Claiming Compensation For A Hip Injury

Though the hip is one of the most robust parts of the body, due to its ball and socket structure, any injury in this area will invariably be extremely painful, restrictive and may result in long-term complications. Over a quarter of a million hip injuries are recorded in Britain every year, many the result of sports and vehicle accidents. A significant percentage of these injuries are caused by accidents in the workplace, and by slips and falls in public places. Hip injuries disproportionately affect the over-65 age group, as over time the strength of the bones deteriorates, making older people more susceptible to fractures and dislocations following a fall or blunt impact. Serious hip injuries beyond bruising, strains and sprains are likely to require hospital treatment, a length period of immobility and extensive physiotherapy. In the most severe cases hip replacement surgery may be required, and permanent physical restrictions and complications may result.

In the workplace, hip injuries are most commonly caused by slips on wet and greasy surfaces and by trips over materials discarded on floors. Other accidents at work which may cause damage to the hips include falls from heights, for example from scaffolding or ladders, and workers being struck by heavy items falling from height. Hip injuries are also caused by physical contact with heavy vehicles, especially in confined working environments such as warehouses and construction sites. Where a forklift or dumper truck used to transport materials reverses into a worker for example, the point of impact is usually around the waist and hip area. This may cause devastating crush-type injuries, which will often require lengthy reconstructive surgery. The causes of hip injuries in public places are similar to those in the workplace. Supermarket customers for example may slip and fall on wet floors or spilled produce, or trip on packaging materials left lying in aisles. Snow and ice in winter will pose a similar hazard. There have also been a number of cases in which shoppers have been crushed by stock crates on wheels, or vehicles reversing in the car park. These types of injuries regularly result in hip fractures and dislocations among elderly shoppers.

Even strains and sprains to muscles, tendons and ligaments that surround the hip can lead to long-term complications. Among these are tendonitis and bursitis. Bursitis is a condition where the small floating sac of fluid called the bursa, which protects the soft tissues, becomes inflamed, causing stiffness and pain around the joint. The condition may result from repetitive stress being placed on the hip, or from sudden physical trauma.

The most serious types of hip injury which attract the highest compensation awards normally involve what are known collectively as 'residual difficulties'. These may include damage to internal organs, such as the bladder, and related incontinence and loss of sexual function. Hip surgery carries its own inherent risks, including the possibility of a blood clot or infection developing, and the post-operative onset of pneumonia. Compensation awards for hip injuries vary widely, and may exceed 瞿80,000 in the event of serious residual difficulties following the original injury. Our team of solicitors have experience with all types of hip injury compensation claims. We operate on a No Win No Fee basis meaning if you win your case you keep all of the damages awarded, and if you lose you will not pay a penny.

Finding a TMJ Cure

If you often suffer from aches and pains in your head, face, neck, and shoulders or if you hear popping or clicking sounds in your jaw or if you find difficult to open and close your mouth, it is likely that you are suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ. TMJ can cause you great pain and anyone of any age can be affected by this painful disease. While there is no single proven TMJ cure, there are lots of things that you can do to help ease the symptoms of this painful condition. And more often than not, you do not have to spend much on these alternative cures.

Many medical experts believe that the best way to cure TMJ is through taking preventive measures. One way to keep you from suffering from TMJ disorder is through keeping yourself from overusing your jaw. This kind of TMJ cure simply means that you will need to be a little choosy with the kinds of food you eat. Avoid eating hard foods that can easily strain your jaw joints. It would also help to eat bite-size meat so you will not be stressing your jaws too much.

TMJ cure can also come in the form of exercises that you can do anytime, anywhere (or as long as you have enough room where you can be comfortable). These exercises involve stretching your shoulders and neck to ease the pain and tension you feel. You can also practice opening and closing your mouth slowly and properly. This can help reduce the tension you feel in your mouth, head, neck, and some other parts of your upper body.

Maintaining good posture also plays an important role in keeping TMJ disorder at bay. Try to stand tall and maintain good posture at all times. Doing so can help your jaw to sit properly, reducing the chances that you will suffer from painful jaw joints. If you need to sit for long hours, try to stand up or move your neck once in a while. If you hold your neck in one position for too long, you can easily aggravate the soreness in your jaw joints.

If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, it is likely that your doctor will recommend the use of muscle relaxants as a TMJ cure. Over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help ease the pain you feel. In other times, your doctor, dentist, or ENT might also recommend the use of mouth guards or intra-oral orthotics. An intra-oral orthic is a temporary mouth splint that helps in repositioning the jaw.

Magnesium Chloride For Health and Rejuvenation

"Magnesium is nothing short of a miracle mineral in its healing effect on a wide range of diseases as well as in its ability to rejuvenate the aging body. We know that it is essential for many enzyme reactions, especially in regard to cellular energy production, for the health of the brain and nervous system and also for healthy teeth and bones. However, it may come as a surprise that in the form of magnesium chloride it is also an impressive infection fighter.

The above statement by Walter Last (1)is no exaggeration in summarising the overriding importance of magnesium for our health. It is doubly true because the magnesium intake with our food has greatly declined due to the use of inorganic fertilisers with an oversupply of calcium, and also because the medical profession overemphasises our need for a high calcium intake and excessive calcium supplementation at the expense of magnesium. While calcium and magnesium work together in the body, they are also opposites in their effects on our metabolism. This is largely due to the activity of the parathyroid glands which try to keep the combined product of calcium and magnesium in our blood steady and balanced against phosphorus. If magnesium levels are low then calcium levels need to rise to remain in balance. Where does this extra calcium come from? From the bones and teeth of course! This is even more of a problem when the parathyroids are chronically overstimulated, usually combined with an underactive thyroid. This is a common situation with the presence of Candidiasis, mercury fillings and root canal fillings; all appear to depress thyroid functions and overstimulate the parathyroids. What does the body do with the excess calcium in the blood? It dumps it into tissue wherever there is some chronic inflammation. This leads, for instance, to the calcification of joints as in arthritis, to the calcification of ovaries and other glands resulting in declining hormone production, while calcifying kidneys eventually require dialysis, and calcifications in breast tissue, especially the milk ducts, lead to unnecessary mastectomies and other invasive treatment.

Magnesium for Healthy Bones and Teeth

Medical authorities claim that the widespread incidence of osteoporosis and tooth decay in western countries can be prevented with a high calcium intake. However, published evidence reveals that the opposite is true. Asian and African populations with a very low intake of about 300mg of calcium daily have very little osteoporosis. Bantu women with an intake of 200 to 300mg of calcium daily have the lowest incidence of osteoporosis in the world. In western countries with a high intake of dairy products the average calcium intake is about 1000mg. The higher the calcium intake, especially in the form of cows' milk products (except butter) the higher the incidence of osteoporosis. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus levels are kept in a seesaw balance by the parathyroid hormones. If calcium goes up, magnesium goes down and vice versa. With a low magnesium intake, calcium goes out of the bones to increase tissue levels, while a high magnesium intake causes calcium to go out of the tissues into the bones. A high phosphorus intake without a high calcium or magnesium intake causes calcium to leach from the bones and leave the body with the urine. A high phosphorus intake with high calcium and magnesium leads to bone mineralisation. Dr Lewis B. Barnett, an orthopaedic surgeon practised in two different U.S. Counties with very different soil and water mineral levels. In Dallas County with a high calcium and low magnesium concentration osteoporosis and hip fractures were very common, while in Hereford with high magnesium and low calcium these were nearly absent.

In Dallas County the magnesium content of bones was 0.5% while in Hereford it was 1.76%. In another comparison the magnesium content in bones of osteoporosis sufferers was 0.62% while in healthy individuals it was 1.26% (9). The same applies for healthy teeth. In a New Zealand study it was found that caries-resistant teeth had on average twice the amount of magnesium as caries-prone teeth. The average concentration of magnesium phosphate in bones is given as about 1%, in teeth about 1.5%, in elephant tusks 2% and in the teeth of carnivorous animals made to crush bones it is 5%. In regard to the strength of bones and teeth think of calcium as chalk and of magnesium as superglue. The magnesium superglue binds and transforms the chalk into superior bones and teeth (9). One patient reported to Walter Last "My Doctor rang Friday afternoon re my Bone Density Scan and wanted to know what I have been doing over the last two years. I asked why, and she said by looking at the 2005 and 2006 Scans, the 2008 Scan had improved, she couldn't believe it, and said normally when you are in the Osteoporosis range, you don't come out of it" (10). That doctor was actually saying that she knew the accepted treatment of high calcium supplementation does not work, but they use it anyway. This patient had reversed the medical treatment by lowering calcium and greatly increasing magnesium intake (in addition to boron).

Magnesium Absorption and Dosage

A solution to this problem is to lower calcium levels in the blood by keeping up a high intake of magnesium. However, any excess magnesium is quickly lost with the urine. Therefore, to keep calcium in the bones and teeth rather than around the joints and in the soft tissue, we need a steady supply of magnesium. Traditionally magnesium in our diet has been mainly in ionic form and has been converted in the stomach into magnesium chloride, or it is bound to protein and especially chlorophyll, and then it is also broken down and ends up for absorption as magnesium chloride or chelated magnesium. Therefore when supplementing we may as well use magnesium chloride directly instead of magnesium oxide or hydroxide and other forms that require additional hydrochloric acid. Magnesium chloride also has another advantage: it provides ions of magnesium and chloride which are both required to stimulate the activity of digestive enzymes and for producing hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Magnesium sulphate, also known as Epsom salts, is poorly absorbed and therefore attracts water in the colon and functions as a laxative. In nature, and if grown in mineral-rich soils, magnesium is also bound to fruit acids, such as citric acid, and is easily absorbed in this form. While most forms of magnesium have a good bioavailability, chelates with amino acids and magnesium bound to fruit acids also have a beneficial alkalising effect on the body. The efficiency of magnesium absorption varies inversely with quantity of magnesium intake. Magnesium is absorbed into the body primarily from the ileum of the small intestine.

