Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments For The Cervical and Lumbar Spine - Brace Specialists Near You

1.) Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease. It is a term that is used, however, to describe changes that happen to your spinal discs as you get older. A normal progression for the discs is to age and as they get older there will be physical change. - Spinal discs are typically soft in nature and have an ability to compress (acting as shock absorbers). These discs allow your spine to move more freely in both flexing and twisting movements. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can develop at any place in the spine, but it most often occurs in the lower back and cervical (neck) region.

Pain in the back at the site of the DDD can develop, along with osteoarthritis, a herniated disc and/or spinal stenosis. These all can be related to the changes we are talking about with your discs.

A.) Osteoarthritis: This is the break down of cartilage that protects and actually helps to cushion the joints.
B.) Herniated disc: This occurs when there is an irregular bulge or when the spinal disc breaks open.
C.) Spinal stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of an individuals spinal canal. The spinal canal is what houses the spinal cord.

As a result of these conditions, more pressure may be exerted on the spinal cord and this may lead to pain and compromised nerve function.

2.) Causes of DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease)

As a person ages, our spinal discs begin to age as well. They break down (degenerate) which causes a loss of fluid in the disc (loss of elasticity) and as a result they will lose some of their ability to act as shock absorbers. Loss of fluid in the disc also makes the affected disc thinner and this will narrow the distance that once was found between each vertebra (spinal bone).

3.) What Can A Brace Do To Help Me?

A quality made back support (either for your lumbar or cervical spine) will help to stop movements that will cause pain for your back. Many times when people put them on they notice a few key things:

A.) Pain Decreases
B.) Increased Spinal Stability
C.) Improved Posture

These back (or neck) braces do not heal degenerative disc disease. A cure for this problem is not widely available currently. However, a quality back support can help to relieve the painful symptoms of the problem and this can help to give you your life back! - The use of high grade orthopedic supports are a conservative treatment option that is recognized by physicians and other medical professionals throughout the world to help treat pain problems conservatively.

4.) Does Insurance Cover Back or Neck Braces?

It is very possible for your insurance to cover an orthosis (orthopedic brace support). If you are interested in any type of back (or neck) support contact your local licensed orthotist for more information. They will (almost always) help to facilitate a claim on your behalf, doing most of the leg work for you in the process. If the brace is not covered at 100 percent then many times a very large portion of the brace can be covered.

Note: This is health information. For medical advice regarding braces speak with your local, licensed orthotist.

Studies on the Efficacy of Glucosamine For Arthritis

A lot of people, especially those aged 45 and up, are or will be afflicted with arthritis, a condition involving degenerating joints. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. In this condition, the cartilage found within the joints has broken down and worn away, leaving bones with little or no cushion whatsoever to rub against each other. This results in pain (sometimes very severe and debilitating) every time the person moves. Over the years, a lot of treatments and remedies have been used for arthritis. However, the most effective substance found to alleviate the pain and stop cartilage degeneration is glucosamine.

The action of glucosamine on affected joints is found to be different compared to other types of medications prescribed for arthritis, such as COX-2 inhibitors and several types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly referred to as NSAIDS. There are numerous studies on the effects of glucosamine on arthritis sufferers as well the extent of its efficacy in treating this condition. The latest study done in the United States in 2006, reported some interesting findings. Bolstering glucosamine claims were the statistics showing glucosamine when taken in conjunction with chondroitin provided a higher percentage of pain relief (compared to Celebrex) to those suffering moderate to severe arthritis pain.

Even though both medications are effective in reducing arthritic pain, glucosamine has little or no side effects. Patients do not experience nausea and upset stomach, conditions which are commonly reported as adverse reactions to NSAIDS (Celebrex). With better tolerance, more and more people stick to their medication regimen using glucosamine. Furthermore, people who use glucosamine for arthritis found that its effects last longer compared to other medications, reducing dosing requirements. A high quality liquid glucosamine requires only a single dose a day.

