The Interaction Between Turmeric and Inflammation - Using Turmeric to Stop Joint Pain Inflammation

It's unbelievable, but that turmeric herb is generating quite a buzz in the research labs these days. What if I told you that studies have shown an interaction between turmeric and inflammation as being a healthy treatment for reducing swelling. Studies have also shown how turmeric is the natural anti inflammatory way to help reduce the effects.

The bright-yellow spice called turmeric (curcuma longa) is a natural anti inflammatory medication. And the curcumin (the yellow pigment) is the main substance responsible for its anti-inflammatory power.

The interaction between turmeric and inflammation begins with macrophages which are immune cells that are found in a person's fat tissue. The macrophages produces molecules called cytokine which are said to be the very reason why inflammation occurs in the pancreas.

Studies show that the enzyme taken from turmeric (the curcuma enzyme) controls these macrophages. This, in turn, minimizes inflammation.

As for the joint pain (or arthritis), when you relieve the inflammation -- at the same time you relieve the pain. Studies found that the effects of the ingredient turmeric (curcumin) when used held back the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

No wonder it was used thousands of years ago by Chinese and Indian healers. This amazing natural anti inflammatory herb also helps remedy wounds, digestive woes, arthritis, skin conditions, and even menstrual issues.

Nowadays the connection between turmeric and inflammation continues. The list of benefits keep mounting like cancer prevention, lowering of cholesterol, helping battle Alzheimer's disease and, because of its antioxidant activity, used as an anticancer agent.

So what is the best way to get the turmeric and inflammation benefits? The easiest and most popular route is through a multi-vitamin health supplement.

When you look for turmeric supplements to ease pain and inflammation, make sure the ingredients also include piperine (increases absorption into the bloodstream), green tea, and resveratrol which all greatly increase its healing power.

If you're interested in the natural anti inflammatory benefits of the turmeric herb, consider adding a multi-nutritional supplement which includes high quality turmeric extract in its ingredients.

Now that you know the interaction between turmeric and inflammation for joint pain. Why not include this powerful herb into you daily diet routine and live a long and healthier life.

Arthritis Go Away

If you are reading this article, chances are you or someone you know is dealing with pain associated with arthritis. If that is the case, then it is also likely that you have been scouring the web in search of ways to alleviate these sometimes debilitating symptoms. Even though there is no cure for it, there are many ways of either minimizing the flare ups or even stopping them before the pain can escalate.

Let us go over some types of arthritis, the symptoms, and some effective tactical approaches to a more pain-free life. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis does not involve inflammation, it`s more of a degenerative joint disease. The weight bearing joints in particular simply wear out over time. This type of arthritis doesn't just afflict older people, it can be common among athletes as well. Baseball and tennis players (this sport is especially hard on the knees and elbows), golfers, pianists, and typists are susceptible to osteoarthritis due to specific repetitive and straining movements. But this type of arthritis can also develop as a result of an injury or trauma to an area which can ultimately cause the onset of osteoarthritis even years after the injury.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe form of arthritis whereby knuckles and joints are visibly inflamed and can in extreme cases appear deformed. People who suffer from this type of insidious arthritis endure countless episodes and flare ups and painfully stiff joints. It has been shown that rheumatoid arthritis is a related to lupus which is characterized as an auto immune disease where the body is actually attacking itself.

Let us consider some proactive strategies that go beyond the conventional medicines and may likely increase their effectiveness as well. Many people are turning to mineral supplements to strengthen and perhaps regenerate bones and bone cartilage. Deficiency of these minerals can even lead to the eventual onset of arthritis. Some minerals that are linked to good bone health maintenance are: boron (a trace mineral), of course calcium (I prefer calcium citrate or coral calcium), magnesium (which balances calcium), zinc (which helps bone growth), copper (which helps to strengthen connective tissue), germanium (an antioxidant that helps with pain relief), and sulfur (which helps maintain ligaments, cartilage, collagen, and tendons). Some people swear by high quality liquid glucosamine and even use it for their pets suffering from arthritis.

I like the idea of helpful foods in dealing with combating arthritis. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and also fish oil capsules have been shown to be an effective anti inflammatory. Some of the fish that are high in these omega 3`s include: striped bass, anchovies, bluefish, herring, mackerel, sable, salmon, shark, sardines (eat the ones with the bones in for even more calcium), brook trout, and white tuna. Other inflammation reducing foods include asparagus, garlic, onions, pineapple, and cabbage. There are also foods to avoid that aggravate inflammation. On your no no list, put: eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, wheat and foods high in gluten, corn, beef, pork, eggs, dairy, fried foods, and sugary processed snacks. This might seem like a long list at first, but finding substitutes after a while might not turn out to be that difficult and will be worth it too.

There`s a lot of helpful herbs in dealing with arthritis, too many to list here. Just to skim the surface, I`ll mention celery seed. This spice and seasoning contains almost 2 dozen anti inflammatory compounds. Fresh ginger root, long known throughout Asia as being helpful to people with both osteoarthrits and rheumatoid arthritis is readily available. It reduces inflammation by blocking cyclooxygenate or the cox enzyme which kick starts joint swelling. In contrast to COX-2 medications (such as Celebrex and Ibuprofen), ginger root does not cause stomach irritation - but actually protects the digestive tract by increasing the blood flow which serves to control stomach acid. Two other herbs containing anti inflammatory properties which can be swallowed in capsule form or applied as a cream are Boswellia (also great for sprains and muscle strains) and Cayenne pepper whose active ingredient is capsicum. Use this cream sparingly as there can be a slight stinging sensation. A bath with Epsom salts has both anti inflammatory and anti arthritis compounds which can be absorbed through the skin. It also makes a very soothing and delightful bath.

A basic and common sense approach to everyday coping with arthritis is simply to protect your joints. By that I mean - do not remain in any one position for an extended period of time. A ten minute stretching routine should be done every day to keep limber and warm up the muscles and tendons. This will help to prevent muscles and tendons from becoming strained. Regular exercise can also reduce joint pain and stiffness. Exercising in water can make your routine that much easier. I hope my research on this topic has provided some new insight and hope for you. If it has, pass it along to someone else who could use the information. You can also have a peek at my site (see bio box) which further explores this topic.

What is Sacro-Iliac Joint Dysfunction?

The S-I joint is one of the most misunderstood areas of the human body. It has been the source of much controversy in the medical community for many years. Much of the debate relies on the fact that there are few reliable evaluation methods for the S-I joint.

Contrary to disc injuries, which can be evaluated using many types of diagnostic tools, examining the S-I joints has proved to be quite unreliable. Clinicians need to rely mostly on their experience rather than simple methods used to examine the low back. Most medical professionals do not acknowledge it as a source of pain and dysfunction. So patients leave a medical office with an incomplete evaluation and often times, an inaccurate diagnosis.

The S-I (Sacro-Iliac) joint is comprised of two bones; the sacrum and the ilium. You have two S-I joints (left and right). They are located basically where the spine meets the pelvis. Look for the two dimples in your low back. These two joints allow for very little movement overall as compared to other more prominent joints such as your hip or shoulder. The pelvic girdle is generally described as the two S-I joints, the pubic symphysis (pubic bone in front), the two hip joints, and the bottom two vertebrae (L4, L5).

What do you feel?

Pain located at or near the S-I joint on one side or both sides. Pain located in the low back, buttock, and/or groin area. Another common symptom of a S-I joint dysfunction is "sciatica". Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. S-I joint dysfunction may also cause nerve irritation of the nerves that supply the groin or front of your thigh.

Other symptoms include:

o Weakness in one leg or both legs; difficulty standing on one leg and raising the other leg (like marching)

o Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

o A burning pain located near the "dimples"

o Difficulty raising from a chair

o Muscle discomfort in the buttock, hip, or low back (over 30 muscles attach to the pelvis; from the hip, buttock, thigh, low back.

How does this happen?

S-I joint dysfunction is usually caused by an imbalance in the muscles of the hips and glutes and it can also be caused by a fall or other traumatic event, such as a car accident.

A condition known as "hypermobility" may also predispose an individual to S-I joint dysfunction. "Hypermobility" is best described as a condition in which the joints have too much mobility. This condition generally affects women more than men. Different hormone levels present in women, specifically "relaxin", can influence hypermobility. This hormone is released to prepare the body for pregnancy, and its level in the blood changes throughout pregnancy process. It basically causes the ligaments to "relax" and allow for more movement to occur in the pelvic girdle region.

The best treatment options

First of all, the evaluation is critical to the success of treating a S-I joint dysfunction. Most dysfunctions can be treated with manual techniques that generally involve "mobilizations", "manipulations", or "muscle energy techniques". These techniques must be applied by a skilled medical professional, such as a physical therapist. These techniques can prove to be quite helpful when utilized appropriately following a thorough evaluation.

Once appropriate manual techniques have been administered, a comprehensive exercise program must be implemented to address the following areas, specifically muscle imbalances:

o Lumbar stabilization program: strengthening abdominals and buttock muscles

o Improve flexibility in lower extremity musculature

Some cases may only need a detailed exercise program that addresses the muscle imbalances. You can learn more about how to identify and address your muscle imbalances by visiting http://www.losethebackpain.com

Some S-I joint dysfunctions may linger on for months and even years. Remember, if you are engaged in a current treatment plan with little to no improvement, seek other options. If you think you may have a S-I joint dysfunction, the first step is to find a healthcare professional who is skilled and experienced in addressing muscle imbalances.

What Is Cobroxin Pain Relief?

