Chronic Low Back Pain - Check the Sacroiliac Joint

Sacroiliac pain is a 'hidden' pain in the respect that most doctors have no idea that such severe pain can be caused by this joint. The sacroiliac (or S-I joint) is where the sacrum (a triangular shaped bone located below your lumbar spine) and the ilium connect together. This S-I joint area, along with the ankle are the two exposed areas of the body that get a poor muscular supply to stabilize the bones. Because of this this joint can become very unstable causing not only lower back pain but radiating pain that can go into the buttocks, leg, hip and groin.

Most doctors are clueless when it comes to proper diagnosis and treatment of this condition. It is estimated that 30% of the general population will experience low back pain because their sacroiliac joints have been injured or misaligned. It can start with poor posture, a slip and fall, playing sports, car accident, or other types of trauma.

The S-I joint is quite a movable joint which can break down over time when the muscles begin to weaken and shorten. When muscles weaken they lose their ability to absorb force. When this happens that force will go into the S-I joint area which isn't designed to absorb any force. When this occurs, inflammation begins which in turns sends a signal up to the brain to warn of damage which is interpreted as pain. The body is always trying to protect you so it doesn't want you to continue to produce damage to that area so that is why the pain sensation is produces... to stop you from moving.

There is new treatment that can limit the amount of pain that you experience when this condition begins. Traditional therapy treatment consists of massage, ultrasound and other traditional type of treatment. New treatment goes beyond the limiting treatment because there is new research that shows pain relief faster. As well as research to structurally strengthen the joint to ensure stability to prevent future breakdown. A combination of manual and new bio-electric stimulation. This technique can actually find where the breakdown originally occurred.

When you have pain in the lower back particularly due to S-I pain, the bread down occurred somewhere else and where you feel the pain is where the damage ended. By finding the exact origin of the damage you can quickly reduce the pain and begin healing faster than ever thought. Most patients end up with increased painless range of motion in the first one to two treatments which allows for them to avoid any type of needless surgery.

Study Finds Oral Hyaluronic Acid Helps Horse Joint Post-Op Healing

Oral administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) may help improve healing in horses after arthroscopic surgery for joint disease, according to researchers at Oregon State University. In the study reported in the July issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal, 48 yearling Thoroughbreds (57 joints) received oral HA or placebo for 30 days after surgery for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions.

"Based on our results, it was clear that those horses treated with oral HA post-operatively had much less swelling and seemed to return to a normal clinical appearance faster than those treated with placebo," said Brady Bergin, DVM, assistant professor, Oregon State University.

The horses were divided into two groups: Group 1 received 100 mg of HA once a day, and Group 2 received a placebo. At the 30-day exam, horses were graded by the synovial effusion by size of the OCD lesion (the lower the number the better). Group 1 had an average score of 0.67, and Group 2 scored 2.05. Oral HA showed benefit over placebo for all joint lesions in all locations, according to the researchers.

HA is a glycosaminoglycan found in skin, cartilage, vitreous humor of the eye and in joint synovial fluid. It is used intra-articularly (in the joint) for both humans and horses in the treatment of joint disease. Additionally, it has been used intravenously in horses.

According to the researchers, "OCD is a growth disorder within the developmental orthopedic disease complex and is considered a manifestation of osteochondritis." The surgery they performed is to prevent degenerative joint disease. Intra-articular HA has been used for more than 30 years in horses. It is found to reduce lameness associated with joint disease. Oral HA has only been in use for 4 years.

Bergin noted that oral HA gives a horse owner a good option for joint health care because it is "natural, safe and effective." He explained that although oral HA can be a supplement to other therapy for arthritis and lameness, a horse owner should consult his or her veterinarian first to determine the horse's treatment plan.

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Parasites And Joint Pain: Is There Any Connection To Gout?

It is estimated that 85% to 95% of the population has parasites. There is also a growing suspicion that all cancer, asthma, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease is due to parasitic infection. This deserves further investigation and it would not be surprising to find a strong connection for the tendency toward Gout.

The definition of a Parasite is: "any living thing that lives on or in another living organism". The danger of parasites in the human body (or the bodies of our animals that make up our food supply and our pets) is that they will cause any number of difficulties; they interfere with various bodily functions, destroy tissues in the vital organs, and release toxic poisons into the bloodstream.

Parasitic organisms have two classifications: a larger variety that are basically "worms", and microscopic, single-celled organisms that can travel in the blood and other body fluids like a virus or bacteria.

The most common method of transmission is through poorly washed foods and contaminated water. However, because most of the population already has some sort of infestation, there a many other ways to get infected. The "eggs" of these parasites are microscopic. These microscopic eggs can be transported undetected in a number of different ways.

Here is an example: someone uses the restroom at a restaurant, sits back down at their table and uses the salt shaker - they have just deposited microscopic parasitic eggs onto this object. You're next to use this table and you use the salt shaker and then lick your finger - you are now the new host to the parasites.

Kissing, holding hands, exchanging money, etc. - these and many others, are all ways that we pass around the infection every minute of every day. Typically if one family member is a host, the whole family is infected. The eggs can live under fingernails for 2 months and because the eggs are microscopic in nature, they can even become airborne and then inhaled.

The list of symptoms is long and varied:

• chronic fatigue


• bloating, constipation, diarrhea


• environmental sensitivities


• joint and muscle pain


• ulcers and sores


• anxiety


• bruxism


• chronic viral or bacterial infections


• depression


• difficulty losing weight


• candida


• itchy ears, nose, anus


• brain fog


• pain in the back, shoulders, thighs


• sexual dysfunction

This is a condensed list; depending on your source of reference there are many other conditions and illnesses that can be found.

Due to the enormous and very broad range of parasitic species, testing is almost completely ineffective. Many of the tests that can be done will look for and detect several dozen different species or types of parasites but will completely overlook several dozen others. This explains why there is a severely unnoticed and undetected epidemic of parasitic infection progressing throughout the world.

Like all living organisms, parasites eat and defecate. The urine and feces is acidic and toxic. This waste adds stress to the kidneys, liver and immune system.

In addition to the toxic waste load that infection adds, parasites can do serious and fatal damage. They not only eat our food, they eat our tissues. They can eat the protein coating off of nerves, the calcium off your bones, they can get in your lungs, brain and liver. Anemia can be caused by hook worms that attach themselves to the lining of the intestines and bite into the blood vessels and suck an enormous amount of blood out of the bloodstream. Heart worms from pets have caused deaths in children. Whip worms and Pin worms can travel in the colon and female sexual organs.

But what can be done about Parasites and what does that have to do with Gout?

The link between Gout and Parasites is due to the acid-forming nature of the presence of parasites; Gout is caused by an overall acidic inner bodily terrain, not just too much uric acid. The strain that parasitic infection creates for the kidneys disrupts and interferes with the adequate elimination of uric acid.

There are a number of best practices to stay parasite-free. Washing your hands frequently is at the top of the list. Never let your pets sleep on your bed our lick you on the mouth. Always wash after a pet licks you.

Raw fruits and vegetable can be a bigger source of parasites than meat; wash everything thoroughly and cook meats until there is no pink left.

Have bowel movements 2 - 3 times per day; the longer feces stay in your digestive tract will create a greater likelihood of parasites to grow.

Old time methods of de-worming are still a very viable and valuable method today. The use of castor oil and mineral oil should still be implemented.

Recipes for herbal preparations like Black Walnut Hulls, Wormwood, and Common Cloves are easily found on an internet search.

In Conclusion: Avoid becoming infected and resist infestation. Parasites of all kinds thrive in acidic conditions and constipation. Staying properly hydrated with high-quality water is a must, and following a high-fiber, alkalizing diet is the best prevention and cure for infection and infestation of parasites.

Treatments For Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis, is the most common form of arthritis. It involves the breakdown of cartilage in the joints and is primarily found in older adults. Symptoms include aching, soreness, pain, bony enlargements in the center of a joint, and joint swelling. Osteoarthritis is most commonly experienced in weight bearing joints such as the knees and hips. It is typically the result of aging, but can be intensified by other factors such as heredity, injury, obesity, joint overuse, and stress. While there is no cure for Osteoarthritis, there are helpful treatments that and lessen the pain, increase mobility, and enhance the individual's quality of life. The type of treatment an Osteoarthritis patient receives will vary depending on a myriad of factors. If you suspect you are experiencing Osteoarthritis, it is critical that you discuss your symptoms and treatment options with your personal physician to ensure you are getting the right treatment for your particular needs.

Most common treatments include:

• 
  Physical therapy and exercise. A licensed physical therapist can advise you on specific muscle strengthening exercises that will help support ligaments and tendons and help alleviate pain.


• 
  Supportive devices. Supportive devices increase mobility, prevent falls, and are great for pain relief. A hinged knee brace, can be used to stabilize ligaments and tendons which will significantly decrease pain, while devices like crutches or canes can lessen the direct stress on joints. When selecting a device, make sure it is lightweight, comfortable, and easy to adjust for a precise fit.


• 
  Medication (oral or injected). Your doctor may prescribe you pain-relieving and/or anti-inflammatory medications which can help with Osteoarthritis management.


• 
  Weight Control. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will reduce the stress on your joints.


• 
  Hot or cold therapy. Hot or cold compresses can be administered to reduce pain and swelling.


• 
  Removal of fluid. If excess fluid surrounds the joints, your physician may choose to drain that fluid manually in order to alleviate pressure on the joint.


• 
  Alternative treatments. Some medical research concludes that glucosamine and chondrotin can rebuild cartilage, especially in the knee. There are also other (currently unproven) supplements that are also associated with Osteoarthritis treatment. Likewise, some people swear that acupuncture and bio-electric therapy alleviates pain, though there have not yet been any conclusive studies to support these claims.


• 
  Surgery. If less invasive treatments prove ineffective, your doctor may recommend corrective surgery.

