it does not have to be that way, and through exercise, you can actually get the better of arthritis and go back to the things you love, including knitting, golfing, gardening and more.

These exercises are easy to do and extremely effective.

1. Ankle circles are an excellent way to keep your ankle joints healthy. You simply need to sit upright in a chair with your feet out in front of you. Then, just circle your feet in one direction 20 times, and then the opposite direction 20 times.

2. The heal/toe lift is another effective way to deal with arthritis in your feet, and it involves sitting forward on a chair with your feet flat. Then, lift your heels, keep your toes on the floe and then lift your toes. Hold this for three seconds and repeat 20 times.

3. Knee raises will work the kneecap and joints there to ensure you do not suffer arthritis there, which can keep you from walking as much as you would like. Sit on the edge of a chair with your back straight and lift your knees as high as you can without bending your back. Keep your abdomen tight, and then slowly lower your legs back to the starting position.

4. If you want to combine the legs with the ankles in exercise, you can do the leg lift with ankle movements. In this case, you sit with your back supported, and you slowly straighten your knee. With the knee slightly bent, you then bend the ankle with your toes pointing out ahead. Reverse this and have your toes point towards the ceiling. Repeat once more with the other leg.

5. Shoulder stretches can be done by sitting or standing with your forearms pressed against your body. Then, bring your elbows to the 'hands up' position, with your palms facing forward. After that, stretch your arms overhead as far as you can, and keep your elbows in line with the side of your body.

6. Forward arm reaches involve sitting or standing with your arms at your sides and your elbow bent with the thumbs pointing towards your shoulders. Stretch your arms overhead and then lower to the start position.

7. The fingers are very prone to arthritis, but you can deal with this when you do the finger walk and thumb circles exercise. You simply sit with hands on the table, fingers pointing ahead, and then slide thumbs towards each other. Slide each finger, one at a time, toward the thumb, and then walk your hands by lifting them one at a time toward the thumb. Once completed, lift your hands and put them down straight, then move your fingers to the thumb again.

8. Walking everyday is a great way to stretch your back and leg muscles, along with your joints. Plus you get to see the outdoors and enjoy the nice weather.

Arthritis is a tough thing to deal with, but when you use the exercises outlined here, you can enjoy less arthritis problems and more mobility, which will get you out doing the things you have always enjoyed, quicker than you thought possible.

Are Eggs Bad For Gout Sufferers and Victims?

2008-07-24T01:25:00.002-07:00

If you have gout, you've probably wondered, "Are eggs bad for gout? Will they deepen the situation?". Let's do a quick background check on eggs. Eggs that come from chickens are naturally low in purines. This means that they should reduce your body's natural uric acid level. As you may or may not know, purine-rich foods are bad for those with gout.

So why is this a problem? Eggs are actually part of the list of foods that don't have purines, but can cause the body to naturally produce amounts of uric acid that are larger than average. The higher the uric acid, the worse gout feels. People have reported difficulty walking, standing up, or even grasping an object.

Eggs have been part of a large controversy, and there's a reason for that. This isn't a one-shot answer. Because it's a food that causes the body to produce uric acid and not a food that produces uric acid itself (it's confusing, yes), some people will suffer the effects as seriously as inability to walk, and others will not. Every body is constructed different.

In any case, it's safe to stay away from eggs. If you have not eaten eggs yet and you have gout, stay away to be safe. If you have, but you haven't felt effects, go ahead it should be safe. Be reasonable about it. Don't take unnecessary risks with your health.

Keep your diet safe for yourself. Reduce your purine-rich food count. Stay away from eggs if you haven't already.

Arthritis and Energy Conservation

2008-07-24T01:25:00.001-07:00

One of the most common symptoms of arthritis is fatigue. That feeling of feeling tired all the time can get so overwhelming that you don't feel like doing anything all day long. Of course, that usually isn't possible, and you end up muddling through the day feeling exhausted and miserable. You can avoid that feeling, however, by following some simple energy conservation techniques.

First, make sure to get plenty of sleep at night. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even if you don't have the same work or appointment schedule. Keeping your body on the same activity clock can help reduce fatigue.

Next, pace yourself through the tasks you have to do in a day. Don't try to get everything done because you "have to". This usually results in not being able to move the next day. Instead, make a list of the jobs you have to do, and plan short rest breaks between those jobs. Here is an example:

8:00 Wash dishes
8:20 Rest
8:25 Vacuum carpets
8:45 Rest
9:00 Clean bathroom
9:30 Rest

And so on. By planning rest breaks between jobs, your body has a chance to recover from the work it has done and prepares itself for more. You are actually able to get more work done. The time period it takes to get the work done is a little longer, but the fact that you are not able to work later on due to fatigue makes up for that extra time.

Another helpful technique is to sit to work when possible. Get a tall kitchen stool and sit at the sink to wash dishes rather than standing. Sit at the kitchen table to chop vegetables or peel potatoes. Sit or kneel on a pad to weed the garden. Sit while you are sharpening the lawn mower blades. There are numerous examples of jobs that can be done sitting just by changing them slightly. This saves your energy for the jobs that must be done while standing or walking.

Finally, if a task becomes too large, don't be afraid to ask for help. We all need it sometimes. If you don't have family or friends available to help you, approach your local church groups, schools, or youth organizations. Many teenagers are looking for community service hours to fulfill requirements for classes and are available to do work for people who need help with projects.

Following simple energy conservation techniques is an easy way to manage the fatigue that comes with your arthritis. You will get more done and feel better too. Try it and see for yourself!

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

2008-07-24T01:24:00.002-07:00

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease. It is not caused by old age, years of hard work, or injury. In fact, the true cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown. In this disease, a person's immune system attacks the synovial membranes that cover the joints, causing pain, swelling, heat, and eventual deterioration of the joints.

This disease can onset at any age. When it occurs in children, it is called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This form is rarer than adult onset rheumatoid arthritis. When the disease occurs in adults, it occurs more often in women than in men. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that progresses over a person's lifetime. Currently there is no cure. Although the cause is unknown, the disease is known to have a strong hereditary component. Prior infections are also suspected to play a roll in the development of this disease.

Symptoms of this disease include pain, swelling, and stiffness in multiple joints. Usually the smaller joints of the body are affected, including the finger and wrist joints, the foot and ankle joints, and the joints in the cervical spine (the neck). Larger joints can also be affected, especially as the disease progresses. Joints on both sides of the body are usually affected, and multiple joints are affected, not just one or two.

When joint swelling occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, the joints become enlarged and warm to the touch. They may appear red in color. Stiffness is present in the affected joints, especially in the morning. A person may feel stiffness in the joints for an hour or more after getting out of bed in the morning. This makes movement difficult until the stiffness wears off. Other common symptoms a person may experience include fatigue, dry eyes, and skin lesions.

