New Advance in Back Pain Treatment: Stem Cell Therapy

If you have chronic back pain, it is important to be aware of all your treatment options before considering surgery. A new technique to heal structures of the back uses a component of the patient's body: stem cells.

Stem cells are the blank slate of cells: They can become other cells in the body. The cells used to treat back pain and other chronic pain conditions are called mesenchymal, and they can become bone, cartilage or fat cells depending on the environment they are put in. Adult cells are used, which differ from embryonic cells that can become any other type of cell. Taking the cells from an adult eliminates the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research from this form of treatment.

Stem cells may be able to treat a range of conditions due to their versatility, including degenerative disc disease, vertebral fracture, ligament damage and facet joint syndrome. Research is underway to determine the efficacy of this new therapy in treating various types of back pain causes.

The Procedure

Mesenchymal cells are taken from bone marrow, usually from the patient's hip. This may be painful depending on the technique used. The company Regenexx uses a small needle to take a sample from the hip marrow and claims that this is a relatively painless procedure. After the cells have been isolated from the marrow, they are generally combined with platelets from your blood which contain growth factors. To make the procedure a fast one, many practitioners combine the cell and platelet mixture with platelet-rich plasma or another substance to encourage the speedy reproduction of stem cells. The cells and their growth factors are then injected into the area of the body that needs repair. If injected in a joint, cartilage will form; if in a disc, new disc material will grow; if in bone, new bone will form.

Stem cells have also been used to perform spinal fusion surgery, in which case a damaged disc is removed and the cell mixture is placed between two vertebrae to grow into bone and fuse them. Unlike the injection procedure, this is an invasive surgical procedure. Trials are underway to test stem cells' ability to regrow damaged discs. See the case study at
http://www.cellingtreatmentcenters.com/assets/Uploads/Disc-Regeneration-using-Mesenchymal-Stem-Cell-Transplantation.htm to learn more about the potentials of disc regeneration.

Currently, this therapy is new and not the most accessible treatment. It is only offered to those participating in clinical trials or by a couple of companies, such as Regenexx. An exact cost of stem cell therapy is not available and likely depends on your location, condition and the procedure selected to treat it. Non-surgical techniques such as the injection of cells is likely much cheaper than common surgeries like spinal fusion.

It will probably be a couple of years before stem cell therapy is widely available to those with back pain. It is best to undergo available conservative treatments like physical therapy and decompression treatments first. In the coming years, we may see the procedure become commonplace for those looking to avoid surgery.

New advances in back pain treatment offer hope to those who feel they've tried everything. There are many options for ending your pain, and stem cell therapy may be one of them.

Arthritis - Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disease

Osteoarthritis is identified as a degenerative joint disease. It's the most widespread form of arthritis and causes the highest disability in older adults. This disease is deterioration of tissue or cushioning that protects the joints. When this protection breaks down, bone damage and pain occurs, mostly in weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees, but the fingers and neck can also become affected. Because osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, it has the potential to limit the everyday movements of those in distress. Everyday tasks such as walking, bending and even brushing your teeth can be difficult. The disease is not curable, but the proper treatments can ease the pain and prevent things from getting worse. The corrosion or degeneration occurs over a period of time, causing friction between the bones, which is the primary reason for painful movement and other joint problems due to aging, injury or family history.

Even though people of any age can be a magnet for osteoarthritis for different reasons, the emergent of this disease increases with age and affect those mostly in their sixties, but the extent of the disease and difficulty may be different. Various other issues increase a person's chances of getting this disease. Injury or a broken bone near a joint, heredity of imperfect genes can be blamed for inadequate tissue protection of the joints, obesity or excess weight placing stress on crucial joints. Another risk for developing osteoarthritis is overuse or excessive bending of joints required by those in some professions or activities. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain from inflammation, stiffness and weak muscle. These symptoms increase with the progression of the disease because of excessive activity or long periods of inactivity. Bone exaggeration can also occur in the fingers and other joints. Although some of the symptoms may not be painful, sensitivity, sporadic swelling and fluid in the joint area can also take place.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is accomplished by taking into consideration a combination of important issues such as your description of symptoms. The health specialist or doctor must also consider the location and pattern of pain, specific findings regarding the physical examination and x-rays to confirm how much joint damage has occurred. The doctor may also choose to examine some of the fluid found in the joint area to rule out other diseases.