Note: This information is not intended to supplement or replace advice from a medical professional, or to diagnose or treat any condition.

Best Mattresses For Joint and Back Issues?

Back pain is a common issue in the mattress world. For many years, mattress manufacturing companies have tried so hard to produce mattresses that can help alleviate these pains. In fact, in their list of features, there is surely one promise of "alleviating back pains".

But which mattress is really the right one that can provide this benefit? I have to say those firmer mattress take the cake. Sealy posturepedic, Bergad Isoform mattress, Englander mattress-these mattress brands provide a firm mattress.

Sealy Posturepedic TrueForm Mattress
This is the one made from visco elastic memory foam. Memory foams are better in the sense that this is exactly their purpose. They are manufactured with one intent and that is to alleviate back pains. Sealy carries the torch in the mattress industry due to their reputation and their seniority in this business.

Their TrueForm bed was purported to relieve back pains. The mattress has just the right support. It is not too firm which is a refreshing change out of all the ultra firm mattresses sold today.

Bergad Isoform Mattress
This one also uses memory foams but it has been incorporated with so much beneficial features. The mattress has semi-firm comfort. Actually, they offer it in various density levels so you can choose the best one for you. Many consumers said this is the mattress that has brought them comfortable sleep. No other mattress were able to do that to them.

What is better with this mattress is that it is breathable. There is a coolmax feature in this mattress unseen in other memory foams. It allows the mattress to effectively regulate its temperature. This way, it does not get too cold during winter.

Englander Mattress
This mattress brand is better known for their latex mattress line. Latex provides semi-firm comfort so there is a good amount of support to the upper back and a good amount of comfort to the lower back. This one provides that benefit and more.

Since it is latex, it is hypoallergenic. The mattress is also breathable. But on top of that, a remarkable benefit you will note is its bio-sustainability that makes it friendlier to nature.

These are the mattresses that are a cut above the rest. They do not only alleviate back issues and joint pains, they also provide a myriad of other health benefits. If you are on the lookout for a good mattress brand, try them and see a great difference.

Discover What Causes Hissing in the Ear and How to Get Rid of It

Hissing in the ear is one of the signs that you may have tinnitus. This is a condition where you hear unwanted noises in your ears such as ringing, hissing, and buzzing even without external stimuli. Treatments are more effective when you address the condition at its root cause.

Medical Conditions

You may hear hissing sounds in your ears as symptoms of medical conditions, diseases, or disorders, such as the following:

• High blood pressure that can also act as a symptom of other life threatening diseases such as cardiovascular diseases

• Migraine, a condition where you experience severe headache usually accompanied by ringing ears that can disrupt your routine

• TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, a condition where ear hissing and pain is a symptom.

Treatment of the disease or the disorder is necessary to free yourself from the symptom of ear hissing.

Exposure to Very Loud Noise

The most frequent cause of unwanted noise in your ears is also noise. Extreme noise causes damage to your inner ear resulting with you hearing unpleasant sounds in your ears even without external noise. The immediate solution to this is to refrain from going to places where you will hear extreme noise. The key is to reduce your exposure to loud noise.

However, in instances where avoiding loud noise is beyond your control, it helps that you wear protective earplugs. These plugs will act as your shield to prevent noise from damaging your inner ears.

Anxiety and Stress

Hissing in the ear usually happens with anxiety and stress. If you are anxious or stressed, most likely you will also hear this unwanted noise in your ear. It is crucial that you learn how to manage your stress if you want to get rid of its symptom.

You should not take stress and the hissing sound you hear for granted. Together, they can warn you of serious or life-threatening health diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Do not allow stress to rule your life, as you have several ways to get rid of it. Some of these are resting your mind and body, inhaling and exhaling as well as other breathing techniques, listening to calming music.

Clogged Ears

Clogged ear is a common cause why you hear the hissing sound. Typical reason for clogging of your ears is accumulation of earwax. While earwax serves are protection for your inner ear, too much of it can lead to problems such as unwanted noise.

Clogged ear is also a symptom of sinusitis. You will experience clogged ears and nose because of the overflow of mucus. Fluid will start to fill your ear and inflammation prevents drainage of this fluid. As a result, you will experience pain, pressure, and hissing in your ears.

Make sure that you clean your ears properly to prevent build-up and thickening of unnecessary earwax. To shield your body from inflammatory diseases and infections, you need to boost your immune system. You can do this through developing healthy dietary habits that may include high quality supplements to fill any nutrient gap.

These are the leading causes of hissing in the ear as well as how you can treat it immediately. It is always prudent to consult your ear specialist and get a good diagnosis of your condition to rule out any serious illness of which hissing is a symptom.

Hip Joint Pain - Find a Treatment For It

Have you recently been having hip joint pain? It could be a simple issue such as arthritis. As we age, our bodies begin to wear down. This includes the tendons, muscles and bones in our bodies. As it is a weight bearing joint, the hip joints often suffers greatly as we grow older. If you have had a recent injury to any part of your body, this could be the culprit of your hip joint pain.

Many of us don't consider it, but if you injure your leg, it is easy to understand how it could affect your hip. The bones grind together and cause inflammation and pain when you jam your leg or back into a position that it is not accustomed to. Spinal injury is a major reason for hip pain and must be examined to make sure that it is not causing undue stress to this area of your body.

A little trip can cause a lot of pain. You may not always know the cause of your hip pain immediately. You may fall and not feel the pain for a day or so. If this is the case, try taking an over the counter pain medication to relieve your symptoms.

If your symptoms worsen or do not go away shortly, you need to seek medical attention. Any pains that are severe should also be attended to promptly.

Hip joint pain can be caused by arthritis, many times. It is very common in older people and people who are involved in athletic activities or have recently done heavy lifting. Try taking ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen to help the pain. Most of the time, hip joint pain is caused by either the swelling of the joint, as with arthritis, or by the swelling of the tendons around the joint. This is called tendonitis.

Hip joint pain can also be caused by conditions that may require medical intervention such as a hip or stress fracture. These are serious conditions and you put yourself at risk for other health conditions if you don't get a proper diagnosis from a medical professional.

Signs and Symptoms of TMJ-TMD

TMJ is a condition qualified by the pain, immobility and discomfort in the jaw joint Temporo Mandibular Joint, which is the joint on each side of your jaw just in front of your ear that is responsible for the movement of your jaw that allows you to eat, speak and move your facial muscles.

When considering whether or not you have TMJ it's important to know the signs and symptoms of TMJ to determine if you need to see a doctor immediately or try and wait for the condition to pass. If it is TMJ you will need to see a doctor immediately to help you with a treatment plan to help the symptoms subside and find a cause for the condition to prevent future TMJ symptoms and problems.

While, the causes of TMJ are various and somewhat ambiguous, the signs and symptoms of TMJ are fairly obvious and can cause an immense amount of inconvenience in a short amount of time. Some of the symptoms include jaw pain, headaches, immobility of the jaw, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, and swelling of the side of the face. Some of the outward signs of TMJ are weight loss, dehydration and a decline in oral health as a result of the immobility and pain symptoms of the disease.

The signs and symptoms of TMJ can range from minor to serious depending on the intensity of the condition and how long the signs and symptoms have been ignored. It's important to seek medical attention immediately when experiencing the signs and symptoms of TMJ to get access to treatment and have assistance in finding the cause of your specific case of TMJ to help alleviate the symptoms you are facing and prevent future symptoms and problems with your jaw joints.

TMJ is one of the most painful arthritis conditions there is and because it effects the jaw joints the secondary symptoms that come with TMJ can cause eating, speaking and oral health problems which can trigger a whole other set of problems. If you suspect you are suffering from the signs and symptoms of TMJ, then get to the doctor immediately and work with them to find a treatment and solution for your discomfort, pain and the cause of the disorder.

Simply And Naturally: End Your Back Or Rheumatoid Joint Pain

In advanced cultures lower back pain has emerged on the scene as yet another chronic condition of our modern times, the likes of which can be traced back to our diets and lifestyles. Back pain any where can often begin suddenly and may follow an obvious strain or injury, but more likely than not, it seems to come on slowly or "out of the blue".

Sciatic back pain is the most common form of back pain. It is caused by a herniated, ruptured, slipped disc or, a pinched nerve. In plain terms, that means a disc is protruding outward or away from its normal position in the vertebral column and is pressuring a nerve in the lower back which forms part of the sciatic nerve.

In F. Batmanghelidj's book, "How To Deal With Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain", Dr. B explains in detail how chronic low back pain or Rheumatoid joint pain are indicators that there is a drought in certain specific areas of the body. As we age, we also lose our our ability to sense thirst. A dry mouth is not a reliable signal to trust, and to make matters worse, we often drink other beverages instead of pure water. Adult beverages such as tea, coffee, alcohol are drying agents and further force water reserves out of the body.

Ending back or joint pain first and foremost begins by hydrating discs and joints (the affected drought areas) with nothing more than pure water.

When discs are dehydrated 80 percent of all back pain is caused by muscle spasms. The water deficiency affects the back muscles as well as the dry protruding disc. The burden then gets shifted onto the back muscles to keep pulling on the vertebral column continually to keep the posture of the body upright.

The second step to stopping the pain in the back, caused by dehydrated disc displacement, is to begin to do a set of simple corrective exercises. Dr. B illustrates and explains in easy to understand terms, the anatomy and law of physics, that are involved in returning your disc to its normal position, thus alleviating the pain.

Thirdly you will be shown how to strengthen back muscles with specific protective exercises. These exercises will promote better circulation and will bring about the possibility of strengthening tendons and ligaments, as well as promote hydration of the disc core of all the vertebral discs.

Just like back pain associated with disc displacement, Rhuematoid joint pain is also a direct signal of a regional dry spot in the body. If you learn to consciously recognize this as a signal, then step up your water intake. In most cases the pain will gradually disappear and local swelling of joint surfaces may possibly go away as well. Joint structure will then begin to repair itself if a gross deformity has not already begun.