As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, joint deformities may occur. The knuckles of the fingers may deteriorate, causing the tendons of the finger muscles to pull the fingers toward the little finger side of the hands. This deformity is called ulnar drift. Another deformity that can occur is Boutonniere deformity, in which the small joints of the finger deform in a way to appear that the finger is permanently pushing down on a flat surface. The middle joint is flexed and the far joint is extended. A third deformity that can occur is swan neck deformity, where the joints deform in a way that causes the finger to take the shape of a swan's neck. The middle joint is extended and the far joint is flexed.

Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests. A positive indicator for rheumatoid arthritis is the presence of the rheumatoid factor in the blood. However, the absence of this factor does not mean that a person does not have rheumatoid arthritis. Other substances in the blood and physical symptoms are also used to diagnose this disease. It can take several months and several rounds of tests before the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is determined, as the early symptoms are similar to several other conditions.

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes medications, regular exercise and weight loss, rest, adaptations to protect deteriorating joints, and other interventions such as physical and occupational therapies. Numerous diets and supplements exist to treat rheumatoid arthritis as well.

When treating rheumatoid arthritis, a person should work with a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of arthritis. If a rheumatologist is not available in a person's area or insurance plan, a person should seek a doctor who has experience in arthritis treatment. A person should always discuss new medications and nutritional supplements with this doctor before trying them, as medication reactions are quite common and treatment setbacks might occur if medications and supplements interact. One example involves nutritional supplements that are designed to remove excess fluid from a person's system. These supplements work well in reducing swelling, but may also remove medications that are designed to build up in a person's system over time. The therapeutic effects of the medication may be reduced or eliminated entirely by the supplement. Therefore, while supplements may be effective and valuable in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a person should always check with his or her doctor before trying a new one.

The progressive joint changes that occur in rheumatoid arthritis may force a person to make lifestyle changes to compensate for activities they can no longer do the same way. Energy conservation, joint protection, and work simplification techniques can help a person adapt activities so that he or she can still do what needs to be done in a day. Please refer to additional articles in this series for descriptions of these techniques.

Gout Relief

2008-07-24T01:24:00.001-07:00

Gout remedies can be in the form of medications or all-natural remedies. Some people who suffer from this painful form of arthritis utilize both types of treatment. Gout is a medical condition that results when high levels of uric acid build up in the body. Gout symptoms might include inflammation around joints and intense pain and swelling in the lower extremities of the body, such as the feet and toes.

High does of NSAIDS are one of the most popular gout remedies recommended by physicians. These take away the pain associated with gout. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to reduce the painful inflammation around the joints. Physicians also prescribe gout medications that are designed to inhibit uric acid from forming in the body. At times, cortisone is administered to gout patients for temporary relief from an intense gout attack. Several gout sufferers have reported severe side effects from using certain medications, so it's wise to talk to your doctor at length before taking any medications.

Gout sufferers need to be aware of which foods and beverages contain high amounts of uric acid and adjust their diet accordingly. A healthy diet for gout sufferers contains foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, low in fat, and low in protein. Some acceptable foods would include vegetables and fruits (get specifics from your physician), breads, cereals that are low in fiber, peanut butter, and nuts. Cream soups, vegetable soups, fruit juices, coffee and tea are all foods and beverages that are low in purines and are considered safe for someone suffering from gout.

Foods that should not be included in a gout diet are anchovies, sweetbreads, sardines, asparagus, mushrooms, dried peas, kidneys, liver, brains, shellfish, smoked meat, gravies, meat extracts, and mincemeat that contains real meat.

Other gout remedies and options for gout sufferers include:
· Eliminate excess weight. If you are overweight, you are more likely to have higher levels of uric acid in your body. One critical note: lose the weight gradually. Quick weight loss can actually increase the uric acid levels in the body and may cause the attacks of gout to be more frequent and painful.
· Completely eliminate alcohol from your lifestyle. Alcohol will not only increase uric acid levels in the body, but it will inhibit the excretion of uric acid as well.
· Drink plenty of liquid on a consistent basis. Three quarts daily is often recommended.
· High doses of Vitamin A have been linked to gout attacks. Be sure not to take more than 5,000 I.U. of Vitamin A daily.
· Niacin has also been said to exacerbate gout symptoms. Limit your intake to 100 mg daily.

Gout remedies vary in their success rate from person to person. Some gout sufferers have said that by eating one-half pound of cherries each day, they don't suffer from the pain caused by the build up of uric acid around the joints. Cherries can be eaten from the can, frozen, or fresh. Still others have found that eating strawberries helps reduce inflammation as well. Other foods that gout sufferers have reported to be helpful in reducing inflammation are salmon (an oily fish), flax seed, olive oil and nuts.

Exercise is also one of the most important gout remedies that should be adopted into your lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight is ideal for fighting all sorts of diseases, and gout is no different.

People who have incorporated these gout remedies have lowered the number of attacks they experience on a regular basis. Give these gout remedies a try so you too can effectively manage your gout symptoms.

Arthritis and Work Simplification

2008-07-24T01:23:00.001-07:00

The joint pain and stiffness caused by arthritis can make physical work difficult. Completing even the simplest tasks can end up being time consuming, painful, and exhausting. Techniques exist, however, that help make work easier and less painful, allowing you to get more done during your day. Here are a few ideas on how you can simplify work.

First, alternate heavy duty jobs and light jobs. For example, in a morning you have to carry storage bins up to the attic, dust the living room, vacuum, pay bills, call your doctor, and mow the front lawn. Do the jobs in this order:

1. Carry bins to attic (heavy)
2. Call doctor (light)
3. Mow the lawn (heavy)
4. Pay bills (light)
5. Vacuum (heavy)
6. Dust (light)

Make sure to take a rest break after each job, even if it is light, to conserve your energy. (See the article entitled Arthritis and Energy Conservation.)

Next, eliminate lifting and carrying when you are able. Instead of picking a box up from a counter and carrying it across the kitchen, slide it along the counter as far as you can and pick it up when you have to. When you do have to pick up and carry objects, break the load up into smaller amounts to decrease the weight and reduce the stress on your joints. If you have access to one, use a rolling cart to push or pull heavy objects rather than carrying them.

Third, keep your body in proper alignment when completing work. When possible, keep your back straight and your hips and knees aligned. Lift an object with your back straight and your knees bent, keeping the object close to your body. Turn your whole body with your feet once you have the object off the ground - do not twist your back. Push or pull objects with your back straight and your body facing forward.

Another tip is to use the larger joints of your body when possible. Push or carry objects with your forearms instead of your hands to spread the weight of the object over a larger area. Lift with your knees instead of your back, as your knees are actually larger joints than the smaller joints between the vertebrae of your lower back. Twist open jar caps with the heel of your hand instead of your fingertips.

