Joint Pain Remedies: Alternative Massage Therapy

We can't deny that more and more people start to accept that massage does alleviate chronic joint pains whether this is the back pain, hip joint pain or any joints of the body that required that little rubbing. Massage is mostly sorted after by patients having stiffness and pains in the neck, lower back and rheumatism. Massage treatment can be even applied to fingers joint pain. The versatility of massage as an alternative treatment to the conventional joint pain treatments has gain a foothold in today's fast paced societies.

Healthcare practitioners do recognize that effectiveness of remedial massage therapy to alleviate joint pains and it has been commonly recommended in addition to the conventional medical course of treatment. These 2 approaches can be combined for better and faster results.

A study on the effectiveness of massage on joint problems by Touch Research Institute and published through International Journal of Neuroscience suggested that massage is able to lessen lower back pain, depression, anxiety and improved sleep.

So, what are the benefits of remedial massage therapy? The following list just some of the health benefits;

1) It speeds up body's repair mechanism by improving blood circulation, which helps in recovering the soreness in the muscles through physical activities.
2) It aid in relaxing the muscles for improved mobility. This muscle relaxation has the effect of also treating insomnia. Therefore, it is common after a massage treatment, one feels sleepy.
3) It contributes to an increased level of endorphin in the body. This increase in the endorphin that the body produces make the whole body and mind feel refreshed and good.

The remedial massage therapy is a non medicinal and holistic treatment employing a variety of techniques combining stretching, acupressure, reflexology and aromatherapy to stimulate blood circulation in the body, ease and lessen muscular and joint discomforts, calming the body and mind for a total relaxation. The strength of kneading and stroking applied to the body can be varied according to each individual. Remedial massage uses natural ingredients such as essential oils and herbal spices to relieve strained muscles and rheumatism.

In Bali, the therapist uses a natural spice called "Boreh" that is traditionally used by the farmers as a natural herbal medicine which has the effect of easing their joint discomforts and stimulate blood circulation after long hours of working in the rice fields.

However, it is important to understand your joint pain condition before employing this alternative joint pain remedy; massage therapy. This alternative approach may not be suitable for one who suffers from severe pain conditions, such as cartilage damage requiring a cartilage repair treatment. It is also not a quick fix to conventional treatments, but an approach if employed consistently can have the effect of addressing chronic joint problems without the side effects of medicated treatments!

The TMJ and Migraine Connection

Do you suffer from migraines or cluster headaches? If you do, you might be one of the estimated 10.8 Million people who suffer from TMD (Tempomandibular Joint Disease). While victims of migraines often resort to popping pills, lying in darkened rooms, and shutting down all activity completely until the pain subsides, new research is showing that these sharply focused headaches may actually originate in the jaw and can be taken care of at the source!

TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull. Like other synovial joints in the body, the TMJ is predisposed to similar degenerative alterations as a result of frequent and everyday stress.

Common symptoms of TMD are generalized orofacial pain, chronic headaches and earaches, jaw dysfunction, which include hyper- and hypo-mobility, locking of the jaw, painful clicking and popping sounds when opening and closing the mouth, and difficulty talking and chewing. Frequently, the first approach is resting the jaw, physical therapy, and eating only soft food. In some cases talking is even discouraged. When these jaw-limiting actions don't work, a mouth splint used at night can sometimes resolve the problem. If the painful and obnoxious symptoms persist, people with TMD may turn to TMJ dental and surgical specialists. Conventional treatments include TMJ arthroscopy and various types of surgery, TMJ implants, injections of botulinum toxins, and cauterization. All of these are invasive and somewhat risky, and treat the immediate problem while largely ignoring future consequences. Although surgery is an option, there is a more advantageous and less invasive procedure that can eliminate these ongoing problems.

Prolotherapy for the Jaw
Many painful and persistent problems can be directly linked to ligament and/or tendon weakness or degeneration. With this understanding, several physicians have begun to focus directly on the joint and/or tendon for ground zero for healing and repair. They do this by using a therapy that, although has been around for decades, is often overlooked by mainstream medicine.