Dr. B's short 100 page book on the subject of these two specific chronic pains of our modern societies is a must read if you, or someone you love, suffer from back or joint pain.

You owe yourself or your loved ones a more basic and natural approach. The many evasive treatments that are commercialized and profit driven currently are not in the best interest of a suffering public.

By applying the knowledge in this well researched manual with an open mind, you may very well be on your way to a much more "pain free" and "anxiety free" life. You will then be doing your part when you recommend this self-help guide to others.

The momentum for a more cost efficient and knowledgeable art of health care is emerging steadily year by year and day by day. You can make a difference in joining a team to help force a paradigm change in the science of healing, that will eventually be acknowledged in the future as truth!

How To Deal With TMJ Headache

The TMJ condition can be very inconvenient and painful. Furthermore, for TMJ sufferers the pain may not just involve the jaw area. A TMJ patient may also suffer from a TMJ headache.

Experiencing TMJ Pain

The jaw is not the only area affected by TMJ. TMJ patients can suffer from facial pain and, as a result, get facial inflammation, too. On top of that, one could also possibly experience ear pain and ringing. One other TMJ related condition is the TMJ headache.

In severe cases, a TMJ headache may be felt throughout the head area. In a lot of cases though, the pain may only be felt in the temple region. A TMJ headache is actually referred pain or pain that originates from the jaws and radiates to the temple area. This type of headache is considered a tension type of headache and may further radiate to the neck, shoulders and back regions.

The TMJ Headache

TMJ-related headache, however, should be the least of your concerns. Since the pain may increase and last for days up to a couple of months. This can naturally lead to poor sleep and fatigue. All these could therefore translate to poor work performance and interpersonal interactions. Your head ache may not disappear on its own so you may need prompt treatment to get you back on track.

Factors Affecting Your Headache

As previously mentioned, TMJ headache may complicate into other health conditions. Several factors including emotional dilemmas, menstrual cycle and physical fatigue may lead to more TMJ headache pain. Some experts say that a headache of this sort may also occur with sinus and nose congestions or problems.

Misdiagnosis

It is not surprising to get a misdiagnosis for a TMJ-related headache especially if your general practitioner is not thoroughly familiar with TMJ problems or if you go to a doctor who specializes in something else. Sometimes, TMJ can be mistaken for migraine or sinus problems especially if the patient does exhibit sinus symptoms along with a TMJ headache.

TMJ Treatment

Doctors can have different approaches to treating the TMJ condition. Some doctors may simply prescribe a pain reliever or over the counter anti inflammatory drug to help ease the pain of a TMJ linked headache. What you should remember though is that a TMJ headache is caused by your TMJ condition. It therefore follows that you can treat your headache best by addressing your TMJ problem.

Like any health condition, TMJ can be treated and approached from various angles. You could however try to manage your TMJ condition yourself. There is a possibility that your condition may be stress related. If this is the case, what you need to do is to look for ways to relax. You could enroll in formal meditation or yoga classes or you could simply look for activities that you find relaxing. You also need to mentally take note of situations when you suddenly feel yourself go tense and will yourself to relax.

Could Temporomandibular Disorders Be Causing Your Jaw Joint Pain And Headaches?

Joint pain and headaches can be caused by countless things, including diseases such as arthritis, but obviously I can't cover each individual one in a single article. Seeing that I've already written several articles about different types of arthritis, I'll focus on TMJ (The Temporomandibular Joint) disorders instead this time.

As with other similar disorders, TMJ disorders can be difficult to diagnose, and equally as difficult to treat. A patient suffering from one of these disorders often has to undergo several tests, including things like MRI scans and etc.

So, what is the temporomandular joint? The temporomandular joint is a ball and socket type joint situated on either side of your face. They are the joints which connect your upper and lower jaws to each other, and are considered being the most used joints in the human body. Apart from all the regular movement, such as when you open or close your mouth, the joints are also subjected to a great deal of pressure whenever we chew our food.

Supporting these joints are a complex arrangement of muscles, ligaments, and bones, so when something goes wrong with one or both joints, it's quite often accompanied by muscle pain and headaches.

TMJ disorders can, as previously mentioned, be caused by several things. With that having been said, the most common causes are physical trauma, teeth grinding, gum chewing, and of course misaligned teeth.

People with one or more TMJ disorders often feel a clicking sensation when they open their mouth, and particularly when they yawn. They can also have difficulty chewing, or biting down on hard foods. Many sufferers also end up with regular headaches, and approximately 33% of sufferers experience tinnitus, in either one or both ears. Fortunately, surgery is usually only necessary in extreme cases, such as when ligaments need to be tightened.

In the vast majority of cases, patients are advised to rest their jaws as much as possible. This includes eating soft foods as opposed to hard crunchy foods. The next form of treatment a doctor is likely to recommend is heat and ice therapy. Doctors may also recommend that you take anti-inflammatory medication. Of course since I prefer to stick with all-natural remedies whenever possible, I'd most likely opt for a natural anti-inflammatory such as New Zealand green lipped mussel extract.

If teeth grinding is thought to be the cause, a patient might be instructed to use a special type of mouth guard designed specifically to stop one from grinding one's teeth. On the other hand, if misaligned teeth are the root cause, dental work might be necessary.

As mentioned earlier, there are several health problems which can lead to joint pain and headaches, so if this is something you're experiencing, then it is best that you see a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be made.

MBST Therapy

Some of the most chronic conditions that we get include Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis. These are degenerative conditions, one affects the bones and the other the joints. Current treatments focus on pain management but there is an alternative.

MBST therapy or magnetic resonance therapy uses the therapeutic effects of magnetic fields. It was discovered that patients with degenerative joint disease and bone mineral density loss showed improvements after having medical scans. It was found that the magnetic fields generated during magnetic resonance imaging had positive effects on the body.

Much research and many years later a specific EM field technology in the form of MBST was developed to target these two previously untreatable conditions. It works by acting on the bodies natural ability to heal itself. Our natural metabolic processes are partly controlled by EM fields.

This technology acts on nuclear spin, this is not anything to do with radiation but the nucleus of cells in our body. We can positively affect the cells in our body with electromagnetic fields that have positive therapeutic effect.

In particular for patients with Osteoarthritis this technology has been proven to regenerate cartilage in the targeted joints. This has the effect of reducing or eliminating the pain associated with cartilage loss. It also increases the patients mobility that was previously limited by the condition.

For Osteoporosis or bone loss the treatment increases bone density. Treatments have be proven to increase bone density and mass whilst significantly reducing pain.

This type of magnetic resonance therapy should not be confused with magnetic therapy. This is a treatment that is developed solely by MedTec in Germany.

Treatments are administered through a machine akin to an MRI scanner. As with imaging scanners there are no side effects and the treatments can be carried out fully clothed and take no more than about an hour per session. Depending on the condition up to 9 sessions may be necessary.

Prior to treatment you will have to be checked for contraindications. Patients with auto immune disease, cancer or who are pregnant cannot be treated. Treatments can be targeted to specific regions such as the spine, wrists, ankles, knees, hips and neck.

There has been many medical studies proving this therapy. Most of the studies are German based but carried out by renowned institutes, universities and medical establishments. In the UK the treatments are relatively new but to date tens of thousands of patients have been treated with MBST therapy.

How to Stop Eye Diseases That Affect Aging People - How an Aging Man Stopped Presbyopia Eye Disease

This expose' talks about how to stop some eye diseases that affect aging people. An aging man was able to stop the presbyopia eye disease that, up until now, has always affected aging people.

The man was able to stop presbyopia by using a fantastic new invention. It's a product, which is made with over-the-counter liquids, and it's proven to help aging people stop an eye disease related to getting older.

Aging people may soon be able to stop eye diseases, which are related to getting older, with the revolutionary invention. This commentary has a true story about how an aging man stopped presbyopia, which is an eye disease that by all accounts cannot be avoided by aging people; but an aging man stopped it, and he's avoided getting the eye disease for over 10 years.

Presbyopia and macular degeneration (MD) are eye diseases that affect aging people; but those diseases have been delayed in an aging man, if not avoided altogether.

Presbyopia is also known as the "short arm disease" because people think their arms become too short to be able to read small print, like that which is found in your daily newspaper, as they get older. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of adult blindness.

The Medical Dictionary definition for the eye disease presbyopia is that it's "changes in vision due to aging [that] usually start when people are in their early 40s and continues for several decades," and the dictionary adds that "there is no way known that anyone" can avoid getting the eye disease presbyopia; but all of that could change because of an exciting new invention.

Here's how an aging man was able to stop presbyopia.

A 46 year-old man was involved in an accident while he was living in Ruidoso, New Mexico in 1999. He swerved, while riding his bicycle, to avoid crashing into a car that ran a red light. He lost his balance, and then slid face-first into the pavement.

As a result of the accident; he developed a big, ugly blood clot in his right eye along with a horrendous abrasion on the right side of his face.

Knowing that a blood clot in your eye might last for what could seem like an eternity; he used an over-the-counter substance, which he thought might help it clear up. So he sprayed his face, to prevent scarring; and he sprayed his eyes, concentrating the spray more on his right eye in hopes that he might alleviate the hideous blood clot.

It worked. The blood clot disappeared after a few weeks, and he didn't develop a scar on his face.

But then, about 6 months later; he noticed seeing what he described as 'halos' around floodlights while looking with his left eye, when he covered his right eye. But such was not the case the other way around.

The man was afraid that he might have an eye disease, like glaucoma, in his left eye. So he went the optometrist who had given him a prescription for eyeglasses, about two year earlier, to help him see well enough to drive a semi-truck.

The optometrist was puzzled because eyesight in the aging man's left eye had predictably gotten worse; but vision in his right eye was "about the same," according to the eye doctor.