Treatments for arthritis must be designed to fit the patient's specific needs. For that reason, working with your doctor to find the best treatment program for you is most important. Several things may be necessary to achieve the right solution. The treatments of osteoarthritis include medications, exercise and heat or cold compresses applied to the affected area to relieve pain. Weight control and support devices can take the pressure off stressed joints and surgery, as a last resort, may be necessary to relieve pain when other treatment options are not successful. The type of treatment will be determined by the specific needs of the patient and consideration must be given to age, the patient's overall health and severity of the condition, as well as medical history and location of the disease.

Where prolong use of medications is needed, regular checkups with your doctor is required. Exercise such as walking and cycling are activities to strengthen your muscles and reduce stress on your weight-bearing joints. However, your doctor must approve the activity that is best for you, including physical therapy.

Arthritis & Joint Pain

Today almost every other person you talk too is living with daily joint pain. It does not matter what the age or physical shape of the person, daily pain seems to be a common complaint. Living with chronic pain can wear a person down, affecting energy levels, mood and overall stamina. The cause can vary however Arthritis is typically the root problem. Arthritis comes in more than 100 forms and one does not need to be of old age to have this debilitating disease. The cost of arthritis around the world is approx $400 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity.

Let’s face it preventative health care is boring and as a result most individuals do not provide their body with nutritional supplements until they are sick or in pain. We do not eat properly to get the nutrition required and even if we attempt to do so there is very little in nutrients remaining once we cook our food at high temperatures. Therefore it is very important to begin to nourish our joints at a young age to prevent Arthritis however very often this is not done until we can no longer stand the pain.

The fight against Arthritis is to begin early in life with good nutrition. Good nutrition also means the taking of daily nutritional supplements along with a balanced diet. A person should begin to supplement the diet as early as 30 years of age to fend off Arthritis symptoms later in life. As we get older our joints begin to lose lubrication, this can also happen earlier due to an injury or excessive stress on the joints as a result of sporting activity or repetitive motion. Once the joint begins to lose moisture we experience the loss of flexibility, and an increase in inflammation which results in stiffness and pain. We need to preserve the cartilage and fluid in all of our joints to maintain flexibility and live an active life.

Once symptoms begin the first thing most people resort to is pain medication however this just masks the underlying problem and does not provide nourishment to improve lubrication to the affected area. Natural supplements Celadrin, MSM, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin have been on the market for years and commonly taken to alleviate arthritic symptoms. Taken in pill form these supplements may take up to several months before individuals begin to feel better therefore most people give up before they even begin to see results. Pills are required to be broken down by the digestive system before the necessary ingredients can be absorbed by the bloodstream and intestinal track and it may take that long to get enough of these ingredients into the body to be helpful. Gel-nutrition is a new natural alternative which takes these same proven ingredients and keeps them in a pre-hydrated state so that the body can quickly absorb them into the bloodstream for quick relief of pain and they begins to nourish the body and its joints with-in one hour after ingestion. Positive results have been seen with-in 4 to 72 hours depending on the individual. Now just imagine all 4 natural supplements combined into one powerful gel formula, no more need to take a hand full of pills each day.

Just exactly what are these ingredients and what do they do?

Celadrin – or cetyl myristoleate is a blend of cetylated fatty acids that provides lubrication to the joints. Blended, invented and patented by chemist Harry Diehl PhD cetyl myristoleate was found to circulate in the blood of mice and made them immune to arthritis. Celadrin may also act as an anti-inflammatory agent.

MSM – or methylsulfonylmethane is a naturally occurring, organic, sulfur compound. Taken as a nutritional dietary source of sulfur, which is the 4th most abundant element in the human body, MSM is necessary for making and repairing cartilage. MSM has been shown to relieve pain as a result of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Glucosamine – is a small carbohydrate molecule which is naturally synthesized (produced) in the body. This synthesis declines with aging therefore the need to supplement. Glucosamine supports cartilage maintenance and strength therefore reducing and relieving joint pain.

Chondroitin – or chondroitin sulfate is naturally synthesized in the body and supports strong cartilage. Chondroitin protects existing cartilage by reducing water loss and by slowing the breakdown of the cartilage. Glucosamine and Chondroitin work together to protect the cartilage from wear and tear and help it maintain its strength.

As you can see each ingredient has its own job to do and how all 4 are necessary to maintaining healthy joints and reducing pain. To learn more about gel-nutrition visit [http://www.agelhealthandwellness.com].