When consuming the RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake) of magnesium, which is between 360 and 410mg a day, we absorb approximately 50% of magnesium, but when ingesting sub-optimal quantities we may absorb as much as 75%. Absorption decreases rapidly when more than 200mg is consumed at one time, therefore the importance of taking magnesium in divided doses throughout the day. Magnesium chloride is salty-bitter. To get used to it, dissolve some in water and start mixing only a few drops with your meal. Gradually over several weeks or months increase it to a teaspoon of concentrated solution daily divided between meals. Alternatively you may drink it very diluted during a meal. This provides about 500mg of magnesium daily. With signs of increased requirements, such as stress, advancing age, cardiovascular problems and other signs of calcification up to1000mg are recommended by health practitioners. The intestinal absorption of magnesium declines with aging and the presence of gastrointestinal disorders, and especially with dysbiosis caused by antibiotics and other medical drugs. Excessive loss of magnesium in urine can also be a side effect of some medical drugs. (4) A study shows that over two-thirds of Americans do not consume even the low level of the RDI of magnesium, and 19% use less than one-half of this (3). It is obvious that conditions are not much better in Australia. It may take up to 3 month or longer of oral magnesium supplementation to replenish intracellular magnesium status, and according to Dr. Norm Shealy it can take up to a year. (9)

Magnesium Oil in Transdermal Therapy

All these problems make it more attractive to use magnesium chloride transdermally (absorption through the skin), and so bypassing the digestive system with the need for hydrochloric acid and a well functioning digestive tract. Magnesium chloride consists of 11.8% magnesium bound to 88.2% chloride. It is produced through evaporation from saline waters, mainly sea water and the Dead Sea. After removal of sodium chloride the "bittern" remain containing mainly magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate. (2). Chloride is much less bitter than sulphate. In the dry form magnesium chloride is usually sold hydrated with 6 molecules of water (hexahydrate) for each unit of magnesium with 2 chloride ions (MgCl2), and consists of white hygroscopic (water-attracting) flakes. This affinity to water leads itself to be used as a product called "Magnesium Oil", which can be applied to the skin as a transdermal magnesium therapy. It is not oil in the true sense, but has the feel of oil when rubbed on the skin. Rejuvenation by ingesting more magnesium is a slow process, especially as the amount of magnesium that we can take is limited by its laxative effect and the need to keep it in a reasonable balance with the calcium and phosphorus intake. The other problem is that spastic muscles have a poor blood and lymph circulation, which makes it difficult for the ingested magnesium to dissolve and flush out the tissue and joint calcifications. This then calls for the use of magnesium oil. We can greatly speed up the rejuvenation process by increasing the circulation through permanently contracted muscles as with deep tissue massage using magnesium oil, or using it as hot packs or just for frequent rubs. However, one needs to be careful with sensitive skin as it may sting for a while. In this case best dilute it to an acceptable level. If rubbed on in a rather diluted form it may gradually disappear into the skin, but in concentrated form it just remains sticky and needs to be washed or showered off after some time. However, with many conditions, such as arthritis and other forms of stiffness and pain it can be good to put on some old cloths and keep it on overnight.

Antimicrobial Action of Magnesium

We can see here that magnesium is a great infection fighter as well, which none of the other magnesium combination can claim to be. The first prominent researcher to investigate and promote the antibiotic effects of magnesium was a French surgeon, Prof. Pierre Delbet MD. In 1915 he was looking for a solution to cleanse wounds of soldiers, because he found that traditionally used antiseptics actually damaged tissues and encouraged infections instead of preventing them. In all his tests magnesium chloride solution was by far the best. Not only was it harmless for tissues, but it also greatly increased leucocyte activity and phagocytosis, the destruction of microbes (5). Later Prof. Delbet also performed experiments with the internal applications of magnesium chloride and found it to be a powerful immune-stimulant. In his experiments phagocytosis increased by up to 333%. This means after magnesium chloride intake the same number of white blood cells destroyed up to three times more microbes than before (5). Gradually Prof. Delbet found magnesium chloride to be beneficial in a wide range of diseases. These included diseases of the digestive tract such as colitis and gall bladder problems, Parkinson's disease, tremors and muscle cramps; acne, eczema, psoriasis, warts and itching skin; impotence, prostatic hypertrophy, cerebral and circulatory problems; asthma, hay fever, urticaria and anaphylactic reactions. Hair and nails became stronger and healthier and patients had more energy (5). Prof. Delbet also found a very good preventative effect on cancer and cured precancerous conditions such as leukoplasia, hyperkeratosis and chronic mastitis. Epidemiological studies confirmed that regions with magnesium-rich soil had less cancer than those with low magnesium levels. Researchers at the Lille Pasteur Institute found in a prospective study with over 4,000 men over an 18-year follow up period that high levels of magnesium were associated with a 50% decrease in cancer mortality, and a 40% decrease in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (5). Prof. Delbet used to give magnesium chloride solution routinely to his patients with infections and for several days before any planned surgery and was surprised by many of these patients experiencing euphoria and bursts of energy.

Magnesium chloride supposedly has a specific action on the tetanus virus and its effects on the body. It even seems to be protective against snakebites. Guinea pigs did not die after normally lethal injections of snake venom and a rabbit survived a poisonous snakebite when given magnesium chloride solution (5). Another French doctor, A. Neveu, cured several diphtheria patients with magnesium chloride within two days. He also published 15 cases of poliomyelitis that were cured within days if treatment was started immediately or within months if paralysis had already progressed. Neveu also found magnesium chloride effective with asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema; pharyngitis, tonsillitis, hoarseness, common cold, influenza, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps, scarlet fever; poisoning, gastroenteritis, boils, abscesses, whitlow, infected wounds and osteomyelitis (5). In more recent years Dr Vergini and others have confirmed these earlier results and have added more diseases to the list of successful uses: acute asthma attacks, shock, tetanus, herpes zoster, acute and chronic conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, rheumatic diseases, many allergic diseases, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and beneficial effects in cancer therapy. In all of these cases magnesium chloride had been used and gave much better results than other magnesium compounds. (5)

Magnesium for Nerves.

Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system. With this, it is frequently used to promote good sleep. But more importantly, it can be used to calm irritated and over-excited nerves. This is especially useful with epileptic seizures, convulsions in pregnant women and the 'shakes' in alcoholism. Magnesium levels are generally low in alcoholics, contributing or causing many of their health problems. If magnesium levels are low, the nerves lose control over muscle activity, respiration and mental processes. Nervous fatigue, tics and twitches, tremors, irritability, hypersensitivity, muscle spasms, restlessness, anxiety, confusion, disorientation and irregular heartbeat all respond to increased magnesium levels. A common phenomenon of magnesium deficiency is a sharp muscle reaction to an unexpected loud noise. 'Memory pills' have been marketed that consist mainly of magnesium (9). Sleep in magnesium deficiency is restless, agitated and disturbed by frequent nighttime awakenings. However, all forms of magnesium are not equally effective. In a study of more than 200 patients, Dr. W. Davis used magnesium chloride as a possible means of combating insomnia.

The researcher reported that sleep was induced rapidly, was uninterrupted, and that waking tiredness disappeared in ninety-nine percent of the patients. In addition, anxiety and tension diminished during the day. (8) Many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be overcome with high magnesium supplementation, shaking can be prevented and rigidity eased. With preeclampsia pregnant women may develop convulsions, nausea, dizziness and headaches. In hospitals this is treated with magnesium infusions. Because of its strong relaxing effect, magnesium helps not only to have a better sleep but is also useful in overcoming headaches and migraines. Even the number of suicides is linked to magnesium deficiency: the lower the magnesium content in soil and water in a given region the higher the rates of suicides (9). Epilepsy is marked by abnormally low magnesium levels in the blood, spinal fluid and brain, causing hyperexcitability in regions of the brain. There are many reported causes of epilepsy greatly improving or disappearing with magnesium supplementation. In a trial with 30 epileptics 450mg of magnesium supplied daily successfully controlled seizures. Another study found that the lower the magnesium blood levels the more severe was the epilepsy. Magnesium works best combined with vitamin B6 and zinc. In sufficient concentrations, magnesium inhibits convulsions by limiting or slowing the spread of the electric discharge from an isolated group of brain cells to the rest of the brain. Even the initial burst of firing nerve cells that starts an epileptic attack can be suppressed with magnesium (9).

Magnesium for Rejuvenation

Calcium and magnesium are opposites in their effects on our body structure. As a general rule, the softer our body structure the more we need calcium, while the more rigid and inflexible it is, the less calcium and the more magnesium we need. Magnesium can everse the age-related degenerative calcification of our body structure and with this help us to rejuvenate. Young women, children and most of all babies have soft body structures and smooth skin with low calcium and high magnesium levels in their cells and soft tissues. They generally need high calcium intakes. This is the biochemistry of youth. As we age and most pronounced in old men and post-menopausal women, we become more and more inflexible. The arteries harden to cause arteriosclerosis, the skeletal system calcifies to cause rigidity with fusion of the spine and joints, kidneys and other organs and glands increasingly calcify and harden with stone formation, calcification in the eyes causes cataracts and even the skin hardens, becoming tough and wrinkled.

