How to Find a TMJ Specialist

Are you one of the approximately 10 million Americans with TMJ? Do you need to see a TMJ specialist? If you don't know, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you feel pain in your upper and/or lower jaw?
2. Do you get headaches frequently and often accompanied by facial pain?
3. Do you have ringing in your ears?
4. Do you hear a clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you may well have a problem.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and it's a condition where the hinge joint that connects your skull with your jaw becomes irritated, painful, dislodged, or locked. These symptoms are typical of TMJ dysfunction, and if you suspect you may be suffering from this disorder, you need to find a TMJ specialist as soon as possible to get yourself treated.

Here are some things you can do to find effective treatment:

1. Keep a record of all your symptoms and issues so that you'll have information to discuss with your healthcare providers. Note when and where the pain occurs, what brings it on, and what makes it feel better. At the same time, try to learn more about the condition, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatment. The Internet is a great place to find a lot of information in articles and posts. You may even want to check message boards for other TMJ patients' comments to see what they've experienced and how your case is similar to or different from theirs.

2. Take the information you found, along with your symptom log, to your primary care doctor, who can examine you and make a preliminary diagnosis. As most primary care physicians are not TMJ specialists, your doctor will, if the situation warrants it, send you to someone who is. That someone will most likely be your dentist, and she can help directly in finding the reason behind the symptoms you're experiencing. She will give you a thorough mouth and jaw exam and review your history of symptoms. She may also use diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and CT (computerized tomography) scans to examine both the teeth and the soft tissue around them. If she determines the cause of your problems is TMJ, one of the first things she may try is to fashion an oral appliance to prevent teeth grinding and clenching. If that is not helpful, she may refer you to an orthodontist or other specialist, such as a maxillofacial surgeon to help. Sometimes it is necessary to treat a jaw imbalance through surgery, but usually this is considered only as a last resort. Make sure you understand why your dentist is referring you to someone else.

3. Now that you've seen your dentist and gotten an official diagnosis of TMJ, go get a second opinion, and a third, and maybe even a fourth. This is crucial! Not every person is the same, and not all people have the same type and severity of TMJ. You want to find a TMJ specialist who will treat YOU correctly, and you can only do this by asking others their opinion of what you have learned. And if you feel uneasy about a treatment option she offers, be sure to ask why she's recommending it for you; don't blindly accept a treatment without understanding all the implications of what that treatment means.

4. Once you and your specialist have settled on a potential treatment, pause for a moment and ask your health insurance company if they will cover it. Not all insurance companies cover TMJ treatment, so it's always a good idea to check ahead. If they will not cover it, find out how much the treatment would cost you, and decide if that is an acceptable amount. Don't let yourself get pressured into an untenable situation just because the specialist wants to do it.

5. It's also important, as you go through the process of dealing with your TMJ issues, to find support. It's always much better to have someone who knows what you're going through; that way you can talk over all the points and compare notes on opinions and procedures. There are TMJ support groups around, and you should consider reaching out to one. Not only will you make new friends and maybe get a lead on a good doctor, but you'll also get good advice and suggestions on how other patients with TMJ are coping.

The burden falls on you to decide which, if any of the proffered options, is right for treating your TMJ. Be proactive. Seek out a TMJ specialist that has your best interest in mind, as well as the best program possible. It is your body, after all. Take good care of it.

Four Natural Supplements That Will Ease Back and Joint Pain

If you suffer from back or joint pain, taking supplements may be preferable to drugs. Supplements that are naturally found in the body are less likely to have side effects like brain fog or sleepiness. They're also easier on your kidneys which have to process those drugs. Generally natural supplements are less expensive than drugs and, of course, available without a doctor's prescription.

There are several natural substances you can use to ease back and joint pain:

Magnesium

If you want relatively quick relief to muscle and joint pain, magnesium is the first supplement to try. Magnesium is necessary for numerous body functions. It is used to maintain normal muscle and nerve function, regulate heart rhythm, and support the immune system. Magnesium also regulates blood sugar levels and blood pressure. For many people, a normal diet may not be enough for optimum magnesium levels so it's wise to take a supplement. Also, medications such as diuretics and antibiotics may result in magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is used in analgesics before surgery to help the patient's muscles relax. Take it right before going to bed, and it will help you have a good night's sleep. In the morning you'll awake with relaxed muscles. The only negative to magnesium is diarrhea can occur if you take more than the recommended dosage. This is a temporary effect, however, and will cease when you reduce the dosage. Magnesium is available in tablets, liquid, or powder. It is basically tasteless, so if you're averse to pills, the liquid or power can be mixed into smoothies or tea.

Glucosamine Chondroitin

Like magnesium, glucosamine is found naturally in healthy cartilage. Early medical trials show it may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis, especially in the knee. It also shows promise for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Often glucosamine is combined with chondroitin which, again, is also found in healthy cartilage. They work synergistically to rebuild cartilage. It is common to find glucosamine chondroitin combined with MSM or calcium. Taking it will not provide quick pain relief, but it will aid in rebuilding joint tissue over time. As far as side effects, there are rare reports of abdominal pain, loss of appetite or nausea.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

MSM is odorless and tasteless. It is related to DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), an alternative treatment for arthritis. Like chondroitin, it is often combined with glucosamine. MSM is naturally found in cow's milk, meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. While there is no dietary requirement for MSM, it is available in capsules, tablets, creams and lotions. Clinical trials have indicated that MSM is effective for osteoarthritis, but many people suffering from rrheumatoid arthritis have claimed it was helpful.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

Hyaluronic acid is found throughout the body as a component of connective tissue. Its main function is to cushion and lubricate. HA helps to support healthy skin, eyesight and joint function. Joints deficient of HA don't move well and become stiff. Those taking the supplement report relatively quick relief to joint pain; however, it's main benefit will be felt over time as it aids strengthening of connective and joint tissue.

TMJ Symptoms

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint in the temple area where the lower jaw pivots against the skull. TMJ syndrome (also called TMD, for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a collection of symptoms all resulting from a defect in the way the jaw joint works.

Because there are some large nerves running through the temple area, across the face and head, and down the neck to the shoulders, pain can be felt in any of these areas, all from stress in the way your jaw joint operates.

Reasons why you might develop TMJ

· A blow to the head, which knocks the joint out of position.

· An inherited flaw in the structure or positioning of the jaws.

· Many years of teeth grinding, or gum-chewing. This can generate stress in the whole joint area and can wear down the cartilage pad, which buffers the jawbones; it's supposed to protect the upper and lower jawbones from rubbing directly against each other. When it's worn, or out of position, and the bones rub on each other, pain is generated.

· Misaligned teeth, which cause the lower jaw to meet the upper jaw in a tense position. This is called dental malocclusion, or a misaligned bite.

Common symptoms

You may be suffering from TMJ if you have:

· Severe headaches

· Earaches

· Ringing in the ears

· Worn teeth

· A clicking noise when opening or closing your jaw

· The jaw getting locked or stuck

· Swelling around the jaw joint

· Tenderness or pain around the jaw joint

· Pain in your neck or shoulders

· Tingling in the fingers

· Dizziness

These symptoms can emerge in different combinations for different people. They are not all located exactly in the jaw. Why not? That's because large nerves run from the spinal column to the head area, with many branches extending into the face, neck and shoulders. When swelling and inflammation compresses any of these nerve branches, pain is felt at that location. The swelling and inflammation originates with the jaw joint and its muscles, and can spread, affecting different nerve branches in different people.

The role of neuromuscular dentistry

A neuromuscular dentist is one trained in treating not just gums and teeth, but also the jaw joint and its components: muscles, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels. Dr. Joseph Henry is a neuromuscular dentist in Los Angeles. Often, by the time people arrive at his office for help with their painful symptoms, they have visited a series of doctors in a fruitless search for pain relief.

"Too many people think their TMJ symptoms are incurable, but that's not true," says Dr. Henry. "It's possible to eliminate all TMJ symptoms with the technology now used by neuromuscular dentists. When the symptoms have a dental cause, it's a dentist who can successfully treat them and relieve the pain."

TMJ treatment

Treatment begins with neuromuscular testing. The root of the problem is misalignment in the jaw joint - a misaligned bite. So your jaw movements and positions will be tested, recorded, and measured. If the jaw is closing such that the lower teeth are colliding with parts of the upper teeth, this too will be examined. The neuromuscular dentist will focus on the relationship between jaw movement and teeth position to discover what is preventing your jaw from being relaxed.

Once the dentist finds your natural relaxed jaw position, further treatment is then planned. It will be different for each person. It might involve a special tray to be worn for a few months, to teach your jaw muscles some new movements. It might require some repositioning of teeth, or reshaping.

You don't have to live with those painful symptoms. Modern dentistry is a far cry from what our grandparents knew. Dental technology these days has made dental procedures much faster and easier, it has created more ways to treat dental problems, and made everything increasingly pain-free.

Wipe Out Chronic Joint Pain With CFA Supplements

If you'd like to wipe out chronic joint pain while promoting healthy joint functions, CFA supplement will make your life more comfortable. CFA supplements (Cetylated Fatty Acids) work with your body to lubricate your joints, eliminate pain, and increase mobility with continued use.

There are many benefits to using CFA supplements. First and foremost, clinical trials have shown no side effects in users who have used CFA supplements alone or in combination with their prescription medications. This mix of fatty acids lubricates cell membranes throughout the body, benefiting the body in several ways.

1. CFA supplements aid in rapid healing of joints and surrounding tendons. Cetylated Fatty Acids are effective in healing tender joints and muscles, but the benefits don't stop there. They are so effective that they can heal deep muscle tissue, cartilage and surrounding tendons. CFAs are a powerful healing agent for sports injuries and compromised joint function due to aging and arthritis.