Our body is just like a machine. It needs to be taken care of otherwise it is bound to come up with certain problems. Similarly, overwork also leads to complications inside the body. Physical pain is something that every individual wishes to stay away from. However, everyone has to experience this pain at some point or the other.

Pain associated with muscles and joints is no less than a nightmare. One of the drawbacks of this kind of pain is the fact that it limits your body movements which can be extremely uncomfortable. People who suffer from this type of pain often look for a product or a medication that would provide them instant relief and offer relaxation.

Cobroxin is one such product which has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. The product is relatively new in the market. However, the kind of demand it has clearly shows that it is mighty effective. Over the years, many companies and manufacturers have come up with products that claim relief from joint and muscle pain. However, it seems that Cobroxin is certainly one of the best pain relief products ever produced.

Lower back pain is one of the worst forms of pains an individual can ever go through. Almost every human movement involves the back and hence it is very important that your back is functioning in the best possible manner. Unfortunately, due to excessive physical activities associated with the present fast and hectic life, the lower back is the region which gets affected first and in a worst manner. Pain in the lower back can be so severe that a person would not be able to bear it. Cobroxin has shown amazing results in curing the lower back pain. It has the ability to offer instant relief to the sufferer and regular usage of cobroxin would ensure that they pain is no longer there and the treatment is permanent.

This is one of the highlights of cobroxin as most of the other products tend to give temporary relief to the sufferer. Once the effect of the product dies down, the individual starts to feel the pain all over again and hence he/she is never comfortable.

Another major problem faced by many people around the world is arthritis. This is a complication which usually pops up once the individual gets into his/her 40s or 50s. However, with the kind of mental and physical stress people have these days; this complication can be seen in young people as well. Cobroxin is one of the best remedies against arthritis. You can either go for the topical gel form of this product or massage it well on all the body parts which experience pain. You can even opt for the oral spray form of the product.

Cobroxin is undoubtedly one of the best products when it comes to body pain. You would be shocked to see the kind of positive effect it has on your body.

How Pilates Help In Pain Relief - Part 1

Due to our busy lifestyle and most jobs being desk bound, there has been increasing number of people suffering from chronic neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain. These people usually have acquired bad postures in their daily activities without them knowing it. They have read about the wonderful effects of pilates in pain relief and many wanted to use pilates to relieve their chronic pain. However, what they did not realise was that, if you are suffering from chronic pain, the first few sessions of pilates rehabilitation had nothing to do with Pilates as yet!

Usually for clients who are suffering from chronic pain, there will be lumps of scar tissues in the pain areas. Fascia and trigger point release will be employed in the first few sessions to release these scar tissues. It is a technique that coupled with certain specific Pilates routines can bring instant relief to the spot and restore mobility to the joints. Clients with chronic pain usually have very tight knots in the neck which stretching alone cannot do the job. Even though stretching is very beneficial and cannot be neglected, it does not work in the case of stubborn muscle knots. When stretching a muscle with knots, you are only stretching the healthy muscle tissue. The knot remains a knot, laughing in the face of the stretch.

The best way to attack a tight muscle knot is direct pressure. When the taut knots and painful spots are successfully released, the spot will be sore for a day at most but instant relief can be felt in some area like tingling sensations down the arm to fingers as circulation is restored when the tight knots are loosen. Other times, there is instant release up the side of the neck all the way up the scalp of the hair. Fascia and trigger point release is akin to lubricating a rusty machine before movement (Pilates) is introduced. And because most injury started due to improper form, the right body mechanics specific to the joint and muscles must be introduced and properly taught.

Take a quick look around the people at the subways, hurrying to work and sitting in the office. You will realize most if not all, have rounded shoulders, are much hunched over, chin is lifted, neck tilted backwards and shoulders tensed. This is the perfect recipe that spells disaster - that of chronic neck and shoulder pain!

If Pilates is introduced immediately into a rehabilitation program without proper investigation into the true state of the pain or injury, not only will it hinder recovery, it will also mean adding fuel to flame and may lead to inflammation and more pain. Every case is different and a thorough review with an experienced pilates instructor with the right expertise will guarantee results! Be sure to find out how the rehabilitation process is carried out in the training if you are looking for pilates rehabilitation programs.

In the next sequel of the article, we will follow up with how pilates is incorporated in the training for people who are suffering from chronic pain.

Referred Pain From The Lumbar Spine

A Pain deep in the cheeks of your bottom can be referred from the lower back. There does not necessarily have to be pain in the lower back as well for pain to be referred into the buttocks.

What are the symptoms of pain referred from the back?

An aching in the buttocks that is difficult to pinpoint.

The slump test may reproduce buttock pain which is eased when the neck is relaxed back (extended).

Areas of the lumbar spine may be tender and have poor mobility.

Tight gluteal muscles and other muscles of the buttocks.

What can I do?

See a Physical Therapist who can identify the problems in the lower spine.

Begin an exercise programme that will stretch and strengthen the muscles supporting the lumbar spine.

Stretch the gluteal muscles and hip rotator muscles.

What can a Physical Therapist professional do?

Manipulate and mobilize the segments of the lumbar spine. This is a good way of assessing whether the lumbar spine is a cause of buttock pain. If it is then symptoms will be relieved.

Deep tissue sports massage techniques can be applied to the lower back and buttocks to release muscle tension, particularly in chronic conditions.

Acupuncture or dry needling can also help reduce chronic tension in muscles.

What other injuries are related or similar?

Piriformis syndrome

Sciatica

Sacroiliac joint pain.

What is the Sacroiliac joint ?

The Sacroiliac Joints are located at the bottom of the back. You have one either side of the spine. The Sacroiliac joints help make up the rear part of the pelvic girdle and sit between the sacrum and the ilia.

There are torsional or twisting forces applied to the pelvic girdle when the lower limbs are moved. These limbs act like long levers and without the sacroiliac joints and the pubic symphysis (at the front of the pelvis) which allow movement, the pelvis would very likely be subject to a fracture.

These joints can often get stuck or in some cases one half of the pelvis can glide forwards or backwards, which is often referred to as a twisted pelvis. When this occurs it often irritates the Iliolumbar ligament which results in Inflammation. This is usually indicated by tenderness around the bony lumps which you can feel if you place your thumbs either side of your lower back.

Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments are very common, especially following pregnancy where the hormone relaxing is released and this results in the relaxation of ligaments in preparation for childbirth. In most cases the causes of sacroiliitis are mechanical, however there may be other medical inflammatory conditions present such as Ankylosing Spondylitis as well as others which will need attention.

Symptoms include:

Pain located either to the left or right of your lower back. The pain can range from an ache to a sharp pain which can restrict movement.

The pain may radiate out into your buttocks and low back and will often radiate to the front into the groin. Occasionally it is responsible for pain in the testicles among males.

Occasionally there may be referred pain into the lower limb which can be mistaken for sciatica.
Classic symptoms are difficulty turning over in bed, struggling to put on shoes and socks and pain getting your legs in and out of the car.

Stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from bed in the morning.

Aching to one side of your lower back when driving long distances.

Specific assessment tests:

The Stork test - to assess weather the sacroiliac joint is moving correctly.

Leg length difference measurements - both straight leg and bent leg assessments.

Ilia rotation - this assesses weather the ilia is rotated on one side creating imbalance.

What can a Physical Therapist or GP do?

Use diagnostic tests to discover the cause of the problem.

Eliminate medical diseases such as Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Treat the cause as well as the symptoms.

Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. ibuprofen) and rest.

Use electrotherapy equipment to treat affected tissues.

If indicated and safe to do, level the pelvis via manipulation.

Articulate sacroiliac joint and restore normal function.

Sports massage will help relieve any soft tissue tension in the area.

Use injection therapy.

Advise Ice and cold therapy to reduce inflammation.

What are the similar or related injuries and conditions?

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Myofascial pain

Low back pain

Coping with Sciatica

Sciatica is a pain that starts in the back and radiates down one of the legs. It is quite a common complaint and is sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve which runs down into the leg. The medical term is acute nerve root compression. The cause of pressure can be varied from a Slipped (Prolapsed) disk to muscle tension (Piriformis syndrome) or something less common such as a tumors, bony growths and infections.

A prolapsed disc or slipped disc as it is sometimes known is not simply a disc that has 'slipped' out of place. Intervertibral discs separate the bones of the spine (or vertebrae) and their function is to act as shock absorbers or cushioning for the spine and allow movement.

They quite happily allow flexion and extension (bending forwards and backwards), lateral flexion (sideways movement) and twisting. However a combination of the two can put excess stress on the spine and damage the discs. This is particularly common in people who may lift heavy objects and twist with them for example unloading heavy boxes off the back of a lorry.

The intervertebral discs are filled with a soft liquid in the middle called nucleus pullouts and when a disc prolapses this liquid squeezes out and puts pressure on the spinal cord compressing the nerve routes and causing pain.

Depending on where the sciatic nerve is pinched will determine where you feel the pain which can radiate to the front of the knee or right down the back of the leg to the foot. The L5-S1 disc is the disc most commonly damaged and the L4-L5 disc the next most commonly damaged.

Sciatica Symptoms

Acute low back pain.

Pain radiating down the leg. This pain may be sharp and accompanied by pins and needles and / or numbness.

Pain is often triggered by a minor movement such bending over to pick something up.

Pain may be worse by sitting, lifting, coughing or sneezing.

Pain is usually relieved by lying down, often on one side.

Pain is often better in the morning after a nights rest.

Scoliosis or an S shaped or bent spine as seen from behind is often present with the patient bending away from the side of pain.

There may be muscle spasm in the lower back.