In this way calcium is in the same league as oxygen and free radicals, while magnesium works together with hydrogen and the antioxidants to keep our body structure soft. While a higher magnesium intake is beneficial for most individuals, those with low blood pressure usually require more calcium in addition. Normal blood pressure is about 120/80; the lower it is the higher should be the daily intake of calcium. While those with high blood pressure may benefit from ingesting up to twice as much magnesium as calcium, those with low blood pressure may take twice as much calcium as magnesium, but both minerals in relatively high amounts. Those with low blood pressure and a tendency towards inflammations may also reduce their intake of phosphorus. A gynaecologist reported that some of the first organs to calcify are the ovaries, leading to pre-menstrual tension. When he put his patients on a high magnesium intake their PMT vanished and they felt and looked much younger. Most of these women said that they lost weight, increased their energy, felt less depressed and enjoyed sex again much more than before. For men it is equally beneficial for problems arising from an enlarged prostate gland. Symptoms commonly improve after a period of supplementation with magnesium chloride (11).

Other Health Benefits

We see how essential magnesium is to the normal function of the cardiovascular and nervous system as well as in over 300 enzyme reactions and in energy production..In The lists of the health benefits magnesium exerts on the different body systems and this long. Many of them already mentioned here and includes, the cardiovascular and nervous system, and energy production followed by digestive, respiratory, excretory, lymphatic/immune, musculoskeletal, respiratory and reproductive system, not to mention it positive influence on metabolism like weight, blood sugar and cholesterol control. It is needed for protein, starch and fat metabolism and is important in liver, thyroid and parathyroid function, even hearing, vision and oral health are listed. Pathologies associated with magnesium deficiencies are staggering: Hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver damage, migraine, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, recurrent bacterial infections, fungal infections, premenstrual syndrome, calcium and potassium deficiency, diabetes, cramps, muscle weakness, impotence, aggression, fibromas, hearing loss and iron accumulation (1). Increased magnesium helps to prevent or dissolve kidney stones and gall bladder stones. Activation of digestive enzymes and bile production as well as improving a healthy intestinal flora are factors that make magnesium chloride beneficial in normalising our digestive processes, reducing digestive discomfort, bloating and offensive stool odours. It actually reduces all offensive body odours, including underarm and foot odour. This may explain why chlorophyll is generally very effective in reducing body odour, it is high in magnesium.

Caution: Magnesium supplementation should be avoided with severe kidney problems (severe renal insufficiency when on dialysis), and also with myasthenia gravis. Be careful with severe adrenal weakness or with low blood pressure. Too much magnesium can cause muscle weakness, if this happens temporarily use more calcium.

Copyright 穢 2009 Barbara Bourke and Walter Last. All rights reserved.

10 Ways to Manage Arthritis Foot Pain

Diabetics are not the only ones to suffer foot pain, people with arthritis are also prone to foot pain. Due to the fact that the foot has 33 joints, it is especially prone to arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by the inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints, and often includes an increase of joint fluid. Walking and moving is often extremely difficult for those with arthritis foot pain.

What causes arthritis foot pain? There are different causes, but those that put a person at greater risk include:

- Injury and strain not properly taken care of

- Bacteria and viral infections

- Certain disorders such as ileitis and colitis

- Certain prescription drugs and illegal drug use

- Genetics

In addition to the above causes, there are two forms of arthritis that can lead to foot pain:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis - This is a systemic disease that causes non-specific inflammation of joints belonging to the hands and feet. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis may result in the destruction of the joints and cause serious, chronic foot problems including hammertoes, bunions, etc.

2. Osteoarthritis - This is a degenerative form of arthritis, and it often affects more than one joint. Osteoarthritis is more common among the elderly, obese or those who've suffered a physical trauma. Osteoarthritis can cause changes in the foot bones such as cartilage destruction, spurs, narrowing of joint space and cystic changes.

How can arthritis foot pain be treated? Arthritis foot pain shouldn't be ignored, and should be treated as soon as possible. The following are 10 treatments you can try to help relieve inflammation and pain, as well as improve the flexibility of joints -

1. Exercises - Stretching, range of motion, and functional exercises are all ideal for preventing arthritis foot pain. These exercise help to improve blood flow to the feet, improve flexibility, and keep bones and muscles strong. It's best to ask your podiatrist to recommend exercises.

2. Lose weight - Weight puts plenty of stress and strain on your joints. If you are overweight, shedding excess pounds can make a significant difference to your feet.

3. Supportive footwear - It is imperative that you invest in shoes that provide your foot with support, and feature a high, wide toe box. Shoes with rocker-bottom soles are a good choice for those suffering from heel pain. You should avoid wearing high heel shoes and shoes with pointed toes. In fact, it's a good idea to have your shoes custom made or ask a podiatrist for recommendations.

You should also consider acquiring removable insoles or orthotics for your shoes to provide your foot with more support.

4. Knee, ankle and foot supports - Tensor bandages and braces that provide mild compression and support can help reduce stress placed on the joint.

5. Heat/cold therapy - Applying heating pads or ice packs to the inflamed joint can help relieve inflammation and sooth the aching joint.

6. Physical therapy - Talk to your doctor about physical therapy treatment.

7. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements - These supplements help to slow the deterioration of cartilage between joint bones and reduce pain. Talk to your doctor about these supplements before taking them.

8. Over-the-counter pain medication - If you are suffering from pain due to joint inflammation, common over-the-counter medications that may be effective at reducing inflammation and pain include aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

9. Anti-inflammatory creams and topical ointments - There are topical medications that help relieve acute pain (I.E. "JointFlex"), and those that relieve pain and reduce inflammation (I.E. "Aspercreme").

10. Surgery - Those who suffer from severe, disabling foot pain may require surgery to realign or replace joints.

Finally, remember that it is not normal for joints to hurt anywhere in your body. If you are experiencing frequent or recurring foot pain, it's time to visit your doctor.

Hip Replacement Surgery and Senior Citizens

For many senior citizens, the prospect of a hip replacement surgery, called arthroplasty, is a very real possibility. This surgery allows the weakened or diseased parts of the hip joint to be replaced with artificial parts called prosthetics. The benefits of the procedure include decreased pain, increased movement and flexibility, and an overall improvement in quality of life.

There are many conditions that may make it necessary for the patient to have hip replacement surgery, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory disease that causes swelling and pain), and bone disease that can involve the deterioration of bone by tumors or injury.

To prepare for arthroplasty, there are many things that a caregiver can do to reassure their patient, who may be fearful or unsure about surgery. This includes:

1. Requesting information from doctors so the patient can know what to expect before, during, and after surgery

2. Get the house ready for the patient's recovery; it can be helpful to have many of their everyday items such as glasses, remote control, and the telephone within easy reach

3. Patients should follow their doctor's orders, even if they think they are strong enough or recovered enough to do more than they are supposed to.

After surgery, the patient should do everything they can to improve their success rate. Often there are exercises they can do or even appointments with physical therapists to improve the hip strength and lessen the chances for injury. Complete rehabilitation takes an average of 3 to 6 months, depending upon the age and overall health of the patient.

There can be complications with a hip replacement surgery. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 193,000 arthroplasties are performed each year, and about 10 percent of patients can experience negative side effects such as hip dislocation or inflammation due to the tiny particles that wear off the artificial hip and are absorbed into the body. It can be necessary to redo the surgery to correct the problems with a revision surgery. In other cases, medications can alleviate the inflammation problems.

Tips On Dog Arthritis Prevention

Arthritis is so common in people it should not come as a surprise that it is very widespread with dogs and cats and the numbers keep rising every year.

It may surprise you to know that your dog does not have to suffer with this and other related diseases such as: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Joint Inflammation and other painful diseases.

Put your pet on a balanced healthy diet, which does not include commercial dog foods and treats. If you feed your dog this type of diet you can almost rest assured your dog will be heading for arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. The reason for the widespread of these diseases which have increased tenfold in the last twenty years is directly related to the deterioration of dog food diets.

Nutritional Therapy:

The best diet for maintaining your dog or cat's health is a raw food diet.

If you cannot do a completely raw diet there are enzymes added to your pet's food that can supply the absorption of essential nutrients and fatty acids from cooked foods.

If you do follow enzyme therapy you can reduce the food intake by over 15 percent and feed your dog less to avoid your dog becoming overweight.

Veterinarians that have tested enzyme supplements have found improvements in coat, higher puppy survival rates, and fewer problems with hip dysplasia and arthritis. Once your dog develops arthritis there are tips to help it maintain a good quality of life especially in older dogs.

A Comfortable Bed:

If your dog is not sleeping in your comfortable bed you have to get one for your furry companion. Or if your dog is sleeping in your bed and you do not want that, you have to get it a comfortable bed. I have seen some pretty fancy beds on the internet that would befit a king, or queen with four posters and step stools which is truly over the top. The motto: " Nothing is too good for my dog" really is adaptable in this case. It could be grandma's old blanket or a soft throw blanket whatever makes a nice comfortable bed for the Prince or Princess of your household.

Nutraceuticals for Dog Arthritis:

Veterinarians who care about nutrition will recommend using supplements for treating and preventing arthritis, as much as they prescribe drugs. These supplements are used by humans and have been studied to provide relief from painful joints, and inflammation while repairing joint cartilage.

Glucosamine:

One of the essential ingredients in Arthritis supplements is Glucosamine which builds and is a major component of joint cartilage in humans and animals.

It is especially useful in osteoarthritis and used in veterinary medicine for horses, dogs, and cats with arthritis and as a preventive supplement. You will find you can purchase the Glucosamine with Chondroitin in the same bottle which you can use as directed for your particular pet's needs.

Chondroitin:

Chondroitin sulfate attaches to proteins and is a major goal of the study of Glycobiology. Chondroitin is a major structural part of cartilage and provides resistance to pressure on joints as the joint is used for daily activities. Again it is made with Glucosamine in the same bottle and you can take it as directed for your particular pet's needs.