2. CFA supplements are far superior to other joint health products. Joint health supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin have worked well for thousands of people, but CFA supplements are more effective. When used in conjunction with supplements like glucosamine, Cetylated Fatty Acids lubricate the joints while glucosamine rebuilds the joint structure. Many people combine them with glucosamine supplements for overall joint wellness.

3. CFAs are available in topical cream and oral supplements. Whether taken orally or rubbed into the skin, CFA supplements are effective in diminishing chronic joint pain and reducing inflammation.

4. CFAs lubricate the joints. Cetylated Fatty Acids lubricate the joints quickly, providing fast-acting relief for the pain sufferer. When used over a longer period of time, CFA supplements penetrate cell membranes, providing an overall feeling of wellness.

5. CFAs cushion the joints. Cetylated Fatty Acids lubricate the joints, providing a layer of cushion to ease the pain. Lubrication allows joints to move easier and helps the user walk up and down the stairs more easily, as well as stand from a sitting position with more freedom of movement.

6. CFAs decrease inflammation. Cetylated Fatty Acids minimize inflammation due to injuries and arthritis. When used over a period of time, CFA supplements minimize joint pain and swelling.

7. CFAs alleviate pain. CFA supplements works to maintain joint health, thereby eliminating chronic joint pain.

Cetylated Fatty Acids provide overall relief for chronic joint pain, but they aren't just for people who suffer from joint pain. People are using CFA supplements as preventative measures to ward off muscle pain after workouts. Athletes who take Cetylated Fatty Acids experience less pain after physical exertion. There is also evidence that they are effective for periodontal inflammation and pain.

CFA supplements are effective at wiping out chronic joint pain as well as other painful medical conditions. Because they're available without a prescription, they're readily available to anyone who needs a fast and effective method for reducing inflammation, eliminating pain, and helping to regain mobility.

Back Pain That Moves Around - How to Treat Traveling Arthritis

Often when you're experiencing pain in the lower center part of the back, in one hour or so it could well move up to the middle of the spine, and then on to the shoulder blades.

This is referred to as "traveling arthritis", and if you've been diagnosed with arthritis of the back and are accustomed to this pattern of pain, then it may also become predictable - in which case you can pre-empt the back pain and educate yourself on ways to treat it.

Traveling arthritis in the back may also begin in the upper legs, then into your backside, and up into the lower, middle and upper back; and not to be confused with "migrating arthritis", where you may experience chronic toothache and then find the same throbbing sensation has moved to your toe.

So, if you haven't as yet had a full diagnosis then you should obviously seek professional help.

It could be any number of ailments from tendonitis to a kidney or viral infection, in which case you are fortunate as the pain will subside at some point.

However, treating back pain whether it's for the short or long-term, is at the beginning often dealt with through the same anti-inflammatory supplements - NSAID's.

These are useful in the first few weeks but should be scaled back if you're in for the long haul as arthritis is incurable right now, and simply throwing pill after pill down your throat in the hope that you are someway treating the disease is foolish.

The back pain will continue to flare up and spread and your quality of life will slowly dissolve.

Treating Traveling Arthritis in the Back

1. FDA Registered Homeopathic Supplements

These contain 3 important active compounds, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM.

Glucosamine is produced naturally in the body but FDA pharmaceutical supplements use animal sources.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are argued to do two things, relieve the pain and potentially restore joint cartilage by preventing the Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes from breaking down this gooey lubricant, which protects the joints and adds fluidity and mobility to our limbs movements.

With regards to relieving pain and reducing inflammation of the swelling in the back, there seems no dispute among the medical fraternity in the West that these two ingredients deliver on this front.

Re-building the cartilage however - the jury is still out. Only short-term studies on their effectiveness at relieving pain have been carried out on these supplements.

There is only one long-term study which is currently being carried out by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as to whether these supplements help rebuild cartilage.

Findings are due 2013.

MSM is the third ingredient that is well known now to successfully treat osteoarthritis, chronic joint pain, inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis

2. Hot Oil Bath and Oil Massage

For back pain in general, hot oil paths and massage should provide some respite from this discomfort.

Add a combination of 10 eucalyptus drops and 10 drops of peppermint, and soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

When it comes to an oil massage, be sure to tell the masseuse of your condition. Some very gentle massaging will help alleviate the stress and tension in the spine.

3. Exercise

Always consult you chiropractor before undergoing any form of quite strenuous exercise when it comes to an injured spine.

For relieving back pain with exercise both yoga, swimming and some light weight training work wonders at restoring posture and relieving joint inflammation.

Using a Wheat Bag to Treat Arthritis Pain Through Cold and Heat Therapy

Both hot and cold remedies are recommended by doctors when treating arthritis suffering caused by swelling to help take out the stiffness and inflammation and to lessen the pain. Arthritis can be managed with the right balance between both types of therapies.

Wheat bags are the most recommended method for using heat therapy; they can be quickly warmed in a microwave and then ready to use. They can be conformed or moulded to fit the contours of the body. They may also be used for cold therapy simply by freezing them.

Heat and being warm have been linked to relaxing comfort for centuries, and heat therapy does one better by adding healing and pain relief to its benefits in the treating of joint and muscle pain. Relief is almost instantaneous by applying heat to stiff, sore and tight joints and muscles.

Both cold and heat therapies are successful in getting your own body's healing functions spurred into action. You would use heat when you need to reduce pain in your body, and to lessen the stiffness you might have in your joints. Heat is also great for muscle spasms. What happens is the heat will enlarge your blood vessels, so that more blood can flow through them, speeding up the inflammation necessary to heal. These are the after effects of how your body responds to heat therapy.

What happens when you apply heat to any part of your body is that it joins up with the energy in your body in specific, localized regions. Your metabolism gets higher within all of your various cell types. This heat applied in a local region dilates your blood vessels, which causes more blood flow to occur. Muscle spasms are dealt with my relaxing the tension in key muscle areas, and allow the tendons of the muscle to stretch properly because they are relaxed. This happens because the heat lowers the collagen viscosity in these affected muscles. Collagen is a protein, one of the most common in your body. You can find collagen in tendon and ligaments, skin, the covering of your muscles, cartilage and in your bones. By lowering the viscosity in the collagen when you apply heat to an area, the tendons and muscles soften, allowing those muscles to stretch more comfortably and smoothly. Keep the heat on long enough, and your muscles and tendons enter a very relaxed state so that you can move them better and exercise them back into shape. This is what happens also when you use a wheat bag for heat therapy to heal cramps in your muscles, and in countering the painful effects of joint stiffness. Pain is handled well because heat will slow down and reduce the severity and frequency of pain signals sent from the nerves to the brain. So your brain can easily handle the soreness.

On the other side of things, cold has its benefits as well. Setting a cold compress in an area will counter swelling that is a result of enlarged blood vessels. The cold will do the opposite of heat and constrict those vessels. Cold therapy will numb the injured region and lower the effects of swelling and inflammation. Cold therapy is really good for pain in your joints caused by a flare-up of arthritis. Muscle spasms can also benefit by having the cold increase your body's tolerance for pain.

There are some people who like cold rather than heat therapy to treat the pain of their arthritis. Others will recommend both, by alternating treatments. The best thing you can do is to try each one, and go with the type of therapy that you find the greatest relief from using.

For joint and muscle stiffness, you'll want to apply either ice or heat packs to the suffering area two times per day at a minimum, to get the greatest results of relieving your pain. Each session should last from five to ten minutes on the cold compress, but get to it within forty-eight hours of when you first feel the pain, for it to be the most effective in treating it. Heat can be applied during this 48 hour time period also, so that your muscles can be given a chance to relax. Then use heat for any pain and stiffness that goes beyond the initial 48 hours.

A microwave wheat bag is a soothing way to release stress and ease everyday aches and pains. A wheat bag be easily heated in a microwave and then applied to tired joints and aching muscles with the user enjoying the soothing warmth. Wheat bags, heat pads and wheat cushions are a convenient method of applying heat therapy which has been shown to be an effective method for reducing muscle pain and reducing muscle and joint stiffness. They may soothe frozen shoulder and neck pains, give comfort to back or stomach pains, and ease arthritic pain. Wheat bags can also be chilled in a freezer and used as a cold compress as a method of cold therapy to ease sprains, swelling, bruising, headaches and sports injuries.

Want More Natural Therapy For Your TMJ? 9 Chinese Herbs to the Rescue

Many TMJ patients will stop at nothing to find a TMJ therapy that works for them. It is only natural too since a TMJ disorder can be very painful and bothersome. A TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is tough to diagnose since so many different components are involved in the construction of the joint and it's even tougher to cure for the same reason.

A TMJ disorder can cause pain in several different places centered on the head and neck area and it can also mean the joint doesn't function properly. One side of the jaw may open differently than the other or it could even get stuck open or closed. This would cause many problems whenever you spoke or tried to eat.

The worst thing is: there is no established treatment, there are no specifically trained specialists, and, even if you wanted to resort to surgery to fix the problem, there are no proven medical procedures to fix your TMJ disorder. The best route to go for now is to find a combination of natural TMJ therapies that you can do to relieve the symptoms you have.

Here are 9 Chinese herbs you can incorporate into your TMJ therapy regimen. Just keep in mind, there are other ones that would serve you better if your problem is caused by osteo or rheumatoid arthritis and if you have joint dislocation problems you may want to find some herbs for pain.

1. Pubescent Angelica (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis)
Effects: Expelling pathogenic wind, dampness, cold and relieving pain. It's great for patients with chronic pain. It's used in Chinese formulas for muscle and joint pain and stiffness.