Tenderness in the lower back when pressing in.

Pain on the straight leg raise test which is not apparent when just stretching the hamstring only.

Sciatica treatment

A Short Rest in bed if necessary in a position that is comfortable.

A doctor may prescribe NSAID's (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen. Should always be taken under the direction of a doctor and do not if the patient has asthma.

Apply heat or a hot bath may help to relieve muscle spasm.

Use a heat retainer or back brace can provide support in the early stages.

See a sports injury specialist or doctor.

Begin extension exercises as soon as pain allows.

What can a Physical Therapist or GP do?

Determine the cause of the sciatic pain.

Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication e.g. ibuprofen or muscle relaxants.

Use sports massage techniques to relax tight muscles.

Gently apply mobilization techniques to the spine.

Use traction or advise on the use of and Inversion Table.

Apply electrical stimulation in the form of a Tens machine or Interferential.

Apply ultrasound treatment.

Operate on a slipped disk if neurological signs (nerve related symptoms) continue or worsen.

After the acute painful phase

Restore pain free movement to the back through mobilization and stretching techniques.

Ensure posture and correct lifting techniques are learned and maintained.

Strengthen the core stabilizing muscles of the spine.

Arthritis and Joint Pain Relief Herbal Remedies That You Should Know

Many people have twisted to more normal methods of healing and pain relief in current years, particularly those who are dissatisfied with the conventional Western medicines for various reasons. Although pharmaceutical companies are churning out more complicated drugs every year, there is always the danger of unpleasant reactions to man-made chemicals, or pessimistic reactions with accessible medicines a patient may need to take.

Joint pain is one of the most common arthritis symptoms. It affects one or supplementary joints. It is caused by a variety of injuries or situations. It may be caused by the swelling of the bursae called bursitis. These bursae are fluid-filled sacs that mitigate and pad, bony parts, permitting free movement of muscles and tendons over the bone.

The Main Causes are given below-

1. Joint hurt
2. Joint wound
3. Bursitis
4. Arthritis
5. Tendonitis

Home Remedies

1. Massaging the pretentious area with any oil would give relief from pain.
2. Warm bath is the highly helpful for joint pains.
3. Mix two to three teaspoonful of winter cherry with ghee and molasses to make porridge. Eat the porridge on an empty stomach for 15-20 days. It's a good Herbal Remedy for Joint Pain.
4. Eating chapatti equipped from roasted grams flour with clarified butter provides good relief.
5. Drink a cup of papaya seed tea at least six or seven times a day for two to three weeks to get relief from arthritis and joint pain.
6. Carrot juice is also highly beneficial as it makes ligaments stronger and is a good Herbal Remedy for Joint Pain.
7. In take of 1-2 teaspoonful of turmeric in hot milk also treats all kinds of body pains.
8. One can chomp through garlic cloves fried in butter for treatment of this problem and they are good Herbal Remedies.
9. Among fruits bananas are considered as the best for the joints as they give strength and grease the joints.
10. Mix methyl salicylate, camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil to make a rubbing mixture for aches and joint pains.
11. Alternating hot and cold compressions on the painful region gives relief from this problem.
12. Two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2-3 teaspoons of honey dissolved in a small glass of warm water gives relief from arthritis.
13. Exercise amplifies your joint elasticity and also strengthens your bones. Exercise in water can diminish pain and improve flexibility
14. Gomukhasana is helpful yoga asana for the cure of this problem.
15. Mixing of fresh carrot juice with equal parts of lemon juice and taking one large teaspoonful daily for the treatment helps in reducing joint pains. One of the best Herbal remedies for joint pain.
16. Rub the joints with hot vinegar before going to bed at night.

Oils and Rubs for the treatment of Arthritis

Olive Oil - A gentle rub with warm olive oil is cheap and also useful.

Rumatone Gold Massage Oil along with Rumatone Gold capsules is very effective in arthritis joint pain.

Camphor Rub - Mix equal proportion of 1 teaspoon of camphor oil to 1 teaspoonful of sunflower oil and massage the effected area with this rub to get relief from joint pains.

Preventing Arthritis

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease. Eighty percent of people over 50 years of age experience this type of arthritis, which can also begin in teenage years.

Affected Areas

Pain, deformity, and limited motion of joints within the whole body are usual. The onset can be very subtle. Morning joint stiffness is often the first symptom. As the disease progresses, pain on motion of various joints that worsens with prolonged activity and relieved by rest also occurs. Common affected regions are neck, back, hips, knees, feet, fingers.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is caused from an improper function (or motion) of the involved joints. Unfortunately improper joint movement is something that we cannot feel 90% of the time. As a result, we unknowingly cause joint degeneration. Therefore, we must actively work to make sure all of our joints are working the right way throughout life. Otherwise, we will suffer the consequences of joint degeneration and osteoarthritis.

Unveiling Misconceptions

There are two misconceptions about osteoarthritis:

1. It is a normal part of aging and


2. Nothing can be done about it.

Taking care of our joints at a young age can help to significantly prevent osteoarthritis by the age of 50. Chiropractic wellness care has proven to substantially improve joint movement by helping patients learn how to properly use their joints. Even people who have neglected their joints to the point of daily pain and limited motion can benefit by improving joint function from chiropractic wellness care. It is never too late to start caring for your body.

Why NSAIDs Are Dangerous

Some people are not aware that there are natural methods of fighting osteoarthritis and are constantly taking drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil and Motrin, a category of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

According to a UK research report in the journal PAIN patients taking NSAIDs for at least two months show a risk of death at a rate of 1 in every 1,200 patients, 1 in 5 will have ulcers, about 1 in 70 have stomach pains/symptoms, and 1 in 150 have ulcers that bleed. It was concluded that NSAIDs kill three times as many people as cancer of the cervix.

How To Be Certain About Whether You Have TMJ Disorder

Before beginning the search for TMJ disorder remedies or cures, it is important to first be certain about whether you have this disorder or not. This article covers some of the important points that will help you determine whether you are suffering from a TMJ disorder.

What Are TMJ Disorders?

The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are the small joints that can be found just in front of the ears where the ball shaped ends of the lower jawbone (mandible) meet the skull. There are two TMJs on each side of the head. These joints help you eat, talk, chew, swallow, make facial expressions, kiss, etc.

When there is a problem with the proper functioning of these joints, it may result in a TMJ disorder. This condition affects men and women equally although more women with the disorder usually seek TMJ remedies and cures than men. The condition usually affects those between the ages of twenty and fifty.

Some people can have the condition for a long time, even years, before it becomes painful or a source of discomfort and then start searching for TMJ remedies. Others can also develop the condition suddenly.

Do You Suffer From a TMJ Disorder?

The symptoms of a TMJ disorder can vary from one person to another and multiple symptoms usually show up in the person suffering from this disorder. Some of the symptoms associated with the condition include;

1. Suffering from facial pain or facial swelling


2. Jaws producing clicking or grating sounds


3. Suffering from headaches


4. The jaw may become locked whether it is closed or open


5. Pain in the shoulders, neck and upper back


6. Experiencing difficulty in talking, chewing, swallowing, yawning, etc


7. Teeth clenching or grinding


8. Discomfort or pain in the jaw joint or jaw area


9. Pain or difficulty closing and opening the mouth


10. Ringing in the ears, stuffiness or pain in the absence of an ear infection


11. Bite problems


12. Jaw fatigue or pain in the morning


13. Tooth pain that cannot be explained in an otherwise healthy tooth

The above can then be further grouped into three main categories and patients usually fall in one or more categories.

1. Damaged, unbalanced or improperly functioning structures in the joints causing clicking, locking, grating and grinding.


2. Dysfunction or pain in the joints and muscles or other issues with the jaw and the jaw area. Most people with TMJ disorder usually fall in this category.


3. Degenerative disorders in the jaw or arthritis affecting the joints in the jaw.

The above are some of the common ways to determine whether you are suffering from a TMJ disorder which can take a toll on your life and level of productivity.

Joint Pain Relief Varies With The Cause Of Joint Pain

Joint pain relief as well as its treatment options varies as per the cause of the joint pain. Since joint ache is an outcome of an underlying condition, thus treating that condition will be able to offer long-term relief.

At present there is no known cure for conditions such as Osteoarthritis as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hence any kind of medical treatment for these conditions is basically aimed at reducing joint ache, improving joint mobility as well as quality of life. Besides, the treatment is aimed at restricting functional impairment, while limiting any toxic side effects of the therapy. But most of the drug treatments are aimed at relief of symptoms. They do not actually offer a cure.

The commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are meant to produce prompt joint pain relief and are considered relatively quite safe.

The COX-2 inhibitors are a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs which have the ability to selectively block the COX-2 enzyme. This prevents the production of chemical messengers which are responsible for the pain as well as swelling in case of arthritis. For joint pain relief, steroids may be required occasionally. These can be either taken orally in low doses, or even injected into the affected joint. They are basically prescribed for rapid relief of joint ache, swelling as well as inflammation around the affected joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are the natural supplements for joint ache which are used in patients with osteoarthritis. These are dietary supplements which tend to ease symptoms in people suffering from moderate to severe joint pain. Not only this, these substances can also help in restoring cartilage. As compared to the commonly prescribed NSAIDs, these natural supplements are not associated with any kind of side effects. But any kind of drug treatment should always be monitored by a physician and has to be tailored in accordance to individual needs.

Three Simple TMJ Treatment Exercises

Many people who experience jaw pain are suffering from TMJ and they don't even know it. One of the easiest methods to relieve pain from TMJ is to practice jaw exercises. With exercises that are designed to relieve TMJ, you can go longer periods of time without pain and discomfort.

