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Archive for September, 2009

Natural Arthritis Treatments For The Men

28 Sep

Natural Arthritis Treatments For The Men
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With the time every human beings develop various body ailments. Some of them trigger severe condition for the people to live the normal life. Practically the life faces full stress with the invasion of arthritis. It may look like the single disease but it comprises more than 150 specified conditions with chronic irritation. The term arthritis comes from the word arthralgia which means the joint inflammation. People suffer from the inflammation in the various joints like the knees, wrists, fingers and even the lower back. The symptom of the disease arthritis may include swollen in various bodily joints, stiffness, redness and the warmth. With these symptoms people most of the time look out for the natural arthritis treatments that are not much harmful for the human body.

People at may be affected with arthritis. In most of the cases people have the arthritis infection right at their youth age. When the people become older, they will search for the treatment of arthritis symptoms and anxiety for the arthritis harshness.

By far there are three type of arthritis in the world. They are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Up to 70-80% people who have age over 50 yrs affected by the disease Osteoarthritis. Often men are put down to the tough situation as the result of the aging process the can lead to the destruction of the cartilage, deformed and fragile bones growth and terrible pain cut off the normal lifestyle. Knees, hips and fingers are most commonly affected, but any joints, including those in the spine can be involved. The affected people may experience some crunching or cracking sensations when the joints are moved and they can sometimes become hot and swollen. They want the lower back pain relief for the better procurement of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is more deadly than the Osteoarthritis. More likely it can affect the several joints of the human limbs and for some individuals it can destroy blood, lungs and even heart. The medical term synovium is often used in case of a RA affected people. The term means the pain or the ache in the bone joint lining. The others well conversed symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are the stiffness, warmth, swelling and redness. It is seen that RA affects more that 2.1 million of the US population. Or to be specific the 1% of the adult population is being victimized of the disease. The tendency of the woman is higher to be ruled out by this kind of arthritis than the men across the world.

Fortunately there are valuable and effective procurements from university lab technologies to counter the dreadful disease like this. The natural ingredients will ensure the no-side effects for the individuals.

 
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Natural Arthritis Treatment For Arthritis Pain Relief You Can Put To Work Today

24 Sep

Seth presents Dr. Paget small tokens of appreciation ...

During my long nursing career I was never able to find relief from my own arthritis pain until I turned to natural or alternative medicine. Many people have found there was a way to relieve themselves from the crippling pain of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, although many people with rheumatoid arthritis have reported that a major diet change has made their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms disappear and they continue on their own rheumatoid arthritis treatment relieved of pain.

The arthritic joints usually appear to be even larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used as the day goes on. Hurtful arthritis pain is usually experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used even for the easiest tasks. Unlike other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondilytis, osteoarthritis is not systemic in basis in other words it can’t be detected by using blood tests for diagnosis because it appears to be localized.

The cartilage is made up of chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen. The chondrocytes are basic cartilage cells and are essential for our balance and function. Collagen is the main protein found in all the connective tissues in the human body, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Proteoglycans are the very large molecules that help to make up cartilage. They bond to water, which ensures there will be high-fluid content in the cartilage.

In general, the possible causes and the factors leading to the deterioration of cartilage in arthritis and specifically osteoarthritis are still not known. And injuries can sometimes be the start of a long-term arthritic disease process. Arthritis, or rather osteoarthritis, can develop many years later after a single traumatic injury to a joint or even near a joint. And one possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, such as an infection, even if minor.

Some people report that glucosamine, with or without chondroitin, helps and others say they tried them and they didn’t help them at all. To see if it might be allergy related – or helps, you can try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, one at a time. They are wheat, which is the most allergenic of all, corn, eggs, milk, nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish. Keep in mind that if you take a joint supplement it should help to do three things – build up your cartilage, provide pain relief for your joints and enhance your flexibility and movement.