2. Pseudoginseg (Radix Notoginseng)
Effects: Eliminates blood accumulation, stops bleeding; moves blood, calms pain. This herb is helpful for TMJ disorders caused by trauma. It will help to reduce swelling and pain.

3. Chaing-huo (Rhizoma Seu Radix Notopterygii)
Effects: Inducing diaphoresis, dispersing cold, expelling wind, removing dampness and relieving pain. This herb is stronger with relieving pain caused by wind, cold and dampness.

4. Peach Kernel (Semen Persicae)
Effects: Promoting blood circulation by relieving blood stasis, lubricating the bowels to relieve constipation. This one is rich in oils and promotes blood circulation.

5. Bupleurum (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae)
Effects: Anti inflammatory, Anti-spasm, anti-hypertensive effect. This herb also acts as an analgesic and promotes circulation and relieves pain as well as stress.

6. Job's tears (Semen Coicis)
Effects: Expels wind dampness, clears damp heat and dampness that causes joint or muscle pain.

7. Cnidium (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong)
Effects: Removes blood stasis, expels wind and relieves pain. It is used where there are symptoms including fixed pain and blood deficiency.

8. Cinnamon (Ramulus Cinnamomi)
Effects: warms the meridians, releases exterior wind cold and aids in areas where there is trauma or painful obstructions. It's also good in apple pies!

9. Blue atractylodes (Rhizoma Atractylodis)
Effects: removes dampness from the body, can expel wind cold and cold dampness from the body. Athletes take this because with a workout it will promote muscle growth and help with endurance.

Some of these herbs may be helpful for the same symptoms and could be hard to find. You may need to find a Chinese herb website to acquire these herbs. If you can locate most of them and learn to use them they will definitely become one of your best TMJ therapies.

Natural Arthritis Treatment For Joint Pain Relief

Arthritis is a joint disorder affecting the musculoskeletal system of our body. An arthritic joint is inflamed, very painful, stiff, swollen, warm and tender. The joints are actually the union or meeting junction of two or more bone heads. The joints of our body bear the weight of our body even while we are sitting and support the entire body structure. Therefore joints are prone to much wear and tear. When arthritis invades a joint, not only the bone heads but also the adjoining tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons are affected, making mobility painful and in some cases impossible.

Therefore arthritis may be the cause of disability for many. Arthritis may be of a hundred types, of which osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are most widespread. Osteoarthritis occurs due to friction between bone heads at the wearing out or loss of cartilage cushions that could have otherwise protected the bone heads from friction. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of a misdirected immune system attacking healthy joints and tissues. Gout results from metabolic malfunctioning and crystallization of uric acid in joint cavity and between bones. Some causes of arthritis may be listed as follows:

1. Lack of exercise
2. Wrong diet
3. Dehydration
4. Sedentary lifestyle
5. Obesity
6. Degeneration of cartilages
7. Natural aging of joints
8. Joint injury or bone fracture
9. Joint infection
10. Faulty joint alignment
11. Heredity
12. Lack of vitamins
13. Over-active immune system
14. Metabolic disorders.

Natural Arthritis Joint Pain Relief

1. Prickly ash tea effectively eases arthritis joint pain by improving blood circulation.

2. A cup of hot ginger tea daily alleviates arthritis joint pain and inflammation.

3. A cup of tea made from nettle leaves or root sufficiently heals arthritis joint pain.

4. Heating pad or warm, damp towel application relaxes muscles and does away with stiffness and pain.

5. Rubbing ice cubes wrapped on fabric on joints reduces pain and swelling.

6. Massaging aching joint with camphorated mustard oil or coconut oil gives much relief from pain. Olive oil, castor oil, hot vinegar or warm paraffin may also be used for massaging.

7. Application of peppermint oil on aching joints gives much relief.

8. Soaking in warm bath water in tub or adding Epsom salt to bath water also lessens arthritis joint pain.

9. Taking walk in sun without any sunscreen is perhaps the easiest way to treat arthritis joint pain naturally.

10. Practicing gentle stretching around stiff joints as many times as possible through out the day keeps arthritis pain at bay.

11. Intake of alkaline juices like carrot, celery and red beet dissolve that deposits in and around joints, relieving pain.

Glutamine Benefits

Glutamine advantages cover important essential functions for a human's well-being. To keep the adequate levels of cellular energy, decrease muscle degeneration in severely sick patients and to supply adequate muscle gain in training athletes and bodybuilders.

Top 10 Glutamine health benefits.

Glutamine is truly one of the major selling muscle building supplements contributing to protein synthesis and muscle gains in training sports enthusiasts.

Glutamine supplemental therapy can be extremely effective in helping reduce damaging effects due to autoimmune diseases that cause unusual immune system response that attacks its own tissues and cells.

Certain cases of male impotence could very well be alleviated by of Glutamine amino acid health supplements use.

Glutamine depression symptoms therapy is a state of the art method to address a variety of forms of depression and mood swings without using drug treatments. According to several different studies Glutamine health benefits contribute to enriched nervous system functions, increases more positive outlook and removes toxic ammonia wastes from the brain tissues.

Glutamine irritable colon disorder therapy is one of the more effective natural approaches in addressing diarrhea and poor digestion that may be associated with this syndrome. Glutamine works by fixing gastrointestinal lining and promoting healthy and balanced nutrient absorption.

Glutamine diabetes therapy successfully aids in glucose utilization keeping blood sugar levels under control. In addition, Glutamine health benefits help reduce the possibility of insulin resistance in people consuming diets excessively rich in fats.

Glutamine health benefits mainly include arthritis treatments by repairing damaged cartilage tissues due to age-related joint degeneration. It can also help by providing increased energy and immunity essential to overcome the disease and carry out everyday functions.

Schizophrenia patients can draw tremendous Glutamine health benefits. This amino acid not only helps improve brain activity, eliminate ammonia by-products from the brain, it can also help improve IQ, stabilize brain impulses and facilitate tissue healing.

Radiation therapy is a necessary treatment for cancer patients, however along with destroying off cancer cells, this kind of therapy can at the same time result in healthy tissue damage and considerable free radical build up in the body. Glutamine amino acid can diminish the destructive side effects of cancer radiation therapy if taken along this kind of therapy.

Antioxidant Glutamine health benefits can help remove destructive ammonia by products from the entire body and many free radicals that might lead to harmful health problems.

Individuals suffering form liver, kidney conditions and Reye's disease should not take this health supplement to avoid Glutamine negative effects. Really rare Glutamine side effects could possibly include headaches and interaction with certain prescription drugs.

Glutamine Benefits.

Labral Tear In The Hip - Braces For Support

1.) What is a Labrum?

The labrum is a term that describes the type of cartilage that surrounds ball and socket joints. This is found in both the shoulder and hip joints. The labrum will form a ring that is located around the edge of the bony socket of either the hip or shoulder joint. It serves to provide stability to the joint by deepening the socket, while also providing the joint with needed flexibility and motion.

2.) Injuries To The Labrum - 2 Types

Injuries that can occur to the labrum have been recognized as a possible source of discomfort and pain. Although labral tears in the shoulder area are more common, labral tears in the hip do occur regularly as well. In general, there are two different kinds of labral tears in the hip.

A.) Degenerative tears: a chronic injury that can occur after repetitive use or activities. These kinds of tears can be seen in the early stages of hip arthritis.

B.) Traumatic injuries: When an individual suffers a traumatic hip labral tear, it is typically an acute injury that is associated with a sports injury, sudden fall, or an accident. Often times, labral tears of this kind are caused by sudden twists that can cause immediate hip pain.

3.) What Are the Symptoms of a Hip Labral Tear?

A hip labral tear can be hard to diagnose sometimes because is simliar in its symptoms to other issues like a groin strain, sports hernia or snapping hip syndrome. The following are common symptoms of what could be a labral tear:

• Groin pain
• Clicking and snapping sensations in the hip area
• Limited motion of the hip joint

4.) Braces For Support Before or After Surgery

To support the hip and restrict unwanted movements doctors can deploy the use of a hip abduction brace for their patients. This orthosis (brace) can help to limit motion that will further a hip labral tear and any of its painful symptoms. In this way, hip abduction orthoses (braces) can be the conservative measure of treatment that can help to facilitate the healing process either before or after surgery for a patient.

*Note: This is health information. This is good information, but medical advice on bracing for the hip, due to a labral tear, should be provided to you by your local, licensed orthotist. These individuals are brace specialists and can provide you with the best care possible when it comes to braces for the hip.

What a Pain! Joint and Connective Tissue Disorders

Pain is pain and we want to be free from it, no matter the source of it. So often we are quick to treat the pain without taking the time to distinguish the cause. Knowing the cause of some pains can prevent unnecessary medication, mistreatment and prolonged aches and discomfort.

When dealing with joint and connective tissue disorders, the most common causes of pain are due to inflammation, swelling and inflexibility of the joints. When the inflammation is chronic, it inhibits the body's natural ability to heal and maintain joint and connective tissue health. When the joints are swollen and sore, the necessary nutrients needed by the joints to maintain synovial fluid have a hard time penetrating through the inflammation and entering into the cells of the joint tissue.

Examples of joint and connective tissue disorders that cause inflammation of joints include the following:

* Osteoarthritis
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Lupus
* Gout
* Fibromyalgia

Commonly, suffers of joint arthritis pain, lupus and gout pain try to find relief with over the counter medicines, typically containing acetaminophen. While these products can provide temporary relief, they are usually associated with a variety of side effects such as gastrointestinal issues, dependency and cardiac risks. While these medicines can offer temporary relief, they are only helping to reduce a symptom of the inflammation and momentarily reduce the pain. Many suffers of joint arthritis pain, lupus and gout pain are seeking pain management that comes without so many possible negative effects and works to resolve the cause of the aches, stiffness and inflexibility.