If you are reading this article about TMJ exercises, then you are most likely experiencing problems with pain in the jaw. Maybe you know someone who has trouble with it and you are doing research on how to relieve it for them. What most people do not know that the pain and discomfort that comes with TMJ can enter other parts of the body and not just the jaw. The person can feel pain in the neck as well as the ears. The pain can cause you to become stiff and can cause swelling and inflammation to the jaw area. If you are having these problems, you should use some of the exercises aimed at relieving the pain.

Jaw exercises will only take a few minutes to complete and will give you extended amounts of time without pain or discomfort. By stretching these muscles, you are able to relieve some stress that is being placed on the jaw. This helps to get the jaw back into the proper position and will help to return your jaw to feeling normal. If you do these exercises everyday and keep on it, you will notice that you are going for longer periods of time without any pain.

TMJ exercises

1. If you have clicking in the jaw, then you will want to close your mouth and place your tongue up against the roof of your mouth. With your mouth still closed, roll your tongue to the back of your mouth, then slowly open your mouth up until you feel that your tongue is not up against the roof of your mouth any longer. Count to ten and then release. Continue to do this several times a day until you start to feel relief.



2. If you find that your jaw shifts to the one side, you will want to focus on the opening and closing of your mouth while you are being careful to make real sure that the jaw is lining up correctly. Make sure that what you are doing is causing the jaw to line up right and that there is no shift. Repeat this exercise for a number of times and you want to make sure not to over do it as this can cause more damage to your jaw.



3. When someone has a large amount of tension or stiffness in the jaw, they will want to do stretching exercises that will help to relieve the tension. You will need to open your jaw up slowly and as wide as you can. Once you have done this, open as wide as you possibly can, then close your mouth and repeat. This will help to alleviate any pain you are having.

These are just a couple of the exercises that are aimed at helping someone who suffers from TMJ. This will help to make the muscles stronger and will allow you to go with no pain for longer time periods.

Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis) In Cats

Pet parents may not consider the possibility that their aging furry companion may be suffering from degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). They may notice their cat gradually becoming less active but simply write it off to another part of the natural aging process.

The truth when discussing degenerative joint disease in cats is there is about a one in three chance of it occurring before the age of 10 and a seven out of ten chance of it occurring after the age of 10. It is by far the most common form of arthritis in cats. Other forms include progressive polyarthritis, septic arthritis, and spondylitis (when the vertebrates are involved with the progression of arthritis.

Though cats general have milder symptoms than dogs it is still a serious problem. Some might even argue a more serious problem because cats tend to be less active than dogs to start with, and diseases of the joints such as osteoarthritis reduce their activity level to a point where their overall health may become an issue.

Talking degenerative joint disease in cats?

Bones are connected at the joint. In a cat with degenerative joint disease, the cartilage covering the articulating surface of a joint wears out and the underlying bone develops a coarse surface that damages the joint.

Think of cartilage as the shock absorber that keep bones from rubbing together and cushions impact.

In dogs when the cartilage disappears a sandpaper type of sound may be heard when they are in motion. Since cats are smaller, and typically have shorter strides, degenerative joint disease will not be heard, thus it must be observed.

The most common area impacted are those weight bearing joints which have been severely stress, fractured, or dislocated. Nevertheless, sometimes years of chasing birds, lizards, or battery operated mice around is enough to stop your cat in his/her tracks.

The most common symptoms of degenerative joint disease is stiffness which can turn into lameness if left untreated. This condition may begin around the age of 7 or 8 but not be noticed until much later. Swelling around the damaged joint and muscle deterioration in the vicinity of the affected area are visual cues that pet parents can pick up on.

Also their activity levels may grind to a halt with irritable setting in as the condition, and subsequent pain, worsens.

What can be done?

There is a spirited debate as to whether pain medications and/or corticosteroids are the best way to treat degenerative joint disease in cats. Many veterinarians believe it is a necessary evil while others insist the goal should be first to rebuild the lost cartilage with the help of natural formulas containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

The sad truth of the matter is that osteoarthritis in cats is treatable but not curable.

Regardless of the chosen course of treatment there are a number of simple steps that can be taken to improve their quality of life.

Examples would be to provide a warm place for them to sleep and rest. In our house we use a heating pad to accomplish this but keep in mind heating pads will tend to dehydrate your pet. Another tip is to make sure they can get to their favorite places; window sills, couches, and beds.

TMJ Lockjaw - What You Need to Know to Stop This

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) allows you to open and close your mouth. Hence, you are able to speak, chew, bite in, grind and clench your teeth with the help of this joint. It is a very delicate joint located in the front part of the ears and connects the lower jaw to the skull.

In case of any tension or pressure created on the TMJ the individual can experience what is known as the TMJ disorder. This is accompanied with pain, inflammation, popping of the jaw out of the socket when the disc slips as well as TMJ lockjaw.

As well as this disk, it may involve the muscles, joints and ligaments of the jaw. So it is important to get some help for this right a way so that it does not get too bad.

One can suffer from the open lockjaw and/or the closed lockjaw. A lock jaw is exactly what the name suggests; your jaws are locked rendering you unable to move them until they have been unlocked.

In case of open lock jaw the patient is sedated into relaxation so that the Dentist can move the open jaw up, forward or backward until the disc has settled on the socket and the ball is in place.

If it is a case of a closed lock jaw then the patient has to be completely asleep. Once this is achieved then the doctor can massage the triangular hollow beneath the earlobes and slowly increase the pressure on them. Hot compress is also a good idea in such a situation. Eventually the jaw can be pried open very gently.

Most people who suffer from this problem grind or clench their teeth both consciously or subconsciously.

They often suffer from jaw pain.

Don't Wait To Start Working On Your Jaw Problem

Again, I will stress that at the first signs of a problem with your jaw, it is good to start some therapies.

Acupressure on certain points around the jaw may be helpful. One can sometimes find acupressure books with these points listed.

To help reduce a spasm, you may find that moist heat applied to the jaw is helpful. Just apply a moist hot washcloth to the face and remoisten it when it gets cool. Try this for 10 minutes a few times a day and see what it will do for you.

TMJ Symptoms - Are You One Of 12 Million TMJ Sufferers?

Millions of individuals experience discomforting, excruciating jaw pain and it can occur for a number of reasons. TMJ dysfunction is one of the most common reasons. Many people simply learn to live with the pain associated with TMJ. However, for many individuals, the subsequent TMJ symptoms can be unbearable. It can, in various ways, effect one's entire upper body. We will discuss specific TMJ symptoms below.

TMJ dysfunction is characterized by pain, deviation and clicking in the jaw. The dysfunction occurs where the lower jaw and the temporal bone of the skull join. With cases of TMJ dysfunction, something causes the jaw to shift to one side. Generally, it shifts toward the damaged jaw joint. However, after some time, the side of the jaw without problems becomes damaged due to over-use and over compensation. Many of the individuals with this TMJ problems, have the following symptoms.

Common TMJ Symptoms:

· Pain in the ear

· Jaw muscles that are sore

· Pain in the cheek and temple

· Popping or clicking in the jaw

· The jaw locking up

· Headaches and neckaches

· Difficulity in fully opening one's mouth

· Tingling in the arms, fingers as well as numbness and pain

· Difficulties in swallowing

· Eyes watering

· Hearing buzzing, roaring, and ringing sounds

TMJ symptoms and dysfunction can have a huge, negative impact on one's life. For this reason, many individuals consider TMJ surgery or search out various TMJ exercises and therapies. There are many simple TMJ exercises that can be performed in the comfort of one's home, in order to alleviate most TMJ symptoms. You will just need to do a little bit of research, separate the good ideas from the comical and then commit to what you find. There is hope and there are available effective therapies, besides risky surgery.

Suffering From Hip Pain? Use The Leg Wedge Pillow And Feel The Change

Hip pain is a common discomfort people have, it does not let you feel comfortably either when you are awake or when it is time to sleep. But in order to understand this pain, why it happens and how we can obtain hip pain relief, we have to know how the hips work. A joint is formed by the ends of at least two bones that are connected by ligaments. The hip consists of two parts: a ball or femoral head at the top of the femur, and a rounded socket or acetabulum in the pelvis. The surfaces of the ball and socket are covered by a material called articular cartilage, which cushions the bones and allows them move easily.

So what causes hip joint pain? Arthritis is one of the most usual causes, and more precisely osteoarthritis, which involves a breakdown of cartilage in the joints, and when cartilage wears away the bones rub against each other causing this pain. It is more frequent in people older than fifty years old. Another cause is the avascular necrosis, which happens when there is not enough blood supply to the bone, like when someone has been through organ transplantation.

Treating hip pain

In most cases that are not as extreme as the ones which require hip surgery or hip replacement, doctors recommend medication, physical therapy like hip exercise and changing your sleeping position and getting an ergonomic pillow to accommodate your legs in the right position. This is where the Leg Wedge Pillow proves to be right what people who suffer from hip pain need. This orthopedic pillow keeps pelvis correctly aligned and relieves pressure on the hips as well as in all joints. People will feel a great difference in how their hips, lower back and the rest of the body feels after sleeping comfortably without feeling pain.