The optometrist said that the aging man had no eye disease. The eye doctor informed the aging man that vision naturally gets worse for all people over time; and that there was no known way to stop it. But he couldn't explain why the man's left eyesight was worse in visual capabilities than that of his right eye, because it's so unusual for eyesight to degenerate in only one eye.

The man left Ruidoso, and moved to Amarillo, Texas; where he became a volunteer for a non-profit corporation.

After about a year's time of his visit with the optometrist in New Mexico, the difference in the vision between his eyes increased. He stopped driving altogether, to avoid the possibility of having an accident, because the variation in visual acuity between his eyes made it dangerous to drive.

The only thing he'd done differently was spray more of an over-the-counter homeopathic liquid in his right eye, in hopes of making an ugly blood clot disappear.

In desperation, the aging man decided to concentrate spraying the homeopathic solution more on his left eye. He sprayed and sprayed his left eye resolutely with the liquid, but it didn't help. He could not make his left eye 'catch up,' in vision capability, with that of his right eye.

After about two years of his visit with the optometrist in Ruidoso; the aging man could not see normally when he first arose in the morning time because his eyes wouldn't focus together. It was painful for him to keep his eyes open, so he'd peek through his eyelids until his brain could adjust to the anomaly.

He'd close his eyes, shake his head; and then try to focus. In effect, he had 'morning blindness' because he couldn't see upon awaking from sleep. He had to keep his eyes closed, until his brain could acclimate to the lack of equality in visual acuity.

He decided the only option to help him see without pain was to get an eye-patch for his left eye. However, before he did that; he volunteered for an experiment that his church conducted on his behalf.

The man began a schedule of putting eye-drops into his eyes, which the inventor; who is a member of the church, believed would help solve his vision problem.

He put his faith in the good LORD, and in that of modern science; and by the grace of God, he was able to stop presbyopia.

Blind Bartimaeus called out to the LORD; when Jesus was on his way through Jericho to bear the sins of the world on the cross, "Son of David, have mercy on me... If I could just have my vision, I'd be happy."

Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:35-43)

The aging man put a few drops of the solution into his eyes, with the help of an eyedropper, mornings and evenings; as well as a few times throughout the daytime. But he put more than twice as much of it in his left eye than he put into his right eye.

The volunteer reported that, one day shortly after beginning the regimen; while he was cleaning his house, he briefly was afflicted by double vision.

What it comes down to is this; the aging man's brain had to fundamentally adjust and realign its visual map in order to get used to the newly improved vision of the left eye due to preservation of elasticity in the lens that had been degenerating, and the aging man's brain had to re-coordinate its visual map in order to accommodate for better vision that had indeed returned to his left eye.

In a nutshell; not only was he able to stop the eye disease presbyopia in it's tracks, but his vision improved. Here's the rest of this astonishing story.

The volunteer said he could clearly see at 20/20 level, when he passed the vision test in 2008 for his Commercial Driver's License (CDL); after beginning the routine with a new, fantastic product.

Not withstanding the fact that his left eye is slightly far-sighted and his right eye is slightly near-sighted, since his right eye's lens had sufficient interference due to the less powerful but adequate substance to preserve its suppleness before it could stiffen and therefore become less lucid, the aging man's eyes work together marvelously.

The aging man reports feeling luckier than most people, and he believes that his improved eyesight is truly a miracle.

He talks about great pleasure he gets being able to clearly see leaves on the trees, and not just green blobs; and he says it's a tremendous joy to be able to easily read road signs without the eyeglasses that he once needed, so he isn't afflicted by myopia either.

He says that he loves to read literature in small print, like the daily newspaper, with naked eyes. So, in essence, he was able to stop presbyopia due to aging, which starts after people turn 40 and continue for several decades. The man is now approaching sixty--that's 6-0, SIXTY--years of age; but, so far, he has stopped presbyopia because of a fantastic new invention.

He can see very well from a distance too, as verified by his Class A CDL eye exams. He no longer needs bifocal eyeglasses, which he once needed, to help him see. The eyeglasses that he once needed, for which he paid good money, in order to safely drive a semi-truck when he lived in Ruidoso; now make things look blurry to him.

It's not mitigation because that's not how it works, it doesn't cure or prevent any disease; the invention simply preserves elasticity in the lenses of the eyeball, and that's how to stop presbyopia.

The invention is made with two solutions, both of which countless people have applied to their eyes. Not only that; but the foundation of stopping presbyopia and MD is faith. Yes. It's religious in nature. People need only to have enough faith to use it, or else it won't work. Period.

People don't have to have faith in Christ. People don't even have to have faith that there is a God in heaven, or gods on Mount Olympus. People only need to have enough faith to believe that it has helped somebody stop presbyopia, thereby possibly avoiding MD, and that it could work for them too.

The null hypothesis of the pilot research endeavor was, of course, that nothing could help the man's vision return. The alternative hypothesis was that the liquid invention would help return the elasticity to the aging man's left eye lens, thereby equalizing the vision of his eyes, simply by applying the solution with an eyedropper to the eyeball of the impaired left lens.

Since the man's eyesight indeed improved, the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted; therefore, the eyesight of other aging people might also be preserved too because the lenses in the eyeballs of people could also remain or become more pliant with daily application of the solution so their vision could stay or become more lucid than it would otherwise have been.

The vision of the aging man not only was equalized, but it improved in both eyes; so, the amazing new solution might help innumerable people stop the eye disease presbyopia too. It might even stop MD, IF aging people are able to preserve the elasticity of the lenses in their eyes before macular degeneration takes it toll.

Research revealed that it's best to start the regimen before vision becomes impaired, but the results also indicate that pliability of the lens can return.

The null hypothesis in a new research proposal would be, of course, that it is too late to reverse blindness if the neurons in a person's macular fovea have already degenerated.

The alternative hypothesis, which goes hand in hand with the focus of this rendering; in that it is the concept of faith that was central to stopping and reversing the eye disease presbyopia in the visually impaired aging man's eyes, would be that it is possible to reverse blindness due to macular degeneration.

...IF you have faith as mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

The mustard seed, which Jesus of Nazareth was talking about, is a particular variety. The seed is so small that it's almost microscopic. The mustard farmer must water and fertilize it for 7 long years, and nothing happens on the surface of the land; but the roots of the plant are growing.

Then, during the eighth year; the plant shoots up to fast that a person can almost see it grow with the naked eye; and it becomes one of the largest plants known to mankind.

Whether or not applying the incredible new invention to the eyes of aging people in the form of eye drops, coupled with faith, would reverse macular degeneration is a wonderful opportunity for future research.

It's been a 10-year span since the onset of presbyopia in the aging man, who was able to not only stop it; but the results of the pilot research venture indicate that he reversed his loss of vision in both eyes.

The logical conclusion, which can be deducted from the research endeavor discussed in this piece, is that the fantastic product needs to be made available to the general population as soon as possible.

Copyright of J. Michael Brown; January 10, 2011.

Canine Pain Relief - Joint Injury Or Arthritis Call For Discount Dog Pain Relief Medicines

When your dog is suffering from pain after surgery or has joints damaged by arthritis, the pain is similar to that his owner might encounter. Providing canine pain relief is necessary just as human pain relief may be needed at time.

Dogs suffer pain after surgery and from traumatic injuries. Other conditions requiring pain relief for dogs are hip dysplasia and the arthritis so common to senior dogs. Studies have shown that pets have the same varying degrees of pain tolerance as humans do. That may explain why one dog doesn't seem to mind a vaccination shot while another reacts as if you are cutting off his paw.

Pain relief for dogs was ignored for many years by veterinary medicine. Dogs undergoing spay or neuter surgery were routinely sent home with no provision for pain relief. Veterinary advances in understanding animal behavior and physiology led to a more humane view of canine pain relief.

When you provide pain relief before the pain becomes severe or chronic, lower doses of the pet meds can be used. This is especially important when providing dog arthritis treatment. The disease is progressive for many older dogs and for dog breeds frequently afflicted with hip dysplasia.

By identifying arthritis during the early stages, pet owners can offer low dose pain meds with the ability to increase the dosage as needed over time. In extreme cases where pain is caused by injury or major surgery, your vet may use narcotic pain meds for a limited time. This has become infrequent due to the paperwork required of vets to obtain controlled substances and the detailed information required to document use of narcotics.

Codeine and hydrocodone are used in veterinary medicine and may be combined with an NSAID such as as Deramaxx. Vicodin is a mixture of hydrocodone and acetaminophen and can be used safely for dog pain relief. Never administer Vicoden or other prescriptive meds except on the advice of your veterinarian. Addiction to narcotics is not a symptom often found to result from canine pet meds - perhaps because dogs cannot access the medications for themselves.

Cosequin, Arthogen and Glucosamine for dogs have provided pain relief for thousands of aging or injured pets. The incidence of arthritis pain increases with age but arthritis can affect the joints of young animals, too. Large breed dogs are prone to developing hip dysplasia and joint problems. For some dogs, it is a breed specific medical problem while for others it is the result of joints strained by carrying the large dog's weight or joints injured by too much activity.

Lameness is a common symptom of joint pain and is accompanied by stiffness in canines suffering from dog arthritis symptoms. Cosequin and Arthogen provide lubrication to the animal's joint which reduces the pain-causing friction in joints where cartilage has been damaged.

Your vet may advise use of baby aspirin to ease temporary pain and inflammation for your pet. Aspirin and acetaminophen are often good pain relievers but should be given only on the advice of your veterinarian as they can cause stomach irritation in some animals.

Corticosteroids do not provide pain relief but the reduction of inflammation in a damaged joint eases pain. There are side effects with corticosteroid treatments which can include weakening of joint cartilage.

In the case of an older dog that has lost quality of life due to advanced arthritis pain and stiffness, use of corticosteroids may be the answer. Long term side effects are not a consideration when treating an animal near the end of his life.