One successful natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Another is to try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with virgin coconut oil once or twice a day. The supplements that may help any disease or arthritic ailment include sublingual methylcobalamin, vitamin B12, not cyanocobalamin. It dissolve slowly under the tongue, not be chewed and vitamin D3 gel capsules, especially if you can’t get a daily dose of 15 to 20 minutes or so of the sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

An acidic diet, which is made up of foods that are not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints and other body processes. I started eating a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds), years ago, which caused my osteoarthritis to disappear and therefore relieve me of the crippling arthritis pain I had for years. If you attempt this diet it’s best to try it for at least 30 days, thereby eliminating any foods that might be the culprits.

If you really do want to get rid of your arthritis pain permanently it may take a major change in your diet and an ongoing commitment to it. Exercise is usually good for any joint affected by osteoarthritis, but check with your arthritis doctor first. And did I mention how important it is to make sure to keep moving, moving, and moving? Now if you have pain and swelling in your fingers, you can try squeezing a wad of Thera-putty which is made for this purpose, or exercising them with two of the Chinese chime balls which you can get cheaply from several sources. There are many exercises that can be used as a therapy or treatment for arthritis regardless of how much restriction of movement there is.

For arthritic fingers, a good exercise for many people is to put the finger tips together and press hard and release then repeat several times. Make sure to fight arthritis through plenty of movement and exercise. Keep a basket of arthritis treatment aids for arthritic hands, such as the Thera-putty, hand grips, and the Taiji Chinese chime balls to be used at bedtime or while you’re watching television.

Once you become completely knowledgeable about arthritis whether its osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, juvenile arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis, you’ll be able to plan your own arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. Conventional arthritis doctors may suggest their standard protocol for your joint pain and may tell you to take over-the-counter NSAIDS or prescribe COX-2 inhibitors which all have some serious side effects. Make sure you do your research before you take any arthritis drugs, medicines or medications. Naturopathic doctors may have other suggestions not listed here. They may have herb recommendations but do research on the herbs also.

A useful tip: if you’re going to take any arthritis drugs or prescription medications, make sure to ask your pharmacist for the drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions that they have, before you start taking them. Make sure to let your pharmacist know what other drugs, herbs and over the counter medications you’re taking too.

Knowing more about symptoms and treatments for arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and how they work will ultimately help contribute to your arthritis pain relief. Once you understand the facts and warnings about arthritis, the symptoms, possible causes and the treatment approaches you can take, you’ll be on your way to recovery and hopefully your pain will disappear. Perhaps following some these tips and suggestions, with the approval of your arthritis doctor may help you get back in the swing of things fast and allow you to spend your days enjoying life free of pain once more.

 
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Surgical Solutions For Arthritis Pain Relief

18 Sep

The bee's knees

During this time, he or she should discuss all of the any potential risks involved with the procedure as well as all of the alternative measures. However, a decision is made to continue with the surgery, the doctor will recommend a procedure that he feels is best suited for the patients condition and then will explain what that procedure entails.

Note that sometimes before surgery, doctors prescribe blood-thinning medication and advise you to do various joint movement activities or exercises in order to increase circulation.
Some benefits of going the surgery route can include the stabilization, improved alignment or replacement of a joint so that you can have greater mobility, flexibility, overall use and range-of-motion. Surgery may also be able to provide some level of pain relief where other treatment options might have failed.

Be aware there are possible risks with surgery, though, like blood clots resulting. And your healthcare specialist may advise against surgery if, for example, you have existing health problems that could pose possible unwanted risks. Some of these problems could include sickness or infections that would need to be healed first, being over weight, which could cause more stress and delayed recovery, lung problems or heart disease.

Common types of surgery used in the treatment of arthritis follow:

Arthrodesis This is the joining together or fusion of joint bones. Arthrodesis helps stop the progression of the disease at the point of fusion, ending the pain. Loss of the joints flexibility can result. However, the area will be better able to handle weight and offer general movement. In other words, the joint may not be 360-degree-flexible any longer, but there will be some lesser-degree of flexibility overall without pain.

Arthroplasty This is the replacement or rebuilding of an entire joint. And it is intended for those with high-level pain and movement impairment. It is discussed in much more detail in the section immediately following this one, offering a focus with regards to hip replacement.