But there is more. Most people are side sleepers, which mean they prefer to sleep on their sides. However, people who like this sleeping position know that the most common set of discomforts are hip and lower back pain. And here is another cause for hip pain: sleeping in this position the natural shape of the body causes that the leg that is furthest from the sleep surface to be misaligned and it is pulled straight down by gravity, creating pressure and tension on the hips causing more pain. The Leg Wedge Pillow, when used as a leg spacer pillow, helps people to stay on their side without feeling any discomfort. People can feel the pressure and tension release as your spine and your hip are properly aligned right after they place the Leg Wedge Pillow between their legs, which allows them to sleep comfortably and quietly and forget about hip pains.

Athletes, Injuries, and Liquid Glucosamine for Joint Pain

The explosion of sports activities in the United States continues. Athletes at the high school, collegiate, professional, or weekend warrior level are put at risk for joint injury. Recovery in our youth is fast, and returning to our favorite sport usually requires a little rest and a few weeks to recover. The problem is these injuries can have lifelong effects, many of which lead to osteoarthritis to the damaged joint.

As cartilage ages or injured, its' ability to act as a cushion and lubricant to our joint is compromised. The cartilage can no longer protect the joint properly. Knees especially take a pounding and eventually, enough cartilage wears away causing bone on bone contact and the onset of osteoarthritis joint pain.

Today, more and more athletes are adding glucosamine with chondroitin to their daily intake of vitamins and other health supplements. Serious athletes at a more competitive level, put in long hours of joint pounding practice, and use a glucosamine chondroitin combination to give their joints the nutrition they need to help prevent deterioration of healthy cartilage. Healthy, pain free joints let them train longer.

All of us have seen retired football players (Mike Ditka) from the NFL limping around. The physical punishment their bodies have endured is beyond comprehension. But these same types of injuries can occur in anyone, and damaged joint cartilage is a recipe for arthritis. Cartilage breaking down is a natural occurrence, whether from aging or genetics. Injury to a knee, ankle, or shoulder joint can damage the soft tissue know as cartilage and speed up the process of osteoarthritis.

Recommendations are for athletes to take 1500 milligrams of glucosamine with chondroitin daily. Both substances are naturally occurring in our bodies, but sometimes our body can stop producing the necessary levels need to maintain healthy cartilage. Studies have shown that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin act as an anti-inflammatory, while supplying nutrients necessary for cartilage regeneration. While there are drugs available that do the same thing, they are anything but natural. Common prescriptions for inflamed joints are NSAIDs. (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) NSAID's like Celebrex, come with a long list of potential side effects. One NSAID was recently pulled from the market due to the devastating effects it was having on some consumers.

Recent studies have shown that glucosamine has the same effects on reducing moderate to severe joint pain as Celecoxib (Celebrex). That's quite a statement. Glucosamine chondroitin products have virtually no side effects. They contain no pain medication or ant-inflammatory drugs, only naturally occurring substances. Synflex 1500 Liquid Glucosamine contains these essential ingredients, but continues the formula with several anti-inflammation supplements including White Willow Bark that has been used since the 5th century BC, when Hippocrates noted and recommended its use for pain and inflammation.

Many athletes have begun using Synflex 1500 to improve their joint health. In fact, Olympic Biathlete Tim Burke found that at the age of 20 he was suffering from the onset of arthritis and needed to find pain relief continue with his training. Trying many different brands of glucosamine, Tim found that Synflex controlled his arthritis pain enabling him to continue with his training and competitions.

Whether competitive in sports or enjoying retired life, if arthritis joint pain has you sidelined, Synflex 1500 Liquid Glucosamine can get you back in the game and control the joint pain you've been enduring.

Basic Types of Arthritis

Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation". The word comes from the Greek words arthro meaning "joint" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, from the small joints of the fingers to the major joints, such as the hips or knees. The two main types of arthritis are degenerative, meaning it is caused by excessive use of the joint, or autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks the joints, believing them to be disease-causing cells. There are other types, including some caused by an infection of the joint or by the body depositing different substances in the joint, which can cause inflammation. The inflammation, regardless of its cause, can lead to swelling, pain and stiffness. This pain and stiffness can cause movement loss and limit the normal day to day activities of an arthritis patient. However, with treatment, the pain and stiffness can be managed and most daily activities can be accomplished.

Degenerative arthritis types are caused by excessive use of the joint. This means it is more often seen in the elderly than other age groups. However, people who use a joint a lot, such as sports players or factory workers that perform repetitive movements all day may also develop any of the degenerative arthritis types. The degeneration is caused when the tissues surrounding the joint become worn and unable to work properly. The degeneration can be treated with glucocorticoid injections and the pain can be managed with over the counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Autoimmune arthritis types occur when a person's immune system attacks their joints. The most common types of autoimmune arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The treatment for these diseases is similar; both rely heavily on controlling the inflammation and preventing joint damage. This can be accomplished using either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs are thought to improve rheumatoid arthritis by interrupting the cycle of inflammation and joint damage. Once the inflammation is under control, many people find that their pain decreases to a manageable level. This is done with over the counter pain medications.

Some arthritis, such as septic arthritis, is caused by a joint infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics to get rid of the infection and mild painkillers to manage the pain until the infection and resulting inflammation, has cleared up. Patients usually recover fully from septic arthritis, although many may develop a form of degenerative arthritis later in life. Another type of arthritis is caused by deposits of certain molecules in the joints. This is either gout or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease, CPPD. Gout is caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint. With CPPD, the body deposits calcium pyrophosphate crystals in the joint. Treatment is usually aimed at preventing any more crystal formation and controlling symptoms of deposited crystals. For a single joint this is accomplished by draining the fluid off the joint and injecting corticosteroid, while taking NSAIDs to control the pain. When multiple joints are affected, corticosteroid injection is impractical so an oral course of corticosteroidal treatment is followed. Gout can also be controlled through dietary changes.

Arthritis and Colloidal Gold

Arthritis is characterized by joint's stiffness and swelling combined with joint inflammation. Various forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, temporomandibular joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing spondolysis. Almost all forms of arthritis are chronic in nature. Though sings and symptoms produced by some forms of arthritis are mild in nature, arthritis could lead to gradual damage of joints. One may experience uncommon conditions such as redness, warmth and swollen joints as effects of certain forms of arthritis.

Stiffness of joints, swelling of joints and persistent joint pain are main common symptoms of the arthritis. Some people may experience difficulty in joint movements, tenderness and pain and redness and warmth surrounding joints.

Different forms and varying symptoms makes it difficult to treat or cure the arthritis. Certain pain relieving medications and steroid injections are used commonly for treatment of arthritis. Arthritis treatment is aimed and reducing pain and inflammation of the joints. Usually physicians prescribe combination of NSAIDs and DMARDs. Generally, arthritis condition subsides with medication. However, certain severe cares may require surgeries such as joint replacements.

Though the traditional medications used for arthritis treatment have produced positive results, it may not be possible for every person to tolerate with such medications as these medications can produce certain adverse side effects. To overcome this possibility researches are going on for natural remedies and alternative therapies.

Weak body immune system, lack of nutritious diet (minerals, vitamins etc) is considered as the main factor which can contribute towards occurrence of health abnormalities. To avoid such health disorders we must ensure adequate quantity of vitamins and minerals in our daily diet. Liquid supplements such as colloidal gold have the properties to enhance the body immune system and regulating hormonal balances. Most importantly, colloidal gold being obtained from pure natural element (gold) does not produce any side effects. Though gold was known since ancient times, it was considered only as precious metal. The medicinal properties of the gold came to light only during last century. Researches have shown that colloidal gold has the property to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that could develop diseases. Colloidal gold and other dietary supplements are not medications but surely can be used as complementary therapy for preventing or treating various diseases including arthritis.

Arthritis Joint Pain

Today Arthritis has trapped half of the world, which literally means joint inflammation. Arthritis is not a single kind of disease - people from all over the world suffer from several kinds of Arthritis.

Different Arthritis

Worldwide, Arthritis is classified under 8 categories as:

1) Osteo Arthritis:Osteoarthritis is most frequently seen after the age of 45 and is also more common in women. Osteo arthritis mostly affects knees, hips, spine and feet.

2) Rheumatoid Arthritis:RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) typically affects the small joints, such as the hands, wrists, elbows and feet. Occasionally, RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) can cause inflammation in other body organs such as the heart and lungs.

3) Gout: Gout is a painful type of very painful, which can attacks both large and small joints, though it only attacks one joint at a time. This disease begins with pain in the big toe.

4) Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that can cause severe pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons but not in the joints such as neck, hip, shoulders etc.

5) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus it is a connective tissue disease, which affects through out the body. Lupus generally affects skins and heart.

6) Carpal tunnel syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain in tingling and weakens our fingers and thumbs.

7) Juvenile arthritis: This is a common type of arthritis observes in children which affects our hands, feet, knees or ankles and other internal organs, causing rashes and fever.

8) Back pain: It is very common and a major cause of disability and people having days off work.

Causes and symptoms:

Arthritis may cause severe pain, stiffness and swelling at joints parts. Some of its common symptoms are,

1) Swelling in joints
2) Difficulty in moving joints
3) Joints appear red
4) Stiffness around joints

It generally affects toes, knees and wrists. If left untreated can cause non-curable damage to joints, bones, and skins. Though there are 8 kinds of Arthritis but Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout are the most observed. Approximately more than 350 million people suffer from this disease. The sufferers include men, women, children and adults out of which most are under 65.

Scientists believe that including lifestyle and heredity several other factors are major cause of Arthritis such as,

1) One suffers from Arthritis when his/her family member has same disease (i.e. this disease is transferred through genes)
2) Females are more vulnerable to this disease than men.
3) People having more weight or fat persons are more vulnerable to this kind of disease.
4) And sometimes in our day-to-day life heavy weight lifting leads to joint pain.