Providing canine relief for your pet is possible when you examine the options available with your vet and choose a pain control that suits your dog's condition and age. Glucosamine for dogs is frequently used to relieve arthritis pain and is often included with other ingredients in branded dog arthritis medicine.

There is no question that dogs suffer pain just as their owners do. Advances in veterinary medicine have provided solutions for canine pain relief that are safe for your pet when used as prescribed. Pain relief medicine for dogs is now affordable as well and can be purchased online at veterinarian owned websites at discounted prices.

Combat Bruxism Symptoms

Are bruxism symptoms ruining your day? All too often people are wakening up to the nasty bruxism symptoms that do nothing but ruin the rest of the day. If you have felt the signs of teeth grinding you'll know the ones. When you wake in the morning to aching jaw pain, headaches, facial pain and tenderness around the facial region in general.

These are all typical bruxism symptoms that let you know you are gnashing away at your teeth during the night.

There are things you can do to alleviate the pain. One of the most common aids available is to use a mouth guard or a bite plate. Your dentist will probably recommend you use one of these to prevent further damage. There is a problem with these for many though. They come in quite pricey. While getting rid of pain is something you are willing to put money too to destroy the pain. Commercial businesses know this. The price of dental mouth guards to combat bruxism symptoms are heavily inflated. Fair enough they do use high-grade rubber in their plates in order for the mouth guards to sustain some heavy grinding and not wear through to your teeth being ground. They aren't indestructible though.

When the mouth guards cave in they need replacing. That's an expense you could do without. Nonetheless, you really can't be without them or you back track to the pain that the symptoms of bruxism bring.

What else can be done? You might be wondering. Well, looking through a variety of resources during my research into the symptoms of bruxism, causes and cures I did come across several exercises that can indeed rid bruxism symptoms altogether.

Natural remedies such as mouth exercises using nothing more than an apple has been known to dramatically reduce jaw pain felt in the morning after bruxing activity simply by exercising the jaw muscles before bed.

Do You Have Gout?

Gout is one of those conditions which can be aided considerably with a change in diet and lifestyle, and is a form of arthritis which is normally associated with "high living". This condition causes a rather painful accumulation of crystals of uric acid around the joint. I have seen many gout patients over the years, and I think I have seen one or two a women over the years in my clinic complaining of this rather painful condition.

I can still remember the first gout patient I ever saw, I was practicing in the student clinic in the 90's. A male aged mid forties came in complaining of a very painful right ankle and big toe. He was a mechanic who enjoyed a beer, in fact he said: "Eric, I'll do anything you suggest, I won't be stopping my beer however, but I can't live with this pain anymore".

A gout attack of pain usually strikes unexpectedly, but generally subsides in a few days with treatment. However, some guys can experience pain for several weeks with gout attacks often re-occurring and without the correct management the attacks of pain may become more frequent and can be very debilitating indeed. You should contact your doctor if really severe pain in a joint recurs or lasts more than a few days, especially if the pain is accompanied by chills or fever. Now let's have a closer look at gout, what it is and what causes it and more importantly, how we can help the gout patient with some good natural medicine suggestions.

Gout is arthritis

Gout is regarded as a form of rheumatism and is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. There are different types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, the "wear and tear" arthritis of the larger joints like hips, knees, back, etc. Then there is rheumatoid arthritis which is the inflammatory (heat) arthritis affecting the smaller joints generally like the writs, fingers, etc. And then there is gout, what I call the "red-blooded male's arthritis". I can remember reading a book awhile ago about the era of the large ocean going vessels such as the Endeavour during the golden age of discovery. Many officers on board such vessels suffered terribly from gout. Mind you, they were the commanding men who drank plenty of rum and ate plenty of beef with lashings of gravy. So what has changed? Blokes still like to command, drink rum and coke or cold beer, and eat hot steaks and what red-blooded guy doesn't? I have never seen a committed vegetarian suffering with gout, and very much doubt they even exist in this country.

Signs and Symptoms of Gout

Recurrent, acute attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, inflammation and swelling around the smaller joints - especially the joint of the big toe. Why the big toe you ask? Common sense - because it is the joint at the lowest point of the body, the area where deposits of uric acid and other wastes tend to form due to gravity. If you are right-handed, the right big toe joint will be more likely affected than you left, and vice versa. This is because you step off and lead with your right foot as you walk, and is will have therefore a slightly better circulation of nutrients (and therefore also a little more deposition of wastes) than your left foot. Reflexologists often talk about "crystals" forming around the toe joints, and you can feel "crunching" sensations if you prod firmly under your toes or wiggle the toe joints at times. The patient can also feel quite a sharp and rather intense pain in a small joint, particularly the toe or wrist. The affected joint can be red, hot, swollen and even throbbing. It may feel "on fire". As earlier mentioned, the pain can be so unbearable that even a bed sheet can cause excrutiating pain.

Gout statistics

繚 Gout afflicts approximately up to 0.5% of the population of the western world.

繚 Over 95% of gout sufferers are men aged 30 or over.

繚 Gout is twenty times more likely in males than women.

繚 Gout is strongly associated with being overweight and having high blood pressure.

繚 Gout can also occur in women, more commonly after menopause.

繚 Maori (New Zealand indigenous peoples) and Pacific Islander peoples in particular tend to have high uric acid levels and are predisposed to gout, especially the Maori patients I see who love abalone, mussels, roe (fish eggs like caviar) and crayfish (like lobster). I would expect that indigenous American or African peoples would similarly be affected by gout, particulary when they live in the developed Western countries and eat foods high in purines.

繚 The type of individual most commonly affected by gout is an overweight man who drinks large amounts of alcohol, is a regular meat-eater, loves rich foods and who may have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

What causes an acute gout attack?

繚 Certain medications, such as some types of diuretics, can cause gout. Aspirin and niacin (Vitamin B3) can also raise uric acid levels.

繚 Certain diseases can lead to an excessive production of uric acid in the body, including some leukaemias, lymphomas and some haemoglobin (blood) disorders.

繚 Some studies have indicated an increased prevalence of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) in people with gout.

繚 Dehydration (alcohol & caffeine dehydrates).

繚 Injury to a joint.

繚 Excessive intake of purine-containing foods (see list below).

繚 Heavy alcohol intake.

繚 Recent surgery (this may be related to changes in the body fluid balance because of fasting before surgery).

繚 Family history - hereditary.

What is Uric acid?

Approximately 70% of gout patients have an overproduction of uric acid, the remaining 30% of gout patients have a poor elimination of uric acid, therefore it makes sense to eat fewer foods which help to produce uric acid, and improve uric acid elimination by way of the kidneys.

Uric acid is a by-product of the breakdown of certain foods in the body, and gout was once considered to be closely related just to diet. It is now understood that inheriting a problem with uric acid excretion from the body is probably one of the most common reasons for gout to occur. Improving a person's kidney function as much as possible has helped many gout sufferers I have seen over the years.

Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of chemicals called purine that are found in many foods. Purines are also found naturally in the body, and normally, the body disposes of excess uric acid via the urine, but in people with gout uric acid accumulates in the body. This can be due to reduced excretion of uric acid by the kidneys or to overproduction of uric acid by the body. This accumulation of uric acid may also cause kidney stones, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that you need to improve the kidney function as much as is possible to help the patient overcome gout.

Gout can be very painful indeed

How come gout hurts, where does all that pain come from? Simple, when the uric acid accumulate in the blood and tissues it can crystallise out into a joint, forming a multitude of tiny, jagged, needle-shaped crystals. This triggers an intense inflammatory response that causes a painful arthritis attack called a gout attack. Have you ever stood on a pin or a needle, perhaps some broken glass and got annoyed and irritated by this? Then you will know how a gout sufferer will feel - they can be most irritated and annoyed like a child who has just stood on a pin cushion. Pain has a way of bringing out the worst in many people! As I mentioned, gout commonly strikes the big toe, but other joints can be affected, including the instep, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow and fingers. Acute pain is generally the first symptom and then the affected joint becomes inflamed (almost infected-looking): red, swollen, hot and extremely sensitive to the touch. I have many times seen a case of gout in the clinic that the patient's doctor referred to as "osteoarthritis", when in fact it had all the makings of gout. Signs and symptoms such as a needle-like pain affecting the small joint, male patient who enjoys alcohol drinker, crayfish and roe (fish eggs), enjoys barbeques and steaks, etc. Common things happen to people commonly, I have often said.

The funny thing with guys is, you see them once then you don't tend to see them again in the clinic. I believe that it is purely the pain that brings them ultimately to see the practitioner. This is especially so for some larger blokes I have seen where the pain was not helped to a large degree by the standard gout drugs, and then there is much more of an urgency to that appointment. I have often said that there is nothing more than a high degree of pain to bring a guy to your room as a patient. If you are a regular reader of my column, you may recall that I have often said that males belong to the "John Wayne School of Health": "I'll be alright, there's nothing wrong with me, and I'll just get right back on that horse and keep on riding". I can recall in one Western that even John Wayne himself went to see a doctor when the pain of a rather large shotgun blast in his shoulder was preventing him from actually getting on his horse, and even then the doctor's visit seemed was under duress!

Good thing that, the pain, it may be nature's way of getting guys off their horses (or out of their cars) and into clinics! If a woman experiences pain, let's say one out of a scale of ten - then she is off to get it investigated. She tends to be much more proactive, is it any wonder a woman will live longer than a man? Males tend to wait until the pain moves from four to five out of ten, and even then, the visit is seen as an "inconvenience". If a man would only start to improve his gout when he experiences the pain at a level of one out of ten, then he will find it a lot easier to turn gout around than when the pain is nine out of ten. This is because at low occasional pain levels, gout is not quite a disease process yet, it is a functional disturbance which can be much more easily corrected. An appointment with the naturopath at this stage will reveal that the man will probably be eating and drinking the wrong foods contributing to the progression of his gout, all he needs at this stage is a change of diet and an improvement in his kidney function to help the clearance of uric acid. Better still, if his blood can be cleansed with appropriate treatment such as a detox process, he will feel much better, reducing and even possibly eliminating his chances of developing full-blown gout.

