Arthritis Knee Pain - 3 Ways to Improve Knee Joint Mobility

Is arthritis knee pain affecting your joint mobility? Well don't feel discouraged because for many of us who have arthritis, this is part of the course for this disease.

We tend to look at this disease as part of getting old but when we are in are 50's we don't feel old. All the activities we use to do like bowling, golfing, and biking, we still want to do but arthritis knee pain may be preventing us from doing them.

We also tend to think of arthritis as a disease that is not very serious. In actuality, osteoarthritis can cause the joints to wear down to the point of severe debilitation. If ignored, it can lead to joint replacement surgery and over use of prescription pain reliever which have many side effects.

However, we can learn today 3 ways to improve joint mobility as it relates to arthritis knee pain.

1) Don't sit in the same position for long periods of time. Have you notice that when we sit in the same position for long periods of time our joints become stiff? The reason why is because the oxygen, nutrients, and fluid our joints need to maintain flexibility are lacking due to decrease blood circulation.

2) Drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. When we are younger, we can get away with not drinking the required amount of water that is needed each day. As we get older, staying hydrated is extremely important. Water is needed to provide lubrication for the knee joints to stay fluid and limber.

3) We must lose weight. It is just that simple. Obesity is the number one disease that leads to so many other diseases. Extra weight on the knees causes a lot of pressure and stress on them. Overtime this contributes to the wearing down of knee cartilage.

Remember - Ultimately we are in control of our own health. We can sit back and do nothing about arthritis knee pain or we can begin incorporating these tips in our lives today.

Arthritis Hip Pain - Are There Any Treatments That Work?

Arthritis hip pain is certainly not something anyone will find easy to deal with. Such pain can certainly reduce the quality of one's life because of the constant pressure that it delivers. While some forms of arthritic pain can be dealt with to a certain degree, arthritic pain in the hip can be extremely difficult to contend with simply because of the location of the pain. Specifically, the hip joint will be affected anytime one moves the lower body.

When you walk, for example, you engage the hip joint. So, unless you opt to dramatically reduce the amount of time you move around, you will assuredly have to deal with a certain level of hip pain. Or, do you? Is there an effective treatment that can reduce the pain one feels from hip pain? The answer to such a question, mercifully, is yes. There are ways to treat arthritis hip pain and restore a certain sense of improved quality to one's life.

Some may wonder what exactly causes hip pain. Essentially, it will be wear and tear on the joints that leads to the onset of arthritis hip pain. This does not mean that the pain develops overnight. Usually, it is a cumulative effect of several years of wear and tear on the cartilage found in the joint. Those that may have been very athletic in their youth, for example, might end up suffering from hip arthritis later in life.

Of course, those that may have suffered a serious injury such as a car accident may also find themselves in the unenviable position of developing hip problems later in life. Most commonly, it will impact those over the age of 50. The potential to develop such a problem will increase, however, if you are genetically predisposed for suffering from the problem. So, if others in your family are contending with this type of pain, odds are strong that you will develop similar difficult problems.

The symptoms of this are not difficult to miss. Sharp pain with each and every movement would be a clear indicator. Stiffness in the joint that becomes more prevalent whenever you walk. Dealing with a very limited range of motion in the hip would also be another obvious problem. What makes hip arthritis pain more complicated to deal with is the fact that the pain is not a constant one. In other words, it can come and go with extended periods of time where the pain does not appear. Commonly, this type of hip pain will appear when the weather changes or become inclement. Such a difficult to predict nature adds to some of the complexities associated with dealing with the problem.

Thankfully, the problem of arthritis hip pain can be effectively dealt with as long as the proper treatment is sought. In some instances, the treatment employed can be considered minimalist. Losing weight, for example, can often reduce hip pain to a significant degree.

Taking prescribed anti-inflammatory medication is another common way that hip arthritis pain can be effectively dealt with. Using a walking aid can also alleviate some of the pressure and restore a semblance of a pain free life. And, of course, applying several of these methods simultaneously may also prevent the issue of hip from becoming overwhelming as well.

Ringing in Your Ears - Symptomatic

A brief ringing in their ears has been experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, the ringing in the ears does not go away for some people even if it typically stops after a few seconds. This condition is called tinnitus. Nonetheless a ringing sensation in the ear can be a symptom of something else

Ringing in the ears maybe symptomatic of anxiety. Anxiety comes with various symptoms. Symptoms are experienced in various ways by people who have anxiety or panic attacks. Certain people experience a ringing in there years at some point though ringing in the ears does not necessarily equate to anxiety. Problems regarding blood pressure can likewise be indicated by ringing in the ears. Higher then normal cholesterol levels results in such. Blood pressure can become erratic as blood forces its way to some of the cholesterol deposits which gather in blood vessels especially around the ears. You should check your cholesterol levels if you are having a ringing sensation in your ears.

Allergies or sinus problems may also be indicated by ringing in the ears. Antibiotics and antihistamines are usually administered to treat these ills. Pressure-build up as well as ear infections and ringing in the ears result from medications that make mucous in the ear difficult for the body to drain. A ringing sensation in the ear can also be caused by conditions such as presbycusis or an age-associated loss of hearing, muscle tension, temporomandibular joint disorder, vitamin B12 deficiency and thyroid disorder.

Tinnitus, which comes in several forms, is the most common cause of ringing in the ears. A rare form of tinnitus is atherosclerosis. The form of tinnitus that causes a ringing in the ear that only the individual hears is what most people are afflicted with. A doctor can likewise hear the ringing in the ear of an individual since atherosclerosis is indicative of some sort of structural problem within a person. A stethoscope is placed around the ear and the side of the patient's neck to do the diagnosis. Atherosclerosis is a more serious medical condition. A pulsing or rushing sound results from this type of tinnitus. What can be heard as pulsing or rushing through the ear is the individuals' own pulse.

The ringing in the ear which only the individual can hear results to the other form of tinnitus in most cases. It is less understood although it is very common. The noise in the ear is likewise not limited to ringing. Buzzing, whining, popping or even a static sound can be experienced. One or both ears maybe subject to such sounds. Treatment varies depending on individuals. Although alternative treatments may have been discovered, it is unfortunate that there is no treatment for tinnitus in most cases. Natural homeopathic treatments, acupuncture, hypnosis and even implants are among such alternative treatments.

About Some Basic TMJ Treatments

TMJ is the abbreviation of temporomandibular joint. It is the area which is in front of the ear where the upper jaw and lower jaw meets. In these temporomandibular joints, there are tissues which allow the upper jaw to rest on the lower jaw and all the movement of jaws is administered by a sliding disc of joints. These joints are one of the most frequently moving joints like they are used for eating, chewing, talking and yawning. These TMJ are quite complex in nature as they are made up of tendons, bones and muscles. When these muscles relax, we can talk easily and these jaws can move comfortably for chewing and yawning without ache.

When you place your fingers on the triangular structure in front of the ear, you open up the jaws and firmly press the fingers in the inner side. This movement is caused by temporomandibular joints.

Temporomandibular joint disorder means that your muscles and joints of the jaws start working together. This condition is called costen's syndrome or myofascial pain dysfunction. It can lead to ear pain, headache, stiffness, bite problems, locked jaws and clicking sounds. One of the reactions of this TMJ joint disorder is teeth grinding. One cannot feel this situation sometimes that he/she is clenching teeth during sleep. Your partner or your doctor can tell you about it by observing the signs of wear and tear on the teeth.

Some of the other temporomandibular joints disorder effects include nail biting, gum chewing, dental problems, chewing from one side of the mouth and jaw, misalignment of the teeth, fractures in the jaw, trauma, stress can make you clench your teeth and holding the phone in inappropriate way like between head and shoulder can also lead to temporomandibular joints disorder. Some of the symptoms of TMJ disorder are headache, excess use of jaw muscles, ear pain, grinding, popping and crunching sounds, dizziness, laziness, muffled clog, ear pain, fullness and ringing in the ear.

When you get to know that you are having this TMJ disorder, you need to start the treatment immediately. Some of the TMJ treatment include eating soft diet and anti inflammatory medications. Some of the serious treatments for temporomandibular joints disorder are discussed here. First of all, you need to know the times when you grind your teeth like if you are under stress. At such times, you should give rest to your jaws.

The next treatment is heat and ice therapy. This therapy reduces muscles tensions. Physical therapy is used for treating the joints disorder. In this therapy, jaw massage decreases pain and improve motion of the joints. The usage of medications is also healthy, like steroids help to control inflammation. The important therapy is stress management. This can be dealt by support, counseling, and medications to the patient.

Another method for reducing teeth grinding includes occlusal therapy, which is an appliance attached to the teeth of the patient and it can help to reduce the clenching of teeth. Corrective dental therapy is a beneficial therapy which reduces abnormal bites. In this therapy, crowns and bridges are adjusted promptly so that patient can bite properly. And last but not the least, TMJ treatment is surgery. It is practiced when the patient does not react to any of the medical therapy and medication. In this surgery, joint restricting, ligament tightening and replacement of joint is carried out and it is followed when the patient is having very severe joint injury. Moreover, you can learn jaw relaxation exercises and avoid resting your chin on your hand as it disturbs the position of the jaws.

Pet Mobility Can Be a Serious Concern During Cold Weather Months

In the cold weather months many of us are busy with holiday preparations, traveling, and seeing family and friends once again. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that our dogs, cats, horses, birds as well as other animals may be troubled by painful arthritic joints. Pet mobility during cold weather should be taken seriously and adjustment made to both accommodate and heal ailing joints.