Joint arthritis pain and other connective tissue disorder sufferers are seeking alternative products and dietary supplements to provide relief and hopefully offer pain management that can resolve the cause. While dietary supplements aren't medicines, the natural minerals, nutrients and ingredients replicate the natural healing process of the body. For instance, a combination of chrondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid has been used in clinical studies for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

These ingredients naturally occur in the body and are needed for healthy joint and connective tissue maintenance. However, there is a catch 22: when joints undergo persistent damage and they need chrondroitin and glucosamine the most, the damage inhibits the production and absorption of these healing ingredients. Researchers have high hopes for supplementation with these ingredients, not only for joint pain relief but also for the possible repair of joint and connective tissue. Studies have not only shown a reduction in pain and an increase in flexibility, they also show improved activity of the cellular membrane in the joints, which hints at the possibility of repair and rebuilding of damaged connective tissue.

While pain management is possible, there are now more natural options to find relief from joint arthritis pain and pain caused by connective tissue disorders. However, with continued study and more research, we might find that there are possibilities beyond just pain management; such studies may prove to find solutions for the actual repair of worn and damaged joints and connective tissue.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder - A Simple Explanation of Symptoms and Treatment

Before getting into the meat of how to recognize TMJ symptoms and treat the disorder, it's important to understand the basics of the temporomandibular joint that gives this dysfunction its acronym. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge of the jaw. This joint or hinge is usually referred to as the TMJ, which can cause some confusion when discussing the pain or dysfunction that occurs at this location. In order to clear up this confusion, many medical professionals are beginning to refer to pain in the TMJ as temporomandibular joint disorder, abbreviated TMD. For clarity, medical professionals refer to the temporomandibular joint as the TMJ. Any symptoms or pain associated with the TMJ are referred to as TMD, TMJ disorder or temporomandibular joint disorder.

Every one of us has two TMJs - one on each side of our jaw. These joints work together to move our jaw up and down, so they carry a very important role in our lives. Without these hinges we wouldn't be able to speak or eat as effectively as we can. The name temporomandibular is conjured from two different bones that come together at the joint: the upper temporal bone and the mandible. The upper temporal bone is actually pare of the skull, where as the mandible is a bone all unto itself.

Where these two bones join together is what makes this joint particularly interesting and unique. At this union there is a disc called the 'articular disc,' which is made up of fibrocartilagenous tissue. This tissue is similar to the bendable tops of our ears and its purpose is to separate the joint in a way that allows our jaw to move in two different directions which turns out to be an important factor for speech and chewing. If this joint sounds complicated, don't fret - it certainly is. The TMJ is often referred to as one of the most complicated joints in the entire human body.

There are a wide variety of tendons, muscles, blood vessels and ligaments surrounding the TMJ. For this reason temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) occurs for a number of different and often unrelated reasons. In fact, there is not believed to be one particular cause of TMJ disorder, and the symptoms are often quite varied as well.

TMJ disorder symptoms can range from clicking or grating in the jaw, discomfort while chewing, tenderness or pain in the jaw, even earaches and headaches. As you can see from this list of symptoms, diagnosing TMJ disorder is far from straight-forward. Basically, the symptoms associated with TMJ disorder are varied and can be complicated. A good rule of thumb is that if you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms along with jaw pain near the hinge, you may be suffering from TMJ disorder.

As you may have guessed, treating TMJ disorder is not straightforward either. It may even be difficult to decide what type of specialist to see in order to seek treatment. If you have a headache, should you go to your dentist? If your jaw hurts, should you go to your doctor? The short answer is that if you believe that you have symptoms of TMJ disorder, you should consult a doctor. Taking the recommended dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen is a good idea, and your doctor will likely recommend a series of exercises and stretches that will hopefully relieve some of your pain.

Dealing With Joint Pain? Chiropractic Treatment Can Help

Joint pain may well be a fact of life. At some point in life, nearly everyone will experience pain in the area where two or more bones meet.

Joint pain often brings discomfort, stiffness, inflammation, and soreness to one or more joints of the body. It may accompany diseases and conditions such as infections, traumas, and immune system issues. Whether the pain results from injuries, age-related ailments or disease, joint pain presents a range of cumbersome problems. Movement, after all, depends on the proper functioning of joints.

In the case of injuries, it can present itself suddenly and severely. Injuries can include tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, a torn cartilage, ligaments, and a sprained ankle. Bruising or swelling usually follows dislocations, muscle strains, fractures, and injuries to the ligaments and joints.

Tennis elbow (also known as epicondylitis) is a very common muscle and soft tissue condition. It is caused by inflammation of the soft tissues, often resulting from repetitive activities (such as lifting, swimming, carpentry, and playing tennis). Common forearm and elbow pain are usually worsened by extending and flexing the wrist.

In some cases, joint pain may stem from a moderate condition or disease, such as a mild dislocation, bursitis, or ankylosing spondylitis. It can also be caused by more serious conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or bone cancer. It can appear suddenly and disappear just as swiftly, showing up after prolonged periods of rest and going away when the patient moves around a bit.

Regardless of the condition or disease, joint pain often accompanies other symptoms. These symptoms can come in the form of swelling, edemas, inflammation, and fevers. A pinched nerve may also induce swelling, elbow pain, and the like.

No matter what type of joint pain afflicts you, there are some ways to alleviate the pain. Here are some tips that will offer relief:

Seek the expertise of a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment will address your joint pain with gently effective methods. Chiropractic care has proved effective in a variety of joint pain cases, and research findings have corroborated its rightful place as a solid treatment option. For example, a study by the National Institute of Health objectively supported the use of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the management of ankylosing spondylitis.

Look into massage. It can provide instant relief.

Use forms of heat therapy. Heating pads, hot baths, and saunas can ease the pain. Heat therapy increases circulation and accelerates healing.

Conversely, you should make use of ice therapy to reduce swelling, as swelling is known to cause joint pain. A doctor of chiropractic may also suggest the employment of electro-stimulation to aid the healing process between hot and cold treatments. Electrical stimulation is linked with releasing endorphins that counteract pain receptors.

Exercise. An effective exercise routine can help keep joint pain at bay while strengthening your whole body, including your joints. However, make sure to discontinue strenuous activities if the pain persists. Exercises, such as dance, stretching, and Tai Chi, help maintain regular joint movement and stimulates overall joint flexibility. They can be done on a daily basis, or at least three or four times a week. In any case, seek the guidance of your chiropractor to design an appropriate exercise routine for your condition.

Maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight can lay stress on your knees and feet, adding considerable pressure to your joints.

If you smoke, quit. Smoking negatively affects your whole body, weakening muscles and tendons. It also prevents you from getting an adequate supply of oxygen running through your blood.

Take supplements of fatty acid in the form of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Tuna, salmon, halibut, and herring offer natural sources of and DHA and EPA. Studies show that these fatty acid supplements lessen joint swelling and pain, reducing the need to take corticosteroids. However, speak with you primary care doctor or chiropractor before taking supplements. Some supplements may aversely interact with medications.

Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, holistic way to promote overall health and manage a wide range of conditions. Physical manipulation and alignment of the joints can reduce pain and stiffness. In addition, chiropractic care can tailor the right exercise program for your needs, and offer comprehensive nutrition and supplement advice.

Home Remedies For TMJ Syndrome

TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is a condition of the jaw joints that involved acute pain, discomfort and mobility issues with those joints that control the movement of your jaw and thus affecting your ability to eat, speak and move some facial muscles. While, there are a number of causes for TMJ, the symptoms are easy to identify and should be reported to your doctor immediately.

The signs and symptoms of TMJ include swelling on the sides of the face, pain in the jaw joints, ear pain, headaches and mobility issues. As mentioned the cause could be many and will need to be investigated by a medical professional to identify. These could include teeth grinding, faulty dental procedures, genetics, and other jaw or bone problems. Some of these can be solved by simple means and others may require reconstructive surgery. There are a number of home remedies for TMJ that can be used with other treatments to alleviate pain and discomfort.

Some of the home remedies for TMJ include jaw exercises and pain relievers. Pain relievers can include anything from over the counter medications to muscle relaxing heat treatments and exercises have been known to help with the overall health of the jaw and lead to greater mobility and a decrease of pain and discomfort on a daily basis.

When deciding which home remedies are the right ones for you, it's important to talk with your doctor to ensure your home treatments will not conflict with other medical treatments, for TMJ or otherwise, you may be experiencing. Jaw exercises are a great way to treat pain, discomfort and mobility issues and should be considered first. Something as simple as placing your fist on the side of your jaw and allowing isometric energy to stretch and strengthen the muscle can make a big difference in the level of pain you experience.

Home remedies for TMJ can be a great alternative to heavy pain medications or costly physical therapy. Talk with your doctor about the home remedy options that can be used to treat TMJ and add it your routine to find a greater level of comfort and get joy back in your daily life.

Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease

Back pain can come in many forms and affect individuals in different ways. Most common sources of back pain include "slipped discs", pinched nerves, and degenerative spine disease. These back pain issues can spread to other parts of the body, stemming from the spine and shooting down the lower back to the leg, or from the neck down to the arm.

Back pain can cause significant loss of quality of life as physical activity is limited and patients are no longer free to do the things they love. Specialty Orthopaedics is Westchester's premier orthopedic group with a subspecialty in spine and scoliosis surgery. Specialty Orthopaedics utilizes innovative surgical techniques such as minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopy, and robotic assisted surgery.