MSM:

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM is assessed as an anti-inflammatory medicinal supplement and for relieving pain associated with joints and arthritis. If your dog is showing the signs of arthritis by limping, struggling to walk or having difficulty after a short walk you should consider relieving its pain by using MSM regularly.

Omega -3 Fatty Acids:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids or DHA and EPA are found in fish oils which are important in reducing joint swelling. Another side benefit of Omega -3's is it supports heart health of your dog or cat. As your pet ages you may want to consider especially if it is overweight the strain on the heart. It is also found to help with alertness and mental vitality in older pets, and memory.

Doses for Dogs:

A Dog of 60 -70 Pounds:

2,000 milligrams of Glucosamine daily, divide in 2 doses morning and night.

1,500 to 2,000 milligrams of MSM per day, divided in 2 does morning and at night.

1,500 to 2,000 milligrams of Omega 3 fatty acids per day, 2 doses morning and night.

Larger Dogs: double the doses.

Smaller Dogs: take 翻 of the dose for a 60-70 pound Dog.

Smaller Smaller Dogs: take 翹 of the dose for a 60-70 pound Dog.

Animals are like people and as we age, we all need reinforcement to the bone and joint structures of our bodies. These simple measures can repair the damage of arthritis and the most important benefit is it prevents future damage to our pets. Prevention is 99 percent of the cure and far easier than dealing with the disease.

4 Common Causes of Elbow Joint Pain

Are you suffering from elbow joint pain? If so, then it's important to know everything you can about it, in order to treat it. Here are some of the most common conditions and diseases that cause these pains.

1. Arthritis.  It's important to understand that several types of arthritis exist. However, usually indicators of inflammation in joints of elbows are the source. This can result in several symptoms, including swelling, pain, tenderness, and lowered range of motion. The decreased range of motion results from inflamed joints that limit it.

2. Infected joints of elbows. This source of elbow joint pain is fairly uncommon. It involves bacteria infecting the joints of elbows. Typically patients with diabetes or poor immune systems; or those taking cortisone medicines suffer from this disorder. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, and heat. People with this type of arthritis often experience chills, fevers, and perspiring. This type of arthritis needs antibiotics and frequently requires drainage via surgery.  

3. Tumors. It's uncommon for people to suffer tumors in the joints of their elbows. Tumors can be painless or painful (in the joints of the elbows). X-Ray testing and nuclear bone scanning are helpful for detecting tumors.

4. Ulnar nerve entrapment. The ulnar nerve is the "funny bone" that's located between the end of elbows and the inside bone of elbows. A "pinching" sensation, known as entrapment, can cause the pain. When this occurs, you can feel a tickly sensation in the pinky and the finger beside it. It's also possible to feel pain throughout the entire forearm. When this happens, the agility of your hand can become impaired. Sometimes raising the hand can cause lack of sensation in the area.

If you need an all-natural way to treat elbow joint pain, you could try Joint Advance. It uses ingredients from Mother Nature to provide your joints with the nutrients they require. 

Treatment of Degenerative Knee Pain - The Monster That Cripples You - Get Support

Most Effective Ways To Treat Degenerative Knee Pain

Degenerative knee pain is a condition that affects millions of Americans every year and can result in progressive, severe deformity of the joint. While there are several different ways to manage this condition, they will not necessarily result in a cure.

Although degenerative knee disease is not curable, it is not life threatening either. There are plenty of people who have this condition and who go about their lives normally just using a knee brace to support the knee and taking an occasional pain killer to manage the pain.

What are the Treatment Options Available?

Some of the most effective treatments for degenerative knee pain include:

1.) Ice pack
2.) Over the counter pain pills
3.) Exercises
4.) Anti-inflammatory medication
5.) Cortisone shots
6.) Knee replacement surgery
7.) Knee brace

All of these treatment methods except cortisone shots and knee replacement surgery can be self administered by the sufferer. So what should you opt for? Should you bite the bullet and go in for knee replacement surgery right away or should you first try out the other options?

In order to determine which is the right treatment for you, it is important to first assess the frequency of the joint flare ups and the severity of the knee pain. You will also need to take into consideration your age as well as how the condition impacts your daily life.

Conservative Treatment Options for Degenerative Knee Pain

Conservative treatment options, which offer you a safe way to manage the pain and swelling, should be your first line of defense if you have degenerative knee pain. This means you should consider ice packs to control the flare ups and over the counter pain pills to manage the pain (Speak with your physician about taking any drugs). Wearing a knee brace which can provide you with meaningful support that can reduce your pain and will help to allow you to walk around and get on with your daily activities.

Your instinctive reaction may be to try and move your knees as little as possible in order to avoid aggravating the condition. However, this could render the knee even stiffer than before. Many doctors will advise some sort of exercise for the knee to prevent it from getting stiff.

Cortisone shots or injections can also help with the pain but only on a temporary basis. These injections must be administered by a health care practitioner.

Knee Replacement Surgery for Degenerative Knee Pain

Though frequently recommended, knee replacement surgery does not offer any guarantee that the knee will be as good as new. Considering the pain, the post-op inconvenience and the mounting expenses of the surgery and rehabilitation, it is a high risk to take. Moreover, the duration of rehabilitation is indefinite, and the temporary lay off from work could just add another blow to your finances.

A very small percentage of people would actually consider full knee replacement surgery as their first choice. Most people who suffer from this condition will treat their degenerative knee pain with medication and a knee brace, which will enable them to remain active and relatively pain free without having to undergo the trauma of surgery.

If you believe that you can benefit from pain reduction and increased knee stability, then you should seriously consider a knee brace today. These supports can be obtained very quickly and are also very affordable, especially when you compare it to the costs that of surgery.

The Basics on Arthritis

According to the Centers for Disease Control, arthritis has affected 46.4 million Americans as of 2005, which is 21.6% of the total adult population. What is arthritis? It is a disorder characterized by an inflammation of the joint, which is the part where two bones in the body meet. The joint allows movement of the two connected bones.

This condition is considered as a rheumatic disease. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The causes of this disease include injury, heredity, abnormalities in metabolism, infections, and other still unexplained reasons.

Symptoms of Arthritis

This disease is usually marked at the onset by joint pain that causes restricted movement of the affected part. The joint often becomes stiff and tender, and it may also swell, become red, and feel warm. Because arthritis is a rheumatic disease, its symptoms can affect different organs that are not related to the joint. In this case, symptoms can include fever, presence of lymph node, loss of weight, fatigue, and abnormalities in the kidneys, heart, lungs, and other organs.

Arthritis Statistics

This disease affects people across various age levels. It is experienced by males and females, whether children, young adults, or adults. All over the world, 350 million people suffer from the disease.

In the United States, over 50% of Americans having the disease are younger than 65 years old. More than 25 million of these are children. Of the total number of cases among Americans, 60% are women.

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, affects 27 million Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis, a disorder of the immune system that affects the joints, affects 1.3 million Americans.

Diagnosis

In diagnosing this condition, the doctor will gather information about the symptoms. The doctor will also observe the joints to see if any inflammation or deformity has occurred. Tests, such as blood tests, urine tests, and X-rays of the affected area, will be conducted.

The final diagnosis is taken from the observed symptom patterns and the inflammation of the joints, the X-ray results, and the results of the blood and urine tests. Sometimes the diagnosis is not confirmed with just one visit to your doctor; follow-up consultations may be needed.

If you are diagnosed with arthritis, you should not be alarmed, because not all cases are serious. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more chances you have to prevent permanent damage to your health. This will also give your condition a better chance of not resulting in a disability.

Prevention

You can prevent the occurrence of this disease by following some measures. First, you should achieve a healthy weight. Being overweight puts a lot of strain on the joints, particularly the knees, and may lead to the disease.

Regular exercise will also reduce your risk for arthritis. Exercise strengthens your muscles and helps prevent stiffness of the joints. However, you should avoid exercises that are too difficult or will cause a strain on your muscles and joints.

Finally, eat a balanced diet. This not only protects you from arthritis but protects your overall health as well. Eating healthy meals along with regular intake of vitamins and minerals that your body needs will keep your health and keep you in good shape.

Upper Back Pain Relief - Causes and Cures

There are many different causes of upper back pain, and while not as common as pain in the lower back, it can often times be a much more painful, often chronic condition. The good news is... There ARE medications and pain management treatments that can be very effective.

Some of the causes are myofascial pain (irritated muscles), dysfunction of or degenerative joints, and even an injury or herniation to one of the discs in the upper spine, called Thoracic Herniation. You may even have a genetic disease or disposition to having these problems. Other scary sounding problems could include osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatic nerve impingement, compressed vertebrae and others.

In other words... before you start on any course of self treatment, check with your doctor to be certain your pain relief effort doesn't require surgery.

Causes...
Though more common in lower back pain, pain in the upper back can also result - over time - from poor posture.

If you are sitting at a desk all day, hunched over doing work, this puts a strain on your upper back. The upper back vertebra are not designed to be constantly bent over like this. It is a more rigid part of the spine, designed to support the weight of the person, and protect the internal organs. If it is not held in an upright position, the muscles surrounding the spine itself can become strained.

Upper back pain can be extremely discomforting. Usually, in addition to having upper (cervical) back discomfort, you may also experience shoulder and neck pain, as well as pain in the lower back and spine. To find upper back pain relief, you will want to really dig in and find ALL the causes. It could be a combination of several acting together - not just one.

Luckily, if you happen to have upper back pain, there are a number of ways to alleviate it. Surgery, medication, back strengthening and stretching exercises, massage and even acupuncture to name a few. Prevention...
But, when discussing your health, it prevention should be your first - top - line of defense.