The most common joint condition affecting pet mobility in the cold weather months is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Over time wear and tear deteriorates the articular cartilage to a point where there is no longer a cushion between bones, leading to painful bone on bone action. This condition is most often seen in pets and animals that are middle aged or older, and can have a negative impact not only in joint health and pet mobility issues but can spill over to other areas as well.

One area of pet mobility or lack of pet mobility can impact is that of urinary tract health. Bacterial infections of the urinary tract become much more likely when animals retain urine longer than they should and pets with degenerative joint disease simply can't (or don't have the will) move well enough to make the long trip to urinate when joint pain is severe.

Another area where pet mobility can play an role is in obesity. When pets don't have the desire to run and play due to constant pain they tend to gain weight. The weight gain not only is unhealthy but it places additional pressure on already troubled joints.

Bladder and Kidney Stones: Studies show that inactive pets are twice as likely to have bouts with bladder and kidney stones.

The three examples are just a few of the major problems lurking when pet mobility is compromised. Next let's move on to a few home help ideas that have proven helpful for my pets and I'm sure they will work for yours as well.

*Invest in a heating pad: Our pets have access to a heating pad in cold weather months. The heating pad should have a buffer between it and your pets skin to avoid heat rash or other heat related problems. Make sure they get plenty of water as well, since the heat will tend to have a dehydrating effect.

*Moderate exercise: Keeping the muscles that support problem joints strong is a very important part of improving and sustaining pet mobility. If your pets joints have deteriorated to a point where any form of exercise is painful you might consider asking your vet about hydrotherapy, also known as water therapy.

*Litter box smarts: If you have older or physically challenged pets that require a litter box make sure to put a few extra boxes out during the cold weather months. This makes it easy for them to make it there and back with little or no distress.

* Supplements for rebuilding joint cartilage: There are a number of excellent all natural products on the market that can do wonders to improve pet mobility. Some natural ingredients have been shown to actually rebuild long lost cartilage over time and are worth considering.

In summary, joint pain whether it is caused by osteoarthritis or something else can create serious concerns both for pets and pet owners. The above suggestions of heat, muscle conditioning, litter box smarts, and cartilage building supplementation are four steps that can be implemented at home, are affordable, and just might produce long lasting results.

Biofeedback: Applying the Mind to Health

What is biofeedback?

In biofeedback you expand self-awareness and practice powerful self-healing under guidance. This is often done with measuring devices to train for relaxation. However, the true goal is expanding the dynamic range and flexibility of your physiology. The benefits are enhanced self-regulation and more robust health.

A biofeedback loop starts with monitoring a signal coming from your body. You can monitor muscle tension, hand temperature or brainwave turbulence. Constant updates are fed back to you in a multimedia display. You look and learn. Using this information to get a certain feeling, you then change the signal in a particular direction.

You gain the power to flex and expand your body's functioning. These physiological stretching lessons then go into automatic pilot and are used as needed.

Biofeedback is a mind-body mirror. Specific self-awareness, nourished by intention, becomes self-control. Next comes enhanced homeostasis without further effort. Once you have cleared the trail, the body follows.

Let's do some biofeedback right now. Monitor your pulse. Just feel your heart beating. Without changing your breathing, notice how many times your heart beats during each inhalation and each exhalation. Observe your pattern. Is it 2, 3 or 4 beats per half breath? Now, slow your breathing rate by counting one more heartbeat as you exhale.

Many studies have proven that computerized elaboration of this slower breathing technique has significantly benefits such as lowering high blood pressure. The magic number is usually 6 full breathes per minute. Next try it while walking. Notice the number of strides per breath.

Scientifically sound

The field of biofeedback has progressed by proving that conscious influence is possible over many biological systems and that this practice relieves many diverse disorders.

Scientific literature has well established that holding a thermometer (the signal) to raise your hand temperature (vascular relaxation) prevents 50% of migraine headaches. Biofeedback is more effective than any pill at preventing migraines, especially as medications decline in effectiveness over the years.

Brainwave biofeedback

Using biofeedback with brain signals is called neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is more efficient and powerful than peripheral biofeedback. Neurofeedback can abort migraines. The success rates for resolving migraine are now over 90%. When it works, results seem to endure.

Biofeedback has proven effective in relieving about 150 varied conditions. The only explanation for such broad effectiveness is the power of applied consciousness to self-heal.

The single most popular application for neurofeedback is for ADD. The efficacy is quite high with 85% obtaining 100% remission of symptoms. Complete remission means the disorder is no longer detectable by any means, including brain maps.

Neurofeedback results seem to last forever. There is no homework. As your brain finds a better way to operate, it accepts and adopts the improvements without further effort. As the core problem is cleared, related problems tend to dissolve. Medications can be stopped.

What's it good for?

Here is a short list of the applications for biofeedback in various categories. The quality of evidence varies from rock solid to consistent clinical reports. The positive effect size is usually strong.

Optimal functioning: students, meditators, performing artists, athletes, soldiers, executives.

Everybody: sleep, mental focus, memory, emotional health.

Brain: seizures, stroke, traumatic brain injury, coma, migraine, ARCD.

Lifestyle: drug & alcohol abuse, criminality, eating disorders.

Arousal: stress, anxiety, headache, OCD, anger, PTSD, psychological trauma.

Chronic: asthma, IBS, TMJ, chronic fatigue, immune suppression, fibromyalgia.

Not just kids: ADD, autism, Asperger's, stuttering, Tourette's, tics, learning disorders.

Women: PMS, menopause, hot flashes, pregnancy.

Major: cancer, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain, depression.

See http://www.isnr.org or http://www.aapb.org for the complete list and scientific references.

Effective

How could one thing be that good for so many different problems? Because the central nervous system is central. Nourishing your mind-body connection with specific awareness and directed intention conditions self-regulatory systems. Your car drives better on all roads after an engine tune up.

I believe that everyone on the planet would benefit from 10 sessions of neurofeedback to optimize mental clarity and upgrade emotional health. Some problems resolve more quickly including garden variety anxiety, migraine, anger, PTSD, PMS and sleep problems. ADD is in the middle but you'll need more sessions for fibromyalgia or autism. Home neurofeedback units are now available for training under the guidance of a professional.

Safe, fun

Biofeedback is remarkably safe. A biofeedback mirror is more benign than a regular mirror. Give an anorexic girl a mirror and she may see enough fat to redouble her diet. Give her 15 sessions of neurofeedback and she will probably begin to ask 'who am I in this world.'

There are cheap and free forms of do-it-yourself biofeedback which are highly effective. And fun. If you want the strongest benefits from biofeedback it is important to employ the best technology. You will derive more rapid, complete and enduring benefits by using the latest neurofeedback software and equipment.

Biofeedback sessions are most often described as pleasant, interesting and relaxing.

Hip Strength - A Great Pregnancy Exercise

Often overlooked in all fitness programs, but especially for pregnancy is hip strength. Yes hip strength is very important during pregnancy. Working on your hip rotators, flexors and extensors can help prevent some low back discomfort. Your pelvis is changing and sometimes on a daily basis. Your muscles are changing in length too, you need to keep them strong so they do not become too tight, too loose or too weak on any one position.

Your hip rotator muscles run from your sacrum to the head of your femur. You will notice particular tightness around your outer thigh at the top of your leg; this is the head of the femur where hip rotator muscles attach. Important exercises to do to help this is using the foam roller and doing self myofascial release. Now the other attachment is at the sacrum. I am sure you have heard of SI joint pain during pregnancy, well the hormone relaxin and a changing pelvis are the culprits of this. Again you can roll you sacrum on the foam roller as well as perform some abdominal bracing exercises to take the strain off you posterior change from pregnancy posture. Specific strengthening exercises you want to do are standing and rotating your leg from the hip ball and socket joint as far as you can in each direction 10x without hiking your pelvis. Also performing side lying leg raises with your hip in internal rotation is another great exercise to keep the hip strong and even out the strain around the sacroiliac joint.

Hip flexor stretches are great as well when pregnant. As your pregnancy progresses and your pelvis is tipping anteriorly, you hip flexors are in a constant shortened position. Tight hip flexors are another big culprit of back pain. Perform a simple standing quad stretch and push your hip bone forward, this will get into your hip flexor muscle. For more strength and stretch pregnancy exercises visit Baby Bump Pregnancy Fitness. After your hip flexors are stretched you will want to strengthen them in extension.

When performing hip strength exercises later in pregnancy you can complete them standing. Doing a simple standing hip extension or lateral raise can do the trick. Be sure not to hike your pelvic with either of these moves. If you experience low back pain during standing hip extension this is a red flag to discontinue this exercise. Your best bet is to perform closed kinetic chain leg moves to prevent any pelvic shearing that you become more prone to later in pregnancy. By closed kinetic chain I mean both feet fixed on the floor, like in a stationary lateral lunge.

How to Treat TMJ and Eliminate Its Symptoms

For people who are suffering from the symptoms of this condition, one resonant though is always how to treat TMJ for good. Pain is one of the most prevalent symptoms of TMJ and one of the most disturbing too. For some, the pain becomes so severe that it already affects their quality of life.

Well, the good part is nowadays, there are several approach that offers holistic treatment to TMJ. However, the best way to start is always to identify the underlying cause of the condition. Learning how to treat TMJ would follow after you've identified the root cause.

In most cases, whatever the underlying cause is, there are always some measure you can use to manage the symptoms and ease the pain that's associated with the condition.

Some of these symptom management are:

Warm Compress and Facial Exercise

Applying warm compress has been known to ease the tension of the jaw. And soon after the warm compress, you can do specific facial exercise specified by healthcare professionals for your condition. One example of such exercise is the mandibular movement wherein you close and open your mouth by moving your lower jaw and slowly moving it from side to side on the process.