Depending on where nerves are pinched, different pains can occur. A cervical herniated disc can cause pain in the arms as well as weakness or numbness. Lumbar herniated discs cause discomfort and sharp pains in the leg, ankle or foot as well as weakness or numbness. With a lumbar herniated disc, leg pain is usually worse when sitting. Degenerative disc disease is commonly referred to as arthritis of the back, and is a very painful disorder. Read more about degenerative disc disease.

Degenerative disc disease goes by a few names: degenerative disc disorder, degenerative spine disease as well as "arthritis of the back." Simply put, degenerative spine disease is a deterioration of the lower back disks and causes great pain to sufferers. As individuals age, the spine deteriorate and cause vertebral bodies to collapse onto one another, causing compressed or pinched nerves.

Symptoms

Symptoms of degenerative spine disorder include low back pain, neck pain and a great reduction in quality of life. Some problems associated with degenerative disc disease include slipped discs (disc protrusion), herniated discs, pinched nerves, torn disc (disc tear), or collapsed disc. Spine Surgery Specialists of Westchester Treatment options for degenerative disc disease include conservative as well as surgical procedures. Specialty Orthopaedics group will only suggest surgical procedures if indicated. The surgical procedures include decompression, decompression & posterolateral fusion, Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), Posterior Transforaminal Interbody Fusion, and disc replacement. Read more about degenerative disc disease.

Dr. Zelicof and the Spine Surgery Specialists of Specialty Orthopaedics are fellowship-trained in spine orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine and joint replacement. Visit Westchester Specialty Orthopaedics to get more information on treatment options from some of the Best Doctors of New York.

Different Treatment Options For Joint Pain Relief

Joint pain is caused by many factors. The condition can be caused by any injuries that can affect the ligaments, tendons, and bursae that surround the joints. The injury can also affect the cartilage, ligaments, as well as the bones near the joint. Pain is also a symptom of arthritis also known as inflammation of the joint. Another thing that can cause joint pain is tumor. Arthralgia is also another term for joint pain.

Doctors usually prescribe medications to promote joint pain relief. Some of these medications include acetaminophen, NSAID, acetylsalicilic acid, aspirin, analgesic, antipyretic, naproxen, ibuprofen and others.

Here are some of the conditions where the drugs aforementioned are used:

o arthritis
o bursitis
o aseptic necrosis
o cartilage tear
o fracture
o sprain
o tendinitis

Other standard treatments used and prescribed by physicians include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, dietary supplements and orthopedic bracing. Joint replacement surgery is a more permanent but also, it is a very costly procedure and as with any other kinds of surgery, recovering from it is difficult.

For some people who have tried and failed in coping pain by using many synthetic drugs and protocols to accomplish joint pain relief, resorting to more natural means is much better. Fore them, alternative treatments to manage joint pain are cheaper, safer and more effected. They are cheap because branded medicines and professional fees to physicians are waved and people think that alternative treatments will not cause any side effects to the body.

Natural or alternative medications that can give relief to painful joints involve physical activities designed for joint pain management, herbal medicines, therapy, massage acupuncture, and meditation. Some also involve diets which can help ward off pain.

Many people suffering from different kinds of pain also travel to countries which are popular tourist destinations for massages. These massages according to experts can release the stress in the body and bring relief to painful joints.

Aside from massage, acupuncture is also proven to help relieve the pain not just brought by the joint but pain in the other areas of the body as well. Acupuncture's status as a simple oriental alternative treatment has evolved and become more specialized with more physicians in the western hemisphere incorporating the treatment to the therapy of their patients. Acupuncture can relive joint pain by using needles that can induce the release of good chemicals that help in suppressing pain. Also, it has been suggested that acupuncture helps to treat the exact problem area because it is very specific.

Herbal medicines can also help in giving joint pain relief. Some herbals include ginger, Indian ginseng and peperomia. Ginger can be made into tea and enjoyed as a drink. Indian ginseng on the other hand serves as ingredients in Ayurvedic treatments. The leaves and stalk of the peperomia herb are edible and can be included in salads. Just boil 1 cup of the leaves or stalk in 2 cups of water, sieve the solid remnants and enjoy the drink during mornings and afternoons.

There are natural and conventional means of treatment. It's up to you to choose between them and of course, not all treatments work for different people. Consulting experts and doing research is also essential.

TMJ Headaches

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint (the jaw joint), and is also used to refer to Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, a painful disorder of this joint. One of the most common and painful of its symptoms is headaches, often thought of as migraines.

When we close our mouth and our teeth come together, that's referred to by dentists as our bite, and it's the result of the way our jaw joint operates. A bite can be well-aligned or poorly aligned. When it's misaligned the jaw muscles become strained trying to bring the teeth together properly, as we open and close our mouths so many thousands of times a day for eating, talking, swallowing, yawning, laughing etc.

What causes a misaligned bite?

Misaligned bites are caused by many varying factors. It can start in infancy, with airway obstrucition. Allergies that affect breathing, crooked teeth, or hereditary mouth conditions, or even a head injury which disrupts the jaw joint can all cause a poorly aligned bite.

TMJ Headaches Explained

1. Several large nerves, with many branches, run through the face, head, neck, and shoulder area. One is the trigeminal nerve, one of the large pairs of cranial nerves which run from the spinal cord, in between spinal vertebrae, and forward into face area. It gives the brain about 40% of its daily work and as its name implies, has three branches. Each branch has sub-branches.

2. When the jaw joint is misaligned, the muscles attached to it become tired and strained over the months and years, as they try to close the mouth correctly. They end up in perpetual spasm, never relaxing. This often leads to chronic teeth clenching or grinding, even at night during sleep. (This sometimes works the other way around too, where emotional stress causes teeth clenching, which eventually puts the jaw joint out of alignment.)

3. Perpetually tense jaw muscles create swelling and inflammation in the area, which puts pressure on the nerves. We feel this as pain. So whichever part of the nerve is being compressed, in the temple, neck, shoulder, etc., that's where we feel the pain.

4. TMJ therefore has a wide variety of symptoms, such as earaches, sore jaws, neck and should pain, and tingling in the fingers. The most painful and incapacitating symptom is headaches.

Why neuromuscular dentists can help

If you have been suffering from severe headaches, you may have visited several doctors trying to get them treated. You may have taken a variety of painkillers, but found that nothing eliminates this pain.

If your headaches are a symptom of TMJ, you need to see a neuromuscular dentist, one trained in treating not just teeth and gums, but also the jaw joint, along with its muscles, nerves, and ligaments. This is not training that the average dentist receives in dental school. It is post-graduate training, and relatively few dentists have completed it.

One neuromuscular dentist in the Los Angeles area is Dr. Joseph Henry. In explaining how he approaches patients with TMJ symptoms, he said:

I look at the relationship between the jaw joint, its muscles, and the position of the teeth. Misalignment in any of these has a direct effect on the whole system of opening and closing the jaw.

Finding your relaxed jaw position

The first step a neuromuscular dentist would take to determine whether your headaches were a TMJ symptom or not, would be to test, record, and measure your jaw movements. In this high-tech age, dentistry has moved right along with other professional fields in developing sophisticated equipment, using lasers and computers. The goal of testing and measuring your jaw movements is to find your relaxed, natural jaw position, your natural bite.

When the dentist has found your relaxed jaw position, the goal of your treatment is established, namely, to make this position permanent, thus abolishing the painful symptoms of misalignment.

Says Dr. Henry:

"A neuromuscular dentist can realign a patient's bite. Once the relaxed position is known, treatments can begin to make this relaxation permanent. We might create a custom orthotic for the patient to wear which will re-train those jaw muscles. We might plan some tooth re-shaping, or re-aligning, even a full orthodontic treatment if necessary. Each treatment is individual to that patient."

Headaches can be a thing of the past if you follow through with your visits to a neuromuscular dentist. You'll be smiling with relief and pleasure - especially if some of that dental treatment gave you a more even, brighter smile as well as pain relief!

Spiritual Life Coaching - Exploring the Root Chakra

The first chakra is the root chakra or the Kundalini chakra. It is located at the base of the spine. It is represented by the Maladhara mandala, the element of fire and is symbolized by the snake or dragon. It is the foundation of the physical realm and it is through the root chakra that we remain grounded to Mother Earth or the sacred feminine, nurturing energies of Gaia. When it is dormant, the Kundalini remains coiled precisely 3 and 1/2 times around the tail of the spinal cord. Here it lies until it awakens and rises upward where it flowers at the top of the head or crown chakra. The root chakra influences our energy, our drive, or primal instincts, and our fight or flight response. It is also rules our immune system.

The root chakra governs our body's survival mechanism, such as food, shelter, and security. Our relationships in early childhood, especially those which are associated with emotional and/or physical well-being are influenced by this chakra. It stimulates activity, exercise, and vitality, as well as our general health throughout life. If there was trauma in early life regarding these issues, then it will affect our physical health until we're able to cleanse and heal this chakra. A Spiritual Counselor can give you helpful advice on how to heal your root chakra trauma.

The root chakra also relates to our material and financial achievements, success in business, and our status in society. How safe we feel in the world, how patient we are, and how well we are able to relax and be calm, are all governed by the first chakra. When it is balanced we will be in perfect health, feel free, happy, energetic, and will live our lives in a state of peace, balance, and tranquility. When it is out of balance, we will be greedy, selfish, overbearing, aggressive, and sadistic toward others. We will lack in an inner confidence and security with ourselves.

The physical ailments that may arise will include problems with the adrenal glands, thyroid, kidneys, and spinal column. Chronic ailments that are associated with a wounded root chakra are: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, candida, spinal subluxation (spine or back problems), and TMJ disorder.