Finally, use adaptive devices when you can to help complete work. Large handled and long handled tools, rolling carts, opening devices, and numerous other gadgets are readily available and are inexpensive to obtain. Another article in this series will go into more detail about adaptive devices.

These techniques can be used on a job site as well. Talk to your employer about adapting your job to incorporate work simplification, as most employers would rather allow a few adaptations that go through the expense of hiring a new employee. If you put it in terms of cost savings, most employers are willing to listen to your proposals.

By using work simplification techniques, you will be able to reduce strain on your joints and get more work done during your day. Try these techniques and see if they help save you some pain and aggravation!

Post Traumatic Arthritis Under Hip Replacement

2008-07-24T01:21:00.001-07:00

Traumatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that is caused from blunt, penetrating, or repeated trauma or from forced inappropriate motion of a joint or ligament.

Symptoms include swelling, pain, tenderness, joint instability, and internal bleeding.
Post Traumatic Arthritis develops after an injury such as a break or a dislocation, or after some surgeries. Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis. You should talk to your physician about the best treatment option for your hip pain and inflammation.

Symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis include:pain in knee joint,impairment of normal range of knee motion, stiffness, swelling, muscle spasms, difficulty or pain when climbinf stairs or hills.

Some treatment options may include weight loss, exercise and physical therapy, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and anti-inflammatory medications.

However, you and your physician may decide that hip surgery is the best treatment option to help regain your quality of life, if non-surgical treatment is unsuccessful.

India Provide World Class Treatment in Hip replacement.

India healthcare are globally developed with best medical facilities & world class treatment by internationally certified Surgeons. Quality of medical infrastructure of the hospitals is world class. Many hospitals in India is JCI & USA certified that signifying that meeting standard of US/ Uk Hospitals. Hospitals in India provides treatment involves the use of the latest scientific procedures to ensure a speedy recovery for all the patients & delivered complete range of services.

There are dedicated specialized hospitals in India achieved accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI) standard. JCI is gold standard in global healthcare standard like Indraprastha Apollo Hospital (New Delhi - located in North India), JCI Accredited Apollo Hospitals (Chennai - located in coastal South India), Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai. They availed high quality and cost effective advanced surgery in India.

Arthritis Relief - Use it Or Lose It!

2008-07-24T01:20:00.000-07:00

Arthritis comes with age. As people grow older, bones become brittle and fragile that walking alone can cause mind-numbing pain. The cartilage---a shock absorber in our joints that lessens friction and acts as a cushion for the joints---crack and tear slowly as time passes by. When a lot of these cartilages break off, they float around inside the joint therefore disturbing the soft tissues causing inflammation.

Irritated tissues or damage is an expected response for inflammation; though some may lead to long term complications there are instances wherein most people with arthritis heal completely. Swelling, redness, heat, pain and loss of function are main results of inflammation.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis; it affects the feet, hips, fingers and knees. It's usually not crippling but it is extremely painful and it can be severe. This usually occurs when the cartilage cushioning the joints break down.

Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand affects people even at the early age of 20. It affects most joints in the body, but it commonly stresses the hands. Rheumatic arthritis can damage joints severely it can deform the affected body part. It can attack the whole body causing fatigue, low appetite resulting to extreme weight loss leaving no nutrients for the body, anemia and affects the eyes, heart and lungs. Rheumatic arthritis can be so intense it can lead a person to become bedridden.

Infections contracted accidentally can develop into arthritis. Though there are instances where these infections can cause continuing illness, antibiotics can help clear up certain arthritis.

Though inflammation is the body's automatic response to injury or old age it can be prevented or delayed with exercise and healthy food intake. It is a given fact that doctors in the past prohibited their patients with arthritis to exercise as it might cause more damage to their joints. However, keeping still and resting all the time builds up to more injury and pain. Doing nothing results to weak muscles and fragile joints. Exercise offers many physical benefits as long it's done correctly and is fit for the body.

Arthritis and inflammation is a part of life, we cannot avoid it. Even at an early age, we have felt aches and pains, a healthy lifestyle and proper diet and exercise can help prolong the strains we will encounter. In the long run, healthy and well taken care of bodies can wake up to an invigorating day and go through life without the hassles of pain.

Arthritis Relief - How to Treat Arthritis Naturally

2008-07-24T01:19:00.000-07:00

Many people all over the word experience pain attributed to one of the many forms of arthritis, so it has become a big deal for many to find natural ways to treat this often debilitating disease. Arthritis is an inflammation of your joints, which causes you pain and stiffness. It may be very intense and frequent or it may be mild, occurring only occasionally. Regardless of the intensity and frequency, arthritis is both inconvenient and uncomfortable.

Usually the sufferers are older people, but recent studies show that arthritis can occur at any age. It can be a hindering disease and can stop you from performing even the smallest tasks. The parts of the body that are usually affected are hips, fingers and knees.

The good news is that there are some natural treatments that can give you relief from the pain associated with arthritis. The most important thing you can do naturally to help with arthritis pain is to change your lifestyle and learn natural ways to treat this problem.

Here are few tips to help you cope with the pain:

Diet. Eating a healthy diet, that is composed of lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, is an effective treatment for arthritis. Vegetable juices that contain potatoes, carrots and celery, as well as, fruits such as apples, pears, cherries and pineapple will help to keep you pain free.
Water. Water has great health benefits and will help lubricate joints and flush harmful toxins from your body. By simply increasing the amount of water you drink, you will be able to give yourself arthritis relief and help you cure yourself of the pain associated with arthritis.
Exercise. This is important because it alleviates the pain and helps to prevent the disease in the first place. Some people who suffer from arthritis will keep from moving because it is painful, which will cause the joints to become stagnant and add to the pain you experience. Swimming and walking are by far the easiest and the best ways to get the exercise you need. Also, learning to do exercises, such as Yoga and Tai Chi will add some comfort by reducing stress as well as stretching the body out.
Herbal remedies. Massages with coconut oil and Aloe Vera are highly recommended if you want to relieve joint pain. Herbal remedies also reduce stress and give you a feeling of well being. Stress can increase muscle and joint pain. The relaxation that comes from herbal remedies will help you to feel better and have less arthritis pain.

Natural arthritis remedies are a great way to get rid of the pain and stiffness, without the use of medication.

Here Are Foods to Avoid For Gout Sufferers

2008-07-24T01:18:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about foods to avoid for gout sufferers. As you may or may not know, gout is caused by the crystallization of uric acid (found naturally in the body). However, the crystallization part is not natural. An overload of uric acid will gradually increase the chance of this process. Food is a considerably large part of the uric acid level increase, so let's take a look at which parts of your diet will affect the crystallization of bad uric acid the most.