My Story – The straw that broke the camels back was the day that I broke into tears at work over a situation that I found to be frustrating. Never in my 27 year career had I lost emotional control in my work environment. Growing up in a stiff British home very seldom did I ever lose emotional control over anything? The problem….chronic pain. After years of working on a computer that was not properly set up for my work station I had developed osteo-degenerative arthritis in my neck. I lived every day with a stiff neck, to the point that I had difficulty driving a vehicle and I was having weekly migraines. I was eating over the counter pain pills like they were candy and my doctor eventually put me on a pain medication called Vioxx. This drug was pulled off the shelves after I had taken it for 18 months and could no longer be prescribed. I spent over 2 years and thousands of dollars trying to get rid of the pain and put some mobility back into my neck. I worked with a message therapist, physio therapist and a chiropractor on a weekly basis to get the situation under control. Sound familiar to any of you. Well the pain became manageable however it never fully went away until I began to take a gel-nutrition formula which contained all of the above noted ingredients. The pain medication just masked the problem and all the therapy in the world was not going to put lubrication back into my joints, calm down the inflammation and strengthen the cartilage between my vertebrae. Now having said that, the therapy was also necessary to ease the muscle tightness which had happened around the affected area.

Like many I had tried MSM and Glucosamine in pill form however became impatient due to the slow results. People who are living with chronic pain want quick results even thought I fully realized this problem took years to create and would not be fixed over night. Today I am happy to say that I am pain free, even my ankles, which suffered many years of abuse from jogging and sport activity. My pain and stiffness eased after giving my body the proper nutrition for only 1 week. My symptoms were gone after 2 weeks.

TMJ Treatment Without Surgery

When it comes to looking for TMJ treatment, many people make the initial mistake of thinking that there is one universal solution for every TMJ sufferer. In fact, TMJ disorder is actually similar with every other medical condition in that the problem needs to be monitored or diagnosed on an individual basis, and treated accordingly.

Fortunately, most TMJ treatments are quite simple. Contrary to popular belief, surgery is not always necessary. In fact, many remedies can be done in the comfort of your home. Having said that, it is crucial that a proper diagnosis is made by a dentist or dental specialist. Routine dental visits are also important to monitor the TMJ symptoms and to make the necessary treatment adjustments.

There are a number of prescription medications that can help ease TMJ pain. However, remember that all prescription drugs should only be administered under the supervision of a medical practitioner or specialist. Some medical studies report that the right medications combined with jaw exercises developed to specifically stretch the jaw muscles can be effective in battling this condition. Unfortunately, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may not always work to counter the effects of TMJ pain.

Besides medication, one easy way to treat TMJ disorder is to modify your diet. Until your condition gets better, stick with soft foods and stay away from foods that are hard or that require a lot of chewing like gum.

One easy diet tip is to reduce consumption of wheat and dairy, especially whole grains. Reducing foods and supplements with a vast amount of vitamin C or iron has also proven to be effective. Another tip is to increase your magnesium intake by eating more vegetables and beans.

For serious cases of TMJ disorder which involve jaw clenching and teeth grinding (especially at night), using a mouth guard (sometimes referred to as a night guard) may be beneficial. The soft night guard prevents your teeth from wear-and-tear as a result of tension caused by unconscious stress. Be aware, though, that night guards can aggravate sleep apnea symptoms. So, keep a close monitor on your sleeping patterns during the first few days of using a night guard.

In most cases, TMJ disorder is caused by stress, or rather the mis-management of stress. In this scenario, your dentist or doctor may not be able to help you using physical treatments, but may refer you to a psychotherapist. This is a good way to get to the root of your daily stress patterns. The psychotherapist will help you identify the source of stress, manage stress triggers, change behaviors and teach you relaxation techniques.

In lieu of major joint replacement surgery, your dentist may determine that your condition can be solved with regular dental treatments like balancing the biting surfaces of your teeth, replacing missing teeth, or replacing fillings or crowns. These procedures are relatively routine sessions that will not disrupt your daily activities.

When looking for TMJ treatment, remember that "going natural" is always a good first step to take. Eating the right foods coupled with jaw exercises can be the easy and effective TMJ treatment you are looking for.

Joint Pain Remedies

There are many different circumstances that may cause joint pain. These could be caused by a disease or condition, such as arthritis, or simply from overworking them. There are many treatments for joint pain from home remedies and natural products to prescription medication. Many people who suffer from JP have a hard time finding the perfect remedy. The following are only some Joint Pain Remedies.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

As the name states, NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory medication. They can often be bought over the counter and the most common type is Ibuprofen. Although these can be used to ease pain, it is not suggested that they be taken every day.