Healing methods to unblock and balance the root chakra include: cleaning and cooking in the home, living close to or working close to nature, walking in nature (especially barefoot), lighting candles and incense (cedar), and holding or wearing crystals (agate, bloodstone, hematite, garnet, ruby and red jasper). Some of the healing herbs for the root chakra are dandelion, calendula, hawthorne, red clover blossoms, eyebright, and lavender flowers.

Understanding Pilates Knee Pain Relief Principles for Knee Injuries

Pilates knee pain relief principles can be used for a number of knee injuries such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament issues (ACL), meniscus tear, weak knee, and arthritis. There are six core Pilates principles. For maximum healing and benefit, each of these principles must be present while doing these knee exercises.

1. Centering
- Aligning your body and bringing focus to the centre, between your lower ribs and pubic bone. Active engagement of this centering brings immediate form and improved posture. It is like the foundation of a building. If the foundation is strong, the structure of the building will stand well.

2. Conscious Breathing
- Proper breathing technique helps to stabilize the trunk and releases neck tension. The continuous easy flow of breath makes it easier for the muscles to activate accordingly. When you inhale to prepare, you would exhale to extend or exert depending on the routines. In exhaling, the knee joint stays relaxed, as the muscles around it contract and activate to secure the knee joint. Pilates exercises like Eve's Lunge will be a good example. There is no pressure on the injured knee joint and yet it aids in improvement of strength.

3. Core Alignment
- It is important to understand alignment in relation to the knee. The centre of the knee cap should be kept in line with the fore foot. If you run an imaginary line from the centre of your knee cap, it should end at the spot where the second and third toe is. Exercise like foot positions on the pilates reformer would be highly recommended. Rotation of the knee joint both outward and inward should be discouraged when doing knee tracking work.

4. Control
- Learn how to limit movements by engaging the right muscles to control the movement. Knee extension work with loaded springs should be performed with active thigh muscles involved. It is very easy to straighten the knees and snap / lock. Muscle activation is usually absent when speed is involved. Tissue breakdown, injury, and pain can occur when movements are not limited and alignments are compromised.

5 Concentration
- Intense focus and awareness are critical to proper application. Usually a knee injury can be treated if the wrong movement is corrected. This allows the brain to be re-educated. The body also starts to learn the proper way to perform an exercise correctly. Chronic pain can disappear when your body understand this awareness technique.

6. Coordination
- Your body needs to know how to work in sync to perform each exercise. As your knee muscles and joints moves through a range of motion, with all of the above elements together, then you have achieved true coordination. Coordination is a learned art and cannot be forced.
By performing specific knee exercises that deal with your knee injury, and using Pilates specialized equipment like the Reformer or Wunda chair, pain and swelling can be managed. In time, you will have better control over your body.

When your muscles are weak, they are short and tight. Selected pilates knee exercises should start with stretching and lengthening to improve muscle tone and elasticity. As the muscles gain some length and flexibility is improved, knee strengthening exercises can be gradually introduced. This result is flexible strength.

Pilates for knee pain relief must be performed with healing and wellness as the focus. It is different from a weight loss or a fitness program. Pilates instructors who are well trained in the aspect of rehabilitation, will know how to plan your routines. As the knee improves and knee pain is no longer a factor, other Pilates exercises can be introduced. This helps to achieve a total body conditioning program that fits into a healthy lifestyle. This not only prevents any relapse, it also allows the knee to be strong and healthy.

Keep the principles in mind to prevent unintentional abuse on your body. You will be less likely to do things that are not meant to be, like pushing yourself to the point of pain or exhaustion. To be in tune with your body means listening and being aware of what it is telling you. This is a critical factor in staying healthy and being injury free. Pilates is a natural, non-invasive treatment for knee pain injury and is an effective healing method for the simple reason that it works!

The Best Way to Raise Your Glutathione Levels and Why You Need to Do It

Many well intentioned people are spending a lot of time and money researching the question of what supplements to take for their improved health. But supplements alone will never be the answer. They are only one of the things we all need to make an effort to do. As well, it appears that there are some antioxidants that cannot be taken as an oral supplement and one of them is probably the most important antioxidant of all - Glutathione

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione is an antioxidant that is manufactured in your body. Technically, it's a tri-peptide of the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamine or glutamic acid and found in every cell of our body, which means it's immediately available where it will be needed - one of Glutathione's many special attributes. But Glutathione is really much more than that.

It's often referred to as the Master Antioxidant and without it, better known but lesser antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E which are the most abundant fat and water soluble antioxidants we have will not function to their full potential. In addition to that, Glutathione plays an important role in the repair of DNA, immune system enhancement and the detoxification of toxins from air and water pollution and cigarette smoke and carcinogens.

Studies have shown that many of the preventable- degenerative diseases of aging, like degenerative joint disease, Osteoporosis, several types of dementia, high blood pressure and type II diabetes are associated with a decrease of glutathione. Increasing our glutathione levels is a great strategy for improving our health.

As we leave our twenties (and really start to need it!) our body slows down it's production of Glutathione, which is why many well intentioned and health conscious people are looking for information on Glutathione supplements. But a supplement is not the way to go. The problem with oral supplements is that if you ingest Glutathione, you need it to enter the bloodstream and distribute itself throughout the cells in your body, but that simply cannot happen, because before you can absorb Glutathione into your blood, it's destroyed by the substances in your digestive tract - and that's it. You take it and nothing happens.

There are two routes available to you to raise your level of Glutathione. Supporting your glutathione levels by eating the right foods is healthy, natural and it makes great sense. So eat those 4-5 servings of Fruit and Vegetables every day and pay attention to Asparagus, Broccoli, Avocado and Spinach. Other natural sources that will help boost your glutathione levels include Milk Thistle, Whey Protein, Turmeric, Selenium.

The second option available would be to supplement with Glutathione precursors, which are products that contain the nutrients your body requires in order to boost its own natural production to help compensate for the slow down caused by aging.

Dogs and Arthritis and Other Bone Related Illnesses

Adults aren't the only ones that suffer from arthritis and are seeking treatment for arthritis. Believe it or not, our four legged loyal companions also suffer from chronic arthritis pain that develop from their regular day to day activities of fetching balls, running in the park, jumping after that Frisbee.

Dogs develop arthritis in their joints mainly in their front and hind legs. Some common joint problems are chronic shoulder pain, in dogs it is referred to as Osteochonritis Dissecans. This is caused by a piece of bone becoming loose when they are young and also decreased blood flow to the shoulder joint. It is best to ask your veterinarian for the best shoulder pain treatment for your pet. The other sensitive area for arthritis in dogs are their elbow joints and wrist joints. Common elbow joints problem is elbow Dysplasia which is when bone fragments are in the joint and they fail to join. Those of us who suffer from carpal tunnel pain would be able to sympathize with our canine friends. Their wrist arthritis is caused by deterioration of ligaments that support the back of the wrist, also called carpal hyper-extension. As a result they don't put weight on the wrist, which lead to dog arthritis pain.

The lower part of dogs' limbs, the hip, knee, and ankle and ligament problems can develop into arthritis pain and require treatment for arthritis. A hip joint deformity called hip Dysplasia happens during your pets' growth. With hip Dysplasia the femur, or thigh bone, does not sit properly in the pelvic bone and over time causes pain that lead to arthritis and will require treatment for arthritis. The knee joint, actually similar anatomically to the human knee joint, undergoes similar health problems such as cranial cruciate ligament injury. Only in dogs it is called Caudal Cruciate Ligament Injury. It is a very common condition in dogs. Osteochondritis Dissecans is a common problem in the ankle joint, or hock joint as it is referred to in dogs. This is similar to the shoulder condition where a small piece of bone came loose in a small dog and now causes pain and inflammation.

The inflammatory arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common in people and less so in dogs. Nevertheless, just like in people joint pain should be taken seriously and a cause of pain should be identified. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose the problem and provide treatment for arthritis if it is needed.

6 Natural Ways to Get Relief From Arthritis and Joint Pain

There are many natural ways to get rid of arthritis and joint pain problem. Here in this article we will emphasize on some of the natural and easy ways to get relief from arthritis and joint pain, stiffness and inflammation.

1. Alteration of life style is a simple way to treat arthritis. One should keep away from sedentary life style. The affected joints should not be left idle, for that will worsen the problem of joint stiffness and swelling. The patient therefore is always asked to keep the ailing joints mobile through light physical exercises which may include simple stretching and range of motion exercises, walking, swimming and cycling. However strenuous exercises, high impact activities, games that involve repetitive movements, running, jumping and hopping are to be strictly avoided. Such high impact activities would cause further damage to the worn out joints. In other words the patient should keep active to the extent he or she can tolerate.

2. Wearing of braces and splints provides external support to ailing joints and checks further wear and tear and increased incidence of joint pain at the end of day to day activities. The patient is required to change positions frequently while lying or sitting. This will tackle the problem of inflexibility and joint stiffness. While lying, the patient may elevate the affected joint with the help of pillows. This will drain out the extra fluid from the joint and thus reduce swelling.

3. Smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake should be cut down. These habits build up stress on body tissues, and increase the arthritis pain. Also the patient must keep the body weight in check. This can be done by means of exercise, yoga, dieting. Yoga and breathing exercises may also be done for relaxing one's mind and de-stressing oneself.

4. Dietary changes also help to suppress arthritic symptoms. Alkaline diet is beneficial for arthritis patients. Fresh leafy vegetables, fruits, juices of raw vegetables, food rich in omega3 fatty acids are recommended for arthritis patients. Sweet water fishes like salmon, herring, sardines are perfect examples of food items rich in omega3 acids. In other words, a balanced nutritional diet is essential. Junk food, refined food, beef, pork, meat are to be avoided. Beef and pork raise uric acid levels in body, and thereby increase the risk of gout.