Uric acid can either be 'spawned' (or created) directly from food or be created by the body as a result of the food. To have a food directly create uric acid, it must be what people call 'purine-rich', or just full of purines. Purines include adenine, guanine (two parts of DNA), caffeine, and uric acid. If a food is full of purines, chances are that the purines will include uric acid, which will also increase the chance of gout.

Foods that influence the body into creating larger amounts of uric acid do not necessarily need to have a high purine level. Most of these foods are high in protein. People who consume large amounts of meat have an increased chance for gout. This is the same with seafood. An especially controversial topic is whether or not eggs contribute to the possibility of gout. Everyone reacts differently, but a good recommendation is to stay away from eggs unless you know if your body reacts to them or not.

What is Gouty Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

Gouty arthritis, or gout, is a form of arthritis in which uric acid crystals are deposited on the cartilage surrounding a joint, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Gouty arthritis usually occurs in one joint and is most often seen in the big toe, although it also occurs in the knee, ankle, elbow, wrist, and other joints.

As increased uric acid crystals in the blood are caused by a diet heavy in protein rich foods, gout is seen more often in people who eat diets rich in protein. Gouty arthritis shows up most often in middle aged men, in people who are obese, and in people who have hypertension or are at risk for hypertension. Diabetes and heart disease are also indicators for gout. In addition, consumption of beer and soda can increase the risk for gout.

This disease will onset suddenly with acute, burning pain and extreme swelling at the affected joint. The area may appear red and warm to the touch, and the person may run a low grade fever. Pain may be caused by the crystals rubbing on the tendons inside the joint and by the inflammation around the joint, resulting in the pain being quite severe.

Treatment for gouty arthritis involves several types of medications, including anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone shots, and topical treatments. Elevation and ice packs may also be used during acute attacks. Certain types of diuretic medications (water pills) have also been tried to treat gout, but not all doctors agree on the use of these drugs.

Long term life style changes, including reducing intake of protein and fat, soda, and beer may be necessary. Increasing daily water intake and eating certain types of foods that may lower uric acid levels, such as bing cherries or celery, may also be helpful. Although some diuretic medications have been used in the treatment of gout, diuretic foods and over the counter medications should be avoided unless prescribed by a physician. The life style changes involved are similar to changes a person would make when dealing with hypertension or heart disease, and gout may occur secondary to these conditions anyway.

What is Causing Your Carpal Tunnel Symptoms?

2008-07-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

Carpal tunnel syndrome and its causes can be quite controversial at times, depending on who you listen to! For many patients the actual cause of their carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown, however, many feel it is due to repetitive hand activities at work or play. Some studies have shown that increased pressure across the wrist or (carpal tunnel) from repetitive and or awkward wrist movements may increase the chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in some people. While other studies have shown that medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and obesity just to name a few, puts a person at a greater risk. And even more so if they have one or more of these conditions coupled with repetitive hand or wrist activities.

Really almost any condition that makes the carpal tunnel area smaller (i.e. born with a small carpal tunnel, arthritis, wrist fracture etc..) or if a condition makes the things (i.e. tendons, tissues) inside the carpal tunnel larger (by inflammation or swelling)...all these things can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome as more pressure is put on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel area of your wrist.

We also know that genetics can play a role in who gets and who doesn't get carpal tunnel syndrome. From XRAYS and MRI studies we now know that some people are just born with smaller carpal tunnels than others, so they may get CTS quicker or easier than someone else. The shape and dimension of your wrist may put you at risk for getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

What's Good For Arthritis?

2008-07-24T01:13:00.001-07:00

Arthritis is basically the breakdown of cartilage. The joints gradually lose cartilage, which is a gel-like, shock-absorbing substance that prevents adjacent bones from grinding against each other. Cartilage naturally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement, and absorbing shock when pressure is focused on the joint. With damaged or weakened cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Arthritis is more likely to occur as you age. Most commonly affected joints are those in the fingers, knees, and hips. As a joint continues to lose cartilage, the friction of the bones rubbing together can cause pain and joint instability.

Some vitamins and herbs are thought to be helpful in preventing or healing arthritis. Herbs, and other healing food, considered useful, include: alfalfa, angelica, black cohosh, blackberry, black pepper, blueberry, Brazil nuts, broccoli, burdock, celery, cherry, cod liver oil, coriander, cranberries, cumin, echinacea, fennel, feverfew, figs, fish, flaxseed, garlic, ginger, grape seed extract, green tea, hawthorn, horseradish, juniper, kelp, lemons, molasses, oats, onion, oranges, oregano, peanuts, peppermint, pineapple, primrose oil, red pepper, rosemary, salmon oil, shavegrass, stinging nettle, sunflower seeds, tea, thyme, turmeric, willow, and yogurt. Vitamins (or foods rich in these vitamins), thought to be helpful, include: B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyrodoxine), B12 (cobalamin), B complex, beta-carotene, C, D, E, folic acid, multi-mineral, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and zinc.

Avoid consuming foods which promote arthritis, such as: alcohol, artificial additives & preservatives, artificial colors, aspirin, drugs, unhealthy fats, fried foods, meats, processed foods, roasted nuts, salt, soft drinks, sugar, and white flour.

If you are suffering from arthritis, try to limit consumption of caffeine, citrus fruits, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and wheat. Also avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to consume a high fiber diet. Get regular moderate exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. Muscle building exercises are helpful, but avoid aerobic exercises which can do the body more harm than good.

Arthritis - Some of the Types of Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:12:00.001-07:00

The universal term "arthritis" cites to a grouping of diseases that, in one fashion or additional, aggress the junctions of the torso. These assaults drive the joints to swell and collapse, resultant in pain, puffiness, rigour, tiredness, and loss of apparent motion. There can be in excess of a hundred diseases that fall under this grouping, however here is a few of the basic kinds:

Osteoarthritis is known to be the more common kind of arthritis. It's induced by wear and tear on a joint, owed to either conventional aging or by inordinate strain by athleticses or backbreaking work. This precondition is frequently seen in farmers, footballers, some men and women who have cultivated in manual labor jobs, and folks of elevating age. Surplus weight could step-up the grimness of this precondition.

Frequently only one joint is affected, while people who are aged could have troubles in a lot of joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes a human immune system to aggress the joints, inducing pain and puffiness. Different than osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis impacts multiple joints in the torso and is called a "systemic autoimmune" disease, as it assaults a human system. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are more detectable in the humbler joints of the body, like the finger, wrist joint, and ankles. This disease can attack at any age. When it comes about in a human below the age of eighteen, it is marked "juvenile rheumatoid arthritis". Grievous disfigurations in the joints can come about as this disease can advance with disablement resulting.

Psoriatic arthritis is a style of arthritis comes about in some men and women who have the skin disease psoriasis. Its symptoms can be alike to rheumatoid arthritis.