Control Arthritis

1) Don't opt for painkillers
2) Keeping your weight balanced is a key to control joint pain
3) Fight Arthritis by regular exercise

Cure Arthritis and joint pain (e.g. Synotrex)

The most popular treatment for Arthritis is Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra. Unfortunately these have lots of side effects as they increase risk of stroke and heart attack. So people are seeking safer, natural alternatives such as glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric, SAMe, MSM and fish oil to treat their painful symptoms.

Flexarite For Joint Pain Relief

Flexarite clears up your joint pains in 7 days. It is the only "all-in-one" joint pain relief that targets the source and not just to give you a temporary relief. Flexarite works with the intention of hitting the inflammation itself then heal it and protect it as well. Flexarite is made with premium natural ingredients making it the safest choice.

If you're one of the many who are suffering from any of the following health problems, Osteo Arthritis, Joint Pains, Joint Discomfort or Body Stiffness then Flexarite is the solution to your troubles.

Inflammation is the source of joint pains while the unhealthy diet most people have and the inactive lifestyle they're accustomed with is the culprit of inflammation. People are becoming so unhealthy that more and more people from all ages are suffering from joint pains. If you think that you're suffering from frequent joint pains, regardless of age, then better find a solution to solve it, like Flexarite.

The first thing that Flexarite do is rebuilt the joint function by accelerating the growth of the joint tissues. Flexarite then holds back the factors that cause inflammation which in turn provides instant relief to your joint pains. Flexarite will then improve your body's flexibility. Flexarite has a very powerful enzyme antioxidant that absorbs 1 million free radicals in your body providing support against further oxidative damages. Flexarite increases the body's antioxidant defense as well by arranging joint tissue blocks to protect the joints.

As I have said earlier, Flexarite is made up of the finest ingredients. These ingredients make Flexarite greatly effective in getting rid of joint pains and provide joint protection as well.

I am surprised as to how many premium ingredients Flexarite has, it's simply amazing. These are all natural making Flexarite the safest choice in joint paint relief.

Flexarite Ingredients

Acai Berry Extract
Acai Berry is widely known as a "SuperFood" because of the numerous health benefits it provides. It has a vast range of nutrients including but not limited to fatty acids, amino acids and antioxidants that supplements in joint pain relief. Flexarite has Acai Berry so aside from the ones mentioned above you'll also get the additional health benefits of Acai Berry in your Flexarite intake.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is popular because it is known to provide amazing anti-aging effects when taken. Second to Acai Berry, Resveratrol has a lot of disease-fighting capabilities and is also recognized to provide additional years to your age. Aside from the joint assistance it provides, Resveratrol can also be credited with additional health benefits.

Chondroitin
Chondroitin helps by preventing destructive enzymes from attacking on critical joint components of our body. When Chondroitin was given to a group of patients, results concluded that Chondroitin helps greatly in reducing the joint pain and increase the joint functional properties.

Bromelain
Flexarite has Bromelain, a natural product basically used by patients with arthritis. Bromelain is effective in lessening inflammation and swelling. The anti-inflammatory properties of Bromelain are being carried to Flexarite hence having the best ability to eliminate joint pains.

Glucosamine
Glucosamine is important ingredient in making the body produce more joint lubricants to maintain proper joint function. Joint lubrication is one vital factor in determining the body's mobility. Not only that, Glucosamine also acts as the body's joint protective agent.

5 Ways to Manage TMJ Pain With Therapy

Do you have a TMJ disorder? You don't have to suffer in silence from TMJ pain. There are many medical and therapeutic solutions to treat your TMJ disorder. Your doctor will most probably prescribe you medicine to ease the pain or suggest surgery for severe TMJ cases.

There are alternatives available other than pain relievers and surgery. New breakthroughs in TMJ pain research have shown that TMJ therapy can offer pain relief and may even lessen the pain to the point that surgery will no longer be necessary.

It's important that you see a specialist who can lay out several treatment options for you. If you decide that TMJ therapy is the way to go, get your doctor's advice on how to go about it. Your doctor will suggest changes to your diet and exercise, which will tremendously help manage TMJ pain.

Here are some forms of TMJ therapy that you doctor may suggest:

繚 Stress management- One of the factors that contribute to TMJ pain is stress. When we are stressed out, we tend to clench our jaw muscles, grind our teeth at night, and tighten our facial and jaw muscles, which put an impact on our TMJ joints. As part of your TMJ therapy, consider signing up for yoga classes. The breathing techniques that yoga teaches can help you cope with stress in ways that will not lead to TMJ pain.

繚 Stretching- Your dentist or a physical therapist can prepare some stretching exercises for you to help relax, repair, and rebuild the muscles and joints in the jaw.

繚 Soft Diet- The TMJ or temporomandibular joint is one of the more overused muscles because we use them frequently, and especially when we chew and talk. Your doctor will suggest a soft diet and advise you against chewing gum. By doing these, you rest your muscles, thus minimizing their wear and tear and allowing them to heal themselves. Your meals will typically include cooked vegetables and fruit, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, scrambled egg, smoothies, soup, and yogurt. If you must eat food that needs to be chewed, make sure you cut it in smaller pieces and try to chew gently.

繚 Dietary Changes- Your doctor may also advise you to avoid food that may aggravate your TMJ pain. Some no-nos are food that is rich in sugar, yeast, and preservatives, as well as those with a lot of vitamin C and iron. Your doctor will also encourage you to cut back on salicylates (jams, jellies, and juices are rich in salicylates), wheat, and dairy, and advise you to eat more red and organ meat, moderate amounts of saturated fat, and broth from animal bones and tendons, which contain hyaluronic acid, which is great for joint health.

繚 Posture improvements- If your work involves sitting in front of a computer all day, try to be mindful of your posture. Make it a point not to be in the same position for a long time. Rest your hands and arms to relieve your stressed muscles.

Take charge of your TMJ pain and continue to find ways to manage it. You'll find that medication plus TMJ therapy can help tremendously in alleviating your pain.

Understanding Tinnitus - Stop the Ringing Noise in Your Ears

What Is Tinnitus?

To understand how best to treat the ringing in your ears you first need to know what it actually is and the reasons it may occur.

The ringing is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.

The sound can take the form of ringing, hissing, popping or one of many other manifestations and can appear in one or both ears, the sensation experienced may be constant or of varied duration and can vary in intensity from person to person.

There are two main types of tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

1. Objective tinnitus (sometimes known as pulsatile)

2. Subjective tinnitus

The former is caused by a physical stimulus that can often be heard by an examining physician, it may be the result of muscle spasms near the ear or from disorders of the tempero-mandibular joint (TMJ dysfunction syndrome). Pulsatile tinnitus occurs when there is increased blood flow or turbulent flow to the area. The sufferer often hears a sound that beats in time to the pulse. These symptoms can be the sign of hypertension (high blood pressure). Quite often these sounds can be treated with surgery or medication.

Subjective tinnitus is only experienced by the sufferer and is usually caused by damage to the auditory nerve or the delicate mechanisms of the cochlea. This is the same process that causes hearing loss. The two main causes of subjective tinnitus are age dependent and noise induced hearing problems

Causes of Tinnitus

There are many and varied causes of ringing in ears, here are some of the more common ones:

• Presbycusis- this is age related hearing loss and it is thought that the sounds are caused by degeneration of the auditory mechanism


• Loud noise trauma- This condition can be correlated to industrial noise, firing guns with no protection, or most commonly amongst younger people, exposure to loud music from concerts or from earphones.


• Wax impacted against the eardrum


• Infections of both inner and outer ear


• Perforation of the eardrum


• TMJ Dysfunction Syndrome- can be diagnosed by your dentist


• Hypertension


• Direct trauma to the ear or whiplash


• Abrupt changes in air pressure- air travel, mountain walking, diving etc.


• Menieres disease- affecting the inner ear causing listening and balance problems


• Medication- aspirin, non steroidal anti imflammatories and antibiotics are the most common medications that can cause tinnitus

Prevention of Tinnitus

Prevention is always better than cure and following simple guidelines can prevent the onset of what can be to some a tremendously debilitating condition that affects their whole quality of life.

Always protect yourself from loud noises, use protective earwear that should be provided if your work environment is noisy, use earplugs if defenders are not practical.

It may appear uncool but also use plugs at concerts and turn down the volume a lot on your ipod when listening on headphones.

If you are taking continual medication and experience tinnitus then go back to your doctor immediately and any damage will be minimal and reversible.

Its not too difficult and if you follow these few rules then you can help to dramatically reduce the chances of developing permanent damage.

The proven treatments or cures for the tinnitus you may be experiencing are many and varied, treatment of tense muscles of the head and neck, treatment of depression, avoid excessive medication etc. The list is long and the success of one method or another to stop hearing ringing in the ears is dependent on the individual person.

Get Rid Of Joint Pain? Get 'MORE'

It is that simple. No beating around the bushes! In order to stay fit and steer clear of the possibility of joint pain you should adopt the easy to understand "MORE" concept. Every one of us wants more on everything that are deemed to be good. While this may be subjective as to what is good to oneself, we want more on everything generally. "MORE" basically refers to Massage Or Regular Exercise. You may ask the simple question why it has got to be massage or regular exercise.

The answer is a simple one too. Regular exercises help to build up and strengthen our muscle mass and skeletal bone density. Apart from maintaining a well balanced physiological system, regular exercises keep our psychological state of mind fit and healthy too.