Arthroscopy Growing more popular with the improved use of technology, this procedure is when specialized instruments are inserted into the joint by means of tiny incisions. During this surgery, the operating physician has helping staff members who aid the computerized monitoring and some handling of the instruments. The doctor can see the joint on closed-circuit television and make repairs to it, while talking through a microphone. Then not only are there physical results, but the patient has a video with audio record of the entire occurrence for insurance and other records. Arthroscopy is often performed on an outpatient basis. And recovery time is generally much less than with other open surgery.

Osteotomy – This is a medical procedure that makes an actual cut in the bone, most generally to correct youth deformities like in the knee or hip. Osteotomy helps with re-alignment, stabilization, pain relief and the delaying of joint replacement alternatives for up to 10 years.

Synovectomy This procedure, generally done via arthroscopy, involves the removal of diseased joint tissue lining or synovium. Results can include swelling decrease, pain relief, improved but not completely healed joint health.

Joint Replacement
There are currently many options in orthopedic (bone) surgery for people with arthritis. Joint replacement is the most common option. According to the National Joint Replacement Foundation, (NJRF) over 435,000 Americans underwent this procedure last year. These numbers have boosted joint replacement to one of the most successful medical discoveries and the absolute most significant surgery in the field of arthritis treatment. Joint replacement is the process of removing ones entire joint as well as any damaged tissue and replacing it with a metal prosthesis.

This prosthesis provides the patient with much need relief from pain. This surgery most effective on the weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and ankles, however, it has been used for all joints with successful results.

Hip replacement surgery consists of removing the entire hip joint and replacing it with artificial components. These components function in the same manner as the natural hip, with the same type of motion. When a patient elects to undergo hip replacement surgery, they have an option to use their own blood. There is a great loss of blood during the procedure, and patients are prepared for this ahead of time. They can elect to have their own blood taken and stored ahead of time so that when they need a transfusion, they can use blood from their own body, eliminating many of the risks associated with transfusions.

This particular procedure begins with an initial incision. The surgeon will then proceed to remove the entire hip joint, including the ball, socket, and top of the femur. Once the joint, and all damaged tissue is removed, a metal cup is adhered to the pelvic bone. Then, a metal stem is inserted into the femur; leaving a portion exposed at the end for several inches. The doctors place a ball on the end of the exposed portion of the metal rod, and all of the exposed parts are lined with another antifriction material. The hip is reassembled, placing the ball joint into the socket and the incision is then closed.

Fusion Arthrodesis, or bone fusion, is another optional procedure where the bones are fused together in order to prevent them from moving independently. This can be done two ways:

1. Bone Grafting is the method of stimulating fusion between two bones by placing a small piece of bone, from another region of the body, in between. This small piece of bone encourages growth for the surrounding bones, thus fusing them in place.

2. Implantation of a metal or ceramic piece, which is adhered to each of the two bones, using either screws or a special glue, thus preventing movement of the bones. Fusion is a common procedure and is used in conjunction with joint replacement surgery, which is more extreme of a procedure then bone fusion alone.

During a procedure called Ostheo, doctors can evaluate the injured tissue and eliminate any loose material with the use of instruments that are inserted into the joint through little incisions in the skin. During the procedure, the surgeon can observe any damage to the joint on a closed-circuit television, and further remove any loose growths that could be the origin of pain. This sort of surgery can often be executed on an outpatient basis, and typically involves a shorter recovery stage than open/inpatient surgery.

Rehabilitation times for joint replacement surgery vary from one person to the next. However, the average person has been shown to regain most functions within three weeks. A positive attitude can help to facilitate recovery. It is important for patients to participate in this by reassuring themselves as well as seeking support from support groups, family, and friends.

Regardless of they type of surgery recommended, most people recommend getting at least one other opinion before proceeding. In addition, check out books, conduct your own online research, ask questions through health chat rooms, call your own local providers and learn all you can about your health condition. And if you do decide upon surgery, look and plan ahead, too. Will you need time off work? Someone to help around the house? Someone to run errands? Line up help with neighbors, friends, church members, family, co-workers and local services to pick up groceries, bring in the mail, clean house and basically keep things running in the interim. In short, take charge and reach out.