Gout is a kind of arthritis that causes uric acid to develop in the impacted joint, inducing pain, puffiness, and rigour. The big toe is the juncture to the highest degree often impacted, but additional joints could likewise be impacted by gout. The male can be impacted by gout to a higher degree than women and onrush is almost often betwixt the yearses of fifty and sixty.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, more commonly known as "lupus", is a different systemic autoimmune disease, in which the immune system assaults all the components of the physical structure. Arthritis symptoms like joint infliction and puffiness are only one part of this upset. Though lupus is a grievous disease and can be historically reasoned disastrous, late advancements in medication and handling have added to the survival range of some men and women who bear this disease. Lupus comes about at whatever age, but onslaught is come across most frequently in the female.

A Guide to Finding True Arthritis Pain Relief

2008-07-24T01:11:00.000-07:00

Millions of people suffer from arthritis year after year. It is one of the most disabilitating diseases in the United States. Arthritis affects both men and women alike and affects one out of every three Americans. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis.

Dealing With Arthritis Pain

Some people go years without even realizing they have arthritis, others have such severe pain that the disease is disabling. The most important issue in dealing with arthritis is what is available for arthritis pain relief and what can be done to relieve arthritis symptoms. Dealing with this issue can be a constant struggle but there are a few ideas that have proven very effective for the sufferer. Read on to find out some proven effective techniques for arthritis relief.

Simple lifestyle adjustments may be the first consideration for arthritis pain relief. By making a few simple and easy adjustments, the changes can greatly relieve arthritis symptoms. Exercising more is one of the easiest and most often overlooked arthritis pain relief adjustments you can make. Getting and staying healthy is the best thing you can do for your body. A strong exercise plan will help relieve your arthritis symptoms and relax you body. It may take a few days to get in a good routine, and you may be sore for the first couple days, but working through the soreness will be temporary. You must push yourself to exercise and continue to strengthen your muscles to help relieve stress on your bones and joints.

Protecting your joints is also very important. As you exercise more, it is important for you to understand the signs your body is giving you and know when it is time to relax. After exercising, your muscles and joints need to time to rest and recover. Generally rotating your workout routine to incorporate different parts of the body on different days or breaking the workout up into major muscle groups will give your body the adequate rest it needs to recover and build muscle endurance. This is essential for pain relief.

Don't Over Medicate - Go Natural

Many arthritis pain sufferers are over medicated. In many cases doctors, enticed by the pharmaceutical companies' perks and monetary incentives, prescribe way too many drugs to ease the pain but many of these drugs do nothing to help rebuild the body. If you would like to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and stop lining the pockets of fat and happy doctors, then I suggest going with one of the forms of natural relief that are available. Pain relief is possible with natural products and a light exercise regime. Natural pain relief is best for those with less advanced stages of arthritis. If your pain is severe or you have an arthritis disease that is advanced, you may still need to rely on prescription medications and medicines. Once your arthritis condition is under control, you may be able to slowly switch over to alternative natural products and exercise.

Arthritis is a disease that can hit you at any age or condition. People are developing arthritis at younger ages these days and in fact, one in five Americans of at least one type of arthritis. So, understanding the symptoms, causes and treatments of arthritis are very important in the fight against this painful disease.

Types of Arthritis and Know About Their Major Symptoms

2008-07-24T01:09:00.002-07:00

Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common serious inflammatory form of arthritis. It affects roughly 1 per cent of the population and is the prototypical autoimmune form of arthritis. Because it may do most of its damage in the first year, early diagnosis and aggressive therapy is critical. Left untreated RA may shorten life expectancy by as much as 18 years! Reiter's syndrome is a combination of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis.

The arthritis affects the spine and peripheral joints. The disease occurs most commonly in young male adults, and the first attack usually lasts only a matter of weeks or months.
Although Reiter's syndrome is not considered a venereal disease, it appears to result from infection, and sexual exposure to an infectious agent often seems to be the cause.

Gouty arthritis is a condition that is caused by the accumulation of crystals made of urate within the joint. The urate crystals are formed by an unusual breakdown of a normal body substance. Accumulations of urate within a joint causes gouty arthritis. The most commonly affected joints are the big toe and the knee.

Reactive arthritis

This is a temporary inflammation of the joints as a reaction to an infection elsewhere in the body - for example, in the bowel. There may be a delay before the beginning of the arthritis, which usually clears up by itself.

Juvenile rhuematoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in one or more joints and begins before the age of 16. It is the most common type of arthritis in children. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. The arthritis may be associated with rashes or fevers, and it may affect other parts of the body.

Fibromyalgia is a common condition. However it can get severe enough to start intruding into your day to day life. Fibromyalgia literally means, fibrous tissues (fibro-) and the muscles (-my-) being affected by pain (-algia). In this disease the whole body feels affected since the tendons and the ligaments both get affected. Fibromyalgia in fact affects the muscles and not the joints at all. Also, this form of arthritis never causes permanent damage to tissues though the symptoms may last for months or years.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: This is a chronic disease and highly inflammatory, mainly affecting the spine. It can lead to the fusing of the vertebrae resulting in a rigid spine. One of the most common symptoms is low back pain, along with stiffness, which continues for several months. Usually this type of arthritis affects men in the age range of 16-35, though women can also be affected

Food Intolerance and Rheumatoid Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:09:00.001-07:00

If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis you may be interested to know that there is a connection between this and food intolerances, in particular, allergy to wheat or dairy foodstuffs.

In a report from the UK Medical Research Council in 2001, it was stated that there is evidence from both case reports and controlled studies that an individualised diet, where offending foods are identified and removed, can cause an improvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

What we are talking about here is an elimination diet: removing virtually all the foods which might be causing symptoms, to determine whether symptoms improve, and then re-introducing food one at a time to identify which are causing the symptoms.

An example of this is described by consultant rheumatologist Dr Gail Darlington in a study published in 1986. She undertook a controlled study of 6 weeks of dietary manipulation therapy in 53 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. During the first week the patients were only allowed to eat foods they were unlikely to be intolerant to. Other food items were then introduced one at a time to see whether any symptoms were elicited by the dietary challenge. Foods producing symptoms were then excluded from the diet. There were significant improvements in the exclusion diet group in comparison to the placebo diet group.

Darlington went on to complete further clinical trials and in 1993 published a table of foods most likely to cause intolerance in patients with RA. The top five were corn, wheat, bacon/pork, oranges and milk.

None of this would have been surprising to Charles de Coti-Marsh, who undertook pioneering research into the causes and treatment of arthritis in the 1940s and 1950s. His findings convinced him that 'disease begins in the bowel', in other words, what we eat plays a major part in the development of many chronic conditions, including arthritis.