Corticosteroid

Corticosteroid is often used to treat immune system conditions that cause JP such as rheumatoid arthritis. This is a prescription medication that diminishes inflammation and pain. The most common Corticosteroid is Prednisone.

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)

Also a prescription medication, it is used to treat various types of joint pains including arthritis. They work by limiting the joint destruction and easing the pain that accompanies diseases that cause this pain. Some of the common DMARDs are: hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), auranofin (Ridaura), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin) and methotrexate (Rheumatrex).

Supplements

The supplements for joint pain contain these ingredient that are very well known to help with pain are the following

Glucosamine: Glucosamine which is produced naturally in the body is a supplement that helps with the formation and repair of cartilage. The goal of a glucosamine supplement is to form more cartilage that could help with joint pain.

Chondroitin: Chondroitin is responsible in the flexibility of cartilage as well as stopping the enzymes that destroy cartilage.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): Although there have not been significant tests to support this supplement, it is said that MSM helps with the treatment of joint pain by keeping ligaments healthy and flexible.

Flexcin

There is however a new ingredient that has been found to help joint pain and it is only available in one type of pain relief supplement and that is Flexcin. This new ingredient, CM8, has been called a triple threat as it does not only act as an anti-inflammatory but also helps with the lubrication of joints and protects against immune diseases that can cause JP.

While reading customer reviews, it is obvious that Flexcin works. Some people report that after having taken it for only a couple weeks the pain had virtually disappeared. This could be explained by the fact that contrary to other joint pain supplements, Flexcin not only takes care of immediate pain, but also prevents it from returning when taken regularly. Although it is suggested to wait a few weeks before it works completely, some people have reported results after only taking it for a couple days.

Other Joint Pain Remedies

Some home remedies suggested for pain are massaging the affected area with any type of oil, eating fruits such as bananas, and drinking a lot of water. Other remedies include topical creams, exercise, and in some cases physical therapy. There are many Remedies on the market that's for sure.

Essential Oils Can Help Rescue Fibromyalgia Sufferers

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

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

What Kind of Symptoms Are We Talking About?

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

How Can Essential Oils Help with These Symptoms?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Osteoarthritis - One of the Most Common Diseases in Dogs

Osteoarthritis is a painful disease that frequently affects small animals, and very frequently older pets. While arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, osteoarthritis is the most common skeletal disease in dogs. It is also called degenerative joint disease and it is a progressive deterioration of the cartilage in moveable joints. The changes in joints cause pain, stiffness and a reduction of flexibility. The cartilage is eroded and there are areas of deposition of bone which are abnormal.

There are breeds of dogs that tend to develop arthritis because of genetic make-up. German Shepherd, for example, are prone to it and to hip dysplasia as well.

Secondary osteoarthritis occurs when an injury to the joint, an infection, fracture, trauma or excessive stress have been present.

Owners usually notice the problem when the dog becomes lame. If only one joint is affected the problem is more easily noticeable. When more than one joint is affected, the dog might just walk more carefully and slowly, or becomes less active. This is why it is more difficult to spot.

The classic signs of osteoarthritis are stiffness and difficulty of movement after rest or sleep. The animal moves better after some time, so owners might not be able to recognize the problem. Sometimes they only become aware if the dog cannot jump into the car anymore or go up the stairs. Dogs are more irritable and nervous and generally less active as they feel chronic pain.

Veterinarians can diagnose osteoarthritis even without using x-rays or other tests. By checking for swellings in the joints or evidence of pain they can tell if the dog is suffering from this condition.

For dogs suffering from osteoarthritis, it is important that they do not become overweight. This could lead to more stress for the joints. A moderate amount of exercise is necessary even for dogs who have this disease. The dog will tend to be less active and try to rest most of the time and having a less active lifestyle, weight can easily become a problem.

Pet owners will have to look for foods that promote weight loss and encourage exercise for their dogs. Easy and short walks will be very helpful. The more frequent such walks, the better. However, long hikes at the weekend are not a good idea when you have a dog suffering from osteoarthritis.

There is medication to treat osteoarthritis, but the disease will not be cured. The drugs used for osteoarthritis only offer alleviation from pain and help the animal function normally. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for osteoarthritis can have side effects though. The most common are gastrointestinal problems.

If the dog has problems with kidneys, liver or heart, medication can cause blood clotting or gastric ulcer. The benefits of administered drugs should be weighed against the additional problems they may cause. There is also the possibility of surgical treatment when the arthritis is limited to one joint and it has proven to be highly successful for arthritic problems of the hip joint. Surgery should be considered only if other methods of treatment were inefficient.