5. Massage therapy is one way of controlling pain, stiffness and swelling. Massage gives a boost to the blood circulation, relaxes muscles around the joint, making them supple. Rumatone Gold massage oil, capsaicin creams, and arnica oils are good for massaging arthritic joints. One can also use homemade massage ointments and oil. Hot vinegar, heated castor oil, camphorated mustard oil, warm olive oil, essential oils like that of lavender, eucalyptus, basil added to any carrier oil, even hot paraffin are highly beneficial for rubbing on painful joints.

6. Some simple home remedies like giving warm bath to ailing joints by mixing Epsom salt to bath water, application of hot and cold compresses alternately, rubbing freshly cut cloves of garlic on joints, applying turmeric paste or crushed leaves of white willow as poultice, rubbing ice cubes wrapped in fabric on joints, can bring much relief from pain and swelling.

Power Yoga to Improve Your Posture and Relieve Back Pain

I started yoga at age 50. It was an eye opener. As a martial artist, I've been beaten to a pulp before but my first power yoga session was a killer. The actual session was amazing and my wife told me to perform the relaxation yoga session take a long hot bath before going to bed.

I totally forgot and woke up the next morning acutely aware of muscles I did not knew I had. My major muscle groups felt the way they did after an intense strength training session, the smaller muscles were screaming. I was surprised to find that my normally aching back was fine. That morning when I got up, there was one area of pain missing from my body. The usual lower back pain that I've experienced over the years was not present.

These days I've become more proficient in yoga and enjoy a variety of postures and styles. Like martial arts, yoga works best when we focus on the basics. By continually working on the essentials, we master them and like driving a car, we begin to separate the physical actions from our mental task list.

Most experienced drivers let their bodies handle the details of driving and can listen to the radio without worry or danger of crashing. The same is true of yoga practitioners who become experienced in poses and postures. This is essential for getting past the physical stage of yoga and developing the mental stage.

I made this discovery when I realized one day that my lower back muscles which were always adversely affected by my bad left hip no longer ached from sitting or standing for long periods. I first attributed it to the prolonged stretching from my yoga sessions. When I mentioned this to another more experienced practitioner, she asked me about my stress level. I told her that I was noticeably less stressed since I started regular yoga sessions and even more so when I became proficient in the breathing exercises.

Yoga practice separates the mastery of the body, mind and emotions. Each area gets a workout in yoga; each is offered its own focus for development. This is one reason why sticking to the development of the basics is so important. The spiritual aspects of yoga came to me after I was able to experience the physical forms and relegate their actions to my muscle memory. Only then was I able to effectively move on to the mental and spiritual aspects of yoga.

As a westerner, I tend to favor the simple names for the poses and one of my favorites is the triangle pose or trikonasana. This pose seems easy when you look at it but you can work the entire body with this pose when executed correctly.

This pose requires balance, flexibility and proper breathing. Start by exhaling, and then raise your arms to about shoulder level. Relax your shoulders and pretend that you are standing against a wall. You can actually practice this pose against a wall to get it right. Turn your palms downward and stretch your fingers.

As you breathe out, move your feet about three and a half feet apart and turn your right foot at a 90 degree angle to your left foot.  Your right foot's heel should be in line with your left foot's instep. Be sure to maintain proper balance throughout this pose.

Now maintain your posture as you open your hips and begin to bend from the waist to the right. As you bend toward the right foot, keep your back flat as if you were against a wall. Control your breathing as you go down. Your eyes are focused on the fingers of your left hand. Keep your neck and head in line with your spine. You are now looking up and breathing in a deep steady rhythm as you extend your spine.

You don't need to touch the floor from this position. As a beginner, you simply want to develop form and posture. At this point your hips are tilted and open but you are still flat. Your right hand can touch the lowest point on your knee or shin. Don't over do it at this time. You can explore this pose and increase its difficulty later.

Relax into the pose and breathe evenly. Explore the posture and pay attention to your form.  Exhale as you come up and slowly take your center position. Reverse the pose and do it from the left side. Do this pose three or four times in each side.

Left Side and Right Side Lower Back Pain: Common Causes

One of the best ways to narrow down the possible causes of your back pain is to consider where the pain is located and what type of pain sensation you feel. Many people complain of lower back pain on either the right or left side. The following descriptions of causes may help you understand your pain better.

Muscular Lower Back Pain

Pain on one side of the body may indicate a simple muscle strain. This type of pain is located in a muscle and may be felt as stiffness, soreness or an ache. Muscle strain occurs when a muscle is overworked or overstretched and suffers tears. They can occur in any number of ways throughout the day, such as twisting to the side and lifting an object.

Most cases of muscle strain heal within days. You can alleviate pain by applying ice to the muscle during the first twenty-four hours for 20 minute at a time. Once the muscle is no longer inflamed, you can use heat to loosen it up.

If you have chronic muscle pain, it is possible that a lower back muscle on one side suffers from an overuse injury. This could occur if your job or other daily activities require you to use the muscle constantly. If you have a desk job and frequently turn to one side, for example, one side of your lower back may be strained. Overuse injuries require a change in behavior to heal. Changing the layout of your work station may be a solution to this.

If you have chronic muscle strain, it is possible that your muscle has developed trigger points. These are dense knots that form and make it difficult for the muscle to relax. Trigger point massage therapy or self-myofascial release (SMR) can work out trigger points.

SI Joint Pain

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is formed where the large hip bones meets the sacrum in the lower back on each side. SI joint dysfunction occurs when the joint is misaligned and has either too much or too little motion. It becomes inflamed and irritates the sciatic nerve that runs down the leg. There are a number of causes of SI joint dysfunction; pregnancy, impact, muscle imbalance and leg length discrepancy are common causes.

The SI joint is indicated as your source of pain if the pain is centered on the joint. The joint is usually inflamed if you have SI joint dysfunction, so it may be painful to the touch. The pain may be achy or sharp and often radiates into the lower back, buttocks, hips and thighs. You may also notice that one side of your pelvis is higher or sticks out more than the other. If you have these symptoms, it would be wise to ask your doctor to test for SI joint dysfunction. Physical therapy may assist in recovery.

Sciatica Pain

The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the foot on each side of the body. The nerve can become compressed or irritated by a herniated disc, tight piriformis muscle in the hip, vertebral misalignment or inflamed SI joint. These are the most common causes of sciatica pain.

"True" sciatica is marked by compression of the nerve root as it exits the spine. That said, vertebral misalignment and herniated disc are the most common causes of sciatica. SI joint inflammation and the piriformis muscle irritate the nerve further down its length and create similar pain, just with a different starting point. "True" sciatica is characterized by a sharp pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and legs, sometimes as far down as the foot. Treating this kind of sciatica may require chiropractic care, physical therapy and spinal decompression treatments. SI joint dysfunction and piriformis syndrome create similar pain, but the pain may be worst at the joint or hip. These conditions benefit from physical therapy.

Pain in one side of your back could indicate muscle strain, SI joint dysfunction or sciatica. If the pain is sore or achy and for the most part localized, you likely have a muscle strain on one side of your back. If the pain is sharp and radiates, you can suspect either sciatica or the SI joint. With a little education, you may be able to resolve your back pain on our own. For more serious conditions, you can help your doctor arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

Common Causes of Knee and Joint Pain and Natural Pain Relief Choices

Chronic knee pain is a common complaint for countless men and women. The severity of this condition can range from mild discomfort during strenuous activity to debilitating pain that interferes with your daily life. For many, managing pain on a regular basis becomes as important as eating and sleeping.

Finding effective, long-lasting knee pain relief may depend on your specific condition and health status. Below are some of the more commonly diagnosed causes of chronic knee pain.

Arthritis: Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the protective cartilage surrounding the knee joint slowly wears away. While this condition typically affects older people, it can also occur in younger people that are overweight, as well as those with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

Traditional methods of treatment include cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory pain medications and even a partial or total knee replacement surgery, in severe cases. However, patients searching for natural joint pain relief from knee arthritis have options such as weight loss, physical therapy and alternative treatments like magnetic or light therapy.

Bursitis: A bursa is a sack filled with natural lubricant that sits over the kneecap. Bursitis is a condition in which the area above the kneecap accumulates excess fluid and becomes swollen, inflamed and painful. It is sometimes referred to a "housemaid's knee" because it is common in people who kneel frequently, such as house cleaners, gardeners or carpet layers. The most effective knee pain relief for bursitis is to avoid the aggravating activity, although in some cases the fluid may have to be drained by a doctor.

Injury: Whether it is the result of a slip and fall, a car accident, or related to sports or exercise, injury is perhaps the most common trigger of chronic knee pain. Dislocation of the knee cap, ligament tears, and damage to the cartilage or meniscus can produce agonizing discomfort and even render some people completely immobile.

When it comes to managing pain, many patients turn to prescription painkillers. These chemical compounds may provide short-term knee pain relief but can be hazardous to one's health in the long run. They can bring about a host of unpleasant side effects and become addictive. For natural joint pain relief, patients can turn to holistic alternatives such as massage therapy, therapeutic light treatment, and even the use of magnets.

If you are experiencing any of the above conditions, consult your doctor or health care specialist to determine which course of treatment is best for you.

You Can Do Something With Ordinary Sore Body Joints

We have all experienced it: those aches and pains after a workout, or just when we have been sitting for an extended period of time. As we get older they seem to hit harder and last longer. Sometimes the soreness seems to be so deep it is coming right from the bone or joint. According to research at the Johns Hopkins Medical School, even joints damaged by arthritis causes negligible frictional resistance. So where do they come from, and is there anything to do to relieve the pain?