De Coti-Marsh treated patients by using what he called the 'Sanocell System.'' Judging the amount of toxic compounds (or food antigen) he believed to be present within that food, based on observation and case histories, he gave each food a value of 1-200, 200 being the most toxic to the body. His patients were given a Home Treatment Programme to follow, and at each stage of progress they were allowed to include in the diet all the foods below a certain number. Foods categorised by a higher number were not allowed. This was the elimination phase. As patients progressed, the Sanocell System allowed for the re-introduction of certain foods. It was an individualised diet, supervised by de Coti-Marsh himself.

Since the death of Charles de Coti-Marsh his Home Treatment for arthritis continues to be promoted by The Arthritic Association.

As scientific knowledge has progressed, so The Arthritic Association has presented its Home Treatment Programme for Arthritis in the context of scientific literature; investigated and ratified by the medical profession. As such, the charity's health programme has now been acknowledged to be a largely self-administered intervention based on the three areas of diet, supplementation and physical therapy.

Partial Unicondylar Knee Replacement in India -Treatment For Partial Unicompartmental Knee Arthritis

2008-07-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

Many middle aged men and women develop partial knee osteoarthritis in middle age. In Caucasians, Osteoarthritis of the knee affects the inner half or medial compartment to start with and then proceeds to affect the outer half or lateral compartment. The erect posture of man and a few other animals contributes to 60% of weight transmission through the inner side of the joint which contributes to wear.

Localized attrition occurs in the beginning as a so called "lesion". Later it gradually affects the front and inner portion of the inner half of the lower end of the thigh and leg bones (anter- medial wear) leading to partial knee arthritis. This is obvious on standing x rays as meidal or inner space joint space narrowing. Clinically these individuals may be bow legged since childhood.

The standard permanent surgical treatment for osteoarthritis knee has been a total knee replacement. However the ideal candidate for a TKR is a person beyond 65 years, when he can live out the life of an artificial joint which is about 15 years. Clearly someone in their fifties is not suited for a TKR as his/her life span would exceed that of the joint and he would need a revision knee replacement later on.

Surgical alternatives include an osteotomy and a Uni condylar knee replacement. In an osteotomy, the thigh or leg bone is divided and re aligned so that the abnormal weight bearing axis is normalized. Pain relief is provided for a period of up to 10 years but is not total. An osteotomy is the logical operation for patients with bow legs and knock knees in the working class whose work demands would wear out an artificial joint. It is not the right procedure when there is no deformity.

A unicondylar or partial knee replacement substitutes the worn half of the joint with prosthesis. The bony resection is restricted to the affected half alone sparing the outer half and the patella unlike a total knee replacement. The operation can be done by a minimally invasive technique sparing the quadriceps muscle. The pre requisites are that the one half alone must be worn as seen on x- rays and the anterior cruciate ligament should be intact. The technique of insertion is demanding but the rewards to the patient are numerous. Shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery, small incisions, no blood transfusion, less pain, less cost (vs. TKR) and better function (squatting, kneeling, climbing stairs) are the much acclaimed benefits. The knee feels more natural as sensations carried by the ligaments are intact.

The Oxford unicompartmental knee is a representative type and is a mobile bearing uni knee. It replicates the function of the meniscus. The wear rates are low. Survivorship analysis is 98% at 15 years.

Advantages of partial knee replacements
1) minimally invasive surgery- Since the surgery involves a small exposure to see the affected half alone, surgeons can make the incision smaller, producing less post operative pain and smaller scars
2) less blood loss- Since the surgery is minimally invasive, less blood loss occurs.
3) Faster rehabilitation- Patients can stand up and walk on the same day, squat by week one and return to work earlier.

Recently implants have been introduced which replace only two compartments. This is the Journey Deuce prosthesis which replaces the patello-femoral and medial compartments alone, leaving the lateral compartment untouched.

In the US uni-compartmental knee replacements are making resurgence after a revival in the 1990's.

These innovative knee replacement procedures are available in India. Baby boomers and young patients with partial knee arthritis lacking Mediclaim or Medicare can now fly to India and have their surgery performed in hospitals with international standards.

How Do You Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

2008-07-24T01:07:00.002-07:00

Once the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome has been established and underlying diseases associated with the condition have been dealt with, then it is time to treat the condition.

Medication such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used for symptom relief. Splinting the wrist, especially at night, helps keep the wrist straight during the night and thus decreases the pressure on the median nerve. These splints, which are available in your rheumatologist's office or at many pharmacies, may relieve symptoms, especially in milder cases.

A cortisone injection into the carpal tunnel area is often helpful in relieving symptoms for weeks to months and can be repeated. Injections should be done using ultrasound guidance. If there is an underlying disease, such as hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) or rheumatoid arthritis, causing the carpal tunnel syndrome, then treatment of the specific disease may also relieve symptoms.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurring during pregnancy is often treated with splints and occasionally diuretics. These drugs should be used sparingly. Carpal tunnel symptoms usually resolve after delivery.

When the above measures fail to relieve symptoms, surgical opening of the tunnel to relieve the pressure on the median nerve, known as a carpal tunnel release, is probably indicated. In severe cases, early surgery may be considered. If there is significant muscle atrophy, surgical release is indicated over more conservative measures. However, if the carpal tunnel syndrome is very severe and has been present a long time, even surgery may not work. The surgery may be an open surgical procedure or an endoscopic procedure, and can be often done on an outpatient basis.

A new procedure may make surgical correction of carpal tunnel syndrome unnecessary. Percutaneous needle carpal tunnel release involves the use of a tiny needle that is inserted using local anesthetic and ultrasound guidance. The needle is placed in the flexor retinaculum, the tough piece of fibrous tissue that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. The flexor retinaculum is pierced a number of times while at the same time, small amounts of fluid are injected to spread the fibers of the retinaculum, in essence, weakening the retinaculum. At the bend of the procedure, the patient's wrist is gently bent and the weakened retinaculum breaks open. A splint is applied and the patient may resume normal activities the next day.

Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Begin in the Intestine?

2008-07-24T01:07:00.001-07:00

It's not widely known, but the results of numerous clinical trials over the last 30 years have pointed to an intriguing connection between rheumatoid arthritis and the intestines. As long ago as the 1940s, Charles de Coti-Marsh in his pioneering research into the causes and treatment of arthritis declared 'the disease begins in the bowel.' Nowadays there is increasing evidence that he was right.

Unfortunately, the connection between arthritis and diet has historically been downplayed, with nutrition never quite making the grade as an object of scientific study. More recently, however, the development of nutritional biochemistry. immunology and pharmacology, as well as ever increasing scientific data on free-radical disease, antioxidants, prostaglandins, and flavonoids have lifted the subject of nutrition out of the realm of anecdotal uncertainty into the province of credible science.