Since it is so important that you prevent the problem in the first place, here are a few things you can do:

1. The first is get enough sleep at night, with a bed that is supportive of the spine. Sleep is important, not just to rest the back muscles, but to repair nerve and muscle damage.

2. If you are someone who does sit in front of a desk for long periods of time, or in front of the television, that's all right, but it is important that you get up at least once every half an hour.

Move around, stand up straight as much as possible, and walk around a little bit. This way your back and spine don't strain by sitting in one position for so long a period of time.

3. There are a number of back stretching and strengthening exercises you can find that can help... try taking a class in Yoga. Building up weakened muscle tissue in the back helps!

4. Changes in diet can also help to prevent upper back pain. Reducing the amount of caffeine in your diet, eating foods that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Sometimes, upper back pain is unavoidable. It may even happen from doing something you aren't even aware of, and all of a sudden you have these pains.

Frequently, when you get sudden pain from nothing more than twisting or turning at just the right angle, this is caused by a herniated or bulging disc. Since there is no pain unless it actually touches a nerve (we are talking millimeters), it is estimated that 60% of all of us have disc problems - but we aren't aware!

We are all going to have a certain amount of upper back pain occasionally, and here are just some of the many ways to get severe back pain relief.

Upper Back Pain Relief... Cures

One way to find upper back pain relief is to soak in a tub of water with Epsom salt. Adding a bag or two to water that is hot enough to just stand it can be a great relief, not just for you upper back, but other areas of the body as well. If you want, you can even add some essential oils for aromatherapy.

Upper back massage is another great way to relieve pain, and you can do this even if you are by yourself. Take a couple of tennis balls, lay them on the floor, and lay down on them.

Gently move your body back and forth, allowing the balls to massage the muscles. Every thirty seconds to a minute, change the positioning of the balls. If you find an area that is particularly painful, you don't have to stay there, move the balls in another location.

Getting upper back pain relief is something YOU can do... there is no need to suffer!

Why Athletes Should Be Using Kinesiology Tape by Spidertech

If you are involved in sports or athletics, then you understand the benefits of taping. Taping is used by trainers and therapists to both treat and prevent sports injuries. The tape's purpose is to support joints and muscles for individuals who experience a lot of action and movement in their daily routines. Kinetics is the ancient Greek study of movement, so this type of tape is generally referred to as kinesiology, or simply kinesio, tape. Spidertech is a brand of kinesio tape that offers an innovation and highly functional approach to kinesiology.

Nitto Denko originally created Kinesio tape in Japan. The tape has been on the market for 25 years and is now sold around the world to athletics and medical professionals in sports industries. Nitto Denko uses only the best cotton and acrylic and its advances in hypoallergenic adhesives to create a kinesio tape that works for the majority of athletes who require it. It is latex free and dries quickly. This commitment to quality materials minimizes skin irritation and other epidermal problems.

The use of this Kinesio tape is becoming very popular in both the United States and Europe. It is created to imitate a person's skin so that it is better suited to mold, bend and shape as a person would. It works to treat muscle pain, muscle and joint strain, and problems with limited mobility and range of motion. It can also be utilized as a prevention product by fixing joint stability, enhancing the area's natural healing processes, and by limiting potentially dangerous ranges of movement.

Since this product both treats and prevents movement problems it is directly related to an athlete's ability to perform. Kinesio tape enhances performance by minimizing muscle strain and decreases the amount of muscle fatigue. A bonus side effect of these enhancements is that there are fewer incidences of muscle cramping associated with people who regular use kinesiology tape.

This tape is pre-cut which makes it simple to apply and can be used right away. For athletes seeking to add this product to their training routine, there are a variety of training options available to assist athletes in proper application techniques. If you would like to find out more, visit SpiderTech and learn about the benefits of Kinesiology tape.

What Are Some Measures to Prevent or Reduce Risks of Diseases or Conditions Related to Bone Health

The main concerns of bone health are osteoporosis (including osteopenia) and osteoarthritis. Although several factors contribute to these conditions, measures can be taken to reduce their risk or increase the chances of preventing them.

Osteoporosis is a condition that is characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD). Osteoporosis and ostopenia are different in the sense that if you have osteopenia (also referred to as low bone mass) you have less bone loss than you would if you have osteoporosis.

Since bone is constantly changing, it is noted that in osteoporosis, the osteoclasts cells remove bone faster than the good cells osteoblasts which form new bone. This results in more bone loss since there is no equalization between the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts.

When bone density decreases, there is a marked loss in the strength of the bones which now become fragile. As bones become fragile, there is a greater risk of fractures as well as loss of balance, resulting in falls and other injuries. Bones become more fragile as we age, especially after age 50, requiring regular BMD testing. The relevant measure of BMD is referred to in terms of T-score. T- Score is your BMD measurement compared to the reference mean of a young normal adult. A normal T-score is -1.0 or higher; however, in osteopenia, it is defined to be between -1.0 and -2.5 and in osteoporosis it is defined to be -2.5.

Osteoarthritis (OA) - also known as osteoarthrosis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease:

- can affect not only the joints but also their surrounding tissues [including the capsule (the cover of the joint), ligaments, lining, and muscles];

- can be painful;

- is a degenerative disease;

- is a disease caused by loss of cartilage in the joints;

- is a normal result of aging which often affects the feet, fingers, hips, knees, or spine;

- is a progressive disease;

- is due to wearing away of a joint;

- is not a single disease but the result of several disorders causing the failure of the functioning of joints;

- is the most common of the joint disorders;

- may not always be able to prevent it or cure it but you can take control in order to prevent its development or progression;

- progresses with destruction (obliteration) of the joint space.

Several conditions and factors that may be caused by or can increase the risk of Osteoporosis (and osteopenia) as well as osteoarthritis include:

- Asian or Caucasian race;

- bone cancer;

- calcium deficiency;

- chemotherapy;

- eating disorders (for example, anorexia nervosa, bulimia);

- excessive alcohol consumption;

- heredity;

- injury to a joint (for example, macrotrauma);

- lack of certain hormones (estrogen in women & androgen in men);

- lack of exercise (including weight-bearing exercises) or inactive lifestyle;

- liver disease;

- medications (for example, certain blood thinners, anti-seizure, long-term use of certain medications);

- obesity;

- overuse of a joint;

- overuse of corticosteroids;

- poor nutrition;

- radiation therapy;

- rheumatoid arthritis;

- smoking;

- thyroid problems;

- vitamin D deficiency;

- women (have a higher risk since women start off with lower bone density than men and lose bone mass quicker as they age).

The following are a few of the things that can be done to either prevent or reduce the risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis:

- avoid repetitive stress on the joints whether at home or at work (one example would be to use an ergonomic keyboard);

- adjust your work area in order to avoid stress on your joints;

- avoid overuse of joints (especially painful joints);

- avoid smoking;

- eat a balanced diet;

- eat an all-around healthy diet (for example, eat nuts, fish, and food rich in calcium);

- exercise in water such as swimming;

- exercise to strengthen your bones - including weight bearing exercises;

- get sufficient rest;

- get sufficient sleep;

- maintain a healthy body weight;

- take precautions not to fall such as making sure your home is safe in all areas, having your eyes checked regularly, using walking aids if necessary, wearing safe shoes that offer support;

- take supplements if necessary to ensure that you have sufficient minerals and vitamins in your system for strong bones.

Although it is not always possible to prevent bone health problems, it is always important to try to reduce the risks or to take any preventative measures.

Osteoarthritis - A Degenerative Joint Ailment

Osteoarthritis like diabetes is a chronic dysfunction. If not treated it can become quite dangerous, and then it is termed as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage - a vital bone tissue -- gets disconnected. It is this cartilage that acts as the grease between the bone joints. When cartilage -- owing to osteoarthritis -- disappears, the bones become stiff. Under such abnormal circumstances whenever the bones rub one feels acute pain.

You would be surprised to know that there are more than 100 types of osteoarthritis. The most common one is osteoarthritis, or OA as explained above. The next in line according to the number of people affected is Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA. In this case, some lacunae in the immune system causes inflammation of the bone joints. Such a syndrome usually begins in the lining of the joints called the synovium. With time, RA damages the bone as well as the cartilage. Importantly, RA strikes both the sexes although it is more common among the womenfolk. RA affects similar joints and that too on the patients' both sides. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints on both sides of the body.

Mentionably, chronic and acute osteoarthritis are different from each other. The chronic state continues for years on end or may even continue for a person's lifetime. There is still no unanimity as to the exact causes of osteoarthritis, and hence there is still to evolve a precise treatment method for this disability disease.

The best means to control osteoarthritis is to follow the doctor's advice and strictly follow the prescribed regimen. Such a systematic lifestyle can definitely lessen the painful stress. First start monitoring the osteoarthritis symptoms. Then, discuss the signs with your physician and immediately make him aware of the new symptoms that may appear. Heredity can also be a main cause of the disease. At times, several of these symptoms may come together to cause osteoarthritis. Check obesity and regulate your weight to control osteoarthritis. Too much of physical weight puts unwarranted load on the cartilage and joints. Usually, our knee and hip joints carry the lion's share of our weight. Ensure that you do not put that extra load on these sensitive but very useful tissues called cartilage.

The reason why osteoarthritis generally happens with reference to the sportspersons is that they tend to put too much of pressure on particular parts of their bones and joints. This is exactly the reason why many players have to undergo repeated operation of the same portion of their joints over and over again. Hence never overuse the joints, otherwise there may be frequent breakdown of the cartilage. Moreover, repeated surgeries on particular joint parts can not only be expensive and a painful experience but can also weaken those affected portions.