Prolotherapy, a dextrose-based injection therapy, has been shown in one double-blinded animal study over a six-week period to increase ligament mass by 44%, ligament thickness by 27%, and the ligament-bone junction strength by 28%. (1) Another animal study confirmed that prolotherapy induced the normal healing reaction that occurs when an injured tissue is healing itself. In this study, the prolotherapy caused the circumference of tendons to increase by approximately 25% after six weeks time. In human studies on prolotherapy, biopsies performed after the completion of treatment showed statistically significant increases in collagen fiber and ligament diameter of up to 60%. (2)

How Does Prolotherapy Work Specifically in the Jaw
In the 1930s, a physician by the name of Louis W. Schultz found that by using Prolotherapy on the jaw that:

- There was no alteration of the normal joint cavity; the proliferation occurred in the ligaments.
- There were no gross changes in the ligaments other than their thickening.
- Lymphocytes infiltrate the area injected within 30 minutes.
- Proliferation of tissue can be seen in four to six days.

Although these results are over 60 years old, today's results are just as amazing. Injections to the TMJ can repair and strengthen the ligaments and significantly reduce the pain associated with the degeneration and weakness of the joint. It can heal the TMJ and prevent future recurrences. If you suffer from pain in your jaw and have recurring headaches, you should be evaluated for TMD. If you have it, you may want to research the possibility of Prolotherapy as a immediate and long-term treatment.

1. Liu Y. An in situ study of the influence of a sclerosing solution in rabbit medical collateral ligaments and its junction strength. Connective Tissue Research. 1983. 2: 95-102.

2. Maynard J. Morphological and biomechanical effects of sodium morrhuate on tendons. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 1985. 3: 236-248.

Pain and Stiffness Getting Up and Sitting Down

You're told that you have arthritis. Is it the knee, hip, back or neck? Well, you're not alone. Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease can be common if you don't take care and maintain your muscles, bones and joints.

Osteoarthritis commonly affected weight bearing bones and joints such as the hips, knees and spine. The synovial fluid inside the hip, knee and spinal articulations lubricates and nourishes the joints, cartilages and intervertebral discs. Joint and cartilage nutrients are absorbed by osmosis. By-products are also excreted by osmosis.

Osmosis is the movement of things through a pressure gradient. Joint movement and mobility create a pressure gradient inside the joint that pumps and circulates synovial fluid just like the heart pumps and circulates blood and its contents.

If the articulation is restricted and the range of motion is reduced then synovial fluid cannot circulate and nourish the joints, cartilages and intervertebral discs. Restricted joints wear out their bones, cartilages and intervertebral discs quicker than those that are allowed to bend and turn without any hindrance.

Watch how people walk at the mall or on the street. You'll notice that some waddle like a penguin as they walk. Those people have restricted mobility in their hips, pelvic and may be even the knees. Imagine how much extra wear and tear is put on the joints with each step.

Other factors that influence the development of osteoarthritis include lifestyle, nutrition and fitness level. The amount of wear and tear of osteoarthritis is not age-related.

Have you ever wondered why your arthritic knee, hip, back or neck is stiffer in the morning or after sitting down for a while? You may even feel some aches and pain. As you get up, it's quite stiff and sore to take the first few steps. But after moving around for a bit, the stiffness and soreness gradually decrease.

As you begin to move, you're creating a pressure gradient in the joint. And when the pressure is high enough, the synovial fluid begins to circulate and lubricate the joint easing the stiffness. With restricted joints, the range of motion is reduced; it takes longer to reach the required pressure level for circulation, lubrication and osmosis.

A common way to increase joint mobility is to increase flexibility. It's sad, but true. As you get older you lose flexibility and strength in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Daily routine of stretching is a good way to maintain joint flexibility and preventing further osteoarthritis.

Another popular way is to take nutritional supplements, especially glucosamine sulphate. Healthy and unrestricted joints make their own glucosamine sulphate. As you get older, the amount of glucosamine sulphate produces decreases. Glucosamine sulphate prevents premature degeneration of cartilages. It also helps retention of synovial fluid to hydrate the joints. Without glucosamine sulphate synovial fluid level becomes inadequate. Restricted joints do not make and absorb enough glucosamine sulphate which causes the intervertebral discs, cartilages and joints to degenerate quicker.

Guess what? Glucosamine sulphate circulates within the joint and absorbs to the cartilages and intervertebral discs by osmosis.

Consider taking glucosamine sulphate instead of glucosamine chondroitin. The body cannot effectively absorb glucosamine chondroitin; its molecular structure is too big to be absorbed. Furthermore, take glucosamine sulphate with MSM. Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) improves the absorption of glucosamine sulphate. You may not notice any quick improvement with glucosamine sulphate since it takes about 3-4 weeks to show any results.