George Harper writes for http://www.arthritisresolved.info where you can find out more about athritis and other topics.

 
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A Guide to Finding True Arthritis Pain Relief

15 Sep

BlueStop-Gel-with-Emu-Oil-Arthritis-Pain-Relief-Formula

Millions of people suffer from arthritis year after year. It is one of the most disabilitating diseases in the United States. Arthritis affects both men and women alike and affects one out of every three Americans. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis.

Dealing With Arthritis Pain

Some people go years without even realizing they have arthritis, others have such severe pain that the disease is disabling. The most important issue in dealing with arthritis is what is available for arthritis pain relief and what can be done to relieve arthritis symptoms. Dealing with arthritis pain can be a constant struggle but there are a few arthritis pain relief ideas that have proven very effective for the arthritis sufferer. Read on to find out some proven effective techniques for arthritis pain relief.

Simple lifestyle adjustments may be the first consideration for arthritis pain relief. By making a few simple and easy adjustments, the changes can greatly relieve arthritis symptoms. Exercising more is one of the easiest and most often overlooked arthritis pain relief adjustments you can make. Getting and staying healthy is the best thing you can do for your body. A strong exercise plan will help relieve your arthritis symptoms and relax you body. It may take a few days to get in a good routine, and you may be sore for the first couple days, but working through the soreness will be temporary. You must push yourself to exercise and continue to strengthen your muscles to help relieve stress on your bones and joints.

Protecting your joints is also very important for proper arthritis pain relief. As you exercise more, it is important for you the arthritis sufferer to understand the signs your body is giving you and know when it is time to relax. After exercising, your muscles and joints need to time to rest and recover. Generally rotating your workout routine to incorporate different parts of the body on different days or breaking the workout up into major muscle groups will give your body the adequate rest it needs to recover and build muscle endurance. This is essential for arthritis pain relief.

Dont Over Medicate – Go Natural

Many arthritis pain sufferers are overmedicated. In many cases doctors, enticed by the pharmaceutical companies perks and monetary incentives, prescribe way too many drugs to ease the pain but many of these drugs do nothing to help rebuild the body. If you would like to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and stop lining the pockets of fat and happy doctors, then I suggest going with one of the forms of natural arthritis pain relief that are available. Arthritis pain relief is possible with natural products and a light exercise regime. Natural arthritis pain relief is best for those with less advanced stages of arthritis. If your pain is severe or you have an arthritis disease that is advanced, you may still need to rely on prescription medications and medicines for arthritis pain relief. Once your arthritis condition is under control, you may be able to slowly switch over to alternative natural products and exercise.

Arthritis is a disease that can hit you at any age or condition. People are developing arthritis at younger ages these days and in fact, one in five Americans of at least one type of arthritis. So, understanding the symptoms, causes and treatments of arthritis are very important in the fight against this painful disease.

 
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Osteoarthritis – Part 1

12 Sep

Linda is a nurse at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY.

What is Osteoarthritis ?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints in the human body. It is the most common form of arthritis. The cartilage lining of the joint are worn down such that the underlying bone come in contact with each other. In addition bone spurs may form and joint fluid is reduced. This causes mechanical and chemical reactions giving rise to the symptoms of Osteoarthritis.

What causes Osteoarthritis ?

1. Genetics has found to have role in the predisposition of Osteoarthritis. Genes on chromosome 2q,4 & 16 have been linked with Osteoarthritis.

2. Aging is a risk factor of Osteoarthritis. More than 80% of those above 65 years suffer from Osteoarthritis.

3. Excessive physical activity is a potentially correctable cause of Osteoarthritis. Activities like long distance running and other high endurance sports may place the joints under high stress for prolonged periods resulting in overuse injuries and accelerated wear and tear.

4. Gender plays a role in Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in men for a cohort of under 50 years and more common in women in the cohort of 50-80 years.