Eating the Right Food

If you are currently experiencing pain it is best to avoid hard and chewy foods as it will just add to the tension of the jaw. Stick to soft foods but never compromise a well balanced meal and drink lots of water.

Maintain Correct Positioning

To ease the pain of TMJ you have to promote relaxation in that area. One way to do that is just simply maintain right position of the jaw. You need to have your upper and lower teeth slightly apart while your lips are closed. Keep your tongue on the top portion of your mouth and breathe through your nose.

These are just some of the practical things you can do to remedy or at least ease the severity of the symptoms of TMJ. However, there are some who are quite successful in treating their TMJ using holistic approach.

OFA Certification and Hip Dysplasia

If you own a larger breed of dog or are looking for one, you may have heard the term OFA Certified. This refers to the dog's hip joints and is an indicator of potential problems for your dog. Hip problems for any active dog will cause pain and discomfort that will get progressively worse. The unstable hip joint will lead to osteoarthritis.

So, what is OFA certification? The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the recognized certifying body to evaluate and determine if a dog will have problem hips. The foundation was established in 1966 by John M. Olin after he found that hip dysplasia was affecting his sporting dogs. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition and can be evaluated by radiographs. The OFA maintains a database for hip dysplasia and now also maintains databases on other genetic disorders.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has defined 7 categories to describe canine hip joints. They are: Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate, Severe. There are several different ways to treat hip dysplasia depending on the age of the dog and the severity of the problem.

For young dogs, under the age of 10 months, veterinarians can do surgery to stabilize the joint. This surgery is called triple pelvic osteotomy. It involves cutting 3 places in the pelvic bone, rotating the socket and stabilizing the ball part of the joint with plates and screws. This procedure is only for puppies because once there are arthritic changes in the joint, the surgery is not possible. Another surgical option is a total hip replacement. This is a complex procedure, usually done only at teaching hospitals and large specialty practices. It can cost as much as $1750.00 for one hip, which is usually all that needs to be done.

There are other non-surgical options available. One of the simplest and least expensive treatments includes weight management and exercise. Exercise should start with short leash walks which should gradually increase as the muscles get stronger. Strong muscles will help stabilize the joint and if the dog is overweight, losing weight will put less stress on the joint. This is effective treatment as long as the dog is not having pain from the exercise. You may have to backtrack to shorter walks. Cold and damp weather will aggravate joint pain for your dog, and warmth is soothing. If you suffer arthritis or joint pain and stiffness, your can understand how your dog feels.

Dogs can also be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Your vet will know if and when this is an appropriate coarse. As with any medications, there are risks for side effects. Don't ever give your dog your NSAID medication. Side effects of these drugs in dogs is the same it is for us. Side effects include, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and decreased appetite. Some vets may recommend an all natural, human grade, pet supplement for your dog. It has been shown that glucosamine and chondroitin are helpful in rebuilding cartilage in the joint. It can take about a week of giving the supplement before the necessary level for results is reached.

It is important for you to consult with your dog's veterinarian to discuss the best coarse of action for your pooch. With some help from you and the vet, your dog can live a full, active and pain free life.

How to Get a Better Nights Sleep During a Hip Or Knee Replacement

After having either a hip or knee replaced, getting the required amount of sleep in those first two to three weeks after the surgery can be a daunting process. You will find that you slept better when you were hospitalized then when you return home and the reasons are many.

One reason was that you were better medicated. medication schedules for the most part are better regulated then when you arrive home. Many patients will either postpone taking their medication for pain or forget altogether. You are less distracted at the hospital in regards to family and friends you find you will rest better in the hospital then when you arrive home.

Now there are cases however where this is not always a fact. It will depend on your experience at the hospital some of you may feel much better in your own bed. Something however will change when you get home causing the replacement to create more discomfort and in turn reduce your sleep.

I find the patient that has had a knee replaced will suffer more then the hip replacement patient as having the knee replaced is more painful. keeping the knee comfortable during the night is something that you have to work at. The knee will wake you up at night as it starts ache and you will develop muscle spasms once it has sat still for awhile. The trick here is when you wake up to start moving the knee as soon as possible and you will find the pain will relieve itself.

Here are several things you can do to help yourself get a good nights sleep after returning home after joint replacement surgery.

1. Be sure not to complete your last set of exercises right before going to be. I suggest you do your last exercise session roughly two hours before going to bed.

2. Be sure to take your pain medication before going to sleep. I found this to be helpful in my case and it will help relax you and begin to decrease the pain at the surgical site.

3. Keep your room cool and comfortable. Have found many patients that have tried to sleep with the room temperature higher then normal due to the fact they are not active and feel cold to begin with. Having a room temperature that is higher then normal will keep you uneasy and tossing and turning as well. Use a temperature that is comfortable to you.

4. Monitor you overall workload during the day. Many people when they get home begin to get involved in to much around the home. Remember these joint replacements will not let you know you have done too much until later that night and the next day. By over doing things around the home more exercises then has been prescribed or household chore will also cost you a good nights sleep.

After getting home and re-established, you will find your sleep patterns will begin to get back to normal within two weeks. The first two weeks will be hit and miss. this is something I have found of course that will vary from patient to patient. Sleeping will be a challenge when you first arrive home so try and prepare yourself accordingly.

Degenerative Osteoarthritis - An in Depth Analysis on What Works and What Doesn't For Pain Relief

Degenerative osteoarthritis is a painful condition and takes away the joy of life from the millions of sufferers worldwide. What are the natural and effective treatments available? Find out the expert answers in this article.

Degenerative osteoarthritis comes under the most common forms of arthritis. It is also known as "degenerative joint disease". It is estimated that more than 21 million people suffer from osteoarthritis in the United States alone.

Although there is no permanent cure for degenerative osteoarthritis, but an early diagnosis of the problem and its treatment through proper nutritional supplementation, exercise routine and weight maintenance can be very effective and helpful in pain relief.

The occurrence of degenerative osteoarthritis is so common in elderly people, that it is almost considered as an inevitable part of aging by many people. It is also one of the most common reasons for disability in old age.

Obesity and excess weight are one of the prime reasons of the occurrence of various chronic diseases, and that includes degenerative osteoarthritis. Research reports indicate that even modest declines in weight can improve joint mobility and reduce pain in the knees and hips significantly.

Increased intake of Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements is suggested for the prevention and treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis. Omega 3s are excellent anti-inflammatory and help effectively to reduce the inflammation and pain associated with degenerative osteoarthritis. They also prevent the damage caused to cartilage cushions.

The latest research studies have revealed that omega-3 fatty acids also help to block the process of cartilage thinning. This property is very helpful to prevent age-related degenerative osteoarthritis.

Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3s not only help in degenerative osteoarthritis by reducing pain and inflammation, but they also provide a host of other health benefits such as improvements in brain health, cardiovascular health, skin, joints and digestive system.

Green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. It has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and reduces pain, joint stiffness, improves grip strength and enhances joint mobility in people suffering from osteoarthritis. It is used in combination with fish oil to form the best supplements for the effective osteoarthritis pain treatment and its related symptoms.

To sum up, a healthy intake of Omega 3 rich foods as a part of your daily health regimen and including fish oil supplements and green lipped mussel of New Zealand can go a long way in the effective long-term natural treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis and provide a pain free healthy life.

Bee Sting Therapy For Arthritis Pain Relief - Is This a Joke

As far back as around 400 B.C., Hippocrates - the Greek physician commonly referred to as the "father of medicine", used bee venom to treat joint pain and swelling, in fact bee venom therapy has been around for thousands of years.

Reference's to the treatment can be found in ancient Egypt and Greek medical writings.

Also known as apitherapy, the technique is more widely used in Eastern Europe, Asia and South America. Today many people still find the stings of honeybees helpful when addressing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and osteoarthritis.

Honeybee venom contains many active substances one of which is 'Mellitin', an anti-inflammatory agent which is known to be more than one hundred times stronger than cortisone.

These substances stimulate the body's release of the hormone cortisol as well as neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, all of which can help relieve the pain, stiffness and swelling of arthritis.

Caution.... Allergic Reactions

Yes it does sound like a quick fix for your arthritis pain, however, unfortunately bee stings are noted for triggering an allergic reactions called 'Anaphylaxis' or  Anaphylaxis shock.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction, so caution should be shown if you are considering this course of treatment.

Is Bee Venom A Proven Technique?

Although bee venom therapy is largely an unproven technique, a small number of U.S physicians have reported good results using the substance to treat arthritic conditions.

Treatments of honeybee venom therapy, or 'Apitherapy' supposedly started after bee-keepers, who were stung many times, noticed their arthritis pains were relieved. Some practitioners still use live bee stings to deliver the venom.

Bee stings are by no means a cure-all & there's no way of knowing if they will work for you, without trying, which could be dangerous without the appropriate medical supervision. And to cap it all, we shouldn't forget bee stings are not pleasant.

If you do decide you would like to try bee stings, speak with your doctor.  It's important that you be prepared for a severe allergic reaction by having a bee sting allergy kit on hand - even if you've never reacted negatively to bee stings in the past. Although the side effects of bee-venom therapy usually are mild, an allergic reaction to a sting could potentially be deadly.

Is  Apitherapy a Viable Option For My Arthritis?

