What Is Hand Arthritis And How Can It Be Treated?

Have you noticed that you’ve been having difficulties in playing the guitar or using a kitchenaid hand mixer? Have you been feeling pain and stiffness in your hands? One of the possible reasons can be arthritis of the hands. But don’t panic just yet. With the aid of a doctor and some treatment, getting back to your normal life is possible.

Arthritis is a disease of the bone joints, in particular the cartilage in them. Factors including an injury, heredity and others usually cause the development of this problem. Age may also be the culprit, such as in the case of osteoarthritis. Also known as degenerative arthritis, it’s due to the wearing and tearing of cartilages through the years.

Aside from the hands, large weight-bearing joints are also at risk of getting arthritis. It’s not uncommon for the shoulders, back, hips and knees to develop it. Arthritis of the hands can cause pain and swelling, which limits normal movements. A grinding or clicking sound may be observed when moving the hands. It’s also possible for bony knobs to appear in the joints of the fingers.

Physical examination and medical history taking will be done by a specialist to diagnose the disease. Structural changes within the hands may be revealed by getting an x-ray. Sometimes blood testing is necessary, if the specialist suspects rheumatoid arthritis, a kind of autoimmune disease. Treatment and management will have to depend on the findings.

There are topical arthritis creams for relieving the common signs and symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe oral Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, for pain and inflammation. However, there are also those which are administered through injections. Splints are sometimes applied to provide a stable resting position for the hands. But in extreme cases, surgery may have to be performed.

Application of liniment or anything similar is effective for relieving minor signs and symptoms. The same is true with applying a cold compress on your hands. Hand exercises are helpful in maintaining normal hand or finger functions. You may spread your fingers apart, have each of your fingers touch the tip of the thumb, or make a fist. Such practices enable efficient using of a keyboard, flipping of switches beneath the custom LCD of a device, or other similar activities at work.

Arthritis of the hands need not get the best of you. This is as long as you seek the help of a specialist and follow prescribed treatments. In no time you can resume handling a Canon digital SLR camera, swinging a golf club and other pursuits. You will find that arthritis should not cause lingering pain, swelling and joint immobility.

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This post was written by admin on May 13, 2010

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Medication Free Prevention Of Headaches And Migraines

Even though there are different kinds of migraines and headaches, the reasons why they occur are fairly common and are generally easy to prevent. If you suffer from them, try out these natural approaches to curing or preventing them.

Firstly, it is worth noting that doctors report that more than 75% of headaches and migraines are a result of dehydration. What this means is that drinking more water throughout the day can be enough to prevent the majority of problems. It is also best to stay away from coffee, soft drinks, and other sources of caffeine, as these cause you to further dehydrate.

The importance of sleep in relieving just about every form of pain and chronic condition can not be overlooked. It is essential for your general peace of mind, and equally significant in the prevention of migraines and headaches. You should get at least 6 hours sleep per night, but ideally a couple more than that too.

Regular activity can help prevent migraines and headaches as it releases mood enhancing chemicals called endorphins and lowers stress levels. Try aerobic exercise in the morning for at least 15 minutes. Keeping it light and easy is ok, as the purpose is just to get your blood, and the oxygen in it, flowing more readily around your body, particularly to your brain.

While particular foods help alleviate headaches and migraines, there are more that cause them. Be particularly aware of foods with a content of sugar, which cause problems for lots of people. Other foods which cause headaches and migraines are those which people are commonly allergic to, such as wheat or dairy products. Try to avoid suspected foods for two weeks to a month and assess whether there is any difference in the amount of headaches and migraines arising.

These suggestions will not cure or prevent all headaches and migraines, but they will have a noticeable, positive effect in most circumstances.

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This post was written by admin on February 16, 2010

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Five Simple Steps to Back Pain Relief

 

Have you ever had a sore back? If you have, you know a resolution to the problem may take a bit more than two aspirin or a trip to the chiropractor. Back pain occurs for a number of reasons. The most common ways that people injure their backs and five methods to relieve back pain are listed in this article. So breathe easy. Back pain relief is just a few paragraphs away.

 

Causes of Back Pain: The Usual Suspects

 

The most common causes of back pain are muscle strains. A muscle strain occurs whenever a muscle is damaged by tearing or bruising. Muscle strains are caused by everything from bending or stretching the wrong way to using bad posture when sitting. The back and spine support all the systems of the body. Many people will experience some form of back pain in their lifetimes due to the constant stress on the spine.