When we get soreness in our joints, the real cause of stiffness and pain is in the muscles and connective tissues that move the joints. If we don't use those joints regularly, we lose the range of motion that the joint originally had. Similar to the difficulty in opening and closing a rusty door that hasn't been used, using joints that do not remain flexible will cause pain in the muscles supporting the joint and discouraging us from using them further. If we don't always keeping the joint loose and flexible it will cause the surrounding muscle tissue to become short and tight.

We can attribute a few causes of this muscle tightening and contracting. When the joints are inactive and as we age, ligaments and tendons become less elastic. The tendons are the most difficult to stretch, as they are densely packed fibers. Then there is a layer of fibrous tissue surrounding the groups of muscles, blood vessels and nerves, called the fasciae. They, like ligaments and tendons, are made of collagen. Even though they are the easiest to flex, if the fasciae is not kept limber and flexible it will shorten and cause pressure on the nerve pathways.

Many aches and pains will be caused by nerve impulses traveling along these pressured pathways. Incidentally, the fasciae connect muscles to other muscles, whereas ligaments join one bone to another bone, and tendons join muscle to bone. But they are what we try to target when we try to keep the joints from getting stiff and sore.

This can be described as what we normally call "wear and tear" of the joints. Although most of us pass it off as simply getting older, there is no reason to simply attribute it to old age and give up. There is quite a lot we can do to maintain the joints through proper diet and exercise. There are other means of exercise that will be less taxing on the joints instead of running or jogging. Try swimming as part of your aerobic training, or perhaps cycling.

We obviously did not get into some of the other joint problems that people have. These may be from injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto-immune disorder, or osteoarthritis, which involves degeneration of cartilage in the joint. But these conditions require medical attention and do not come under the realm of what we are covering here: the typical stiffening of the joint do to inactivity and lack of exercise. We can reverse the aging process by recognizing what the real issue is and that we can do something about it.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Move My Head Or Ride The Bus?

Quite a few things can make your teeth hurt: pressure - if you have an infection, a loose filling or a cracked tooth; temperature - if you have decay, receded gums or a broken tooth; and movement - often if there is nothing wrong with your teeth or gums.

Usually when head movements or, in severe cases, vibrations cause you dental pain, it's because you have sinus problems. These problems are classified as 'Sinusitis'.

The sinuses are hollows in the cheek bones that give your voice its resonant quality. There's one each side below your eye. The sinuses produce small amounts of fluid to keep them flushed out. This fluid drains into your nose and joins the normal mucus production so that you're not even aware of it - until something happens that stops it draining. Then the fluid builds up in your sinuses and you get pain.

There are many reasons why your sinuses might not be able to drain. The most common is following a head cold. The cold virus causes the lining of your nose to swell and produce more mucus (runny nose) This swelling can squeeze the holes through which the sinuses drain closed so the fluid can't escape.

Other causes of sinus problems include polyps - otherwise harmless growths that block the drainage holes; infection from part of a tooth root that was accidentally pushed into the sinus during an extraction; or sometimes a sinus develops with the drainage hole not at the bottom, so some fluid always remains behind.

Your teeth hurt because the nerves to some of the upper ones run in the floor of the sinus and if trapped fluid is sloshing around against then, it stimulates the nerves and causes pain.

A sure way to check if this is what's causing your problem is to walk heavily down some steps. Does that hurt? Nod your head forward. Does that cause the pain? If so, you have sinus congestion.

Try nasal decongestants. There's a wide range of these available from any pharmacy. Some are in tablet or capsule form and some have to be inhaled. A combination of both usually works best. Ask the pharmacist for advice.

If that doesn't improve things, you should ask your dentist to refer you to a specialist to investigate clearing the blockage.

For more information about keeping your mouth healthy, beautiful and trouble-free, see

Watch Your Mouth

Some Migraines Caused by Bite Problems

Your temporomandibular joints are where you lower jaw connects to your skull, and when they misalign, they can cause you to suffer from a bad bite. If your temporomandibular joint is out of alignment, you may suffer from various symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD). One of the most common symptoms of TMJ or TMD is headaches and/or migraines.

Neuromuscular dentists, like Dr. Pavlenko in Edmonton, Alberta, are trained to diagnose and treat TMJ/TMD. Symptoms of TMJ/TMD other than headaches and migraines include:

· Facial Pain

· Head Pain

· Neck Pain

· Shoulder Pain

· Ringing in the Ears

· Sensitive and Sore Teeth

· Numbness/Tingling in hands or arms

· Clicking/Popping in jaw

· Limited Jaw Movement

· Clenching/Grinding Teeth

If you have TMJ or TMD, then the muscles or joints in your jaw are out of alignment. When this happens, the muscles in your face, head, and neck have to work harder to do everything; your muscles have to strain just to keep your jaw in one position.

When the muscles in your face are constantly strained or contracted, they create a tight feeling, pressure, or tension in you face, head, and neck, giving you a tension headache. It can also cause is a vascular headache. This occurs when the muscles in your face, head, or neck are constantly strained or contracted, preventing blood from flowing correctly to the right places. Your body will try to correct this by sending excess blood to the area, which builds up blood pressure, causing a vascular headache.

Also, clenching or grinding your teeth will give you headaches from placing excess stress on your teeth, muscles, jaw, and the temporomandibular joint. Many times, TMJ/TMD headaches can become so severe and frequent that they are misdiagnosed as migraine headaches.

If you are diagnosed with TMJ/TMD, find a neuromuscular dentist who will prescribe a treatment plan for you that will stop the symptoms.

TMJ Therapy - Do You Know The Right Approach To Take?

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, causes terrible pain and suffering. If left untreated it can ruin a person's life. A TMJ disorder makes it difficult to work, socialize, eat, sleep or even do everyday tasks. If you are suffering pain from a TMJ condition you may want to consider TMJ therapy to get your life back on track.

Debilitating pain causes a lot of problems beyond personal suffering. If can affect relationships, cause a person to lose their job or even result in drug dependency from the pain medication. All of these scenarios are life changing situations. If you think you are suffering from a TMJ disorder you will want to find out for sure before it takes over your way of life. If you can start treating it early with the appropriate therapy there is a good chance you will eliminate the pain completely. Without early diagnosis your choices for treatment may diminish. TMJ therapy is better applied as early as possible after diagnosis.

There can be a number of causes for TMJ disorders and a variety of symptoms for TMJ. If you speak with your professional health provider he or she will be able to explore your medical history. The cause may be one obvious incident or it may be something that has crept up on you over a longer time. By obtaining an accurate diagnosis your health provider can formulate a therapy plan to suit your situation.

TMJ therapy may include medical and therapeutic solutions for treating your TMJ disorder. If you do a little research before you get a diagnosis you will know what to expect from the consultation with your health care provider. Your primary health care provider may also refer you to a specialist as part of your therapy. There are a number of different options available for treatment so your TMJ therapy may cover early intervention or more invasive treatment for severe cases.

If you think you have symptoms for TMJ, do not hesitate to get a diagnosis. Considering the high cost of medical care, it may be tempting to obtain information from the internet and try to treat yourself. Understandably, the internet is a great resource for detailed information, but when you find quality advice on TMJ therapy it is best to first have a solid diagnosis before you start any therapy program. Your medical advisor can help you develop a plan for TMJ therapy that suits your condition.

Introduction to Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Joint and Back Pain

Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) is a new and innovative treatment that naturally heals injured joints and tissue by using the body's own healing process. PRP therapy can be used in patients suffering from joint and knee pain, lower back pain, rotator cuff tears and other orthopedic type injuries. Many clinical studies have shown the benefit from using platelet rich plasma for the non-surgical treatment of these conditions.

Joint pain, particularly in the knees and shoulders as well as back pain constitute the large majority of patients who present to their doctor's office with a complaint of pain. Many of these patients proceed to have surgery, all too often with less than optimal outcomes. Many of these patients still have the same pain they had prior to surgery, or worse, more pain. They are in chronic pain and are frustrated that no one can help them. They are amazed that surgery did not fix them. Platelet rich plasma therapy offers these patients with joint and back pain relief by healing damaged knee or shoulder joint tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Patients with back pain benefit by PRP repairing damaged ligaments and muscles.

Patients with persistent back pain frequently feel that surgery was the only option that they have. Unfortunately all too many patients fall into the trap that surgery is the only answer to their pain problem and were convinced that surgery would "cure" their pain. The most unfortunate thing is that surgery was most likely not appropriate for them in the first place. Surgery will, more frequently than not, fail to relieve spine pain. That is because in the majority of the time, back and neck pain are not due to a spinal problem. The problem most likely due to soft tissue pain: muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia (the cover tissue of muscles).

Platelet rich plasma offers patients an effective therapy to relieve their pain without surgery or narcotics. This incredible therapy was never taught in medical school. Basically platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) uses your body's own natural healing process to repair damage tissues.

To make PRP, two ounces of your own blood is taken and processed to extract out PRP. In whole blood, PRP is only one percent volume of the blood. With platelet rich plasma processing, we can concentrate platelets by 500-600%. This concentrated platelet rich plasma can then be injected directly into the area with damaged tissue. This may be in the knee or shoulder joint, lower back, neck or into injured tendons or ligaments.

In patients who have bone fractures, PRP dramatically accelerates bone healing and pain relief. Platelet rich plasma therapy is a remarkable treatment. It clearly helps patient to avoid surgery, has no recovery time and uses the body's own healing mechanism to get natural, stronger healing.

This therapy has been widely used by pro athletes, including players in the NFL such as Super Bowl player Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Major League Baseball superstar and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has received PRP therapy. Perhaps most famously, pro golfer Tiger Woods received this therapy for his knee pain.