5. Trauma is a common cause of Osteoarthritis in the younger age groups.

What are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Most common symptom are pain and swelling:

Stiff, painful and swollen joints after a workout

Stiffness in the joints in the mornings which can last about half an hour

Loss of flexibility in one’s joints

Bony lumps at the base of the thumb or on the middle of the end joints of the fingers

Pain in the joints after repeated use

Osteoarthritis is often associated with joint surgery or related injury

What are the complications of Osteoarthritis ?

Osteoarthritis is the top cause of disability in older women and ranks second in older men.

Besides pain and swelling, quality of life suffers in patients with Osteoarthritis due to their loss of mobility and depression.

The loss of mobility is progressive with age.

Where does Osteoarthritis occur?

It can affect the any joint of the body although the most commonly affected joints are the weight bearing joints:

knee

hip

ankle

spine.

Other non-weight bearing joints such as

shoulder ,

elbow,

fingers

can also be affected.

How do you treat Osteoarthritis ?

Osteoarthritis is not curable and the purpose of treatment is to:

1. improve functions and

2. reduce pain and discomfort.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis can be broadly classified into:

1. Non-interventional

a. non-pharmaceutical

Weight loss is an effective way to reduce the stress on the joints and minimise the pain. Walking sticks are useful ways to offload the stress on the affected weight bearing joints such as hips or knee. The walking aids should be used on the opposite side. It can be in the form of a sturdy umbrella instead of a crutch. Hot packs are useful aids in the morning to soften a stiff arthritic joint whereas braces and knee guards are useful supports to give some comfort to the knee. Exercises that improve strength, agility and flexibility are useful to minimise the disability of Osteoarthritis. A range of motion exercises is useful to keep the joints supple and mobile. Water based exercises are a good alternative form of aerobic workout by patients afflicted by Osteoarthritis. The warm water especially is a good medium for joint mobility and together with the buoyancy of water it helps to minimise the body weight impact on the joints.

b. pharmaceutical

There are 2 main types of drugs:

1. symptom modifying drugs help to alleviate the symptoms but do not change the natural history of the conditions. Examples are Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs(NSAIDs) like diclofenac.

2. Disease modifying drugs such as glucosamine has been shown to slow down the wear and tear of the cartilage but it does have the ability to grow new cartilage. It has also being found to work better with chondroitin.

2. Interventional:

a. non-surgical

Joint aspiration is a procedure where fluid from the swollen joint is removed, helping to decompress the tension and bring relief for a while .

Vasosupplementation is a procedure whereby a lubricant is injected into the affected joint thus reducing the the frictional wear of the joint surfaces. In addition the lubricant has anti- inflammatory properties to reduce the inflammation in the lining of the joints and may ease the pain for months in early osteoarthritic cases .

b.surgical

Surgical intervention is usually the last resort when all other above treatment fail and in advanced cases:

Debridement is an arthroscopic (keyhole) procedure to clean the joint of torn cartilages, loose pieces of bones, etc. Its main use is to remove the worn out debris which may cause pain and can mechanically cause friction.

High tibial Osteotomy is a procedure to correct the alignment of deformed legs which then reduce the stress on the joint.

Prosthetic joint replacement is a procedure to replace the diseased portion of the joint with a prosthesis or artificial joint allowing painless good range of movement. It is more suitable for older patient because there is a shelf life to these implants.

Unicondylar joint replacement can now be performed in which part of one of the bone of the diseased joint is removed instead of a total joint replacement which involved removal of part of both bones of a joint.

The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and whether there are associated complication.

In general non-interventional methods are more suitable at the early stage of the illness and interventional modalities are more suitable for the later stage of Osteoarthritis.

 
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Lyprinol – a Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Remedy

10 Sep

arthritis craft shop

Arthritis is one of the common illnesses that many people suffer from. It is characterized by the swelling of the joints, and is often accompanied by pain and redness of the affected area. The most common cases of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The former normally occurs, as a person grows older with pain and swelling experienced on one’s fingers, hips as well as the knees. The latter is an adverse effect when your body’s own defense system malfunctions.