And finally, chiropractic treatments are an excellent way to prevent osteoarthritis and maintain any farther degradation of osteoarthritis. Chiropractic treatments improve joint mobility and increase the range of motion which is critical in creating osmosis and pressure gradient. Chiropractic treatments also restore restricted joints to their normal state of function and movement.

Eight Tips For Arthritis Pain To Make Life Easy

Over the years, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of people afflicted with arthritis. It is a fairly common disease among the aged. According to a survey, as many as 1 in 5 adults in the United States presently suffer from chronic joint pains or arthritis.

This widespread prevalence has led to the search for effective pain relief measures to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of the ailment. There are eight tips for arthritis pain relief. Arthritis isn't just a single ailment; it is a compound disorder that consists of more than 100 different conditions and can affect people of any age group.

The two most widespread forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The eight tips for arthritis pain are applicable to these two forms of arthritis also.

Both these forms have completely separate root causes, risk factors and results on the body, but they both share a common symptom, namely, unrelenting joint pain.

In addition to joint pain felt in other parts of the body, pain in the hips, knees, wrists and hands are the most common symptoms of arthritis.

If you spend many sleepless nights suffering from joint pain, stiffness or swelling of the joints, chances are you're suffering from arthritis. Arthritis pain can be subdivided into two general categories - acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain lasts for a short-term.

It can last for a few fleeting seconds or longer, but it eventually fades away as the healing process takes place.

Chronic pain ranges from mild to intense, and can last for weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime. The eight tips for arthritis pain help reduce the pain and allow for a more comfortable way of living.

Eight Different Ways To Help Ease Your Arthritis Pain

With the increase in the number of patients suffering from arthritis, the options for arthritis pain relief have also expanded.

There are various alternatives to help bring relief from intense arthritis pains.

These eight tips for arthritis pain are:

Homeopathy

Warm water therapy

Heat or steam therapy

Exercises

Massage therapy

Meditation, hypnosis, hypnotherapy

Magnet therapy

Prescription drugs

Natural treatment therapies can go a long way

* Water Therapy

Water therapy has become a very popular option for pain relief. It is also known as water aerobics, and it involves performing various types of aerobic exercises in a pool.

The main advantage of this kind of treatment is that there is virtually no pressure on your joints while doing the exercises, which is a boon for arthritics beset with excruciating pain.

For most cases of arthritis, moving the joint constantly is recommended. Water therapy is the best for this because you feel buoyant and weightless in water.

Hence, water therapy is not only an easier option, but an effective one as well. Another alternative for relieving arthritis pain is using heat.

Arthritis is especially painful in the cold weather, when stiffness and soreness increase considerably. When this happens, heat is a good choice for pain relief. However, heat only relieves temporarily.

Nevertheless, if you are experiencing mild pain, using heat could prove sufficient in relieving your pain. This is a better alternative if you prefer natural treatments instead of using drugs.

* Massage

Massage is a fairly common method of treatment for joint pains.

However, the extent of relief depends on several factors like the type of massage, the kind of arthritis, and the skill or expertise of the masseuse or therapist.

The type of massage that is reported to be of considerable help to people suffering from arthritis is Swedish or "Classic" massage.

The techniques involve stroking, kneading, rubbing and vibrating, which help by increasing the blood circulation and relieving the joints and muscles from aches and pains.

* Other Sources of Relief

Nowadays, over the counter medication is widely available to help bring relief to arthritis patients.

These drugs can be very helpful provided the pain is moderately mild. In case you suffer from severe pain, you will have to discuss pain relief alternatives with your doctor.

Initially, the only requirement could be a painkiller. Visiting your doctor frequently is highly recommended so that he/she can keep you informed about your arthritis pain relief plan.

If you follow these instructions, you will be able to live an active and pain free life.

Essential Oils Can Help Rescue Fibromyalgia Sufferers

What exactly is fibromyalgia? Actually it is a syndrome or collection of symptoms that makes it very difficult to define. Generally, people will describe their fibromyalgia as "hurting all over" and the problem is not well understood by the medical community.  There is no test that can conclusively determine whether someone has fibromyalgia or not. Complimentary or alternative medicine seems to make more progress treating these symptoms than taking drugs. Complimentary medicine can offer such things as trigger point therapy, hypnosis, light therapy, low frequency sound therapy, craniosacral therapy, Reiki and Healing Touch therapy, Watsu water therapy, and magnet therapy.  Colon therapy like colonics or digestive cleanses can bring fibromyalgia relief by eliminating toxins in your body which can cause an aggravation of fibromyalgia symptoms.