Apart from its anti-inflammatory actions, several studies have also demonstrated its efficacy on different kinds of arthritis experienced in different parts of the body. Those who experience pain on their knees report longer period of pain relief as well as increased mobility. Glucosamine is also found to be safe for osteoarthritis of the spine and on other joints of the body, such as in fingers and hips. There are also reports on the delayed progression of the disease, since glucosamine is considered a building block for cartilage growth. This is particular pronounced on those suffering from knee osteoarthritis and have been taking this substance for more than a year.

In addition, glucosamine has been found to have protective properties in preventing further degeneration of cartilage and joints. Several studies have also been done to demonstrate this unique property and its benefits for those who have just been diagnosed with one type of arthritis. This means that patients will not expect their condition to worsen to the point of being debilitating, hampering their movements and reducing their overall quality of life.

Natural Supplementation Offers Relief to Pets Suffering Joint Pain

Millions of pets in the United States suffer from debilitating joint pain. Whether it's hypertrophic ostodystrophy, hip dysplasia or osteoarthritis, pain can range from mild discomfort to debilitating - effectively crippling the most active of animals. 

Perhaps your pet isn't moving quite as quickly as he once did or takes a bit longer to get up from his/her bed in the morning. If you've noticed a change in behavior, particularly as it relates to activity, chances are your pet may have joint disease.

For most owners, the first stop is their local veterinarian's office. One of the primary treatments many veterinarians prescribe is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Whether given by prescription or over-the-counter, these medications work to reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief from joint pain.

Unfortunately, the top NSAIDs prescribed for animal joint pain - as with those prescribed for humans - are also associated with serious side effects. Gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, weight loss and renal failure are only the beginning. Certainly, not all animals will suffer these side effects, but few pet owners want to take that chance.

For those who want relief for their pet, without dangerous side effects, one option stands out from the rest - natural supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation does more that relieve pain and decrease inflammation - it provides the raw materials needed to repair and replenish the cartilage in damaged joints. In an arthritic joint, these two precious substances are in short supply. Supplementation ensures that the joint has what it needs to heal. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation is so effective, in fact, that it is among the most popular products for arthritis management in animals today!

The choices abound when it comes to choosing a glucosamine supplement. Powders, pills and potions line the shelves of your local pet mart, all promising pain relief. What these labels don't tell you, however, is that their method of delivery is ineffective. The active ingredients - glucosamine and chondroitin - are processed, compressed and combined with fillers, binders and flavored coatings to make the medicine easier to take for the animal. This does nothing more than ensure the majority of the supplement is left in a pile on the grass during Fido's next walk... if he takes it all. As many pet owners know, hiding a pill in tasty kibble isn't always effective!

5 Food Tips to Manage Joint Pains

Joint pain can be incapacitating.

When it begins, every fun activity stops.

So how do you manage it?

Joint pain is basically a primary symptom of arthritis. This is caused by a variety of factors such as: sprains or strain, wounds, trauma, tendonitis, osteoporosis, and so on.

For safe pain management, it is always good to go back to the basics. Having a healthy diet for people suffering from arthritis or joint pain is a wise way to manage the problem.

Here are 5 Food Tips to Manage Joint Pains:

•Fish - vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in a variety of fish. Examples of this are: mackerel, salmon, tuna, trout, cod, sardines, and more. Vitamins and nutrients in fish helps in minimizing the pain, swelling and stiffness connected with joint pains or arthritis.

•Nuts and Seeds - these are good sources of tryptophan, which is tested to reduce pain sensitivity after being consumed. They are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. These nuts and seeds are: hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, almonds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and more.

•Pulses and Grains - these have high content of vitamin E and fibers which are great in helping flush the toxins from the body. They are good for the heart in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and inexpensive sources of protein. Some examples are: chickpeas, brown rice, soy products, lentils, whole wheat bread, oats and barley.

•Vegetables and Fruits - they contain good benefits to manage joint pains. They also contain essential vitamins, fiber and minerals that help in protecting you from chronic diseases, as well as antioxidants that strengthen the immune system. Here are some examples to include in your pain management diet: kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupes, avocados, apricots, papaya, banana, and more.

