Uncover the Facts About TMJ

Teeth grinding is a habit that can turn into a disorder when not taken care of properly. One of these complications is the temporomandibular joint or TMJ problems. It is a disorder that is involved with the inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. This joint is responsible for connecting the mandible to the skull, and is jointly responsible for the opening and closing of the jaw. Without it, speaking, eating and other activities associated with mouth movement are not possible. That is why problems with this joint can cause serious disabilities to an individual.

TMJ problems can be caused by a number of reasons. As stated above, teeth grinding can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. In fact, TMD is one of the most serious consequences of teeth grinding. This is because teeth grinding can damage the muscles and joints surrounding the teeth and the jaw. An individual is said to be developing TMD from teeth grinding if he wakes up in the morning with an aching ear or jaw. Any damage or trauma to the jaw can also lead to the disorder. Like other bones in the body, when this joint gets damaged, it will be inflamed. Damaged bones take at least 2-4 months to heal. When the joint does not heal correctly, it can deform the temporomandibular joint, causing TMD. Activities that distort the jaw and the upper body can also lead to the condition. An example of this is frequent usage of telephones and awkward sleeping positions.

When TMD is suspected, the individual can exhibit a number of symptoms. The most common symptom of TMD is headache, accounting to 80% of the patients. This headache is accompanied by facial pain, aggravated by movement of the jaw. This can be explained by the damage sustained by the joint. When the joint is damaged, the trigeminal nerve can be compromised as well. This nerve is responsible for the movement of the jaws and the ability of the face to feel touch. Ear pain is also common to affected individuals.

The temporomandibular joint is located right in front of the ear, so pain in this area is very likely. Clicking sounds can also be heard when the mouth is being opened and closed, indicating misalignment of the joint. A grating sensation can also be felt if the temporomandibular joint is felt while moving the mouth. To confirm the diagnosis, the individual will undergo an X-ray to identify any abnormalities in the joint. The physician will also conduct a physical assessment of the teeth and jaws to gauge the extent of the disorder.

When a diagnosis has been made, the individual with a TMJ disorder will undergo treatment. Treatment modalities include physical therapy, medications to relieve pain, correction of the alignment of the joint and stress management. All of these interventions are geared toward the relief of the symptoms of TMD, correction of the factors that caused the disease and treatment of other factors that aggravate the disorder. Treatment can be long and difficult, so a lot of patience is needed from the individual.

Hip Joint Replacement - Expectation and Limitations

Hip Joint Replacement is a surgery commonly performed in Orthopedic practice, wherein the hip joint is changed to a new modular bearing providing painless articulation.

The common indications of a Hip Replacement surgery are:
1. Hip Joint Arthritis- either degenerative or inflammatory pathology.
2. Fracture Neck Femur (upper end of thigh bone)
3. Malformed hip Joint- a disease of the childhood
4. Loss of blood supply (Avascular Necrosis)

The definite indication of Hip Replacement is - Painful hip joint with radiological evidence of obliteration of joint space. Only exclusion is Fracture Neck Femur; wherein a partial change of the bearing component may be performed.

Patients usually have a number of queries regarding;
a) Will the pain go?
b) How much time do I need to stay in Hospital; and how much time off work?
c) Do I need to come back again for a possible surgery?
d) What happens to the metal inside my body?
e) What precautions I need to take, and for how long?

I will try to offer explanations to every question one by one...

The foremost concern is PAIN.
After a hip replacement, the pain due to arthritis usually subsides in 4-6 weeks. Thereafter, there may be occasional reminders of pain after unaccustomed activity. If however, the pain re-appears after a prolonged pain free period; or the pain tends to worsen progressively, there is a definite cause for concern. This requires an urgent evaluation by the Orthopedic surgeon.

As regards hospital stay, the usual duration is 1 week. The timing of going back to previous level of activity depends upon the type of Hip replacement - Cemented/ Un-cemented; and the quality of bone stock. Usually patients may resume office and sedentary work after 4-6 weeks.

The typical longevity of a Hip replacement depends upon- quality of bone/ level of physical activity/ Age/ body weight/ technique of surgery. Most hip replacements survive an average of 15-20 years. However, a large number of variables affecting longevity prevents accurate survival analysis.

The metal typically used in a Hip Replacement is non - reacting to body fluids. It may be Stainless Steel/ Titanium alloy, Cobalt - chrome alloy. The bearing surface is important factor in survival. Ceramic-on Ceramic and Metal-on Metal the the favored ones in current practice.