A visit at high pain levels will only be sought in terms of pain relief, and there will be pathology or disease present. And the stronger the pain, the more urgent will be the pain relief naturally. Seriously bad gout pain can make the biggest blokes cry like the biggest babies, I have seen this on one occasion when a tough Aussie male burst into tears as he told me that even the thin sheet at night on his big toe was excruciatingly painful. This guy was into cold beer and hot pies and had plenty of both, the tears were real and no laughing matter folks!

These cases are harder to turn around because all the focus is purely on strong pain control. Supplements may work, but are not as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs when it comes to pain control, hence the reason why we only see the gout patient once. The drugs which control pain wreck the person's digestion in time, that's the real problem and the stark reality. And the underlying problem is not really sorted either, the offending ways continue and so does the gout. So convenient, just switch off that pain. Interesting if we compare the recent financial crisis which was due to "extending credit", I think medicine is going down the same path until we end up with the upcoming "health crisis" globally which will be due similarly to extending credit of a different nature. You temporarily solve a problem by taking away the pain but create the long term crisis and avoid treating the real underlying causes. I have to admit, this is one area in which natural therapists fail - strong pain control. We are the preventative medicine experts. Acupuncture will have some benefit here, but many patients are just not keen on the needles. Herbs or supplements? Not really, drugs do work well but why wait until you need strong pain relief is my question, why not address conditions like gout BEFORE you require the strong solution?

Conventional Treatment of gout Allopurinol is the pharmaceutical drug of choice used in long-term prevention of gout and decreases the body's production of uric acid. People experiencing gout attacks should, however, avoid medications containing aspirin as these can make gout worse. Pain relievers such as paracetamol or other more powerful analgesics, are often used to manage the pain. Anti-inflammatories, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are used to decrease joint inflammation and reduce the pain. If NSAIDs cannot be given because of an ulcer, your doctor may use colchicine may be used to settle an attack. I have found the homeopathic colchicines (30c) can be very useful for the gout patient instead of this drug. Do you take a "water tablet" or a diuretic? Pharmaceutical diuretics may cause gout in people who are genetically predisposed to gout by increasing the accumulation of uric acid within the body.

Resting the joint, possibly in a splint, and applying ice packs may help. Ice is a great acute gout treatment which I highly recommend.

Preventing further gout attacks

Prevention is the thing which you need to focus your attention to, and in my opinion is equally as important as treating the gout.

繚 Reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption, this is the BIG one in my opinion. Alcohol causes uric acid levels to rise and has a diuretic effect that can add to dehydration and bring on gout attacks

繚 Make sure you drink plenty of water to promote the excretion of uric acid;

繚 Weight reduction, is often necessary. This can be achieved by reducing dietary fat and calorie intake, which should be combined with a regular (walking) programme.

繚 "Crash diets" should be avoided as this can lead to an increase in uric acid levels through lowered uric acid excretion, you put more pressure on the kidneys and liver when you try to lose weight too quickly and end up with more problems than you can solve!

繚 Dietary changes to reduce uric acid levels in the blood. Avoid purine-rich foods such as shellfish, organ meats (liver, brains, kidney etc.), and fish roe, abalone, lobster or crayfish, crabs, anchovies and sardines.

繚 Limit the intake of dried beans and peas and yeast products like beer and bread.

繚 Try an ice pack on the affected area, sometimes a foot spa can help as well.

繚 Reflexology has helped many patients and is well worth a try, so is aromatherapy.

Eric's gout recommendations

• 
  Water
  This is the BIG one, drink at least six glasses per day and make sure that you have one of the glasses before you go to sleep - it helps get rid of uric acid. The more you pee the more uric acid you get rid of.


• 
  Reduce serum uric acid levels.Vitamin C in doses of 4000 up to 8000mg/day increased urinary excretion of uric acid and lowered serum uric acid levels in many trials. This effect would presumably reduce the risk of gout. However, it has been argued that rapid mobilisation of uric acid could trigger a gout attack; although such an effect of vitamin C supplementation has not been reported. To minimise this theoretical risk, I recommend the gout patient to start vitamin C at lower doses and build up gradually.Eat cherriesBlack cherries are the best (fresh or canned) up to 250gr aday or the equivalent amount of cherry juice, has been reported to relieve acute attacks, prevent recurrences, and reduce serum uric acid levels. Sweet yellow and red sour cherries were also effective. I have seen major improvements in more than a few males who stepped their intake of cherries up with acute attacks and have major pain relief (drug-free) within a week. Folic acid in doses of 10mg/day, when combined with unspecified doses of vitamin C, has been reported to reduce serum uric acid levels.
  


• 
  Reduce fructose intake. High consumption of fructose (fruit sugar) may increase the risk of gout due to the ability of fructose to increase the body's production of uric acid.If you have bad gout, avoid these high fructose food items: Honey, dates, raisins, figs,


• 
  Alcohol Daily drinking habits, lack of exercise, and dehydration enhance the increase in plasma concentration of uric acid induced by alcohol, and it is important to pay attention to these factors, as well as to the ingested alcohol volume and type of alcoholic beverage. An excess of alcohol should be avoided. Total abstinence and avoidance of alcohol may be required in severe cases. The worst alcohols to consume with gout are the ones you "can't see though" like whiskey, bourbon, rum, beer, etc. The alcohols which don't seem as bad are the "clear" ones like vodka and gin. You should avoid ALL alcohol if you have bad gout. See now why guys don't tend to come back to the naturopath now if they have bad gout? One male gout patient called me the "fun police", when I made the recommendations of abstinence. I expect his pain levels were not high enough, believe me, ANY male will do whatever it takes to get rid of that pain!


• 
  Diet Consume a moderate amount of protein. Limit meat, fish and poultry to 100 - 120 grams per day. Try other low-purine good protein foods such as low fat dairy products, tofu and eggs.


• 
  Body weightMaintenance of, or gradual reduction to, ideal body weight could prove helpful. Your blood pressure will drop, so will your cholesterol and not only your likelihood to avoid gout attacks, but you will reduce your chances of most chronic diseases.


• 
  Diet Avoid as much as possible: anchovies, crayfish or lobster, shellfish, abalone, fish roe (or eggs live caviar), herring, mackerel, meat extracts, beef in general, kidney or organ meats, lamb, pork, mussels, paua, roe, sardines, yeast (baker's and brewer's, taken as supplement) coffee, tea and ALL alcoholic beverages, chocolate, cocoa, caffeine containing soft drinks, wheat germ, pastry, high fat biscuits and cakes, whipped cream, fried potato, potato chips, broth, bouillon, consomm矇, meat stock soups and gravies. Eat these foods with caution: Asparagus, dried beans lentils, meat, mushrooms, dried peas, spinach (silverbeet) To have in your diet: Milk and milk drinks, carbonated beverages, cereal/grain beverages. All breads and cereals, low fat biscuits, cakes, and puddings. Fat in moderation only, fruit juices such as cherry, blue berry are particularly good. Eat cherries and blue berries. Fish ok, but stick with younger fishes. Chicken and ham, soups, most all the common vegetables, condiments, herbs, nuts, olives, peanut butter, pickles, popcorn, relishes, salt.

Keep Active Horses Going With Joint Supplements For Horses

There are a whole lot of joint supplements for horses out on the market today. These supplements are important for horses that suffer from joint pain. As horses get older, their bodies do not produce enough glucosamine, which is the lubricant for the joints that keeps them operating smoothly. Without this substance, the cartilages can no longer absorb impact properly, which means the joints take the brunt of the shock.

This is especially found to be true in very active horses. The more motion they go through without protection for their joints, the more shock the joints have to absorb and endure. Over time, this can result in arthritis, loss of motion, and in more severe cases, total immobility.

As you might expect, there are a great many different equine joint supplements available to help fix these joint problems. Some of these products are known to aid in the elimination of pain, and in some instances, the products have even been able to restore the joints back to normal function. They do this by adding the glucosamine that the horses cannot make on their own. This is what lubricates the cartilage enough to absorb the shock and reduce friction on the joint tissues.

Glucosamine is found in a number of things, but it is most notably in sea mussels, ground shrimp, and crab shells. In other words, they are not items you can simply feed a horse and use in their everyday diet. Most horses will turn up their noses as a plate of shrimp! This is why you have to get them to ingest these healthy ingredients through supplement form. MSM, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and other ingredients are found in substantial quantities in many of the great supplements for joints being sold online and at local feed stores.

Glucosamine horse joint supplements are especially effective for horses that are extremely active, as these are the animals most prone to joint pain. When trying to get a good supplement, make sure you focus on natural, whole food based supplements without chemicals. While most of them get the initial glucosamine from natural sources, a few companies sometimes add chemicals and other harmful things to them, which might cause undesirable side effects. If possible, try to focus on all natural products.

How To Fight Pain Associated With Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by pain in the joint, stiffness, and even loss of movement. It is a degenerative joint disease and slowly evolves as part of the aging process. Osteoarthritis has been around for a very long time, going back as far as the dinosaur bones and Egyptian mummies which show evidence of the disease. The disease is classified as a non-inflammatory type of arthritis; but recent research shows this not to be true. Early on in the disease inflammation is usually not a problem; but as the cartilage starts to wear away and fragment, the loose pieces of cartilage cause an immune response and inflammation.

Osteoarthritis can be caused by an injury to the joint, repetitive strain on a joint, or it can be passed on through our genes. The joints most commonly affected with the disease are the hands, the hips, the lower back, knees and the big toes. Pain is the most predominant feature of osteoarthritis. Early in the disease, pain will accompany movement, is aggravated by prolonged activity, and can be made better with rest. Pain is often caused by stretching of the lining of the bone at the sites of new bone growth. The pain could also be from nerve irritation or compression.