It's true that bee stings may help your arthritis, but in my opinion should probably be avoided, due to the risk involved. The good news is Less barbaric natural methods exist and could prove far more user friendly and even more effective in relieving all kinds of arthritis pain and inflammation

 
Written by Mark John

Arthritis Can Lead To Many Other Problems in Pets

Arthritis in pets, and their pet parents for that matter, is a common condition. Pet parents may fail to take action for any one of a number of reasons such as not wanting to subject their pet to harsh veterinary medications, mistakenly believing it will improve on its own, or simply thinking it is not enough a problem to justify the cost.

I totally understand and have thought those same thoughts myself.

But the truth of the matter is that inactivity leads to a slate of serious health problems in pets and pet arthritis is one of the most common causes for reduced activity levels in pets.

What can go wrong?

*Debilitating arthritis leading to total immobility: This one is fairly obvious but worth mentioning anyway. Arthritis (degenerative joint disease) is the loss of cartilage and joint fluid which in turn leads to joint degeneration. As degeneration advances bone spurs may form causing movement to become so painful that pets keep their activity levels to a minimum. If the wear and tear on the bone and joint are too severe all of the sudden movement may become physically impossible leading to total immobility.

*Reduced immune system function: Research tells us that a healthy immune system and activity levels go hand in hand. Since most arthritic pets are older, and likely are already experiencing a decline in immune function, they become vulnerable to a laundry list of disease some of which attack the joint itself.

*Infections of the urinary tract: This one dovetails with immune system function. Urinary tract infections in pets are generally caused by bacteria entering through the urethra. When the immune system is strong bacteria is eliminated and flushed before it has a chance to set up shop in the bladder. But when a pet has any type of degenerative joint disease they move less, their immune defenses weaken, which in turn leads to an increased chance of urinary bacterial infection. Additionally older pets often have conditions that cause the bladder to retain urine after creating a fertile breeding ground for the invading bacteria.

*Depression: When a dog or cat can't do the things that make them happy, or are needed to maintain their dignity, they may slip into depression.

*Aggression: Pain associated with pet arthritis may trigger a change in personality. This can be a serious concern especially when children are involved leading to tough choices for pet parents.

Pet Arthritis - What can be done?

There are a couple of ways to go when treating pet arthritis. The first is to manage the main with one of the many pet pharmaceutical medication available from your veterinarian. While these tend to be effective, at least for a while, they only mask the pain and may in fact accelerate the damage to the arthritic joint over time.

The second is one of the natural pet arthritis formulas which contain multiple ingredients shown to be able to rebuild joint cartilage and increase joint fluid over time. These have been shown to be very effective and have gained an ever increasing amount of support for pet health experts in recent years.

From my perspective the second option is by far the best option due to the possibility of reversing the condition. That said, every pet parent should get the facts, weight the risk reward equation, and ultimately make the decision that suits them and their beloved pet the best.

What else? Other ideas that might help with arthritis in pets are weight management, keeping painful joints warm on cold days and nights, and considering alternative exercise options such as hydrotherapy; especially if regular exercise is no longer a realistic option.

Joint Pain During Menopause Requires Your Attention

Many women experience menopausal joint pain symptoms. Medical experts have researched the connection between hormonal changes and this kind of pain.

Some women experience joint and muscle pain, mouth discomfort, headaches and some even report heart palpitations. Interestingly, women who suffer tension headaches, abdominal, or facial pain found their symptoms lessened after menopause. Scientists today feel there may indeed be a link between estrogen, hormone levels including their fluctuations and this phenomenon

Menopause and Joint Pain: Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause occurs when a women stops ovulating and her period ceases. Most women reach menopause between 45 and 55 years, with an average age of about 50. However, about 1% reaches it before the age of 40, known as premature menopause or premature ovarian failure.

The most apparent changes recorded are in connection with menstrual cycle changes, changes in the bleeding pattern, hot flashes, sweating and urinary problems, such as, incontinence or increased frequency of urination. Dry vagina, mood changes, muscular weakness, joint pains and weight changes are all symptoms of menopause and can cause a great deal of pain as well as general feelings of discomfort in different parts of the body.

Menopause and Irritability: The Risks

Menopause is a very important time in a woman's life and all women who live past 40 must withstand the worst of this condition. A woman's body goes through many changes that can affect her social life, her feelings about herself and her functioning at work. In the past, many misconceptions and myths surrounded menopause but this perception has changed. Now, menopause is accepted as a natural step in the process of aging.

Contrary to the old-fashioned view that life is all downhill after menopause, many women today realize that the years after menopause offer new discoveries and fresh challenges. Modern medical advances have resulted in a wide range of health care choices, especially for joint pain and bone deficiency problems.

These can enhance quality of life during menopause and the decades that follow. It is vital for women to know that menopause itself carries no serious health risks. However, the chance for heart disease and osteoporosis (thinning of the bone due to the inability of the body to produce bone tissue) rises after menopause. Understanding menopause and the range of treatment options can help women make better health decisions.

Menopause and Irritability: Causes and Symptoms

Research has shown that a quarter of women have no problems while going through menopause, while half of the number will have some problems and the remaining quarter of them will have considerable problems including joint pain.

These are usually associated with osteoporosis and arthritis, which results in weakening of the bones and the degeneration of the cartilage between the joints that can fracture easily following a fall.

Fluctuating estrogen levels and poor estrogen clearance, can affect how your joints feel. It stands to reason that some women would also have joint pains in response to the hormone fluctuations so common in perimenopause. It's important to have yourself checked by your primary care physician for either osteoporosis or arthritis.

Menopause and Irritability: Treatment

There are also medications and exercises you can get that will overcome the severest of joint pains related to menopause. Some of these treatments include the use of steroids so it is critical to make this kind of decision in conjunction with your own doctor.

It's also prudent to check for the possibility of side effects from using these drugs and get a second opinion before embarking on a long-term treatment.

Free Yourself From Joint Pain

With our age, our body systems as well as our body parts get older. One of the most common problems, which come with old age, is Arthralgia (from Greek arthro-, joint + -algos, pain) literally means joint pain. However, joint pains are no more common to the older people as each adult suffers from chronic pains. People in pain can only realize how powerlessly unbearable this pain causes.

People experiences pain in joint in various locations of our body. The causes of Arthralgia are varied and range from, a joints perspective, degenerative and destructive processes. The common roots of pain are:

• Excessive wear and tear of the joint muscles (particularly applicable to athletes)
• Osteoarthritis (chronic degeneration and destruction of the articular cartilage leading to bony spurs, pain, stiffness, limitation of motion, and change in the size of joints common in adults above 45 years)
• Fractures and injuries
• Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone and bone marrow, usually caused by bacterial infection)
• Gout (inflammation of the big toe due to uric acid metabolism disorder, resulting in accumulation of the acid and its salts in the blood and joints)

If the causes of the pain are identified it becomes easier for one to go for remedy. Joint pain are now easily healable and do have various cure. There are many approved herbal medication to relief joint pains. The remedies for pain have ail many suffers from pain and stiffness. The only thing you need to ensure pain relief is regularity in consuming the dose. In no time, you will observe a notable difference.

Herbal medicines for the pains are a nutritional breakthrough, intended to sustain and help ease and support joint health, and enhance flexibility.

• Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutkins) is effective in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Cyperus rotundus (Musta) for relief of pelvic pain and bloating
• Tinospora caudifolia (Guduci) is effective to reduce the pain and oedema, in gout and skin diseases
• Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice root) to ease the joint pain and stiffness
• Zingiber officinale (Ginger root) is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain.
• Boswellia serrata (Shallaki) combat the effects of joint pain and osteoarthritis.
• Trachyspermum ammi (Ajamoda) helps to remove stiffness and improves mobility of limbs. It helps to bring relief from backaches, muscular strains, rheumatic pains, etc.

These herbs are also vitamins supplements to relieve the bones from pain. The herbal products with the blend of tall the above herbs cure the disease and enhance the body's immune system to repel future recurrence of this disease.

Joint pain can affect anybody and so it is the time to recover, and only herbal products can give relief safely and naturally.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin - Effective Joint Pain Relief Due to Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis that causes the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage between the bones and joints. This debilitating condition causes pain to over 20 million people in the United States. Primary osteoarthritis is commonly related to the aging process. Other causes include genetic factors, weight, and sports/work trauma.

The cartilage degenerates due to the increase in water content and a decrease in protein. Loss of cartilage, the protective cushion between joints, results in pain, swelling, inflammation, and the loss of mobility.

Glucosamine is a natural sugar that is produced by the body. It is also found in certain foods. Notably, this natural sugar has a significant function in the production, maintenance and repair of cartilage. Glucosamine stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans (two vital building blocks of cartilage).

Chondroitin Sulfate is also a crucial element in the creation of cartilage. (One source of chondroitin sulfate is shark cartilage and shell fish. It is important to consult a health care professional before taking this product if you have shellfish allergies.) The chondroitin sulfate attracts fluids which assists you in three ways:

It draws nutrients into your cartilage
It increases the flow of fluid into the cartilage to add resiliency
It acts to block enzymes that destroy cartilage

The glucosamine is believed to promote the formation and repair of cartilage while chondroitin is thought to promote water retention and elasticity in cartilage as well as inhibit enzymes that breakdown the cartilage. Therefore, use of glucosamine and chondrotin taken together over the course of several weeks is effective in soothing aching joints, maintaining joint flexibility, reducing inflammation, improving mobility and assisting in rehabilitation of damaged cartilage.

Several studies have shown that glucosamine and chondroitin are effective in reducing the pain of osteoarthritis. Taken in a liquid form, it has an 80% to 85% absorption rate. This creates maximum bioavailability and fast relief. There have been no reports of serious side effects that are usually associated with Cox-11 inhibitors.

Apnea Sleep, Snoring, Fibromyalgia - Is There A Relationship?