The most important of all, are the precautions to be taken by the patient himself. Dislocation of the new joint is a potential risk. extremes of movements should be avoided under all circumstances.

To summarize, it is important to understand the advantages/ limitations of a Hip replacement and to expect a reasonable goal before undergoing surgery. In a properly selected patient, it offers significant improvement in the quality of life and activity level.

The discussion on the relative performance of different bearing surfaces in hip replacement, will be discussed in subsequent posts.

Hip Pain - Do You Really Have Arthritis in Your Hips Or is it Muscle Pain?

"Oh, you have arthritis in your hips."

That's probably the most common diagnosis doctors give to us when we complain of hip pain.

If a doctor looked at an x-ray of any one of us, he would see changes in the bones. He would say we have arthritis. He would tell us that is the cause of our pain. Well, maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

We all have changes in the bones around our joints. Do we all have pain? The answer to that is no, we don't.

"You will just have to learn to live with it."

Maybe. Maybe not.

Doctors are great people and wonderful life savers lots of times, but as a rule, they don't know much about muscles. That's not something that is taught much in medical school. (Not in the schools you and I went to, either.)

We have large, powerful muscles that pass over our hip joints. These muscles allow us to move our legs and our body. The hip joint is where our thigh bone connects to our pelvic bone.

Those powerful, thick hip muscles can get overstretched from crossing our legs. The can be stressed from pressure like sleeping our our side or from car seats pressing on them. If you notice more pain when you cross your legs or ride in the car, take action to stop the pain.

The hip muscles can become tight from being overused or overstretched, too.

Our hip muscles can get out of balance sometimes. Our job is to keep them as balanced and in neutral as possible. When our muscles are in a neutral position, we have less hip pain. (And, "neutral" doesn't mean sitting in a chair all the time!)

"Neutral" means all of the muscles are balanced. They work together in harmony. Some are not stronger or weaker than others. They are all as strong as nature designed them to be so they can work together efficiently.

Some people do have a severe arthritic condition which causes hip pain and some have rheumatoid arthritis (which affects all of the joints in the body.) In those cases, a doctors' help may be necessary.

Some of us have a hip joint which has been worn over the years by the stress of having a short leg. A short leg causes pressure on the joint and muscles around the hip joint. Even this can often be "cured" by a knowledgeable muscle therapist and a lift for the short leg.

For the rest of us, here's the plan.

Think of your hip as having four sides. Front of your leg, back of your leg, the inside of your thigh and the outside of your thigh.

Your hip joint is most likely where you feel your pain. It seems like it's in the hip joint, but the cause could very well be the muscles on the inner side of your thigh or your back side.

You can start a movement plan to get your hip muscles back into balance. Always do your moves thoughtfully. Observe how your muscles are feeling. Pay attention to how you feel after your movements, too.

Move or lift your leg from each of the four sides. Do this while you are standing or on your side in bed.

You may discover, simply by paying attention to how your body feels, that it needs more movement in one direction than the others. Don't overdo, but do thoughtfully. Is one area tighter than the others?

If you determine that your hip muscles seem related to your hip pain (and they most likely are,) you can continue your movement therapy. Simply moving your legs in every direction, instead of always using them in only one or two directions, can help get your hips back to neutral.

You also might want to see a muscle or massage therapist. He or she will be able to loosen the muscles around your leg and hip bones. Sometimes those thick, powerful muscles need a little extra help to get back into balance. A massage therapist can be a perfect helper.

Relief From Joint Pain Is Not Difficult to Find

Joints in the body are prone to damage because they are constantly moving. As the human body advances with age the joints lose their lubricating fluids and make an individual prone to the problem of arthritis. Popular belief has it that people who suffer from this problem will have to lead a life of discomfort and suffer from pain. It is true that there is no medication, which can provide permanent relief from this problem. Fortunately, there are products, which are easily available and can deliver the relief which people affected with this problem want.

People who suffer from arthritis have a misconception that they will have to rely upon healthcare providers for the relief they want from the pain. It is true that medical practitioners have been successful in treating people who are affected with this problem. However, having mentioned that there is no cure available, it must be pointed out that people are only resorting to means that are temporary. The drugs which are prescribed only act for a short period and leave the individual dependent on the medication. Under the circumstances people will do well to consider other options, which are not at all difficult to find.