One theory is that fibromyalgia is an "acid" condition in the body due to a toxic liver. The best natural treatments for fibromyalgia are the omega-3 fats such as flax seed, proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain and pancreatin and MSM.

What Kind of Symptoms Are We Talking About?

Not all of these symptoms will apply to all patients. Some common signs and symptoms include: widespread pain, nausea, dizziness, morning stiffness, sleep disorders, TMJ problems, skin complaints, depression, myofascial pain, weather changes, chronic headaches, multiple chemical sensitivities, chest symptoms, dysmenorrhea, muscle twitches and weakness, restless leg syndrome, fatigue, urinary and pelvic problems, cold symptoms, "fibrofog" or cognitive  or memory impairment, vision problems, weight gain and anxiety.

How Can Essential Oils Help with These Symptoms?

Essential oils can help relieve many of the fibromyalgia symptoms in a massage, in a bath, as well as simple diffusion or inhalation. For a therapeutic massage use 10-12 drops of a blend of oils in a one-ounce base of carrier oil. Or you could mix the oils in a 50-50 dilution and massage 2-4 drops on painful locations. Use a warm compress. Raindrop technique which uses nine essential oils can be helpful weekly. I only recommend therapeutic grade essential oils produced by a company that test every single batch of oils. Don't just take their word for it--go and see for yourself.

The essential oils most useful in treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia are:

For pain relief: lavender, sweet marjoram, petitgrain, Roman and German chamomiles, clary sage, lemongrass, helichrysum, peppermint, ginger, and black pepper. Lavender with peppermint and helichrysum creates an anti-inflammatory synergy. Other anti-inflammatory oils include nutmeg, balsam fir, white fir, and wintergreen.

For stress/anxiety relief: rose, frankincense, clary sage, sweet orange, bergamot, grapefruit, ylang ylang, sandalwood, neroli, sweet marjoram, petitgrain, tangerine, lavender, geranium, and jasmine.

For a peaceful sleep: lavender, neroli, jasmine, marjoram, Roman chamomile, valerian or RutaVaLa (a blend of lavender, valerian and ruta or rue).

For headaches: lavender, peppermint, marjoram, basil, or Roman chamomile.

For increased circulation: rosemary, ginger, black pepper, peppermint, lemongrass or geranium.

Raw Food Health Solutions For Arthritis

The Link Between Raw Foods and Arthritis

Do you suffer from the aches and pains of arthritis? Arthritis is used to refer to numerous rheumatism ailments which symptoms include: pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, although other parts of the body can be affected as well. Internal organs, muscles, ligaments and tendons are other parts of the body within the illnesses reach.

Arthritis is not to be taken lightly. According to some statistics, arthritis is now second only to heart disease as a leading cause of work disability. According to Arthritis.com, the disease affected 46 million Americans in 2006.

There are two forms of arthritis that are dreaded for causing so much pain to their victims. These are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former is the more common type that is prevalent among older people. It affects the cartilage, that spongy tissue between two bones that is responsible for shock absorption. The bones rub against each other and this is what causes swelling and pain. Some shards of bones may break off in the long run, lodging themselves inside the joint space, and thereby causing more pain. The latter type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, affects other body parts, but will still cause inflammation in the joints and a general feeling of fatigue. The symptoms appear in a symmetric manner, which means that if one joint is affected, the other corresponding joint will be affected too.

What Causes Arthritis?

There are several factors that may contribute to arthritis development, and these may include:

1. Age - Cartilage wears out with age and it becomes harder for it to be replaced naturally. Thus as people become older they also become more susceptible to arthritis.

2. Weight - The more pressure applied to knee and hip joints by accounts of body mass, the faster the cartilage is likely to wear out.

3. Other ailments or infections - Individuals who have suffered a joint infection like gout may later develop arthritis in that joint.

4. Daily occupation - Some types of occupations seem to carry inherently higher risk of developing arthritis than others. And these are those that typically involve a lot of lifting of heavy materials especially in heavy construction industry.