Based upon the Free Radical Therapy approach there is a connection.

The Free Radical Therapy utilizes the approach that the body is designed to WIN.

Therefore within the chemistries it explores the six subclinical defects, which are:

1. pH Imbalance

2. Anaerobic Tendency

3. Free Calcium Excess

4. Chronic Inflammation

5. Connective Tissue Breakdown

6. Oxidative Stress

Fibromyalgia is an inflammatory process in the muscles. Therefore based upon the Free Radical Therapy, this would be the 4th step in the process of degeneration.

Most people who develop apnea sleep problems start off with snoring.

Apnea sleep remedies, and snoring treatments need to be based upon your biochemistry.

A lot of the 'biochemical issues', related to apnea sleep remedies, and snoring treatments, apply to fibromyalgia treatments.

The overall, general biochemical patterns are one or more of the following:

. Muscle damage particular with apnea sleep symptoms, and fibromyalgia

. Snoring robs the body on a daily basis from oxygen.

. pH imbalance, which is an imbalance in the acid/alkaline

. Problems with the carbohydrate metabolism

. Broad spectrum hormonal imbalances

. Problems with the utilization of proteins in the body

. Erectile dysfunction

. Inflammatory processes

. Connective tissue breakdown

. Cancer

. Diabetic Conditions

. Cardiovascular problems

. High Blood Pressure

. Strokes

. Fibromyalgia syndrome

The testing is done with blood and urine. The testing is based upon the "Free Radical Therapy" principles.

It is important to understand when your amino acids pool is depleted, you CANNOT detoxify or repair your tissue.

The other issue to pay attention to is the overgrowth of microbes in your faeces. Microbal overgrowth in the faeces is one of the indicators, that your mucosal lining in your digestive system has been damaged.

When you realize that about 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive system, it is not surprising that you subject yourself to higher risk factors of auto immune disorders.

When your body has a challenge with utilizing the proteins sufficiently, it becomes subject to a whole range of inflammatory processes.

Some of the examples of chronic inflammation are:

. Periodontitis

. Heart Disease

. Colitis

. Headaches

. Skin eruptions

. Cancer/ Chronic degenerative disease/ autoimmune disorders

The connective tissue, which is the glue that holds it all together, will start to break down.

Some examples of connective tissue breakdown are;

. Receeding gums,

. Varicose veins,

. Loose teeth

. Bleeding gums

. Weak back

. Hiatal hernia

. Cancer/ Chronic degenerative disease

Every person who has a snoring problem and apnea sleep disorder and fibromyalgia has a problem with pH Imbalance (Acidemia/Alkalemia).

Some symptoms of pH imbalance are:

. Infection

. Fatigue

. Repeat caries formation

. Plaque

. Depression

. Cancer/ Chronic Degenerative disease.

Anaerobic Metabolism is another consequence and some symptoms are:

. Infection

. Fatigue

. Tissue degeneration

. Glucose Intolerance

. Cancer/ Chronic degenerative disease

Free Calcium Excess is another consequence and some of the symptoms connected with it are:

. Calculus

. Joint pain/ Arthritis

. High Blood Pressure

. Heart Valve disease

. Cancer

Last but not least the Oxidative stress becomes an issue and some of the symptoms are:

. Loss of taste

. Cheilosis (a non inflammatory condition of the lips characterized by chapping and fissuring)

. Haemolytic Anaemia

. Very dry skin/loss of hair

. Moodiness, loss of memory, irritability

. Constipation

. Cancer/ Chronic degenerative disease

More information can be found in the resources

3 Amazing Natural Cures For Rheumatoid Arthritis - Joint Pain Relief in a Flash!

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease suffered by millions of people. It causes debilitating pain in the joints, especially in the hands and feet. Most people suffering from the disease believe the only way to treat it is by taking prescription medications. But fortunately, there are several natural cures for rheumatoid arthritis that are quite effective. They can work just as well as conventional medicine without all of the side effects. I highly recommend you look into these treatments, as they have worked effectively for many people throughout the years.

Devil's Claw

Devil's Claw is an herb native to South Africa that has been used for centuries to treat the symptoms of arthritis. In various double-blind studies, Devil's Claw has been shown to be as effective as Diacerhein and Vioxx, which are both prescribed to sufferers of arthritic pain. The herb is harmless to take and has very little negative side effects. As a result, it is considered one of the best natural cures for rheumatoid arthritis.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the popular natural cures for rheumatoid arthritis. By inserting thin needles into various points or "meridians" in the body, energy blockages are cleared up, and in turn, diseases and illnesses are effectively alleviated. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of endorphins, which block pain receptors and make us feel much better overall, without having to take prescription pain medication.

Probiotics

Studies show that restoring the body's natural probiotic balance alleviates many of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Probiotics are the "good" bacteria in your digestive system and researchers believe many of our common ailments are caused by a probiotic imbalance. You can take probiotics in supplement form but it's also important to integrate them into your diet by eating yogurt, pickles, and soft cheeses.

Understanding Canine Hip Dysplasia and How to Prevent It

Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic issue that starts to appear from the ages of 4 to 12 months. Not all puppies in a litter will develop it, though if your dog has canine hip dysplasia, she should not be bred.

Larger breed dogs have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, due to the greater weight these joints will have to bear. But it's important to realize that small dogs can be affected also. Large breed dogs at risk include rottweilers, german shephards, golden retrievers, dalmations, and blood hounds.

Canine hip dysplasia affects the ball and socket joint of the hip. The head of the large bone in the dog's leg doesn't fit snugly into the hip socket. The problem is that the socket itself is not well developed, and it creates a lot of stress on the joint. The muscles don't develop as quickly as the bone grows, and a situation is created where the weight the joint has to bear is greater than the capacity of the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the joint. Thus joint instability develops. This in turn leads to a greater wear and tear than the joint would normally experience.

Canine hip dysplasia ranges from mild to moderate. In mild cases, the space between the joints is greater than normal and the ball at the top of the hip bone is part way out of its socket. Fortunately, in mild cases, there are no associated arthritic changes in the joint.

In moderate canine hip dysplasia, the top part of the normally rounded hip bone begins to flatten, and it sits only loosely in the joint. Bone spurs begin to develop, and arthritic changes start to happen.

Unfortunately, in severe hip dysplasia, there is definite arthritis present. And once arthritis appears in the joint, the condition is irreversible. In the severe cases such as this, the hip bone is completely out of the joint. The silver lining is, however, that not all dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis will become lame. Some may become lame as puppies, some may not ever become lame.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

* walking with a limp

* a swaying gait

* bunny hopping when running

* difficulty in the back legs when getting up

* pain in the hip

* when the puppy is lying on its back, its back legs may not extend towards the front legs without pain

The only way to find out if your dog definitely has hip dysplasia is if he has an x-ray by a vet. This normally means the dog will have to be heavily sedated, or go under anaesthetic.

Tips To Prevent Canine Hip Dysplasia

* Don't feed a growing dog a diet too high in calories. It's important that the growing dog's nutritional needs are met, but excessive weight, and rapid weight gain, create more of a load for the joints to bear. If a dog is genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia, this can delay the beginning of symptoms, or reduce the chance of it developing into a more severe form.

* Be careful about the type of exercise growing dogs get. Jumping up and down from heights, and standing on their back legs, such as when they stand against a fence or window to look over it, can aggravate the joints whilst they are growing quickly.

* Buy dogs from a reputable breeder. If one parent dog has hip dysplasia, the risk of it occurring in the litter is doubled. Good breeders take care to prevent this situation from occurring. The pedigrees of dogs can be checked to see whether they have been certified as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) in the US. Their website is http://www.offa.org

Other organizations that check for markers of hip normalcy in dogs are PennHip and the GDC (Genetic Disease Control in Animals). Large breed dogs have a greater chance of developing hip dysplasia, and prospective owners would be wise to take this precaution.

References: J Griffin and L Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook

Foot Swelling - Good, Bad, and Ugly

Hot air balloons are beautiful, aren't they? Bright and colorful, they drift quietly through the air, removing the traveler from toil and endless trouble. Unfortunately, not all things that swell up like hot air balloons are beautiful or free from difficulty. Joints, for one, are decidedly less pleasant when they begin to swell. Fortunately, your friendly local podiatrist has the know how to help reduce swelling and get your joints to function a bit better.

Swelling is, of course, perfectly natural. It's the body's way of responding to injury or infection. After damage to a joint, more blood is sent to the area to try to heal it. Unfortunately, the increase of blood also causes a buildup of fluid in the tissues around the joint, which tends to cause pressure and pain.

Swelling may be caused by many things. It may be a result of trauma, such as an ankle sprain or break, or stubbing your toe. Or, swelling might accompany arthritis, which itself may be caused by crystal deposits in the joint (in the case of gout), degeneration of cartilage in the joint (osteoarthritis), an autoimmune disease attacking the joints (rheumatoid arthritis), and so on. Or, joint swelling may be caused by an infection.

Swelling may appear as one of the first symptoms of arthritis. Those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, often list joint swelling as one of the earliest symptoms. In the case of gout, swelling may be so severe that the skin over the joint will appear stretched and shiny.

Joint swelling is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as redness, warmth, stiffness in the joint, and pain. You may also find it difficult to walk, usually because of pain, but sometimes because your joint has lost some mobility.

Because the potential causes of joint swelling are so numerous, you should be prepared to give plenty of information to your podiatrist so he or she can make an accurate diagnosis. Your foot doctor will most likely perform a physical examination of your foot, check your joint for range of motion, and will inquire about your medical history and a history of your symptoms. Be prepared to answer questions such as how long the swelling has been present, whether it comes and goes, when it's worst (i.e. is it worse at night, or perhaps does it tend to get worse during certain activities such as running), and also whether or not you've ever ridden in a hot air balloon. (Actually, they may not ask that last question.)