Arthritis is not a life-threatening condition and can easily be managed with a little thought from the affected individual. Minor changes to the kind of lifestyle they lead, changes to their diet and avoiding carbonated drinks, alcohol and tobacco will prove beneficial. The type of nutrition which people have plays a big role in triggering the mechanism of this condition. Therefore, it is essential for people suffering from this problem to consider having nutritional foods or supplements, which can provide them with the relief they seek.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all difficult to find relief from the problem of arthritis. Today, there are numerous products available in the market which is proven to be effective at this issue. People only have to visit the neighborhood supermarket or grocery to make a purchase of such products. Perhaps the only caution which people will have to exercise will pertain to the type of product they choose. They must exercise a degree of caution to ensure that they do not waste money on products, which cannot deliver on the promises they make. It is essential for them to choose products that are fresh, have been manufactured in line with prescribed guidelines and are proven to be effective against arthritis. Shopping around for such products will not be a difficult affair either because people can today use the Internet for this purpose. All that people have to do is conduct research from the comfort of their home to understand how easy it really is to find relief from joint pain.

BV Symptoms - The Tell Tale Signs and Symptoms For Bacterial Vaginosis Sufferers

Noticing that some things are off with your body, wondering what's going on, fearing the worst. There are a number of tell tale BV symptoms you can be on the look out for to see if you need to go to the doctor. Below I have listed the most common symptoms for sufferers of BV so that you can see if you may have it.

The first symptom that you will notice and quite possible the one that will make you most self conscious, will be a fishy odour from your vagina, this is pretty much a guarantee that you have BV, immediately go to the doctor and get checked out. This odour will become stronger and more noticeable directly after intercourse. A white and greyish vaginal discharge is also a very common occurrence with vaginosis and as well is more prevalent after sex. These two are the primary symptoms and are almost always present in cases of BV.

Are you noticing redness and itching of the vaginal area, these are also common secondary symptoms. Painful intercourse and painful urination can also be tips that you have BV. If you notice any of these you should consult your doctor immediately.

Once your doctor has discerned whether or not you have vaginosis they will most likely prescribe antibiotics that will clear up the issue...for now. I myself prefer to use natural methods to clear up my BV; these methods have helped me to get rid of it once and for all. Be on the lookout for these BV symptoms as 1 in 3 women will get in their lifetime.

Obesity Causes Pain in the Back

It is a well known fact that overweight is a major risk factor for a number of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers. The risk for these noncommunicable diseases increases, with the increase in BMI (Body Mass Index). But not many people know that overweight can also cause people pain in the back.

Recently, researchers at The University of Hong Kong found that being overweight and obese significantly contributes to the development of disc degeneration. Degeneration of the joints of the spine, known as the intervertebral discs, is one of the major causes of low back pain. Traditionally, it is believed that it occurs with only aging.

Two studies for adults, one cross-section, one time series, were conducted on this issue.

The cross-sectional one was the study of adults with age 21 or above. A total of 2,599 individuals (1,040 men and 1,559 women with mean age of 42) were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants were from diverse social and economic backgrounds and were recruited regardless of whether they had lower back pain or not.

After the assessment, it was found that 73 per cent of them had disc degeneration with men (76%) having a significantly higher prevalence of degeneration than women (71%). Increasing age was also found to increase its prevalence.

Of those who had disc degeneration, 7 per cent were underweight, 48 per cent in the normal weight range, 36 per cent overweight and 9 per cent were obese.

Overweight and obese individuals were found to have a greater extent and severity of disc degeneration in comparison to those individuals of normal weight or underweight.

"Our research confirms that with elevated BMI, there is a significant increase in the extent and global severity of disc degeneration. In fact, its end-stage with narrowing of the disc space was more pronounced in obese individuals," said Dr. Samartzis, one of the team leaders of this study.

In another study, 129 working middle-aged men, representing three occupations (machine drivers, construction carpenters and office workers), were recruited. The selection was based on the age (40-45) and place of residence. MRI images of the lumbar spines were obtained two times, one at baseline and another at 4 years later (follow up stage).

In this study, besides measuring their current weight, the participants' weight at age 25, their height, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were also obtained.

The findings of the study showed that persistent overweight (with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 at the age of 25 and at the current age) associated strongly with risk of increased number of lumbar disc degeneration.

Overweight at young age was a stronger predictor of an increase in the number of degenerated discs during follow-up than overweight in middle age.

Thus it can be concluded that overweight with BMI above 25 kg/m2 increases the risk of lumbar disc degeneration.