Regular exercises bring about several benefits. It helps to increase and improve blood circulation in the body. This has the benefit of maintaining normal blood flow throughout the body. It flushes out the metabolites from the body as well. It works as a natural detoxification process to get rid of the wastes from the body.

Exercises enable us to strengthen our muscles as well as bone density. It should also improve the general mobility and cardiovascular fitness. Apart from maintaining a general level of fitness, exercises help in weight control too. We are able to achieve a general health status as well as psychological perception of a better state of being.

Well, we may be aware of the many benefits from regular exercises. On the other hand, how does this regular exercises apply to a joint pain patient who could not afford to exercise due to the pre-existing conditions or pain experienced in the joints during exercise? Certain chronic joint pain patients may not have the luxury to ponder over the lesser strenuous exercises such as swimming, cycling, yoga or tai-chi. The level of pain experienced by these chronic patients is as good as immobilized their daily activities.

Therefore massage or remedial massage therapy comes in handy. Massage has various health benefits that work in achieving certain purposes similar to exercises. First, it has the effect of improving blood circulation similar to that of exercising. The rubbing and kneading of the muscles improve blood flow as the blood vessels dilate. Massage is able to speed up the body's repair mechanism without the patients enduring the pain that could possibly experience in physical exercises.

Similarly, it has the effect of relaxing the muscles and improves mobility. This has the benefit of achieving a state of relaxation as well. Massage similarly to exercises, is able to bring about a state of physiological and psychological well-being to the chronic patients.

You can have the best of both worlds incorporating massage into regular exercises. Many professional sportsmen and sportswomen find the benefits of massage can aid in the well-being as well as in their game performances. Simple but it is sheer hard work and determination if you want to get rid of joint pain.

Relief From Joint Pain Starts With Stress Elimination

Being able to manage everyday stress can assist in successfully handling joint pain. Getting stressed out happens when the demands of family, career, and daily life build upon you. Stresses like these can result in physical pain in addition to emotional pain.Often joint pain and stress are intimately connected. Stress can influence joint pain and vice versa; this can launch a vicious cycle which precedes chronic stress and chronic pain. Hence, part of attaining relief from pain is to understand how to more effectively cope with stress.

Many studies maintain that what is happening in the brain when we feel anxiety, depression, and stress can augment pain. Conversely, the more pain you have the more stress you may have. Stress and pain make each other worse, so a decrease in pain will also likely decrease anxiety and stress.

Awareness of the Stress-Pain Relationship

The brain in an effort to keep us functioning through pain, attempts to keep a balance when receiving pain signals by reducing them. Chronic stress however can have a negative effect on this balance.
The brain is continuously trying to minimize pain signals. Plainly put, stress hinders your brains capacity to filter pain signals which means more pain.Begin With Stress Relief.

One point is certain: for numerous people, stress relief, whether it means avoiding eluding stress or understanding how to manage it, can initiate pain relief. People should handle their stress to live in the best mental condition and reap the advantages of other treatments.

Tips to try:

• Get moving. Staying energetic can lead to lower levels of stress. It can be as simple as taking a walk around the block, going to the gym, or half an hour on a stationary bike, but it must be made a priority. If you are concerned about your pain being negatively affected by exercise check with a doctor before any such activity.

• Get more relaxing sleep. Good sleep can aid you in your stress management. You can better deal with the commotion of the day when you get recuperative sleep. So improve the quality and the quantity of your sleep.

• Arrive at a balance. There is not enough spare time in our frequently overbooked lives. Take a moment to scrutinize your daily practice and adjust it to allow for more de-stress time. Think of things you like to do to relax and allow them more space in your daily schedule.

• Take five. Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and guided imagery are a few relaxation methods which basically make you unwind and reduce your stress levels. After you have learned these exercises you can perform them by yourself anytime you want.

• Look for encouragement. Whether it's a pain psychologist or psychiatrist, or a social worker who specializes in pain, a mental health professional can help you cope with stress and help grant you relief from pain.

Chronic pain can certainly alter your quality of life, but understanding how to manage stress can help you deal with the pain and decrease its detrimental effects.

Doctor - I Have Symptoms of Pain and Swelling in My Hands and Feet - What Could It Be?

While there are multiple causes of swelling and pain in the hands and feet, arthritis is probably the most common cause.

The term "arthritis" is derived from the Greek and means "joint inflammation". It refers to more than 100 different diseases that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Joints are where the ends of long bones connect and interact. The end of each bone inside a joint has a thin layer of cartilage and is held in place by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A joint is lined with synovial tissue (synovium) that helps to nourish the joint. It is the synovium that often becomes inflamed in arthritis.

Arthritis may also affect other supporting structures around joints such as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Some serious forms of arthritis can affect internal organs.

The common symptoms of arthritis are due to inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, pain):

o Swelling in one or more joints

o Stiffness in the joints in the morning or with prolonged inactivity

o Joint pain or tenderness

o Restricted mobility in the joints

o Warmth or redness

Diagnosing arthritis can be difficult because some symptoms are often common to many different diseases. A rheumatologist will first do a complete physical exam, looking for clues. The eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body will be examined along with the joints. Lab tests and imaging procedures such as x-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be ordered.

The most common forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. This is the most common type of arthritis. When it affects the hands, it can cause painful swelling in the last row (Heberden's nodes) and middle row (Bouchards nodes) of finger joints. In the feet it will affect the toe joints as well as the mid-foot. This disease affects cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of bones in a joint. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage starts to wear away prematurely. The swelling of the fingers and toes may lead to bony deformity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease; the body's immune system (defense mechanism against infection) attacks normal tissues. This autoimmune reaction causes inflammation of the synovium. RA symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, rapid loss of joint function, and crippling. When severe, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect internal organs. This is the type of arthritis that most commonly causes severe inflammation in the hands and feet.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be symmetric- one side of the bodt being affected just like the other.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by generalized aches and pains. The pain is accompanied by stiffness that is worst in the morning but tends to last all day long. Patients may have localized tender points occurring in the muscles and tendons, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. These tender points are called trigger points. Fatigue and sleep disturbances may also occur. There is subjective swelling along with pain in the hands and feet.

Gout and pseudogout are inflammatory forms of arthritis due to deposits of crystals in joints and other body tissues. Uric acid is the culprit in gout and calcium pyrophosphate is the villain in pseudogout. Both diseases cause painful attacks of arthritis affecting the hands and feet.

Infectious arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by either bacteria or viruses. A relatively common form of infectious arthritis is Lyme disease. Infectious forms of arthritis can cause swelling and pain in the hands and feet. A diagnosis is often difficult to establish. Antibiotics will often be used to treat bacterial infectious arthritis.

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune arthritis that develops after a person has an infection in the urinary tract or intestine. This problem is often referred to as Reiter's disease. People who have this disease often have eye inflammation (iritis), rashes, and mouth sores. Inflammatory arthritis involving the hands and feet leading to a toe or finger that looks like a sausage (dactylitis) is common.

Psoriatic arthritis. Some people who have psoriasis also have arthritis. This disease often affects the hands and feet. It is usually asymmetric. It also causes deformity of the fingernails and toenails (onycholysis) that is often misdiagnosed as a fungal problem. Sometimes the spine- neck and low back-can be affected. As with Reiter's disease, dactylitis often occurs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is another autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect many organ systems including the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, heart, and brain. This is a cause of swelling and pain involving the hands and feet.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting children. It leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. A patient can also have rashes and fevers with this disease. Hands, wrists, ankles, and feet are often affected.

Polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms include pain, aching, and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hips, thighs, and neck. It is sometimes the first sign of giant cell arteritis, an inflammatory disease of the arteries characterized by headaches, scalp tenderness, weakness, weight loss, and fever. The hands and feet may be affected although less often than other joints. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate), a blood test that measures inflammation, is often greatly elevated.

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae- the small, fluid-filled sacs that help cushion joints. The inflammation may accompany arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of the bursae. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of joints.

Tendinitis is inflammation of tendons (the fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones) caused by overuse, injury, or arthritis. Tendinitis produces pain and tenderness and may restrict movement of joints.

Not all conditions that cause symptoms of pain and swelling in the hands and feet are due to arthritis. Here are some non-arthritis causes...

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disorder that is due to excessive production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Some patients with PV will not have any symptoms at all, but many will experience easy bruising or bleeding with minimal trauma. Also, the blood may become thick, causing it to clot in tiny blood vessels. If clotting does occur in the small blood vessels of the fingers and toes, a patient may experience numbness or burning. Swelling and pain in the hands and feet may also occur.

Some medical conditions cause edema...swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, face, abdomen, or other areas of the body. Swelling is most often seen in the hands, in the feet, or around the eyes. The swelling often causes pain.

Edema is due to excessive fluid accumulation. It can be caused by abnormal kidney function, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, varicose veins, phlebitis, protein or thiamine deficiency, sodium retention, or cancer.

Other reasons for edema are pregnancy, standing for prolonged periods of time, premenstrual syndrome, oral contraceptives, an injury (sprain), hypothyroidism (low thyroid), anemia, adrenal disease, deficiencies of potassium and B vitamins, or allergic reactions.

The cause of the edema needs to be determined. Diagnoses such as congestive heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease should be ruled out.

Insect stings can lead to swelling and pain in the hands and feet. The same type of reaction may occur with medications, such as penicillin or sulfa. This is referred to as serum sickness.