5. Genetics - It is possible that there can be genetic variations that contribute to higher incidences of arthritis development though the exact contribution of the genes to the disease development is not exactly clear.

How Can I Prevent Arthritis?

Some of the causes outlined above may themselves help in identifying the correct measures that can be taken to prevent arthritis. Some of these measures may apply before as a preventative measure and after as an ameliorating measure. These measures include:

1. Reducing weight

2. Simple exercises regularly

3. Massage

Unleash the Power of Raw Foods to Help with Arthritis

These raw foods have been very powerful at reducing the effects of arthritis on your body:

* Oranges

* Lemons

* Strawberries

* Tomatoes

* Bell peppers

* Kiwifruit

* Sweet red peppers

* Papapaya

* Guava

* Dalanghita

* Anonas

* Kasuy

You also need calcium rich food, but don't reach out for that glass of milk yet. Instead reach out for spinach, collard greens, and broccoli they are great source of calcium. Vitamin B rich food is also recommended, and this would include delicacies such as cauliflower.

Vitamins and any antioxidants can really you with your Arthritis as they decrease the damage to the joints, thus reducing the pain. Organic vegetables grown in your own garden can also inspire you to consume more raw foods. Give it a try!

To your health,

Omid

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD)

Temporomandibular joint disorder includes the human jaw joint, the temporal bone extending from the skull to the ears and the jaw muscles. It is the most complex joint in human body. The lower jaw opens as a hinge, slides forward and even side to side. This facial area helps in chewing, biting and other jaw movements such as talking and yawning. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) can thus hinder all of these movements. Jaw alignment disorders are common and can be treated easily. However, sometimes the problem is complex and the infrastructure of the joint is not right lengthy measures have to be taken to resolve the problem. TMJD is a sub-part of myofascial pain dysfunction or craniomandibular dysfunction.

Symptoms:
• Pain around ears, in the jaw, shoulders, tooth and face.
• The jaw clicks and pops whenever moved. The irregular sounds produced by the jaw indicate TMJD.
• Hindrance in opening the mouth within the normal range with pain or without pain.
• Patients continuously grind their teeth.
• Excessive pain is experienced in the head and neck area. This can be either occasional or persistent depending upon the severity of the disease.
• Patients may even face severe migraine headache attacks.
• The ears start ringing (tinnitus).
• Snoring and sleep apnea may occur.

Occurrence of any of the preceding symptoms indicates presence of TMJD. Patients may be perplexed about how they got the disease. The causes of TMJD are thus listed below.

Causes:
1. Bruxing: This is excessive grinding of the teeth subconsciously as a habit or during sleep. This indicates psychological stress and can be investigated by a doctor looking at the wear and tear on the patient's teeth.

2. Uneven bite: Sometimes the rows of teeth are not in a straight line. Some are higher than others. This irregularity exerts different amounts of pressure on the temporal joints when chewing. One joint might be compensating for the other as more pressure is being exerted on it.

3. Trauma/stress: This can be a major contributing factor towards TMJD. The brain can be overworked that causes the muscles to stiffen or stress leads to bruxing.

4. Dental work: Braces or other dental procedures can also cause TMJD. Braces could cause TMJD initially as the teeth may be slowly being pulled back. This causes the muscle to flex and the jaw to remain under stress.

5. Accident: Accidents may lead to a slightly or seriously dislocated jaw that causes TMJD.

6. Inflammation: Diseases may cause muscle inflammation that will inflame the jaw muscle

Besides the reasons mentioned above, Patient with arthritis and fibromyalgia have higher probabilities of developing TMJD.

Treatment:
Treatment of TMJ depends on the cause of the disease. In simpler cases, doses containing painkillers may suffice. In other cases, however, the jaw structure may have to be worked upon.

- Treatment for Bruxing: For patients with TMJD caused by bruxing, the grinding of the teeth has to be stopped. Doctors may recommend various relaxation techniques. A night guard can also be placed. It prevents contact between the upper and lower jaw.

- Stabilizing the bite: To adjust the bite, orthotic can be prescribed. This aligns the bite and maximizes comfort.

- Reconstructing the bite: In some cases where stabilization does not seem enough, the bite may have to be reconstructed. Placing a permanent orthotic is one alternative. Other ways include reshaping your teeth using crowns/on lays or moving your teeth to adjust properly.