The Basics of Oral Reconstructive Surgery

One of the nine specialty areas of dentistry is maxillofacial surgery. This surgery is performed to repair damage that has affected the neck, head, jaw, face, and the soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacial areas, that was caused by injury, or by one or more conditions that may affect these areas.

Although the focus is on the oral maxillofacial areas of this, an oral maxillofacial surgeon is a specialist in the craniomaxillo facial region, which is the entire head, face, mouth, maxilla, and mandible (lower jaw). A maxillofacial surgeon is a qualified dentist who then underwent special surgical training, and they may often possess an MBBS or MD, although this is not a requirement in The United States.

Types of Procedures

Procedures performed in this area are not limited to just working on the teeth, but include dental alveolar surgery, which is surgeries performed to remove impacted teeth or other difficult tooth extractions as well as bone grafting and surgeries to prepare the patient for implants or other dental prosthetic devices.

Also included in this area are surgeries for treatment of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, removal of malignant or benign (non-, malignant) cysts and tumors in the craniomaxillo facial region, lip reconstruction caused by injury or cancer (chewing tobacco use, or "dip" often precede this surgery).

Oral Maxillofacial Specialist

Reconstructive surgery to repair fractures of the mandible (lower jaw) and maxilla (upper mouth, face area, cheekbones), surgeries for the treatment of sleep apnea, craniofacial prosthetics, and cosmetic surgeries for the head and face such as rhinoplasty (nose job), brow lifts, Botox, chemical peels, chin and cheek augmentations, lip enhancement procedures, facelifts and a multitude of other procedures are performed by the oral maxillofacial specialist, as well as work that you would typically expect from a dentist such as dental implants, gum and tooth contouring, crowns, bridges, dentures and other dental surgeries.

If you ever have the need for an oral maxillofacial surgeon, rest assured that you are in good hands and that they know what they are doing. To become a craniomaxillo facial specialist it takes the dentist 12-14 yrs of additional training after secondary school. Training includes, 2-4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of dental study, 4-6 years for residency training, then after all that they must pass a final specialty examination: (U.S. "Board Certified (ABOMS) to finally be prepared to perform the procedures.

What Causes Lower Jaw Pain? - Nurse's Report!

If you're suffering right now from lower jaw pain or have had acute or chronic jaw pain episodes in the past, you may or may not have sought medical attention. Lower jaw pain can be caused by a few things including arthritis, fractures, dislocations, whiplash injuries and structural issues in the jaw that you were born with.

Do any of these symptoms sound like the kind of lower jaw pain you're having? Clicking or popping jaw, sore jaw, jaw ache, locked jaw, clenching jaw or does it feel like a dislocated jaw? If so, your jaw and jaw pain can be treated and possibly cured and most of the time naturally. Of course removing the cause is the most important part once it's recognized or diagnosed.

If you're wondering what kind of jaw pain is linked with heart problems is the most important thing to remember about lower jaw pain is that it can be caused by heart problems and you want to make sure it isn't related to your heart first of all. If it is you want to seek treatment immediately. You don't want to wait around. This can be serious and a heart attack may be looming. If you have eliminated heart issues as a cause you can review the above list and see if any of that could be the cause.

If not the most common cause would be what people commonly call a TMJ problem. Pain in the lower jaw is usually due to temporomandibular joint or TMJ pain as it is called. These joints are located on both sides of the head just in front of your ears. There are other related problems in these areas but all fall under the category of TMJ disorders.

Most TMJ problems happen due to physical stress or sometimes emotional stress on the structures that support the joints. It can be one-sided or the lower jaw pain can be felt on both sides, to varying degrees of pain. The structures involved include the cartilage that connects the joint, muscles in the face, neck and jaw along with ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and teeth in the lower jaw area.

Some of the structural changes can happen if you have an overbite. Or get partial denture or full dentures that don't change your overbite - which is hard to do. If you clench or grind your teeth at night or throughout the day this can pose serious stresses on the tempormandibualr joints (TMJ). This clenching causes a lot of stress on the jaw. Even poor posture can influence the muscles in the TMJ area. If you're sitting at a computer all day long and not in an ergonomic fashion you may unwittingly put a lot of stress on the lower jaw and it may cause you pain then or later.

Other factors that might make TMJ symptoms worse are stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep. Complicating factors could be you develop headaches, toothaches or earaches caused by the lower jaw referring pain to those areas.

Once you have eliminated the possibility of heart-related issues and decided on whether your lower jaw pain is caused by, arthritis, fractures, structural problems, dislocations, whiplash or TMJ or a combination there are many natural approaches you can take.

You don't have to suffer with TMJ or any other jaw pain. I suffered in the past too but I no longer have any TMJ or arthritis problems. Identifying the problem and being properly diagnosed by your doctor is the most important part. But try natural approaches to arthritis, TMJ and lower jaw pain treatment first efore resorting to invasive treatments.

Degenerative Joint Disease Causes and Home Treatments

The degenerative joint disease causes are typically wear and tear injuries that occur over time. In fact, advanced age is a major risk factor of degenerative joint disease and it is rare for anyone over the age of 70 to be unaffected in some way by this progressive disorder. However, treatments are available that can help decrease the pain and stiffness associated with degenerative joint disease.

Degenerative Joint Disease Causes

Though degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, can come on as a consequence of everyday life, its onset can be sped up by certain factors.

• Trauma due to sports


• Trauma from work-related activities or injuries


• Repetitive motions of a joint for a long time


• Infection in a joint


• Excess weight, which puts pressure on the weight bearing joints.

Degenerative joint disease is common in the weight bearing joints (spine, hips, knees, ankles, feet, and toes) but can also occur in the non-weight bearing joints (shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers).

If you wake in the morning with stiffness, which goes away after moving for about 30 minutes, you likely have osteoarthritis. This is a classic sign of the disorder as is pain in the joints that is aggravated by exercise and relieved by rest.

Degenerative Joint Disease Home Treatments

You will not be able to completely cure degenerative joint disease but you can treat the symptoms and lessen the pain and stiffness. Below I have listed some common home remedies for degenerative joint disease:

• OTC (over-the-counter) drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) are the first remedy tried by most osteoarthritis sufferers. Aspirin will have similar pain-relieving effects but may be harder on your stomach


• NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can provide some relieve from pain and are commonly thought of as a step up from Tylenol or Aspirin. Talk with your doctor if you feel a need for regular use of these pain relievers.


• OTC glucosamine and condroitin formulas have mixed results but some claim good results with their regular use.


• There are a number of pain-relieving lotions and creams. Try Capsaicin (Zostrix), this may feel unusual at first but has proven to be helpful for the temporary relief of degenerative joint disease.


• Hot or cold packs may provide temporary relieve. Hot packs can warm the joint and aid in pain-free movement. Cold packs help reduce swelling and pain that may occur following exercise.


• Allow sufficient time to rest the affected joint and if repetitive movements aggravate the symptoms, take step to change your routine.


• You do not want to avoid exercise because it helps to keep your joints mobile. However, you may need to shift your exercise routine to exercises that do not stress your joints. Swimming and water activities are non-weight bearing exercises. You can also walk instead of jog to put knees under less stress.


• Alternative treatments like acupuncture and massage may provide you with relief.

Not Everyone Will Recover From TMJ Disorder

Recently I was abruptly reminded, by two long term TMJ Disorder sufferers, that not all cases of TMJ Disorder will self-resolve. These ladies were incensed at the title of a book I have written on this disorder which implies that everyone can conquer this disorder. And I do agree with them. This is a sad fact of this disorder: For a multitude of reasons, some cases are never going to be "cured."

For Some, Surgery May Be Necessary

I do know that some cases of TMJD may require irreversible procedures performed, like surgery. Unfortunately, all too often sufferers are worse off after surgery than they were before the procedure. I have had contact with far too many individuals who've paid thousands of dollars for irreversible procedures and not been left better off. I still say that surgery should be done only as a last case resort, and one should be prepared to suffer the unforeseen consequence that perhaps, just perhaps, they will not be better off for the experience. For some, however, surgery IS the solution.

Book Title

In fact, were I to re-title my book, I would not use the current title because it is, I now see, misleading. This was completely unintentional on my part given that, statistically, most cases of TMJD do resolve with a SOFTER DIET and TIME. For those who have shaken their fists in anger at this Pollyanna approach to TMJD, I apologize sincerely. It has totally never been my intention to belittle or diminish the extent of a person's suffering from this disorder. I've had this disorder. It was not only excruciatingly painful, it was extremely, totally depressing.

Pain Free, but Cautious

In point of fact, can I truly state I am completely recovered from my case of TMJD? No. Even though I am pain free, I am very cautious about what I eat. If anything is the least chewy or tough, I take an immediate pass on that item. I cannot eat apples on the core; I cannot eat corn on the cob; I seldom attempt to chew gum; no jaw breakers; sandwiches can sometimes be difficult; the list can go on. At best I can state I am now pain free and able to eat most foods, even crunchy items like carrot sticks. I cherish this because I know it can take only one careless moment, one thoughtless bite on something, and I could be back at square one.

Many Treatment Options Available

TMJD sufferers have a plethora of options they can now explore before they go the surgical or "irreversible procedure" route. Some steadfastly claim that chiropractic intervention cures their sporadic attacks of TMJD. Some cling to their use of mouthguards at night. Others resort to acupuncture. I, and others, believe that time and a softer diet alleviate the problem (along with stopping nocturnal clenching and grinding). There are, basically, many paths one can take to find relief from this malady. Not every path is right for every person. And for a few individuals, there may be no paths. Pain management may be the only option left.

So, for those who have been offended at the title of my book because time and a softer diet did not work for them, I apologize. It was never my intention to mislead anyone. Despite the fact that many dentists and health practitioners agree with me, I do recognize that my path may not be everyone's path.