•Anti-Inflammatory Foods - it is believed that this type of food helps in managing the pain and acts as a substitute to anti-inflammatory drugs. These foods are rich in vitamin C and E, flavonoids, phytonutrients, etc. Examples are: sweet potato, turmeric, broccoli, ginger, virgin olive oil, blueberry, kelp and green tea.

Allergic reactions to any of the food mentioned needs to be taken into consideration as well, no matter how nutritious they are. Choosing which food to eat is meant to manage joint pains, along with it you must also maintain a healthy lifestyle like: doing exercises, keep yourself stress fee and carry a positive attitude. And never forget to regularly consult your physician.

Causes of Water Retention - 10 Common Reasons For Swelling of the Body

Water retention is a common health problem that greatly affects the day to day activities of the sufferers. Water retention - medically referred to as edema - is the accumulation of excess fluid that leaks into the body tissues. The leakage will lead to swelling in all over the body (generalized swelling) or more localized swelling, such as swelling in legs, feet and ankles or fluid retention in abdominal, the face, hands, arms, and around the lungs.

Although there are many different conditions and diseases associated with the term water retention or edema, there are several more prominent causes of water retention. And here is some of them:

1. Arthritis
Arthritis, which means "joint inflammation", is described as an inflammation of one or more joints that involves the mechanical failure of cartilage resulting in joint pain, swelling, and limited movement. It can affect any joints in the body from hip, heel, spine, shoulder, knee to the big toe.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis but the three most common types are: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Different types of arthritis show different symptoms. Common symptoms of arthritis include: persistent joint pain, fever, tenderness, joint swelling, stiffness, redness, joint malformation, inflexibility of joint and unexplained weight loss.

2. Kidney disorders
Certain form of kidney disorders such as kidney failure and glomerular disease will lead to swelling throughout the body as well as localized swelling in the abdominal, ankle, feet and leg swelling. This occurs because the kidneys have lost its normal functions including to efficiently removing salt and water out of the body. This will in turn cause the body to retain fluid and over time, get accumulated in the body tissues.

3. Chronic lung disease
Chronic lung disease is a general term of persistent lung disorders that damage the function of the lungs. Severe chronic lung disease will cause water retention in the body include fluid retention in lungs (pulmonary edema), ascites, neck, face, ankle and feet swelling. Chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoke inhalation injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung cancer, mesothelioma, etc. may lead to pulmonary edema, abdominal edema / ascites, fluid retention in the neck and face, swelling in the ankles and feet.

4. Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis of the liver usually causes abdominal fluid retention. It also causes low protein albumin synthesis by the liver and results in legs and abdominal fluid retention.

5. Congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy disease and heart valve disease
Congestive heart failure obstructs the normal circulation of the blood and often leads to water retention. Two most common causes of water retention in congestive heart failure patient are: (1) the blood flow to the heart backups and leaks into the lung and vein; (2) the kidney retain fluid due to the insufficient amount of blood flow. Both cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease are a variety of heart disease and lead to heart failure.

6. Excess sodium intake
In people who are more sensitive to sodium, excess sodium intake will raise the blood pressure and lead to water retention especially in the lower extremities such as swelling in the ankles and feet.

7. Gravity
Standing or sitting too long in one position because of occupation necessity or after long trips may cause fluid retention in legs. This is usually worsened in high temperatures.

8. Pregnancy
In some cases, the developing uterus in pregnant women may press the vena cava leading to fluid retention in the legs. Hormone imbalances and increased amount of blood flow also responsible for water retention during pregnancy. The most affected areas of swelling during pregnancy are in the lower extremities especially the ankles and feet.

9. Side effects of certain medication
Certain medication such as anabolic steroid, calcium channel blockers, levitra, methadone, etc. may affect the normal functions of the body and lead to swelling particularly in the legs, feet and ankles.

10. Venous Insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is a disturbance of the blood flow in the leg veins because of the damage of the veins itself or the valves causing the fluid to backup and leak into the surrounding tissues. This disorder is one of the most common causes of water retention in legs.

Look over the list of water retention causes and decide if you are indeed experiencing one or more. Remember, many diseases take years to appear after the symptom does. Thus, you should speak to your doctor if you have any questions regarding water retention in any parts of your body. Your doctor is the one who can tell you just what exactly the cause of your swelling and what treatment options will work best for you.