There are a few tests your podiatrist may suggest to determine the cause of your joint swelling. These may include X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to get an accurate picture of what's going on inside your joint. Additionally, your doctor may want to withdraw some fluid from your joint to test it for infection, or for uric acid crystals in the case of gout.

Treating swelling in the joint generally focuses on reducing bloodflow to the area. This may be accomplished by icing the joint (20 minutes on over a thin towel and 40 minutes off), and elevating your foot at hip level, or slightly higher. Your podiatrist may also recommend anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, or sometimes cortisone injections.

Of course, your doctor will also want to address the underlying injury or problem that's actually causing the swelling. This may be done by using casts, braces, or orthotics (prescription shoe inserts) to provide support to the foot and prevent further injury. Physical therapy might be used to help strengthen your muscles. In some cases, surgery is necessary to reduce swelling and reestablish the functionality of the joint, or your foot surgeon may opt to fuse the joint to reduce pain and swelling.

Some patients also find it beneficial to soar through the sky in a basket suspended from a balloon filled with hot air. Actually, this may not really be the case. But hot air balloon rides (or even just looking at pictures of hot air balloons) will help you remember that, even though your joints may be painful and unpleasant when they swell up, some swollen things are actually pretty darn nice.

Joint Pain Worrying You?

What has inflammation got to do with joint pain?

Normally, a healthy immune system triggers the inflammatory response in order to deal with the sporadic threats like injury or inflammation. But in the case of many women, these inflammatory responses are constantly at a low level. This chronic, but low-grade inflammation prevents the regeneration of cells and at the same time repair as well as gradually tear down tissues which also include the ones in your joints.

Causes of joint pain due to chronic inflammation

The causes of chronic inflammation can be attributed to a diet which is too high on the amount of refined carbohydrates and at the same time too low in essential fatty acids. A high carbohydrate diet can extend for a long time in terms of high levels of insulin which can disrupt cellular metabolism and spreads inflammation. Undiagnosed allergies in terms of foods or sensitivities can also contribute to inflammation when those are eaten. A lot of women with chronic inflammation can also suffer from digestive problems due to an inflamed digestive tract.

Another factor contributing to inflammation can be stress. Cortisol is a hormone which is released when a person is under stress. The most common which can be experienced by everyone is sustained stress and can cause an inflammation in no time.

Most of the women report their first joint pain when they are in a state of perimenopause or approaching menopause. During this transition hormone shift can occur especially fluctuating estrogen levels can have a heavy impact on how joints feel. Since, estrogen normally has an inflammatory effect in the body, falling estrogen levels can also increase the symptoms of chronic inflammation.

Joint pain remedies-

There are a lot of ways through which you can relieve your joint pain and you can start with the underlying causes. Dietary changes can help a lot such as reducing the amount of refined carbohydrates as well as sugar can make a dramatic difference to your pain in the joints. Healthy eating comprising of foods such as including more of fruits and vegetables which contain anti-inflammatories and at the same time adding a high quality multivitamin can refuel your nutritional deficiencies. Other treatment for joint pains can include;

• Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
• Changes in lifestyle like stress relief as well as moderate exercises
• Physiotherapy

you can find all types of joint remedies at our site with the price you wanted to see.

TMJ Pain - One of These Traumas is Often the Cause

TMJ pain often occurs when someone's jaw is misaligned or their bite is off. As a result any one or more of the nerves, muscles or ligaments in and around the temporomandibular joint become tight and strained. Over time this leads to inflammation of these tissues. This is what is known as TMJ disorder or syndrome which can lead to many painful TMJ symptoms. Dental TMJ treatment is widely considered to be a quick, easy and very effective way to get TMJ relief.

The question many patients ask is, "How did I get this problem in the first place?"

There are many possible ways TMJ Pain could have developed. At some point there was a trauma. It was either a macro trauma or a micro trauma.

Macro Trauma

A macro trauma is a major trauma which could be in the form of a fall of some sort. This may have happened either as an adult or it could have even happened as far back as childhood with an event like falling off of a bicycle. In either case the head may have been distorted in some way because of the trauma or bumps may have occurred around the jaw.

Another major source of trauma is being hit. A very common example of this is being involved in an auto accident. Again, this trauma may have happened many years ago but it is still causing pain today stemming from a TMJ problem. When you are hit from behind in an auto accident whiplash can occur. When this happens the head moves forward and backwards aggressively. The head accelerates and decelerates very quickly. As this happens, the muscles and ligaments of the neck can be stretched and start a process that leads to pain in any one of a number of locations throughout the head or body.

Wisdom teeth extraction is another example of a situation where muscles, ligaments or nerves related to the jaw and TMJ could be overly stretched and this can lead to TMJ related pain. This would have occurred when a patients' jaw was stretched open while asleep.

Micro Trauma

A micro trauma is a minor trauma. Examples of this type of trauma is clenching or grinding your teeth. This can occur while awake or even during sleep. In both cases it is common for the person to not be aware they are even doing this. On the surface this seems to be a less severe type of trauma but the real power behind this type of trauma is that it can be constant or nearly constant. It can also occur over the course of many years, often without the person even realizing they are doing this.

As clenching and grinding of the teeth occurs over time, the jaw and body starts to reposition itself. As a result, the surrounding tissues such as nerves, ligaments and muscles become strained and get tighter.

In both types of trauma, as tissues become injured or strained and become tighter, inflammation sets in which in turn is responsible for the pain.

TMJ Symptoms

TMJ pain is felt because of a structural problem. And, it is important to clearly understand that the pain someone feels from a TMJ problem is not limited to only the jaw area. Chronic pain is often not felt at the site where the root cause of the problem is. TMJ problems can be the root cause of jaw pain and lock jaw but it can also be responsible for headaches or migraines, neck pain and even have effects much further away such as with tingling hands or hand numbness.

The opposite can happen too. A problem in the lower back can come all the way up to the TMJ area because when there is a structural problem many areas of the body are connected.

This confuses many patients as well as health care practitioners. As a result, many people needlessly suffer with TMJ pain for years or even a decade or more even though have been to five or ten or more doctors or specialists.

Panitrol - A Breakthrough in Organic Muscle and Joint Pain Relief!

Panitrol is an organic muscle and joint pain relief supplement. No longer is it necessary to juggle the addictive and harmful effects of prescription pain medications to relieve muscle or joint pain. This revolutionary pain relief supplement uses compounds provided by Mother Nature to ease your pain.

Since Panitrol's ingredients are all natural, there is no need to be concerned about addiction. There have been numerous lives wrecked due to pain medication addiction. Most people that become addicted to these prescriptions don't even know that there is an issue until it is too late. After all, the Dr. prescribed the medication. Why would there be an issue taking it? With using Panitrol, you no longer have this issue.

The unique and well researched combination of herbs and natural pain relievers in Panitrol allow for pain relief and comfort, without the negative side-effects. You can take Panitrol, without stopping, as long as you want without concern for liver or kidney damage. The ingredients are all natural, and work very well, without damaging the body or having to have concern for addiction.

Panitrol is actually cheaper (much cheaper) than prescription medications also. There is no need for a prescription for Panitrol either.

So, Panitrol is very effective at relieving pain, will not harm the body, is not addictive, and is cheaper than the traditional pain relief products. Is there really a choice behind this? Is there really any other way to relieve muscle and joint pain without causing further harm to the body?

4 Frequently Asked Questions About a Clicking Jaw

FAQ 1. What is clicking jaw?

Every once in a while, a dentist receives a patient complaining of a clicking sound in their jaw. While some of these patients have just recently discovered that they have this condition, others have been patiently dealing with (or ignoring) the popping sound for more than ten years, or even longer for a few people.

To put it simply, a clicking jaw is a condition where a sound is repeatedly produced every time one opens his jaw. This condition is sometimes used interchangeably with TMJ, but they are two different concepts. TMJ will be discussed at the latter part of the article.

Experts agree that clicking jaw may be an indication of serious health problems, and that they come with other symptoms such as headache, neck pain, and jaw pain one side. But if this condition is not caused by any health problems, it can be caused by any of the following: a person's habit of clenching his teeth (which is called bruxism), eating food items that are too hard, using the teeth to bite hard things, or an injury.

FAQ 2. Should you be worried if you have a clicking jaw?

Dentists say that the popping sound is normal, especially if it happens only occasionally. However, one is advised to seek the expertise of a professional if the sound is too annoying to bear, if it gives discomfort and unbearable pain, or if it comes with other symptoms.

FAQ 3. How can you treat this condition?

Depending on the causes and gravity of the condition, there are several methods that a specialist can do to help get rid of the popping sound. One of the methods is called resurfacing, wherein some parts of contacting teeth are shaved to make sure that they are aligned properly. Another technique involves the simple avoidance of chewing on hard candy, gum, and other food items.

FAQ 4. What is TMJ?

Many people equate TMJ with jaw disorders, but they actually mean TMJD or TMD, short for temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ is the joint that connects the skull and the lower jaw. Furthermore, TMJD is a condition that has a wide scope, and it includes clicking jaw. In other words, TMD is the disease and clicking jaw is just one of its symptoms.

There are several ways to treat TMJD, and one of these methods is through TMJ exercises. One of these exercises involves putting your tongue at the upper palate, opening your mouth wide, and breathing for about 2 seconds. This exercise can be repeated up to 10 times everyday.