In Joints and Arthritic Disease (2002), Dr Gail Darlington references a number of research projects, for example a study by O'Farrelly which took small intestinal biopsies from 93 patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) and compared them to those of a control group. The conclusion was that the gut may play a part in the immunopathogenesis of certain cases of RA.

The combination of the development of certain types of gut flora and an increased permeability of the intestine (allowing potentially harmful bacterial antigens into the blood stream) seems to be the key issue. Darlington notes that 'RA patients untreated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have normal gastrointestinal permeability, but patients on NSAIDs and perhaps also on disease modifying antirheumatic drugs show increased permeability. Such increased permeability may allow food or bacterial antigens to be absorbed in greater quantities than usual, overwhelming normal gut defences and, possibly producing symptoms of RA.'

What that means is that dietary manipulation could, in theory, reduce gastrointestinal permeability, with reduced absorption bacterial antigens - and perhaps treat one of the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. Despite these findings, and others like them, making dietary changes in order to treat arthritis is considered to be 'alternative', in other words unacceptable to the majority of the orthodox medical community.

Does rheumatoid arthritis begin in the intestine? Quite possibly - there is some evidence to support the theory. However, 'alternative' theories rarely attract commercial interests, which is of course the prime source of research funding. It therefore remains to be seen whether complementary and alternative therapies will ever achieve the status of 'proven' as required by Western science.

Gout Pain Relief Through Ayurvedic Medicine

2008-07-24T01:06:00.001-07:00

Gout pain relief is available not only through conventional western medicine, but also through alternative medicines such as the ancient form of ayurvedic medicine. In ayurvedic medicine, gout is referred to as vatrakta.

Vatrakta is indicated biochemically of:

- An augmentation in the concentration level of serum urate.
- Recurrent acute pain attacks within the joints, which may become persistent and chronic in nature.
- Occurrence of monosodium urate mono hydrate crystals within the fluid spaces inside the joints at the time of an acute attack.

Ayurvedic gout pain relief is not a generalized form of treatment and is therefore not the same for everyone. The recommended treatments vary from person to patient depending on the physical and psychological health and status of the individual. However, there are certain single and compound formulations that are used for gout pain relief as well as to minimize other symptoms of the condition. Some of the more commonly used formulations are:

- Guduchi
- Manjisth
- Punarnava
- Yashtimadhu
- Mahamanjishthadi kwath
- Shilajitwadi vati
- Panchitkta churna

Diet is very important to Ayurvedic gout pain relief methods, as everything that will increase the production of uric acid is to be eliminated from the diet. Foods that are considered to be purine-rich should therefore be avoided as they encourage uric acid production, these commonly include:

- Yeasts
- Legumes (peas, dried beans, lentils, etc)
- Beer and other beverages containing alcohol
- Oil-packed sardines, anchovies, roes from fish, herring
- Organ meats (kidneys, liver, sweetbreads, etc)
- Meat extracts (gravies, consommés, etc)

Foods that are often recommended during Ayurvedic gout pain relief treatments may include the following:

- Dark skinned berries such as cherries as they contain substances that act within the body to reduce levels of uric acid as well as minimize inflammation.

- To eat tofu in place of meats.

- Foods high in certain fatty acids (such as omega 3), for example, olive oil, flax oil, and certain nuts. These fatty acids contain important anti-inflammatory properties that help to ease inflammation in the joints.

Another level of gout pain relief in the ayurvedic style can include panchakarma, which can involve either a form of massage using medicated oils or snehana therapies, which have shown very beneficial results when treating gout.

If you are considering ayurvedic treatments for gout pain relief, you should first make sure to speak to your doctor or another trained health professional in order to assess your unique health needs and determine whether ayurvedic medicine is the right choice for you.

You may find that there are also other treatments available for gout pain relief that may work better or in conjunction with ayurvedic methods. These may include techniques such as uric acid manipulation through the pH level of the body. The only way that you will be able to make this decision is by speaking to your health practitioner and learning about the various techniques and treatments for gout sufferers before coming to a decision on the best approach for your individual situation.

Arthritis and Joint Protection Techniques

2008-07-24T01:04:00.002-07:00

Most forms of arthritis involve damage to the joints of the body in one form or another, and most forms of arthritis result in permanent deterioration of one or more joints over time. Using the body incorrectly during work and leisure activities can add to the damage that arthritis causes and actually speed up the deterioration, resulting in disability at an earlier age. Joint protection techniques can help slow the progress of this kind of damage. By using joint protection techniques, you can prevent additional damage to your joints.

Joint protection means just that - techniques to protect the joints. Most of these techniques follow the basic principles of body mechanics and overlap with work simplification techniques. The main principles include using larger joints when possible, spreading weight across multiple joints, keeping weight close to your body, and counteracting potential joint deformities.

First, use larger joints when completing tasks whenever possible. For example, when carrying a purse, use a shoulder strap and carry the purse on your shoulder, a larger joint, instead of carrying it with your hand, which uses the smaller finger joints. Keep your back straight and lift a heavy box with your knees, larger joints, rather than bending at the waist and lifting with the smaller joints between the vertebrae of your lower back. Push heavy items across the floor with your feet, using the larger joints of your legs, rather than carrying them or pushing them with the smaller joints of your arms. These are a few examples.

In addition, spread weight across multiple joints when possible. A good example of this principle is sliding your hands underneath a pan of food and spreading your fingers to carry the pan, distributing the weight across your hands, wrists and forearms. This distributes the weight more evenly and decreases stress on all the joints. Placing your forearms under a box to carry it is another example.

Next, keep weight that you need to carry or push close to your body. Your larger joints are closer to your body and can handle more weight more easily than your smaller joints. When carrying a heavy item, pull the item close to your chest or stomach and put your forearms under the item for support. This puts the strain of the weight on your trunk, shoulder and elbow joints. When pushing a heavy item, lean into the item and push with your forearms or your shoulder. This keeps the weight off of your wrists and hands and keeps the strain closer to your trunk.

Finally, try to complete tasks in ways that counteract possible joint deformities. The best example of this is opening jars by turning the lids toward your thumb. This counteracts possible ulnar deviation of the fingers. Using ergonomic tools designed to keep the wrist and fingers straight will also assist in counteracting this deformity. Counteracting the direction of the deformity may not prevent the deformity from happening, but it will prevent additional strain from occurring to the ligaments that deteriorate as the deformity progresses.

By following joint protection techniques, you should be able to reduce the strain placed on your joints from daily activities. This should help minimize the damage caused by your arthritis and should assist in slowing the progress of the disease. It should also reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness you feel every day, so these techniques are worth a try.

What is Spondyloarthropathy

2008-07-24T01:04:00.001-07:00

If you are experiencing joint pain for the first time and have seen a rheumatologist for the first time, you may have received a diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy or spondyloarthrosis. What is it? What type of arthritis do you have?