There are several medicines that have been developed to address the painful and problematic symptoms of arthritis. One of the highly recommended and proven to be more effective among anti-arthritis medicines is Lyprinol. Lyprinol is pure oil extracted from green-lipped mussels (GLM) sourced in New Zealand. The human body contains certain chemicals such as leukotrienes that are easily inflamed due to allergic and similar types of reactions to food and other elements. Lyprinol’s combination of omega-3 fatty acids and unique lipids found only in GLMs is guaranteed to control the inflammation that permeates in your system. This necessarily implies the reduction of pain that you feel on your joints and other affected parts of your body.

Lyprinol utilizes natural elements to combat the inflammation brought upon by arthritis attacks. In extreme cases, it prevents further damage to the body given the excessive inflammatory responses. Instead of producing harmful fatty acids that aggravates the process of inflammation, Lyprinol’s omega-3 fatty acids deter further swelling as it forms part of the body’s metabolism. Studies have been conducted, with positive results, showing the beneficial use of Lyprinol for those suffering from arthritis.

In the Gibson Brief, a study made by the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital in Glasgow, United Kingdom, Lyprinol’s potency was tested. Lyprinol’s lipid extract of stabilized GLM was compared alongside with the raw, stabilized GLM powder to determine if such were the principal active components in the treatment of arthritis. It was concluded that both lipid extract and the powder-form are quite effective in addressing swelling, stiffness and more importantly, pain in both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. However, Lyprinol’s liquid extract gave a faster response than its powder counterpart.

Similar findings have been accomplished in the Whitehouse Study entitled “Anti-Inflammatory Activity of a Lipid Fraction from the NZ Green-Lipped Mussel” and the OTC Study – “Over the counter oral remedy for arthritis and rheumatism: how effective are they?” The Whitehouse Study revealed the anti-inflammatory effect of Lyprinol in rats that have been artificially induced with arthritis. The OTC study ranked Lyprinol as one of the top remedies for arthritis along with ibuprofen. These researches emphasize the effectivity of Lyprinol as a natural arthritis remedy.

 
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I Have Osteoarthritis In My Hip And My Doctor Wants To Inject It With Cortisone… What Do I Need To Know?

08 Sep

This little old lady has arthritis

Among the many treatment options available for people with osteoarthritis are injections of glucocorticoids commonly known as cortisone injections.

Glucocorticoids, also called corticosteroids or steroids, are anti-inflammatory compounds that are synthetic copies of what the bodys adrenal glands make. When properly injected, these corticosteroids reduce the swelling, redness, heat, and pain that commonly accompany arthritis.

Traditionally, the use of glucocorticoid injections for the hip have been perceived to not work well or at least not work as well as they do for the knee. However, the hip joint is one of the most difficult joints in the body to inject accurately.

A new study reported in Arthritis and Rheumatism (Lambert RGW, Hutchings EJ, Grace MGA, Jhangri GS, Conner-Spady B, Maksymowych WP. Steroid injection for osteoarthritis of the hip: A randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2278-2287) has demonstrated that correctly placed steroid injections can produce considerable improvement in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip.

What the researchers wanted to answer was whether the steroid was less effective because of the way it was injected. They wanted to ensure entry of the therapeutic agent into the synovial space. As a result they used fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopy is a type of real time x-ray.

The investigators studied 52 symptomatic patients with hip OA who were randomized in a double-blind fashion to fluoroscopically guided intra-articular injection of bupivacaine (an anesthetic agent) and 40 mg triamcinolone (a type of long-acting glucocorticoid) or to bupivacaine and saline.

At 2 months, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC) pain scores fell by 49.2% in the active treatment group and by 2.5% in the placebo group. The WOMAC is considered the cornerstone of patient response in osteoarthritis clinical trials so that this response was critical to determining the effectiveness of the therapies.

In addition, 67.7% of the corticosteroid group showed a 20% WOMAC improvement, compared to 23.8% of the placebo group. Findings were similar for a 50% WOMAC improvement (61.3% versus 14.3%).

These differences were maintained at 3 months.

The trial confirmed that when the steroid is injected under image guidance and can be certain that the steroid is in the right place, the steroids work very well for most patients with moderately advanced or severe hip OA.