Why Is There Pain In Your Hip Joint?

?Hip joints are in constant movement, they are always involved when it comes to any kind of change in position. That is why you most certainly notice this kind of pain, you just use them all the time. You can feel hip pain around the hip joints and it is quite painful.

The most common cause for hip joint pain is usually age, but it doesn't mean that young people don't experience this sort of pain. When a human being gets older, all the joints, muscles and tendons lose their strength, they become weaker, lose their elasticity and wear off. Although it is more common in people over 40, youngsters may experience hip pain because of various other reasons.

For example, quite common reason for hip pains are hip fractions that are normally due to falls or accidents. This may happen to young people, too!

Nerve irritation or muscle strain are quite common reasons. There is a major nerve that controls lower leg function and this nerve is crossing the hip. That's why you may feel this pain around your hip and going down the leg, if these nerves are irritated. You may have pain because of muscles that help to move the hip. If these muscles are overused, they result into muscle strain.

There are also two medical conditions that cause hip pain such as arthritis and bursitis.

Needless to say that when your hip is hurting, you certainly can't do sports, run, jog etc. You should also avoid jumping and any kind of activities where you have to spread your legs widely.

Also you need to pay attention how you sleep - it is better to sleep on your back or stomach and definitely not on your hurting hip. And it is suggested to avoid long periods of sitting and too much stair climbing.

You probably can not do it anyway because of the pain, but it is suggested to not bend the hurting hip. Also it would be wise to control your bodyweight as overweight people have more mass to put on the hip.

A massage may also help, but if the pain is excessive, see a doctor. If you have some kind of a medical condition, doctors give the treatment. If you have just injured your hip, they usually prescribe you some painkillers, but first they make sure if you haven't any kind of medical condition such as arthritis or something like that. With some patients doctors even decide that they need a hip replacement surgery. It comes up especially with patients who have osteonecrosis or acute arthritis.

To diagnose an arthritis, x-rays are used. It is shown on a x-ray picture where the calcium is deposited.

Diet For Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Foods Help to Relieve Joint Pain?

Researchers have determined that your diet for rheumatoid arthritis is directly linked to the severity of the disease. A poor diet can greatly aggravate pain and other symptoms, so it is important to have a clear understanding of proper nutrition, especially as it relates to RA.

First of all, it is incredibly important that you integrate plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet, while greatly reducing or eliminating red meat and dairy. Dark green leafy vegetables are always the best, and you can gain lots of antioxidants from eating fruit. However, your diet for rheumatoid arthritis should avoid overly acidic fruit like oranges and lemons.

Many people have greatly benefited from becoming vegetarian or vegan. You may or may not want to go down this route, but if you're desperate, there's no harm in trying for a while to see if your symptoms alleviate.

Eat plenty of cold water fish like salmon and cod, as these contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which act as anti-inflammatory agents in the body. If fish isn't your thing or you're worried about mercury, you can also get Omega-3 fatty acids from almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, soybeans, and avocados.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. You should be drinking at least 8 cups of water per day. In addition, soups, broth, herbal teas, and unsweetened fruit juices are also fantastic. Just make sure that the tea is decaf and there isn't much salt in the soups and broth.

A diet for rheumatoid arthritis should be rich in vitamins and minerals, and while taking supplements will definitely help, it simply doesn't compare to getting the nutrients straight from the source. So don't think that you can counter your bad eating habits by taking supplements, because it simply doesn't work that way.

Arthritis and the Lower Back Pain Relation

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States and is the leading cause of disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one out of every three Americans is affected by one of the more than 100 types of arthritis. Arthritis simply means a painful condition of the joints. There are different types of the disease - many inflammatory and others more degenerative in nature. Across the world there are 350 million people suffer from the chronic joint inflammation of Arthritis. In US the number reaches to the 37 to 40 million. All of us know that there should the joint pain that is accompanied by the arthritis. The joint pain referred as the arthralgia. To suppress the join pain all of the people search for the natural arthritis treatment.

There are many forms of arthritis (over one hundred and growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an over-active immune system (like rheumatoid arthritis).Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States. People are spontaneous to react in way of finding the treatment of arthritis symptoms and anxiety of its various forms.

In the world there are two types of arthritis- 1) Osteoarthritis and 2) Rheumatoid arthritis. The Osteoarthritis mainly affects the cartilages of or around the bones. The cartilages provide the bone with the cushion and thus to protect it from the rubbing friction. On the other hand the Rheumatoid arthritis is the joint chronic inflammation that also the affect the body autoimmune system. Rheumatoid arthritis is also the main disease that causes the pain in or around the joints. Only the arthritis low back pain relief is the main pain suppression methodology for both of the arthritis. Here Autoimmune disease must be explained. The autoimmune disease is that illness by the blood antibody or the cells whose main job is to seeking and destroying body invaders preferably the infections mistakenly attack the body tissues.

For most people arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. In fact, most people over the age of 50 show some signs of arthritis. Joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. Your doctor can tell if you have arthritis through blood tests and x-rays. He or she will then be able to help you decide on the best treatment for arthritis for your case.

Hip Bone Problems and Treatments

One of the major joints of the human body is the hip joints. Hip joint is the joint where your pelvis bone meets you thigh bone. These joint are also referred to as ball and socket joints. These days you will find many people suffering from this problem. Hip joint injuries are caused while playing sports, running or as a result of falling. Majority of these injuries can be cured easily. However, there are some which can results in serious complications if you ignore them. The hip bone is very much required for easy mobility.

One of the major causes of pain in the hip joints is trauma. Apart from this, there are many sources of inflammation which cause pain in this area as well. Some of the most common problems which lead to pain in these joints are Bursitis, Avascular Necrosis and Arthritis. These problems do not only lead to pain in the joints but also lead to stiffness.

There are many ways to treat hip bone problems. The treatment of bursitis is complicated. It also depends on whether it involves any kind of infection or not. These problems can be treated by stretching exercises or it may require you to take on pain medications. Sometime physical therapy programs are also used to cure bursitis.

It is very important for you to consult a qualified doctor if you suffer from pain in hip bone or joints. It is very important that the treatment of these should be well directed towards the specific cause. Some of the common symptoms of hip joint problems are inability to bend the hip, swelling of the hip or the thigh area, signs of an infection, including redness, warmth and fever etc.

With so many hip joint pain treatment options available, you will surely able to find one, which will solve your problem.

Guidelines For Actions After a Hip Replacement

After a patient has a hip replacement, there are certain requirements and restrictions that are made by his/her surgeon and/or physical therapist. These steps should be taken seriously and followed by the patient systematically. By following these precautions and steps, a patient will dramatically reduce their chances of having their new hip fail and help provide a good healing process.

There are many steps to take in order to manage the healing process of a hip replacement properly. A major issue that a patient should never do is to cross their legs for up to 8 weeks. Crossing ones legs will result in excessive tension and pulling on the replaced hip implant. Too much stress on the hip implant will cause it to loosen, dislocate, not cure properly or break.

A patient should never bend at their waist beyond a right angle. This action will create excessive stress at the new joint. A patient may need help for the first couple months after a hip replacement in dealing with everyday activities as in tying their shoes, picking up items and even putting on socks. This timelines is critical for proper healing and shouldn't be tested.

Other actions that should be crossed off by a patients therapist include standing with feet pointing in (pigeon-toed), leaning forward while sitting down, excessive stretching, jerky movements, etc. All these movements may cause the patients implant to fail. Using pain as a guide to determine the extent of abilities is never recommended. Pain should never be used as a guide, because the new hip replacement is not connected to any nerves in the human body, therefore the body will never know exactly how much stress it is exerting on the hip implant.

The recipient of a hip replacement should understand what guidelines they can perform after surgery. A physical therapist will explain what a patient will need to do in order to have a healthy recovery. Each patient will be on a case by case basis, but the guidelines are somewhat standard.

A physical therapist will give the patient a list of exercises to conduct on a daily or weekly basis. These exercises may be scheduled anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks following hip surgery depending on the surgeons and physical therapists decisions.

Always keep the toes pointed straight and sit on high seats or stools. This will eliminate and reduce any stress that is put on the hip replacement.

It should also be noted that if a patient has one hip replaced and the patient must kneel down, the patient should kneel down on the side that was operated on. This way, the joint at the hip will stay straight and not bent at an extreme angle.

Also, if there is excessive pain, use ice as a remedy. Do not apply ice directly on the skin or hip area. Use a cloth or ice wrap when applying ice against skin.

Use a heating pad or warm towel and apply to the hip that was replaced, before exercising. This heating will increase the range of motion while exercising. If the muscles begin to ache when exercising, a patient can cut back, but shouldn't all together stop the exercises.

Hip replacement surgery can be a tedious and grueling process to overcome. By a patient following the regimen given to them by the surgeon, hip replacement failures rate decline substantially. Patients never put stress on their hips and follow all guidelines provided. In doing so, the patient will drastically increase their success rate after a hip replacement.

Afflictions Of The Back That Cause Poor Posture

We can narrow down this from all afflictions of the back that cause poor posture to just those that you weren't born with. In the chiropractic arena, we generally understand that most spinal conditions (that you aren't born with) are due to some kind of trauma.

That trauma may be as easy to remember as a car accident or serious fall, or it could be something more sinister like having bad posture or a poorly set up computer workstation for far too long. The afflictions of the back that can cause poor posture are largely due to repetitive trauma or micro trauma.

These "mini-traumas" are nothing that you would notice if you were only performing the activity once or twice. However, since you perform the offending action thousands upon thousands of times, it can begin to add up. The trauma can lead to such things as degenerative joint disease (DJD), herniated disc, and osteoporosis-related problems like compression fractures.