How to Deal With Hip Joint Pain

There are very many factors that can cause hip joint pain. For this reason, a lot of investigations have to be carried out to ensure that the actual cause is established. If you are treated for the wrong cause of hip joint pain, you will suffer the consequences of wrong diagnosis. The main known cause of this problem is arthritis.

Therefore, treatment for this condition will involve using the right trigger for the regeneration of the cartilage. There are other interventions that can be considered to solve the problem. Many serious cases have to face the option of surgery. This way, hip joint pain can be eliminated by hip replacement.

For hip replacement to occur, there must be a thorough investigation and analysis of the patients condition. Swelling of the hip joint can affect the bursa. This condition is referred to as bursitis. The most common symptom of this condition is hip joint pain. Another condition that has a similar symptom is tendinitis. This condition affects the hip tendons.

The condition may occur due to physical trauma. There are several options of treatment and, the most common are oral and surgical options. You can have the joint pain due to improper blood flow in the area. The cells in your hip joint need to be fed with nutrients and oxygen. If this does not happen, the cells will simply die. Therefore, you need to ensure you engage in proper exercises to contain this.

There is also a hip condition that affects infants. It usually occurs due to birth trauma where the hip joint dislocates. This condition is referred to as dysplasia. This condition can also be caused by an accident. The child will develop difficulties while walking due to arthritis. This condition has been found to be more common in girls than in boys.

The doctor is required to undertake a thorough check to establish the problem. Do not ignore severe joint pain or pain that simply will not go away. Seek medical advise and know exactly what the problem is. The treatment and management of this pain is very individual. This means that different people will recover with different treatments. One thing that always seems to help is rest and immobilization.

There are drugs that can help solve the problem. These are anti inflammatory drugs. You need the prescription of a doctor. Then, consider physical therapy. You will certainly find something that will relieve your pain.

When to See a Chiropractor for Joint Pain Relief

Hometown Reno chiropractors can bring you quick relief for your joint pain, and may even be able to provide treatment options for other pain and illness.

Your chiropractor is trained and educated on the body and has studied bone and joint placement extensively. You may find that you feel relief after your first visit to the Reno chiropractor of your choice. Imagine feeling better in just a couple of hours and able to enjoy your favorite activities again with the help of your chiropractic care center. There are treatment options for people suffering from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and from injuries that have resulted in long term pain issues.

Your joints are held together by ligaments. Over time, whether through injury or use, your ligaments can become thin, and/or damaged. Cartilage that cushions the bones is also found between the joints. Working with your Reno chiropractors to find a treatment option that works for your condition can provide significant relief. The treatment center may ask for x-rays of the affected area or other diagnostic tests before the treatment plan is decided. This process can take a few visits, but the treatment plan will be more comprehensive and customized with the addition of diagnostic testing.

Typically, the chiropractor will work with patients who have joint pain in their neck, back and shoulders. You will also notice an improvement in leg and hip pain associated with your condition, however, since the alignment of the back can affect the entire body. Some common conditions that require a trip to the chiropractor include whiplash, sports injuries, and repetitive motion injuries. These injuries can require treatment that reshapes and tone the back and neck and treatment that aligns the spine.

Your local chiropractor will begin the treatment program that is right for you as soon as possible. You may be asked to get x-rays more than once through the treatment process, simply because this is the best way to see the improvement that is taking place in the joints. Ligaments can become damaged due to sprains and result in chronic pain making even the simplest tasks difficult. In some cases they can tear resulting in extreme pain. This type of pain is usually very intense and can even make simple tasks that you completed before difficult.

With comprehensive chiropractic care from Reno chiropractors, you will be back on your feet again. Enjoying life and living your life to the fullest is just as important to your personal chiropractor as it is to you, so make sure you seek the treatment that you need before it worsens. If not treated properly, ligament and joint damage can actually worsen over time as you use the joints in your body for everyday activities. Your treatment plan will stop the damage you have experienced in its tracks so that you can feel better quickly.