Stiffness is another symptom that people with Osteoarthritis suffer. Usually stiffness occurs in the morning when you get up. Swelling occurs when the cartilage is damaged,and is associated with inflammation, heat, and redness. Deformity of the joints is another symptom of osteoarthritis. Deformity is most often noticed in the hands. The bony enlargement of the joint of a finger is called a node. It usually begins as a swelling like a cyst filled with jelly like material. They can become inflamed and painful; and once the inflammation has settled, they stop hurting and become hard and bony. There are also deformities of the knees and the big toe as well; this is the common bunion.

The goal here is to try to manage your joint pain by getting the proper amounts of rest. Taking breaks is very important so that you are not excessively overworking a sore joint to the point of having pain. If you are experiencing pain, stop and take a break.

You could do some aerobic exercises in warm water at your local gymnasium. Quite often they have instructors and the classes are a lot of fun. Doing exercise in water is low-impact and does not put stress on the joints, but at the same time, increases flexibility and mobility. Any form of aerobic exercise is going to strengthen the muscles and the joints. The most important thing that you can do for osteoarthritis is to get regular exercise for at least three days per week and for a duration of thirty minutes. Incorporate omega 3 Fatty acids into your diet. Clinical tests have shown omega 3's to have anti-inflammatory properties. Eating a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables; fish, such as salmon and tuna; while avoiding processed foods which contain high doses of sugar and salt. Maintaining a healthy body weight is another measure of importance as obesity puts extra stress on the joints and can contribute to your pain and inflammation.

Arthritis Pain Relief Through Herbal Treatment

Arthritis is one of the biggest problem that has been faced by million of people worldwide. Arthritis is a general term that literally means pain and inflammation in joints. Though previously it was believed that only old people suffers from arthritis but now it has been seen that people of younger age group are also being affected by this disease. Arthritis is not a disease in itself. There is a general condition in which the joint becomes inflamed and causes great pain. Arthritis can be of many types but commonly three types are frequently seen. These are: -

(a) Rheumatoid arthritis

(b) Osteoarthritis

(c) Gout

(a) Rheumatoid arthritis - it is a kind of arthritis that is more associated autoimmune disorder that occurs due to attack of our immune system on the joints. It is also associated with the deformity in the body. It is commonly seen in people who are in their mid forties.

(b) Osteoarthritis - it is another form of arthritis that occurs due to age related changes. In this condition there is formation of osteophytes in the joints. The cartilaginous structure gets ossified and gets converted in the bone. This bone formation in the bone leads to the hindered movements and causes extremes pain whenever the joint is made to move.

(c) Gout - it is concerned with the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint. Due to any kind of deformity there is decreased in the serum uric acid metabolism thereby leads to the accumulation of uric acid in the joints. It is commonly called as the riches disease as it is more commonly seen in people who are well off.

Causes

· Ageing

· Over use of joints

· Hereditary factors

· Wrong feeding habits

· Infections

· Metabolic disorder

Symptoms

· Pain in joints

· Swellings in joints

· Restricted movements

· Redness over joint

· Deformity of the joint

· Cracking sound on movements.

Treatment

Though the anatomical changes are very difficult to be reversed but their have been certain ayurvedic preparations that are extremely helpful in suppressing pain and prevent any further damage to the joint. Belo are few ayurvedic herbs that are very effective in curbing arthritis.

· Ashwagandha (withinia somnifera) - it is one of the best herb that has the potential to suppress pain and inflammation. It has certain properties that are very helpful in reducing the vata dosha in the body that is solely responsible for causing all pains and inflammation in the body. Ashwagandha is a medium sized plant that is easily found in areas having warmer climatic conditions. The roots of Ashwagandha are the plant parts that are being used to make medicines. Generally Ashwagandha is taken in as powder form but it is now available in capsules and syrup forms also.

· Guggul (commiphora mukul) - Guggul is one of the most prestigious herbs that has been very popular among ayurvedic physicians. Guggul is vata suppressant and hence is widely used to treat vata related disorders. Guggul not only reduces pain in the body but is also responsible in suppressing any kind of inflammation and edema that occurs in the body. Various preparations like mahayogaraja Guggul, laxadi Guggul, rasnadi Guggul and gokshuradi Guggul that are being widely used to curb any kind of pain in the body.

· Rasna (pluchea lanceolata) - Rasna is an excellent analgesic and has excellent results in suppressing pain in the body. It is a small plant that can be used in preparing various forms of preparations. It is used as powder, decoction and oils. It has the potential to reduce the vata dosha in the body and is very successful in curbing its effect.

· Arthcare oil - arthcare oil is one of the prestigious ayurvedic preparations that have been found extremely helpful in treating various pain disorders like arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, backache, joint pains, wounds etc. It has been empowered with the wonders of certain ayurvedic herbs like errand (ricinus communis), Rasna (pluchea lanceolata), devdaru (cedrus deodara), shuddha Guggul (commiphora mukul), rasone (garlic), marich (black pepper), nirgundi (vitex negundo), ajwain (trachyspermum) and til tail (seasum). These all herbs are famous for their activities in suppressing and curbing any kind of pain and inflammation that might occur in the body. The oil is gently massaged on the affected part and then hot fomentation is done. This is the simple procedure that is all you have to do to get relief from the pain and arthritis.

Why Hip Resurfacing an Alternative to Total Hip Replacement Turned Me Into a Patient Advocate

Hip Resurfacing is a more conservative approach to hip surgery than the conventional Total Hip Replacement (THR). It gets rid of your hip pain but allows you to return to a full active lifestyle with no limitations. It accomplishes this by conserving your bone and using an implant that is more like a natural hip.  Here is an explanation of why I chose Hip Resurfacing over a THR and my story that follows.

One of the differences between resurfacing and a THR is the amount of bone that is preserved or removed. With resurfacing your bone is preserved. Opposed to a THR, they remove approximately 30% - 45% of your proximal femur then place a stem down your thigh.
 
This is the part that stands out to me on a THR With a THR, the surgeon begins by making an incision on the side of the thigh to allow access to the hip joint. Once the hip joint is entered, the surgeon dislocates the femoral head from the acetabulum. Then the femoral head is removed by cutting through the femoral neck with a power saw. To begin replacing the femur, special tools are used to shape and hollow out the femur to the exact shape of the metal stem of the femoral component. Once the size and shape are satisfactory, the stem is inserted into the femoral canal.
 
To me, it is like the difference between pulling a tooth and getting a complete root canal (THR) or crowning a tooth (resurfacing).  Resurfacing allows a full return to all activities, including running. Many patients have even finished an Ironman since their surgeries. Yoga, martial arts, skiing, surfing, the possibilities are endless. Just take a look at some of the featured athletes on the referenced website. Also look at the referenced YouTube link for a collection of real life patients post op.  You will see some dancing at 2 and 3 weeks post op, one guy skiing at 4 weeks post op, another guy speeding down the road on a bicycle at only 3 weeks post op.  You would never guess these people just had major hip surgery! Of course a top surgeon is crucial in obtaining the best results.   I realize some newer THR devices also allow patients to return to MOST activities now, but there is really no long term data on the newer THR devices that claim "no limitations" to really know what the long term effects of that will be (see Wolfs Law below).   This is because no matter what a THR is made of, it still has the long metal stem and the improper loading of the hip and stress shielding. Most doctors will tell THR patients to NEVER run again, no basketball or any heavy impact sports, whereas this is not the case with resurfacing and the right surgeon.  
 
There is now over 11 years of history on the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) device.  As a matter of fact, the first protocol was implanted in a patient named Katie in 1991 and she is still doing well.  Katie had two healthy children since her resurfacing surgery and they are around 9 and 14 years old now.  The very first BHR that is the same design today was implanted in July 1997.  The data presented in Miami in October 2007 showed Derek McMinn's survival rate at 8 years to be 99.8%.  Mr. McMinn is the inventor of the BHR device.   The two main reasons you want to try to get a resurface first before a THR if possible besides preserving your bone, is due to stress shielding, (Wolfs Law) see below, and also due to revision surgery. If you choose to remain active with a THR, you risk revision surgery which takes away more bone each time. Take a look at this animation video that shows you what they do to revise a THR.  
 
http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/SurgeryCenter/surgerycenterflash/revhip.html    
 
With a hip resurfacing, IF you ever need it revised, it is like starting out with your first THR.   Here is an explanation of Wolf's Law, remember, no matter what material is used with a THR device, it still has the long stem. 
 
 "... Wolfe's Law of Bone, which is that bone is formed and retained along the lines of stress in that bone. Another way of putting it is: "Form follows function." Look at the trabecular pattern in a calcaneus or a proximal femur -- it's easy to see where the lines of stress are here, because that's where the trabeculae are. Another way to express this rule is: "Use it or lose it." ..." and " ...What does this have to do with patients with prosthetic joints? Well, in an ideal world, a prosthetic joint component would carry stress and distribute it to the underlying bone in a manner identical to the original bone. Alas, this does not happen in real life. Prosthetic components react to stresses a lot differently than the original bone that they replaced, and tend to distribute it to the remaining bone much differently. For example, in a hip prosthesis, much of the load applied to the femoral component tends to be transmitted to the bone near its distal tip. The bone near the proximal part of the component tends to have less force transmitted through to it. What happens to the native bone that is now no longer receiving its usual loading? Bone loss occurs here. This phenomenon is called "stress shielding". Since one can get quite a bit of stress shielding around a prosthesis, it's no mystery why one sees progressive bone loss around prosthetic components over the years on follow-up radiographs.... "   The prosthesis referred to is the total hip replacement, not a resurfacing that loads the weight onto the femoral head, as the original issue joint does.   stress shielding n. Osteopenia occurring in bone as the result of removal of normal stress from the bone by an implant.   osteopenia /osoteoopeonia/ (oste-o-pe´ne-ah) 1. reduced bone mass due to a decrease in the rate of osteoid synthesis to a level insufficient to compensate for normal bone lysis. 2. any decrease in bone mass below the normal."   With resurfacing the load on the hip is more like your natural hip.  Again, it is similar to crowning a tooth instead of pulling it and doing a root canal. It is always better to try to preserve as much bone as possible. There is a lot of info available on the referenced website. I hope this information is of value, now my story of how I became a Patient advocate for hip resurfacing.  
 