Degenerative Joint Disease is also known as a "wear and tear" disease. This is usually the result of spinal joints not functioning as well as they should, cause them to simply wear out. DJD may also show up as the result of a more traumatic injury as your body attempts to heal or just bad posture. The visible signs of DJD can be seen on x-ray only after the process has been going on for at least several years.

A herniated disc is usually more painful. The jelly-like substance inside the spinal disc becomes inflamed and begins pushing its way out of the more fibrous outer ring. This can lead to pressure on spinal nerves and lot of associated pain.

Compression fractures related to osteoporosis are also very painful. Once the spine has been pushed out of its normal alignment, it leads to an increase in the amount of pressure and force being put on spinal joints as they resist gravity. Finally, something has to give and the bone begins to collapse on itself. This is called a compression fracture.

The bad news is that once you get one spinal fracture, the increasing stress and body weight will typically lead to more. Prevention is the key, then, to all of these conditions. Since you can't predict or always avoid the traumas of auto accidents or falls, you'll have to try and avoid the repetitive traumas in your daily life.

Elbow Pain From Biceps Curls? Here's What to Do

Biceps curls are the classic bodybuilding exercise used to add mass to the biceps. Furthermore, they're used as assistance exercises by weight lifters and other strength athletes. If you spend any amount of time training for bodybuilding or athletics, odds are you'll do some biceps curls.

The problem is that biceps curls done incorrectly can damage your elbow joint.

This happens at the bottom of the movement, when the arm is extended, and it usually takes a long, long time to heal once the pain becomes noticeable. What's more, once you get elbow damage, you will continue to injure yourself further if you try to 'train through the pain' or ignore what's happening in hopes that it will all just go away.

Three types of elbow injury caused by biceps curls

All elbow pain isn't indicative of the same problem. There are three injuries related to curls that might cause elbow problems.

One is ligament damage. The ligaments are tough, fibrous bands of connective tissue that hold your elbow joints together, and limit you to a proper range of motion.

The second elbow injury is tendon damage or inflammation to the biceps tendon (and, less commonly, to tendons associated with muscles in the forearms).

Finally, you might experience actual elbow joint damage. But this usually only occurs when you refuse to let an injury heal. It's more a symptom of stubbornness than it is of improper curling technique.

How to do biceps curls so you avoid elbow problems

The first sort of elbow problem -- caused by ligament damage -- is usually the result of hyperextension of the elbow joint during biceps curls. The weight of the barbell or dumbbell forces your joint past it's proper range of motion when your arm is straight, causing the ligaments to stretch (or worse).

This is a common injury when people use a preacher bench without an ez-curl bar. The preacher bench makes it easy to get a full range of motion during high-intensity curls, but it also puts your elbow into a dangerous position. If you're not experienced with the preacher curl, you are in danger of hurting your elbow. The ez curl bar keeps your elbows oriented properly, reducing (but not eliminating) the danger.

The second type of elbow pain -- tendon damage -- is usually a result of overtraining. But it also happens when you "cheat" during a curl. The extra weight can cause a repetitive-stress injury to the elbow tendon as you lower the weight. Again, using an ez-curl bar keeps the elbows "locked into a groove" and helps prevent this sort of injury. Young guys who are obsessed with the appearance of their biceps in a tight t-shirt often fall prey to this sort of overuse injury. Performing endless sets of high-rep biceps curls will pump up your upper arms, but it won't build true strength and size. It's better to stick to a sensible number of sets and make sure to keep your reps below 12.

Finally, damage to the elbow joint is caused when ligament damage is present. People who continue to work out despite having stretched-out ligaments are going to damage the joints. This is something you shouldn't ever do. If you are so obsessed with working out that you push through elbow pain, you need the services of an exercise psychologist. Be sensible and allow it to rest and heal.

Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is a common ailment people experience as they age. All Arthritis conditions affect the joints of the body in some form, with almost all those afflicted with the disease reporting pain. The most common form of Arthritis is Osteoarthritis, with a similar form being Rheumatoid Arthritis. Despite being subgroups of Arthritis, there are key differences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is also known as Degenerative Arthritis, in that joints and connecting bone degrade, leading to a loss of cartilage for bone support. The hands, feet, and spine are the areas most commonly affected. Those who are obese, elderly, suffer from joint stress, or muscle weakness are at greater risk for the disease. Treatments for this disease include lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight loss which are commonly recommended.

The other common form of Arthritis is called Rheumatoid Arthritis. Unlike Osteoarthritis, RA is an inflammatory response that is chronic. Joints are similarly affected as in Osteoarthritis, however, the membrane that lines the joints are what become inflamed instead. Small joint areas such as the hands and feet are affected most commonly. Unlike Osteoarthritis, this form of Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. The body's immune system actually attacks normal tissue in the body. Treatments includes anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relieving drugs, and drugs that prevent future joint degradation.

Despite affecting similar areas of the body, Osteoarthritis and RA are two very different conditions. Osteoarthritis will affect those with demographic risk factors, while Rheumatoid Arthritis can attack anyone, as it is an autoimmune disorder.

How to Ease the Aches and Pains of Cold Weather

Winter is upon us again and most of the country is covered in layers of freezing snow. Some folks know winter is here because they can see the snow through their window or hear about it on the news, but some of us know winters is coming long before it arrives. We can predict the cold because our joints and body ache like the devil and old injuries that we barely remember come back to haunt us.

Whether you have arthritis, sinusitis, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel syndrome or just a bad knee from that fall you took off grandma's porch 30 years ago, winter can be a time to cringe in pain rather than binge on eggnog. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to ease the aches of cold weather pain.

It may sound like common sense, but it bears repeating. The best way to avoid cold-related aches and pains is to stay warm. Dress warmly, even when you're inside the house, and plug in that electric blanket and heater. You can also turn your house's heating system up or buy one of those snug new blanket-robes. When dressing to keep warm, you should also remember that several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one overlarge jacket or sweater. By keeping your body warm, your joints won't stiffen up and hurt. Warm muscles and joints are a less likely to snap or spasm which can lead to new injuries and renewed pain.

Another way to combat winter-related joint pain is to drink sufficient fluids to keep your body properly hydrated. Dehydration can cause muscle cramps, lethargy and general muscle soreness. Those over 65 should take particular care to drink enough as seniors are more affected by dehydration than others. Even better, you can drink a hot beverage such as decaffeinated tea to stay warm and hydrated at the same time

When choosing your beverages, be careful to avoid caffeine. Restricted blood flow or poor circulation can bring on debilitating joint diseases including Reynaud's Phenomenon, where fingers and toes become numb and turn blue. Two of the many substances that cause blood to flow less freely are caffeine and nicotine. Reducing, or eliminating, your intake of both substances will reduce the chances of developing major joint pain. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea and most sodas and nicotine, in tobacco.

Another way to keep your muscles and joints warm and flexible would be to plan, and stick to, a regular exercise routine. The advantages of exercising include increased joint mobility and muscle strength and the maintenance of a healthy level of bone density. If you don't usually exercise, then start slowly with a relatively mild routine before moving on to something more strenuous. Another option would be to become a member of the local YMCA or gym and take advantage of the exercise equipment and personal trainers that these places offer.

The best treatment for any pain is prevention. If you suffer from joint, back or neck pain then regular visits to a chiropractor can do wonders to keep winter aches and pains at bay. Spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques may help by treating your specific conditions that are aggravated by the cold each year.

Cold and humid weather has been scientifically proven to worsen the symptoms of several disorders and to aggravate old injuries. However, contrary to some beliefs, winter aches and pains are not something that you must "learn to live with." Your chiropractor can determine a course of treatment and make recommendations to ease the pain and may have your muscles feeling like Spring again.

Joint Supplements For Humans

When you purchase and start taking a joint supplement for problems with pain, stiffness, and a lack of flexibility, it is important to know what you are getting. There are two major problems people run into when dealing with joint supplement products. The first is that many products on the market are designed for pets and not humans. This can make it difficult to find an appropriate product when conducting an online search. One easy way to make sure you are only getting search results appropriate to what you are looking for is to add the word "human" to the beginning of your search query. This should give you a set of results that eliminates supplements designed for pets.

The second and most common problem is that many people confuse joint health supplements with pain relief products that provide temporary reduction in discomfort. It is a common myth that joint supplements don't work very well because they do not provide immediate relief from joint pain. The truth is; these supplements are designed to provide your body with the proper nutrition it needs to support healthy joint function over a long period of time. As the overall health of your joints improves, you are likely to experience less discomfort and greater mobility but one should not expect a joint supplement to provide instant pain relief like an over-the-counter pain reliever would. By the same token, those instant painkiller products will provide temporary relief of symptoms but do not contain any ingredients that would help to promote any progressive improvement in the condition of the joints. If you have severe joint pain, there is nothing wrong with using a combination of both types of products to help maintain your active lifestyle in comfort. Depending on which joint supplement you choose, they will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly.

Some of the most popular supplements in recent years have been glucosamine and chondroitin although recent studies have called into question just how much benefit they can provide. The current trend in human joint supplements is to take a broad approach and provide ingredients that contain high levels of antioxidants to assist your body in neutralizing free radicals that can damage healthy tissue. One of the most popular products is a natural joint supplement capsule made by Greek Island Labs. It is made up of over three dozen fruit and vegetable ingredients to help support healthy joints. Remember to evaluate the performance of the supplements you take based on their intended use. This will help to ensure you get the most benefit from your supplements of choice and make good decisions about which products you should continue to take as part of your daily health routine.