I wish you well and a speedy recovery.

Earache Information - Causes of Earache

Early in the morning, a well dressed man rushes into the emergency complaining of excruciating ear pain following a flight journey couple of hours back. At home, a child who had an attack of flu starts complaining of earache in the middle of the night and the apprehensive parents immediately takes her to their family physician. Another day, a gentleman, in his sixties presented to the out-patient department complaining of dull aching pain in the ear since past few days without any history of flu or trauma or any ear discharge. On examination, no signs of ear infection were found, later, after a thorough investigation he was diagnosed of having a benign tumor in the neck.

Pain, anywhere in the body is always unpleasant, and the worst of all is to have an earache. Thus, earache can be a result of various underlying causes, warranting a thorough investigation. This article tries to explain in brief 'what are the causes of earache'?

Human ear is divided into three parts namely external, middle and inner ear. The following discussion will be based on these divisions for the sake of easy understanding of the disease condition and its pathology.

Common causes of sudden onset of earache are impacted wax in the auditory canal, traumatizing the canal while attempting to remove the accumulated wax, swimmer's ear, acute otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear secondary to blockage of the ventilating tube connecting the nose to the ear) and barotrauma (trauma caused due to pressure variations in the ear, during flight journey or diving). As these conditions present with excruciating pain, the individuals usually present early to the out-patient or emergency department. With appropriate intervention, the pain can be relieved immediately or with-in couple of days.

Earache in the external ear can be due to fungal infection, keratosis (accumulation of dead cells and keratin) of the external auditory canal, malignant otitis externa (elderly diabetics whose sugar levels are poorly controlled and less commonly in immunocompromised individuals) myringitis (inflammation of the ear drum), perichondritis of the pinna (inflammation of the pinna cartilage) and cancer. Isolated herpes zoster infection of the external ear can cause severe earache associated with vesicular eruptions over the external ear. Middle ear causes include chronic suppurative otitis media (long-standing ear discharge), and its associated complications, Eustachian tube dysfunction and malignant tumors.

Many a times earache would be the sole complaint of the patient, but on examination there will be no signs of ear infection. If thoroughly investigated, the roots of the pain can be traced to the tumors in the neck compressing over the nerves supplying the ear.

Hope you enjoyed reading this article. A small attempt has been made in this article to enlighten about the causes of earache.

Arthritis Pain Relief Remedies - Reduce Pain and Inflammation of the Joints

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation in the joints, pain relief is necessary for maintaining the movement of joints before arthritis makes them completely immovable. Apart from this, the continuous pain can push the patient in a state of depression where he might even give up the will to fight the condition which can reduce the effects of the treatment.

Doctors usually prescribe medicines those can be categorized in to three NSAID, narcotic pain relievers and steroids. These medicines do provide immense relief from pain and even inflammation to the patient but along with this these are also susceptible for causing serious side effects. Though till today NSAID are considered safe but their complete effects on the body are yet to be known. In some arthritic conditions taking these medicines for pain relief can become compulsory.

Many people are switching to alternate medication for arthritic pain relief to avoid side effects of the drugs. There are many herbs which have been used since ancient times for arthritic pain relief and new herbs have been discovered too recently. Nettle leaves are natural counterparts of NSAID for anti-inflammation apart from this it has a natural substance called boron which is a helpful nutrient for arthritis patients. Cinnamon bark is a Chinese herb and very popular for its effects on arthritic pain relief, it improves blood flow and functioning of kidney and spleen. This herb is equally effective in relieving rheumatoid arthritis pain. Few other effective herbs for arthritis pain relief are alfalfa, angelica, licorice, ginseng, burdock, devil's claw, hawthorn, oregano, prickly ash, rosemary, turmeric, wild yarn etc.

Cayenne cream is popularly used as alternate treatment for arthritis pain as cayenne peppers have capsaicin which can inhibit the signals of pain flashing to the brain. However some people may not find it effective immediately and some may need more time, at least a week's time is recommended before making a decision. Consumption of vitamin E and vitamin B as supplement help the body in relieving arthritis pain. Chondroitin can draw blood to the cartilages, fish oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and ginger has rich anti-oxidants which can help in relieving arthritis pain and inflammation. Glucosamine sulfate is a natural supplement which helps the body in rebuilding cartilages and is known to have very few side effects.

Some pain relieving methods are also helpful like hot water bath which can improve blood flow for some relief from pain. Hot and cold packs at the painful and inflamed joints can also relieve the pain and inflammation however in case of acutely inflamed joints only cold packs shall be applied. Hydrotherapy has exercises to be done in water to improve the movement of the joint for arthritis pain relief. Traction, massage and manipulation are included in mobilization therapies which promote joint movement for arthritis pain relief. TENS, relaxation therapy and acupuncture are also effective treatments for arthritis pain relief and reducing inflammation of joints. These therapies focus on improving the range of motion, strengthening the joint and improving endurance. These therapies shall be taken according to medical expert's advice as all the therapies are not suitable for every arthritic condition.

What is Bursitis Pain and What Treatments Are Available?

From the time you wake up each morning until the time you go to bed, every movement you make requires the use of your joints. If one joint is stressed or injured it can cause bursitis pain, which can affect whether or not you are able to lead a normal, pain-free life. Some motions as simple as lifting a bag, reaching for a plate, or pouring a glass of juice can cause great pain. Or, you may find that your range of motion is severely limited.

Bursae are small sacs filled with fluid that cushion your joints. They help prevent friction in the various joints in your body and allow for the gliding motion when you move. Repetitive movements, most commonly in the hip, shoulder, knees, or ankles, can wear the bursae down and cause inflammation or irritation. When this happens it is called bursitis, which literally means "inflammation of the bursa." Young athletes or those in jobs with repetitive motions are more susceptible to bursitis pain. It can also be caused by repetitive compression on a joint. For example, if you sleep on your side, it could cause pain in your hip or shoulder, though this doesn't happen as often.

Symptoms will vary from person to person depending on what motion is causing the irritation of the bursae. Stiffness in your joints, with or without pain, is common. There may be pain or heat in the area, and sometimes a pinching pain. The pain might come and go, and it may differ from day to day. If you experience a lot of pain one day, you may feel more stiff the next.

Avoid movements that aggravate the joint and let it rest. Icing the sore area the day you injure it will keep the inflammation down. Taking an all-natural anti-inflammatory will also help reduce inflammation. If the pain does not improve after a week, you should call your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor will be able to identify the problem, which could be your bursa or the result of another injury.

When you meet with your doctor he will provide you with treatment options and discuss with you which ones are best for your circumstances. Whichever treatment is chosen, it is very important that you follow through with it. For a damaged bursa to heal, it can take up to six weeks of treatment.

Your doctor may suggest a brace to keep you from moving the affected joint and allow healing time. Physical therapy is also a commonly used option. Loosening the joints is the primary goal. If it hurts, try taking an anti-inflammatory to help ease some of the pain. When the inflammation is gone, it will allow the bursa to heal and the tendons to strengthen themselves.

It's possible to prevent bursitis. By exercising regularly and sticking to a healthy diet, you will strengthen your tendons and the muscles surrounding the joints. When the tendons and muscles are stronger, they are better able to protect the joint.

How Does Degenerative Disc Disease Lead to Spinal Arthritis?

As one ages, the spinal intervertebral disc undergoes significant changes. Normally the intervertebral disk is comprised of 80% water. With age, that percentage begins to decrease and the spinal disc begins to lose hydration and undergo degeneration.

Some discs undergo rapid degeneration and that can lead to degenerative disc disease. This may or may not lead to pain. The disc can lose height from lack of water, and it can also start to bulge similar to a tire that is getting flat and bulging. Disc degeneration is diagnosed from either x-rays or an MRI, which can be ordered by a Pain Management Doctor.

Just because a person has degeneration present of spinal discs does not mean pain is inevitable as there are many individuals walking around with discs that are dehydrating, degenerating, and bulging but not causing any pain at all.

As the spinal disc continues to degenerate, it can lead to a cascade of degenerative spinal arthritis that occurs as follows. As the disc loses water and degenerates, it loses disc height. The joints behind the disc space, called facet joints, begin to experience abnormal stresses as the disc becomes defective in its ability to absorb stresses. These stresses go to the rest of the spinal elements at the affected level, in this case the facet joints.

The facet joints begin to degenerate and become arthritic, this involves overgrowth of bone around the joint and further pain. Because the degenerative disc is not always affected symmetrically, the patient may end up with scoliosis due to the degeneration that continues to build on itself.

Treatments for degenerative disc disease are multiple. They are all quality of life treatments, as degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis are not life threatening. Pain management doctors offer facet injections, nucleoplasty, physical therapy, spinal decompression therapy, bracing, radiofrequency ablation, among other treatments. Surgery should be considered as an absolute last resort.

The Importance of Disease Diagnosis

The etiological concept of diseases and the methodology of treatment varies among the different systems of medicine. However, the mode of disease diagnosis (Nosological diagnosis) is common for all systems. It is a fact that the close association between disease diagnosis and remedial diagnosis prevailed in Modern medicine may not be seen in other holistic systems, however, diagnosis is having its own importance even in other systems. The mode of treatment may be either holistic treatment, specific treatment, symptomatic treatment and general life support to the patient. Modern medicine gives more importance to the specific treatment, whereas, systems like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha, Unani, Chinese medicine, Naturopathy etc. give more importance to the holistic concept of treatment, i. e. remedy section by considering the physical, mental and emotional characters and life situation of the sick individual.