A potentially even more useful technique for localization of the hip joint is ultrasound (US). US has the advantages of being fast, of showing soft tissue as well as bone, and of having no radiation associated with it. Fluoroscopy has comparatively much radiation exposure both to the patient as well as to the physician doing the injection.

In our clinic we use US as opposed to fluoroscopy. In any event, though, one or the other should be used to ensure proper placement of the needle.

Cortisone injection into the hip is also a procedure that should be done using sterile techniques.

In patients who respond to corticosteroid injections, these can be repeated as often as three times per year. Another therapeutic option is injection of viscosupplements into the hip. These are gel-like lubricants that also help reduce pain and allow the joint to glide better. Examples of these are compounds such as Supartz, Hyalgan, and Synvisc. In patients who are not considered surgical candidates or who do not want surgery, this is a viable option to consider.

 
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Got Osteoarthritis? Here Are A Few Tips That Might Help…

07 Sep

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 40 million Americans. It is also the most common cause of disability.

While more than half of patients older than 65 years of age have osteoarthritis changes in the their knees on x-ray, osteoarthritis is not considered a normal part of aging.

Certain activities and occupations increase the likelihood of osteoarthritis. For instance baseball players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the elbows and shoulder. Football players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the hips and knees. And ditch diggers have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in their wrists.

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis developing in the knees.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that arises from biochemical changes in cartilage which include a decrease in glycosoaminoglycans, an important constituent of collage, an increase in water content, and an increase in the content of destructive enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

These changes lead to structural weakening of cartilage. Small fissures develop, then larger cracks and irregularities also occur. Ulceration of cartilage and further deterioration occurs. The end result is a premature wearing away of cartilage with exposure of underlying bone. Along with this wearing away of cartilage is an increase in inflammation of the lining of the joint, the synovium.

The joints that are affected most in osteoarthritis are weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

Stiffness and pain are the moist common symptoms.

On physical exam, there are signs that point towards the diagnosis including bony swelling, and distribution of joint problems.

Laboratory testing is usually normal. X-rays may show changes.

Treatment for osteoarthritis is aimed at five primary goals. They are relief of pain, maintenance of function, prevention of disability, control of co-morbid conditions, and avoidance of medication side effects.

Non-drug therapies include patient education, physical therapy, thermal modalities, weight loss if indicated, and exercise.

Drug therapies include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, injections of glucocorticoids or viscosupplements (lubricants), and disease-modifying drugs.

Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, balneotherapy (spas), glucosamine/chondroitin, massage, chiropractic, etc. all have their advocates.

One area that has received much attention is the use of mechanical shifting devices that can unload specific joints. For instance osteoarthritis of the knee, a common problem, has received much scrutiny lately.

A recent study showed that the use of shoes that mimic barefoot walking may help because there is more pressure placed on the middle of the knee joint when people wear shoes as opposed to when they walk barefoot.

Also, the use of a simple device like a cane also reduced the load on the knees.

(Kemp G, et al Arthritis Care and Research 2008; 59: 609-614).

Other studies have found that lateral wedge insoles worn inside shoes can also reduce the load on the medial side of the joint.

Until the day comes when new cartilage can be grown and that day may be closer than we think, particularly with the emphasis on stem cell research, the above modalities may have to do.

 
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Strategies For Natural Arthritis Pain Relief

03 Sep

who knew

Natural arthritis pain relief is helped along by following the four basic strategies outlined here.

Exercise

What could be more natural than exercise? There are a number of exercises which are specifically designed for people suffering from arthritis. Basically three types of exercises are recommended for arthritis sufferers, namely, range of motion, strengthening and endurance. Particular emphasis should be placed up on range of motion exercises, since these will assist in joint mobility and help prevent stiffness. Dancing, for example, is ideal for enhancing range of motion. As time passes intensity of exercising can gradually be increased.

It goes without saying that stronger muscles will help support the joints. Strengthening exercises should be undertaken on a regular basis, but not necessarily daily. Gradual build up of muscle strength is preferable to help arthritis sufferers reach the point where this debilitating condition does not inhibit daily activities.