Acromegaly is a disease where a tumor in the pituitary gland causes an overproduction of growth hormone. This leads to swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Frostbite is another cause of swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Blood clots in the veins are another cause of swelling and pain in the limbs. This rarely affects the upper extremities (arms). If it does, diseases associated with clotting abnormalities should be suspected.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (causalgia) is an unusual disorder that leads to swelling and pain in an affected limb. Generally it occurs in an arm or a leg, rarely both at the same time. The preceding event is usually some type of trauma.

Natural Pain Relief in Pregnancy

Are you suffering from aches and pains in pregnancy? Are you experiencing back aches, hip pain, rib pain, headaches, migraines or heartburn?Unfortunately, these complaints are all too common during pregnancy. Some women are lucky enough to get away with morning sickness in the first trimester but the majority of us will experience aches and pains well into the 3rd trimester. Are you searching for some natural pain relief? The good news is it does exist. Here are a couple of methods of natural pain relief in pregnancy.

1. Heat packs-If you are experiencing back aches and neck aches try getting a heat pack to warm up the area and increase blood circulation.

2. Cold packs-Only used cold packs if the area is inflamed or swollen. Cold packs restrict blood flow and will bring down swelling but will not help in pain relief.

3. Warm baths-Warm baths are recommended to take the weight of your body as well as to provide a degree of pain relief.

4. Stretching exercises-If you suffer from sciatica, stretching exercises such as the piriformis stretch can help release compression on your sciatic nerve.

5. Massage-Massage during pregnancy has been shown to provide a degree of pain relief by relaxing the muscles in the body. If you are concerned about your babies safety, try less active forms of therapy such as Reiki.

6. Acupuncture-This form of therapy is effective at alleviating some common pregnancy ailments such as morning sickness and heartburn. However, many mothers are not keen on the use of needles.

7. Herbal remedies-A number of herbal remedies such as nettle and raspberry leaves are said to help in the treatment of nausea and heartburn as well as to ease the labor process.

8. Bowen Technique-This therapy is an extremely gentle and safe therapy that is used to rebalance your body and provide effective pain relief. Not only does this technique relieve back, neck and hip pain, it also re balances your nervous system and hence corrects any hormonal imbalances that may be causing acne and depression. Heartburn, breast tenderness, headaches and labor pain can also be relieved using this safe and simple technique.

The Bowen Technique is extremely safe and gentle and is used on newborn babies to treat colic, breathing problems and constipation. It is also used on the very ill to re balance the body and create harmony within.

When used by pregnant mothers, this technique provides immediate pain relief and instant relaxation. Many mothers report a feeling of floating on a cloud. Your baby will also feel the effects of the treatment and respond. During treatments, mothers feel their babies becoming more active in their tummies and very calm when they are born.

If you are looking for a source of natural pain relief in pregnancy, look no further!

The Bowen Technique is unique in its gentleness and effectiveness and can be used throughout motherhood to ease your aches and pains the natural way!

What Causes a Sore Jaw When You Wake in the Morning?

Stress can be caused by many different internal and external influences. Money, job and family are all potential areas that can cause stress in your daily life. Unfortunately, it can cause sleep issues and ongoing jaw joint pain as well. Some people wake up with headaches and jaw pain and have no real explanation.

Bruxism is a condition that involves the clenching and grinding of teeth. Just like snoring, the offending person usually is unaware, but can be very disturbing to their partner or spouse. The grinding of teeth can annoyingly loud or in some cases silent with no trace of "Bruxing". In these cases, the dentist may be the only one that can tell you are grinding your teeth which in turn causes your jaw pain.

Jaw issues from teeth grinding can occur at any age. Because of the constant pressure, this can lead to more serious issues with the jaw, mouth and teeth. If it goes unchecked, the result could lead to TMJ or Temporomandibular joint (the joint that connects your jaw to the skull) issues.

If you are suffering from constant earaches, toothaches or jaw pain, it could very well be due to teeth grinding during the night. There are mouth guards that can be worn to separate the teeth to protect them from damage.

If stress is a factor, a good diet and exercise regimen is typically where people need to start to focus. In times of deadlines and commitments, the diet and time taken to follow a basic exercise program is difficult to maintain but can be done if there is a commitment to health and wellness.

Meditation can be another option in stress relief. It is all about aligning your mind, body and soul together to become more relaxed and at peace with your surroundings. Finding a few minutes out of each day will help your mind become more at ease and stress-free. Signing up for a Yoga class is a great program to start with in learning to meditate and relax.

Each day, find a place that has minimal distractions and noise, like a separate conference room, a park or even your car may offer the desired environment to allow your senses to become less stimulated. Allow 5-10 minutes for each session. As you progress, the cycles may last a bit longer, but you will find that the more your sessions develop, the more refreshed and focused you will become.

In summary, jaw joint pain can be more serious if you do not pay attention to the signs and deal with the underlying stress issues. If you believe you grind your teeth, your dentist can provide more insight and recommend a course of treatment.

Arthritis in Dogs - When Your Four-Legged Friend Has Arthritis

Are you a dog owner? If you are, then you should pay close attention to the way your pet is acting. If you notice any signs of illness, then you should give them special attention. A dog who has arthritis will have a hard time when it comes to getting around. The pet may have a stiff and hobbling gait. They may no longer be interested in playing fetch, playing with their toys, walking with you or taking part in any other activities that involve moving around. Dogs who have arthritis prefer spending most of their time sleeping. Arthritis in dogs is not rare at all and that is why it is important to monitor your dogs habits at all times.

What are some causes of arthritis? This is a debilitating disease that not only causes stiffness, but it also causes pain in the joints. You see, dog joints are a lot like human joints as they are susceptible to many of the disorders. These disorders include degenerative disorders, immune disorders, hip dysplasia and even development disorders. Once the join has become affected, it can turn into arthritis. Basically, arthritis is inflammation in the joints. Arthritis can range anywhere from a mild case to a severe case.

There are two common types of arthritis. The first one is osteoarthritis, but some call it Degenerative Joint Disease. This type is caused by the wear and tear of the dogs joint and is mostly due to age. The second type is called Inflammatory Joint Disease. This is the result of conditions such as trauma, disease and infections in the joint.

Which dogs are at risk of getting arthritis? Large breeds or overweight dogs are more susceptible to getting this problem. Also, dogs that have suffered injury to the joints can get the disease and may need glucosamine for dogs.

Dogs that are overweight, certain breeds and large dogs are usually susceptible to acquiring arthritis. Dogs that have suffered injury to their joints can also develop osteoarthritis. There are also risk factors associated with certain breeds of dogs, especially dogs that hereditary disorders like dysplasia. Speak with your veterinarian if your dog has been showing signs of arthritis.

Popular Treatment Methods For Trochanteric Bursitis

As we age, the natural lubricants in our bodies that surround the joints tend to break down, and the sensitive areas can become inflamed and painful. One of the most common examples of this aging related medical condition is known as Trochanteric bursitis and it directly affects the hip joint. Limited movement is only one of the symptoms of this incapacitating condition, one that is also thankfully treatable.

Symptoms

Trochanteric bursitis will usually begin with feelings of tenderness and pain on the outside of the hip joint, and the skin may feel a bit warm to the touch. Over time, the pain increases to the point of occurring every time that joint is moved, through walking, standing or even sitting for lengths of time. The pain will range from mild discomfort to jarring jolts of chronic pain that seem to have no relief, not even when lying down. Any pressure on the affected hip will cause pain, especially when lying on your side.

Causes

The cause of this condition can be from a wide variety of reasons. Blows to that particular hip bone could begin the problem, but more often than not the true cause lies in simple aging. As we age, our bodies begin to lose its natural lubricants that are stored in tiny sacs surrounding each joint, called bursa. As the bursa begins to weaken, they can become irritated by the movement of the joint they surround, and become swollen. Once they swell, the movement of the joint puts additional pressure on them, causing sometimes excruciating pain.

The most common complaint of patients of a certain age is pain in the hip, most often caused by this form of bursitis. Left untreated, it can quickly become debilitating, every step causing chronic pain, and limiting the range of movement, day by day. The only effective course of treatment will include methods to alleviate the pain, and reduce the inflammation of the bursa surrounding the outside of the hip. Seeing your doctor is the first step to take.

Diagnosis and treatment

Once the doctor has run the necessary tests and taken x-rays to determine whether the cause of the pain is actually this form of bursitis and not something similar like tendonitis, the next step is usually prescribing anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce the inflammation of the bursa. After that, patients with this condition are then sent to physical therapy sessions, where they will be taught various exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint, reducing the pressure on the bursa, as well as regaining some flexibility and movement. Surgery is usually only considered after all else has failed.

Typical Exercises

The typical exercises done through physical therapy to combat this condition will concentrate on the four muscle groups that surround the hip bone. These are the gluteal muscles, the illiotibial band that connects the hip joint, the hip flexor muscles, and the hamstring. Stretches designed to rebuild strength, and add flexibility to these areas will be the main focus of any exercises undergone during this phase of treatment.

The first such exercise is for the gluteal area, and is called the gluteal stretch. Lying on the back, the knee that aligns with the injured hip is slowly pulled back towards the opposite shoulder, slowly stretching that muscle. Next, a stretching exercise designed for the illiotibial band is performed standing up. This muscle runs from the side of the knee to the hip, so by extending the leg and crossing it gently to the opposite side, this band will become more flexible over time, and place less pressure on the inflamed hip joint.

Simple forward and backward movements of the legs and knees, like those in gentle lunges will help to stretch both the hamstring, and the hip flexor muscles. All exercises to combat the effects of Trochanteric bursitis should be done safely, under the supervision of a physical therapist and if any pain is felt, stop them immediately, or risk worsening your condition.