However, in these systems also, disease diagnosis is equally important, because, under certain situations, the functioning of the affected organ or the system of the body has to be backed up. The patient also may require some specific type of support, for which the organ remedies are to be deployed. Apart from that, disease diagnosis is important for planning the disease control measures, prognosis, special precautions, to know the life threatening situations, prevention of spreading of disease to others. Diagnosis is very essential for statistics, research and also to fulfill the academic interests. Above all, due to some medico-legal reasons, the doctor should know the detailed health status of his patient. Due to all these reasons, disease diagnosis is a must, irrespective of the system of treatment given to the patient.

Disease diagnosis and remedial diagnosis can be considered as the two sides of the same coin, hence, both are having equal importance. Disease diagnosis is done by correlating the signs and symptoms of the patients (clinical features) with the information given by the bystanders and the lab investigation reports. On certain situations, there may be some difficulty in making a diagnosis, because, a number of diseases are having almost similar clinical features. Moreover, rarely occurring diseases or a newly emerged disease may not be identified easily, especially by a general practitioner. Under such circumstances, a specialist's opinion may be needed. Very rarely, a team of doctors are involved in the process of diagnosis.

It is not possible to name each and every disease we come across in our day to day practice. As per the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), a notable percentage of diseases can't be named. In such cases, a diagnosis is possible in spite of having several health related symptoms in the patient. Since the patient is suffering, he has to be treated symptomatically. Some symptoms or conditions are wrongly understood as diseases by the laymen. For example, clinical manifestations like jaundice, fever, vomiting, headache, malaise etc are not diseases; but clinical manifestations of some diseases. The naming of diseases is done on several basis. Most of the diseases are named after the person who invented that particular disease (Buerger's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Weil's disease), some diseases on the basis of area where the disease is common or identified for the first time (African sleeping sickness, Madhura foot, Japanese encephalitis), on the basis of some peculiarity of the symptoms (Chikungunya), or on the basis of the organism responsible for the infection (Falsiparum malaria, Amoebic dysentery, Bacillary dysentery), or on the basis of the affected organ (Myocarditis, Nephritis, Appendicitis), on the basis of cause(Alcoholic hepatitis, Wool-sorter's disease), on the basis of age (Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Senile dementia), on the basis of pathology(Mixed connective tissue disease, Mucopolyscaccharidosis)etc.

If a group of specific signs and symptoms are found in an individual, it is called syndrome (Edward syndrome, Down syndrome, Laurence-moon syndrome). Nowadays, we hardly come across a patient having a single disease, whereas most of patients are having a list of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, idiopathic hypertension, acid peptic disease, senile dementia, degenerative joint disease etc. Many diseases are classified under certain group of disorders. For example: Degenerative joint disorders, Inflammatory bowel disorders, Psychosomatic diseases, Life style disorders etc. Here, each group includes several diseases, but are grouped together due to some common features such as pathological or etiological features.

When a person comes to the doctor for the first time, immediate disease diagnosis may not be possible due to various reasons. However, considering the presenting clinical features and history given by the patient, the doctor can come to a provisional disease diagnosis. After doing the laboratory investigations, the final diagnosis is done by correlating the clinical findings with investigation reports. However the treatment is not kept in pending till the final diagnosis, especially in case of life threatening diseases such as diphtheria, wherein the treatment has to be started immediately when the disease is suspected, because, if we wait for the lab reports to come, the patient may be critical. Some recent laboratory tests help in early diagnosis, but unavailability of sophisticated labs doing such tests is a major deficiency faced by many countries.

The development of science and technology has made a revolution in medical science. Now the concept of disease diagnosis done only on the basis of clinical examination is outdated. It is now under the custody of some sophisticated machines and laboratory techniques, a few out of them pose more risk to the health. But, the noteworthy point is, under all lab reports, a disclaimer is written as "correlate with clinical findings", which emphasizes the importance of case taking and clinical examination done by the doctor. In this era, wherein doctor-patient relationship is disrupted, we come across many patients saying that the doctor has abruptly prescribed the medicine or referred for lab test without asking much questions and doing any sort of clinical examination.

The recent studies conducted at Mc Master university on the disease diagnosis is remarkable. They found that the name of the disease creates more panic among the patients. For example, a person having sour eructation may not feel bad when the doctor says that he has acidity, on the other hand, he may get embarrassed if the doctor tells him that he has Gastro-esophageal reflex disease, which is the medical terminology for recurrent burning eructations. The same thing happens in most of the cancer patients; once the disease is diagnosed as cancer, the patients mental and emotional status starts deteriorating. But, the doctor cant hide the disease from the patient due to several medical and legal issues. The better alternative is to secretly tell the diagnosis to the bystanders of the patient.

For an accurate disease diagnosis, the cooperation from the patient and his family members is very essential. Each and every problem felt by the patient should be told to the doctor. Some silly matter for the patient may be a vital point for a diagnosis and treatment. Similarly, symptoms of long duration may be ignored by some patients. Purposeful hiding of symptoms can be dangerous. Some patients do not tell the doctor about the treatment he had taken previously. Frequent change of doctor (doctor shopping) can also cause difficulties. During consultation, patients habits, life situations, characters, food and bowel habits, relationship with others etc should be told. The reports of previous treatment and investigations should be told, which may save the time needed for a diagnosis. Hence always ask for a discharge summary while getting discharged from any hospitals. While consulting a doctor, always take one person who knows about the patient. The patient can also note down his symptoms before going for a consultation, so that he will not forget to tell his symptoms completely. In this busy life, there is a trend that instead of patient going to the doctor, he sends somebody to the doctor for a "consultation". Also there is an increase of people preferring over-the-counter purchase of drugs without a prescription.

When a patient dies or becomes serious during the course of treatment, the next step is to file a suit against the doctor or by attacking the doctors and hospitals, as a result of an emotional outbreak and a preconceived idea that it was due to medical negligence. Nowadays this is a common story in most of the news papers. By promoting the doctor-patient relation ship (which is deteriorating nowadays), and also by going back to the "outdated" family doctor concept, we can solve most of the health related issues.

Exercises to Relieve TMJ - Finding TMJ Pain Relief Through Natural Treatments

TMJ is a difficult condition to deal with and with no known causes or official treatments it can feel as if you are dealing with something that has no end, but you don't have to feel helpless there are exercises to relieve TMJ that can bring you some form of relief from the painful symptoms you are experiencing. Since there is no known cause or treatments many people turn to alternative treatments or exercises for TMJ. They are all easy to do and can make all the difference in the world when you are suffering. One exercise to use is to press your tongue against the roof of your mouth and open your jaw as wide as you can while taking deep breaths. This can help to realign or relocated your jaw and relieve some of the pressure and pain you are experiencing.

You can also place your fist underneath your jaw and balance the weight of your jaw securely on your fist. This can also help you put your jaw back into alignment and relieve some of the pain. The last way to do this is to place one finger on each side of your jaw joint and press firmly, but gently, and move your jaw around enough to feel it lose the pain and discomfort you were experiencing. When you are dealing with pain and discomfort in one of the main joints you use every day, it can be a hard thing to deal with especially when it comes to eating.

Exercises to relieve TMJ symptoms have been known to work with many patients and they could work for you as well, though you will need to make sure you are doing them right in order for them to be effective. You also should talk with your doctor before starting any new treatment for your TMJ in case there are other underlying causes to the condition that your doctor may be helping you with. Work with someone who's experienced with TMJ symptoms and treatments to try and find a way for you to avoid the painful symptoms and find a way to feel better.

The Ringing in Your Ears Might Be a Symptom

At one time or another almost everyone has experienced a ringing in their ears, otherwise known as tinnitus. A constant ringing can become an unbearable affliction but for most of us it is just a momentary discomfort that's duration is only a few moments long. This curse is known as tinnitus and for some sufferers it can affect their lives a great deal, and ringing in your ears might be a symptom of other medical problems.

Often a symptom of anxiety might introduce itself as a ringing in the ears. Although there are many symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, tinnitus is just one. Not all who have anxiety or panic attacks will develop Tinnitus. And developing a ringing in the ears does not mean you are experiencing a panic attack. It is just one of many. Low or high blood pressure can also be a symptom of tinnitus, as well as having high cholesterol levels. If you are experiencing a prolonged ringing in your ears, it would be prudent on your part to have you cholesterol levels checked. Cholesterol is plaque deposited in your arteries and as the blood flows through the arteries it must work harder to get through which increases your blood presser and causes the ringing in your ears.

Allergies or sinus problems can also manifest as a ringing in the ear. Although antihistamines and antibiotics are medications used to treat these conditions, they do not readily assist in the draining of the mucus in the ear; consequently the pressure builds and the ringing in the ear begins. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, muscle tension, thyroid disorders, and vitamin B12 deficiency are also conditions that can produce ringing in your ears.

The most common cause of ringing in the ear is tinnitus, but there are several different types. One of the rare forms is called atherosclerosis. Most forms of tinnitus produce a ringing in the ear that only the patient can hear, however, in atherosclerosis sufferers, with the use of a stethoscope, the doctor can also hear what the patient hears. A structural problem in the patient is the cause and if the stethoscope is placed on the neck or near the ear the doctor can hear the ringing as well. It can be heard as a rushing or pulsing sound or even a rhythmic beat, and in actuality the patient and doctor are hearing the patient's own pulse flowing through their veins.

The majority of tinnitus patients have the form of tinnitus that only they can hear. And even though it is more common, it is by far less understood. It can manifest itself as a buzzing, popping, whining or even a type of white noise as well as a ringing in the ear. It can be heard in one ear or both, and the treatment for this condition is as different for each patient as is the sound that it produces. As to treatment, there is no known medical cure, however, some alternative treatments can be found. Most of which are by natural homeopathic means, as well as hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure, and implants.