While not all people with arthritis can perform endurance exercises, for those who are able, walking, bicycling or swimming are highly beneficial. It is especially important, however, to avoid fatigue which can aggravate inflammatory arthritis.

Diet and Nutrition

Both older and younger people suffering from arthritis can benefit from eating a well-balanced diet. Studies have shown that excessive weight, and the type of diet consumed can have an effect on arthritis symptoms. At its worst, people suffering from severe arthritis may have difficulty in actually preparing the foods necessary to a balanced diet.

Also, one of the conundrums in coping with arthritis involves the combination of medications and diet. It is not unusual for some arthritis medications to reduce appetite or cause the stomach to become upset. Moreover, the pain, and associated depression, also can affect a person’s appetite. Regardless, it is incumbent upon the patient to strive to eat a wide variety of foods from the five major food groups in order to furnish the body with proper nutrition and enhance the immune system.

Weight Control

Excessive weight can have a negative impact on the body’s load bearing joints, particularly the knees, hips, spine, and feet, rendering arthritis in these regions of the body acutely painful. Effective weight control goes hand-in-hand with exercise and diet discussed previously.

Natural supplements

Probably the most widely used natural supplements for managing arthritis pain and symptom are glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine occurs naturally in the body as well as in certain foods. It’s role is in the repair and maintenance of cartilage. Chondroitin helps to reduce inflammation and to protect against further breakdown of cartilage. Also highly recommended are the use of fish oil, together with vitamins A.C and E.

Conclusion

Taken together these strategies can go a long way toward helping provide a degree of arthritis pain relief and nomal daily functioning. An overall strategy that always proves beneficial, is simply to keep moving. When performing routine tasks throughout the day simply be conscious of the need to rotate joints and to make use of those parts of the body which are most afflicted by arthritis.

 
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Adjustable Beds and the Basics You Must Know

03 Sep

Arthritis occupational therapy, 1958

Adjustable beds of most kinds come in 2 models, there are the auto-matic sorts and the semi auto products, these are great because it means that ill, frail and old people can easily operate them with simplicity. Quite clearly there are adjustable beds that are slightly more technical but these would usually be obtained by hospitals and medical institutions for the elderly.

Adjustable beds are superb because of their many different qualities, you could suffer from a sever back condition or even an affliction like arthritis or rheumatism, these particular types of beds have proven very effective in helping ease these afflictions. The modern models are like something from a futuristic film and no matter how ill or incapacitated a soul may be a huge number of simple functions can be controlled from one easy to use control panel.

You can get ton of accessories for these type of beds and all sorts of extras can be added to them, you can buy side rails and footrests and tray bars that can help those who need to eat from their bed. Such beds are extremely useful in hospitals as they can significantly aid the recovery of anyone who sleeps in them.

Obviously beds that can be adjusted are great for those persons who are getting on in their years, the height adjustment capabilities they hold are particularly useful for people who suffer from chest problems. Pressure relief is another fantastic quality that electric adjustable beds can offer, many models are able to make automatic position adjustments, although these changes are minor they are enough to provide massive relief for those poor individuals who have to spend extensive periods of time in bed.

An adjustable bed is something that is likely to be owned by an acquaintance but you just are simply unaware they have one, if a person you know has used one for a long time then they do not tend to talk about them, if though you find you know an adjustable bed user then ask them how they slept before they bought their present bed, this is when you will see the real picture.

Unlike four poster beds or steel framed beds when purchasing an adjustable bed you will probably have to find a little extra cash to buy it with, adjustable beds due to their usefulness however generally tend to hold their value for a very long time indeed, to put it simply you will get your moneys worth when you purchase an adjustable bed.

If money is a real big problem then you are advised to first find some online bed websites and check out some adjustable bed reviews and product guides, you should then go to an offline bed retailer to get some hands on instruction and guidance. Once you are content about the bed you will be buying you can then you can log on to the net and buy one from a low cost bed wholesaler, this is due to the fact that as a rule the online price tags will just about beat the prices being offered by of the non internet bed stores.

 
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Posted in arthritis and rheumatism

 
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