This is the case for adults. As more children are now becoming overweight, how detrimental would this also affect their lumbar spine?

Another cross-sectional study was on adolescents who were 13-20 years of age. The sample size was 83.

It was found that 35 per cent of them had disc degeneration. The majority (93%) of these adolescents with disc degeneration experienced low back pain and decreased physical function.

More importantly, being overweight in adolescence triples the likelihood of having disc degeneration and developing more severe forms of the condition than those with normal weight. Individuals with juvenile disc degeneration had an increased prevalence and greater intensity of low back pain and/or sciatica and hence greater physical disability.

Also, the development of disc degeneration in young age may potentially contribute to its greater severity early on in life and possibly a life-time of low back pain episodes.

Disc degeneration is irreversible and may cause a lot of long-term suffering and psychological distress for patients. Serious low back pain may prohibit the patients to maintain normal work and social life. And so it could lead to a serious need for back surgery.

Because of more weight, physical loading on the disc and/or a chronic low-grade inflammation from the fat cells may play a role in its degeneration, Dr. Samartzis explained.

Thus there is a need for the overweight people to employ successful weight loss strategies to prevent suffering from these diseases.

Arthritis Treatment: Focus On Muscular Stiffness, Joint Swelling, And Cartilage Repair

Effective arthritis treatment reduces inflammation in arthritic joints and creates an atmosphere for the body to repair its own cartilage deterioration. The best way to reduce inflammation is to lengthen all the muscles that attach to or surround the arthritic joint. Cartilage regeneration is also possible if excessive muscular tension is removed from the arthritic joint. Joints typically affected by arthritis are: knee, neck, shoulder, low back, hip, spine, hand or thumb, foot or toe. Regardless of the joint, the best way to treat arthritis is Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) therapy.

Arthritis therapy must address muscular inflexibility, because it is always a principle factor in arthritis pain. Joints are surrounded by muscles. Tightness in muscles cause joint inflammation and cartilage deterioration: two conditions that cause pain in arthritis sufferers. Joint inflammation causes swelling, which induces pain by pressing on the nerves. Furthermore, muscle strains on the arthritic joint cause a wearing down of cartilage. Cartilage is the shock absorber between joints. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are affected by joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Both rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and osteoarthritis sufferers must resolve muscular stiffness as part of their treatment plan. Optimal muscle lengthening is high value treatment for all types of arthritis.

Dr. Arthur Grayzel, former medical director of the Arthritis foundation is quoted in the book Keys to Understanding Arthritis, by Elizabeth Vierck. Dr. Grayzel states that "as people age, muscles lose their elasticity, leading to a reduced range of motion (page 11)." Limited range of motion causes cartilage deterioration. As the area of joint movement decreases, the joint begins to burrow a hole in the cartilage because it constantly treads in the same small area. Active Isolated Stretching therapy increases the range of motion in arthritic joints. As unnecessary muscular tension is taken off the joint, the joint will move in a greater surface area throughout the joint. Ceasing the process of cartilage degeneration.

Leon Sokoloff, M.D. examined cartilage regeneration. His findings are discussed in the book Healing Joint Pain Naturally by Ellen Hodgson Brown. Dr. Sokoloff states that "new cartilage could grow on bones but the real problem is the stress on the joint that keeps intervening and preventing this process (page 22)." If Dr. Sokoloff had studied Active Isolated Stretching, he would have discovered the critical link that helps arthritis sufferers naturally repair their cartilage. The stress on the joint that prevents new cartilage to grow on bones is excessive muscular tension.

In AIS treatment: circulation is refreshed into the problem area; stagnant waste products move out of the arthritic joint; fresh oxygen and nutrition move into the arthritic joint. The condition of cells surrounding the arthritic joint are improved, all of which facilitates cartilage regeneration.

The endorsement of stretching for arthritis pain is nothing new. But Active Isolated Stretching is an optimized form of stretching that is fifteen times more effective than older modalities. Conventional stretching, pnf stretching, yoga, and Thai massage have been incompetent in lengthening muscles. Optimal stretching cannot occur if the stretch hold is done for more than two seconds. Stretches done in repetition are better than one long stretch. The target muscle cannot stretch if the muscle is contracting, so stretch position must be reexamined. And target muscles cannot fully open if the lateral muscle fibers are not addressed. These points are only addressed in Active Isolated Stretching. Active Isolated Stretching reduces joint inflammation and facilitates cartilage regeneration by getting to the source of the problem.