Your doctor may have given you a vague description or may have said you have some symptoms but they don't quite fit other arthritis diagnoses. That is the case with spondyloarthropathy, usually called undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy. You have some symptoms that fit an arthritis diagnosis, but those symptoms aren't severe enough or in enough parts of your body to allow your doctor to make another diagnosis. The symptoms are enough, however, to allow your doctor to make the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy.

This diagnosis is often a starting point for patients. As you work with your doctor and he or she gets to know you and your symptoms better, he or she may change your diagnosis. As your symptoms develop, he or she may also change your diagnosis. The results of your lab tests and imaging tests may also affect your diagnosis. It often takes several visits to the doctor and many tests before an arthritis diagnosis is confirmed. This is especially true of a seronegative diagnosis, where no positive results are found in your blood and your diagnosis is made on symptoms and physical changes.

A diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy often is changed later on to a diagnosis of one of the spondyloarthritis diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriac arthritis, or several others. Symptoms of spondyloarthropathy may also be similar to rheumatoid arthritis and your diagnosis may be changed to this later on as well.

Some people with this diagnosis never develop more advanced symptoms and they continue to be treated for undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy. Symptoms are usually chronic and regular, but are not severe. Treatment involves conservative medication, plus pain management techniques including plenty of rest, regular exercise, and energy conservation techniques.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Are the Signs?

2008-07-24T01:03:00.001-07:00

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes swelling and stiffness in the joints and can often cause deformities in these areas. With over 2.1 million sufferers in the United States alone Rheumatoid Arthritis is on the increase. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in people aged between 25 and 50 and is three times as likely to affect women as it is men.
There are three stages of rheumatoid arthritis:

1. The swelling of the synovial (lubricating fluid around joints in the body) lining. This causes pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling around joints.

2. The rapid division and growth of cells. This causes the synovium (free moving membrane in joints in the body) to thicken.

3. The inflamed cells release enzymes that eat up bone and cartilage. This causes the joint to lose its shape and alignment, causing more pain and loss of movement.

What causes Rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, and as yet there is no cure. Some people with Rheumatoid arthritis have other family members with the same, but genetics has not yet been proven to be linked with the disease.

So what are some of the signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Aching in the joints is obviously the first sign, but sufferers may also have Anaemia and a decreased appetite. Dry eyes and mouth can also be a sign of Rheumatoid arthritis as well as fatigue and flu like symptoms. If you find that you have stiffness in your muscles and that you have a general loss of strength this can be a symptom of arthritis. If your joints are becoming swollen and you start to notice hard lumps appearing this can also be a sign of Rheumatoid arthritis.

Although there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, you do not have to live with the pain. There are plenty of medications available to help you deal with the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as alternative therapies. It is best to speak with your Doctor who can help you decide which is the best way to treat your symptoms and help you live a pain free life.

Alternative Arthritis Pain Relief

2008-07-24T01:01:00.001-07:00

Finding relief from the pain of Arthritis can be never ending. Unfortunately there is no cure for arthritis, only ways to reduce the debilitating pain. There are plenty of prescribed medications available containing anti-inflammatory ingredients but below are a few natural alternatives that can be just as effective.

Heat - Heat is a natural form of painkiller that can help the inflamed muscles to relax. It is only a temporary release from the pain and once the heat source is removed the pain will begin to come back.

Foot Spa - If your arthritis is located in your feet or ankles a foot spa can be very effective. Used in your own home a foot spa can offer heat and massage to the inflamed areas of the foot and ankle at the same time. Also a foot spa can be very relaxing and often very enjoyable.

Acupuncture - A relatively new treatment for arthritis in the western world but acupuncture has been around for centuries. Acupuncture is a Chinese method of relieving pain. The acupuncturist will place tiny needles at specific points on your body to reduce the pain and pressure caused by the arthritis. Some of the needles may be heated and others can be twirled to produce different effects in the areas of your body and reduce the pain. If your arthritis is very painful to the touch, then acupuncture may be too painful for you to consider.

Massage - Massage can be good for arthritis. It can produce results similar to that of heat therapy. Allowing you to relax and temporarily loosen up your body reducing the pain.

Aloe Vera - Acutely inflamed joints caused by Rheumatoid arthritis respond very well to Aloe Vera Juice, as well as topical application of Aloe Vera Jelly to the affected areas and joints. Aloe Vera contains naturally occurring anti-inflammatory properties as well as vitamins A, B, C and E which act as powerful anti-oxidants.

There is no cure for arthritis so what ever method you choose the pain will eventually return. Using medication over long periods of time is not always a good thing for our bodies, so if you do have arthritis maybe you could consider some of the above alternative methods to ease your arthritic pain.

The Effects of Long Distance Running on the Knees

2008-07-24T00:54:00.000-07:00

Twenty-six miles is a long way to drive, let alone run! For the long-distance and marathon runner, those twenty-six (or more) miles equate to hundreds of miles of running, thanks to extensive training and preparation. All that preparation means hour after hour of pounding on sensitive joints, particularly the knees. Indeed all runners inevitably must accept that joint pain is part of the deal.

Where does the joint pain originate? For some, it is purely genetic. Millions of people suffer from arthritis in the United States - whether they are professional athletes or stay-at-home mothers. While many forms of arthritis are genetic, some forms - such as osteoarthritis - can be brought on by injury or repeated use of a joint.

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that is degenerative - it continues to get worse over time. About one in every 12 Americans suffer from osteoarthritis and the risk for developing it increases with age and lifestyle. Like all other forms of arthritis, there is no cure.

Osteoarthritis is nothing more than the break down of joint cartilage. Unfortunately, this simple-to-explain disease can involve debilitating pain as the break down of cartilage leads to a narrowing of the space between the bones meeting in a joint. When the cartilage "cushion" wears away, and the space in the joint narrows, bone rubs against bone.

Elite athletes, such as long-distance runners, are particularly susceptible to osteoarthritis due to repeated stress on the weight-bearing joints of the lower body. The constant pounding on the knees and ankles of runners, coupled with the tendency to "push through" pain serves only to exacerbate the problem. Even one injury - one sprained ankle, one fall on the knee - can trigger a lifetime of pain.

What can you do? Research strongly suggests that regular supplementation with high-quality glucosamine and chondroitin is particularly effective in not only decreasing inflammation, but also in building new cartilage and lessening future pain. This is in sharp contrast to traditional prescription treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which only mask pain by temporarily decreasing joint inflammation but never affecting a positive result in the joint.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two natural molecules that serve as the building blocks for healthy cartilage. In an arthritic joint, those molecules are not readily available to the body, thus deteriorating cartilage cannot be replaced. In essence, the cartilage is "behind the power curve." Supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin gives the damaged joint the boost it needs to recover.