My Journey
About ten years ago my Mom had her first hip replaced, a year later she had her second. The THRs (Total Hip Replacements) that her doctor implanted in her were the old metal on poly small head devices. She was told they would last her between 8 -12 years before she would need revision surgery. She was in her early 60s. She has never been able to cross her legs or stoop down to get something out of a low kitchen cabinet. She is unable to fully enjoy her younger grandchildren, because she can not lift them or get down on the ground to play with them. She is now limping again, unable to walk up a flight of stairs without holding onto a handrail and pulling herself up one step at a time.  She will already be facing revision surgeries in the next couple of years.   I was diagnosed with OA (osteoarthritis) about 5 years ago and knew that it was inevitable that I too eventually would be facing hip surgery. What I did not realize is that in the beginning of 2005 (in my 40s), my OA would hit a point where it would all of a sudden progress rapidly. I was then faced with the reality of getting my left hip replaced, I shuttered at the thought that my life as I knew it would soon be over. Here I was, a single female in her 40s, I could not imagine living life as limited as my Moms had become, even though she was no longer crippled like prior to her surgeries, to me she was still disabled.
 
The story of Paying it forward.
Luckily I found out about hip resurfacing quite by accident. I was searching on craigslist and happened upon an ad from someone that was selling items you will need if you are having hip surgery. I emailed Jay who posted the ad and I asked him if he had his hip replaced and if he had heard about this new MIS approach that I had read about. Jay responded with the fact that he had found something much better, it was called hip resurfacing and he sent me links to the Yahoo Surface Hippy Message board and to JRIs website. When Jay responded that day, it forever changed my life. When I did my research and realized the incredible differences between the two procedures, (see below) my mind was made up. But then, the struggles began. How would I get this accomplished when I could not find anyone that even knew about the procedure?
 
I went to three orthopedic surgeons including one top surgeon at Stanford that all told me that a THR was my only option. The doc at Stanford went so far as to tell me that I did not qualify for hip resurfacing due to having dysplasia (shallow sockets) and also told me that they removed more bone which I later found out was not true. I was crushed and scheduled surgery with him for a THR.  On a side note, this still happens today, so please do NOT take a no to resurfacing as a final answer.  Seek out other opinions like I did.
 
Luckily I joined the yahoo surface hippy group and found out that I needed to get more opinions. I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Harlan Amstutz and flew to Los Angeles for a consult    He gave me the good news that I was indeed an excellent candidate for hip resurfacing.
 
Then the struggles began with my insurance company. I had various problems with out of network doctors, then experimental procedure, non approved devices, etc.  Basically the insurance company used any angle they could to deny coverage for the procedure I wanted.   By this time, my pain was increasing every single day and I ended up having to purchase a cane to walk.
 
Then two things happened, I submitted another request to my insurance company, and again they denied me, and when I called to change my surgery date from Dr. Amstutz to Dr. Schmalzried, JRI then informed me that they ran out of hip resurfacing devices and that they could not schedule a surgery date for me. They had no idea when a device would be available and that I would just have to call back at a later date. I basically sat down and cried.  I could no longer function at work due to my pain and I was self-employed.  I had to have surgery.
 
I was faced with the decision of allowing my health insurance to dictate the type of procedure (THR covered 100%) I would get, or possibly be stuck paying out of pocket to get the procedure I wanted and have to wait for it.  Hip resurfacing in the U.S. was about $23k out of pocket for Dr. Amstutz. Looking at my Mom and her limitations, I could not and would not allow that to happen to me. I realize now that some of the newer THR devices do not have the limitations that my Mom has, but the doc at Stanford clearly told me that I WOULD indeed have limitations for the rest of my life with the THR he was planning to implant in me.
Taking charge of my own Health against all odds

I was told to not give up and fight my insurance company, so with a fellow hip resurfacing patients's help I put together another appeal letter to get surgery approved for hip resurfacing down in Los Angeles.
 
I then emailed my x-rays to Dr. Koen De Smet in Belgium and to Dr. Vijay Bose in India. When I received a response in half an hour from Dr. Bose and within three hours from Dr. De Smet, at first my thoughts were, wait a minute, something is really wrong with this picture? Doctors in the U. S. never responded to emails personally that I knew of and here were two of the world's top doctors personally emailing me back!
 
I put together a detailed cost spreadsheet and decided that I no longer could deal with the stress of my insurance company and that I would pay the less than $12k out of pocket and go to India.  I emailed Dr. Bose on September 22, 2005 and booked my surgery for December 1, 2005 in India. It was like a ton of bricks had just lifted off my shoulders just to know that there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. By the time I left for my surgery, I could no longer walk without a cane and was in terrible pain.   My surgery was 3 years ago and I don't even think about my hip anymore.  It is just like a normal hip.  Unfortunately today even with two devices being approved by the FDA, many doctors still do not even tell patients this surgery exists.  Why?  Because it is an extremely complex surgery and takes a lot more skill and practice to get it right.  As a result of my struggles and all of the help I received from fellow patients, I have now become a patient advocate for hip resurfacing and continue to pay it forward.  Please do your research before you allow any doctor to amputate the head of your femur.  If you are an active person under the age of 65, you should definitely look into the option of hip resurfacing. I hope this information is of value.

Clinically Proven Treatment For Fibromyalgia - Craniosacral Therapy For Pain Reduction

Relieve the Pain and discomfort of Fibromyalgia with a highly effective course of treatment that will leave you feeling less pain, more capable of dealing with your tiredness, improves your quality of life and allows you to sleep better.

In recent clinical research, Craniosacral Therapy, widely recognised as a highly effective way to treat baby colic, sleeping problems and feeding issues, was shown to vastly improve the lives of a group of Fibromyalgia patients.

The group was treated for a 25 week period and then followed up after 6 months and one year. Throughout the period of treatment and afterwards the patients reported sleeping better, having a much improved quality of life and being in considerably less pain.

Even a year after the end of the treatment period people still felt better than a year and a half earlier before they started the course, and were sleeping better.

The conclusion of the research is that Craniosacral Therapy should be used as a complementary form of treatment in addition to other forms of treatment and drugs given to clients. The research paper can be accessed here

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands on form of manual therapy which releases tensions and strictures in and around the nervous system. This improves the working of the nerves of your brain and spine and so allows the rest of your body to function better, deal better with pain, feel more relaxed and allows your body's own healing mechanisms to help your body heal and mend itself.

Craniosacral therapy also releases lesions and strains in the layer of tissue called fascia. The fascia surrounds muscles and organs, as well as nerves, and can become strained and tense due to injury or infection. This can also be a cause of the muscle or body pain of Fibromyalgia and it is also this part of treatment which can have the greatest healing and pain relieving effect on sufferers.

Wrist Pain - 2 Simple Exercises to Relieve Wrist Pain and Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When you get wrist pain, it can feel sad and frustrating. You start to worry about carpal tunnel syndrome. Will you need to wear a brace, or worse, get surgery? Luckily, there are some simple wrist exercises that can relieve your pain and your worries.

Muscle, bone and fascial restrictions.
Carpal tunnel symptoms develop from repetitive wrist movement, and keeping your hands in awkward positions. Over time, your forearm muscles become overworked. The bones in your hands and wrists shift positions. Your connective tissue, or fascia, becomes tight and restricted.

As these tissues change, they restrict blood-flow and nerve conduction. Your arms and wrists can get feelings of:

o muscle tension,
o sharp or shooting pains,
o dull aches or nagging soreness,
o numbness and tingling, and
o muscle weakness.

Movement and therapeutic exercises.
One common movement that causes these problems is wrist extension. Your arms are pointed down (toward a keyboard or desk, e.g.), while your hands stay lifted up. The angle of your wrist is compromised.

Holding your wrist in extension for long periods of time, like continuous workday hours without breaks, will quickly give you problems.

But if wrist extension is the root of your pain, then you can prevent these problems and give yourself immediate relief with a few exercises. These exercises will flex the wrists, giving your muscles the opposite workload and maintaining a balance.

Isometric resistance means you do not need weights, tubing, or any fitness equipment. Practice them throughout your day, as often as you need them.

1st Wrist Flexion exercise- Sit at a desk, stand by a countertop, or position yourself next to a flat surface. With your palm-side up and your wrist flat, press your fingertips against the under-side of the flat surface. Keep your fingers straight and flat so the focus is on the wrist. Press firmly against the surface. Hold for 10-20 seconds.

2nd Wrist Flexion exercise- Similar to the 1st exercise, find a flat surface where you can press on its under-side, like your desk, a countertop or a table. Instead of pressing your fingertips, you will press with the heels of your hands. Initiate the pressing from your palms, keeping your wrists straight or slightly-flexed. Again, hold for 10-20 seconds. You should feel this in your forearms more than the 1st exercise.

Feeling it.
You should feel these exercises in your forearm muscles and wrists. Check that your wrists and fingers are straight and flat. The intention of these exercises is wrist- and arm-strengthening, but not finger strength.

If you feel any sharp pains, reposition your arms and wrists so they are straight or slightly flexed. Avoid wrist extension, as described earlier in this article. If you still get pain while maintaining the proper position, try to use less force as you press up. Start gently and increase force as you practice.

If your wrist pain comes from work, then print this article and keep it handy during your workday so you can easily and properly follow these exercises for faster relief.