 

Some other “usual suspects” commonly causing back pain are: slipped or herniated spinal disks, torn ligaments or tendons, nerve compression, osteoarthritis of the spine, incorrectly lifting heavy objects, moving the body in a sudden or unusual manner, obesity, and- for the ladies- wearing high heels. 

 

Just as lifting a heavy object can cause back pain, so can carrying around too much body fat. Obesity is a main cause of serious back pain. Pregnancy commonly causes lower back pain for a similar reason. Pregnancy can also, like high heels, change the body’s center of gravity, causing the body to tilt and apply more pressure to the spine.

 

Back Pain Relief Strategies

 

There as many ways to provide back pain relief as there are causes of back pain. Back pain relief strategies can be grouped into five categories: hot/cold application, oral medications, topical analgesics, strengthening exercises, and complementary methods.

 

The quickest and easiest way to ease a strained muscle or sore back is to apply a heating pad or 20 or 30 minute intervals. For pain with swelling, rotating ice for 20 to 30 minutes is also beneficial.

 

Non-prescription medications can reduce swelling and pain. Excellent pain relievers can be received using Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, and Aspirin. Prescription pain relievers and muscle relaxants may be required for more severe back pain relief. Topical creams like capsaicin cream, which is made of hot chili peppers, and aspirin creams can be rubbed into sore muscles to ease pain.

 

Yoga, physical therapy, and other exercises are helpful in long-term management of back pain. Exercise makes muscles stronger and less likely to suffer strain. Eastern and Western methods can be added to manage back pain. Acupuncture, massage, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help back pain sufferers manage pain and experience relief.

 

 To learn more about back pain go to The Problems of Back Pain Discussed and Benefits of Chiropractic Care

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This post was written by admin on July 26, 2009

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Natural pain remedies

With an increasing polluted world as well as the added complexity and stress of modern life, it’s inevitable that more people nowadays are looking for ways to treat physical or psychological pain. Psychological pain is sometimes more difficult to treat than the physical ones as it involves more than just medication alone. Physical pain treatment and products are where the medical or pharmaceutical companies are pouring millions of dollars in R&D because there’s such a great demand for it and these companies would continue to make a fortune for many years to come especially if they have a reasonable good range of products. There are hundreds of different different types of medication just for a common problem like back pain or headache. As long as there’s a demand, the off the shelf medication will keep on increasing in numbers.

However in recent years with the explosion of the Internet and information sharing, we have seen a change in the western world where once they would hold steadfastly to these pharmaceutical pain relief products but today they are more open to natural pain relief treatment and products. People in the East have always known the benefits of naturally produced pain relief products. From the roots and leaves of certain herbs and plants contain the secrect to many of our physical problems that we are facing today. Apart from these, other alternative methods such as aromatheraphy have also become popular in treating pain and it’s seen as a better option as it does not involved any oral medicine or drugs.

There re good reasons why more and more people are going for natural pain relief products and method. The chemically formulated pain medicines have unpredictable side effects which are the main reason why natural pain relief remedies are considered to be the better option by a lot people. Not only they are as effective as prescription medicines, but they also provide an almost instant relief when applied topically or administered to the body. Natural pain relief eg. Herbal remedies do not just mask the pain but remove or provide long term relief. The natives who lived in the rain forest know this and they have been using this for years. The Chinese are also known for their herbal products and remedies and it s now been certified to be an alternative to western medicine.

Natural pain relief is type of remedy created out of all-natural ingredients. They are effective for both severe and chronic pain conditions. There are natural pain remedies that can be applied topically while others are meant to be taken on a regular basis. Although they are not regarded as direct drug substitute, they can truly help the people who are suffering from pains because the natural effects of these remedies are received well by the body. The components of natural remedy for pain are ingredients derived from herbs and natural medicinal substances. For topical pain relief, menthol and Aloe Vera are usually the primarily ingredient. Menthol has been widely used in both Chinese and Indian traditional medicines as an active pain reliever. When applied on the problem areas, menthol works on the skin s nerve endings to provide an almost immediate healing effect.

Another well known herb is Aloe vera which can be easily grown in your backyard. Aloevera has many wonderful benefits such as reducing pain, inflammation and quicken the healing of cuts and bruises. For headache relief, it’s widely believed that colts foot leaves can do the trick. The colts foot leaves are boiled in water and sweetened with syrup made from sugar and water. This is then taken orally and it’s also proved to be useful to cure coughs, colds and giddiness apart from headaches. For prevention of headaches especially for those suffering from chronic headaches involves distilling a mixture of vervain, betony and wormwood and then washing your head with it several times a week. Another common problem face by many people is backache. An old remedy for backache involves making a poultice from hot aniseed and nettle leaves and applying it to the painful area of the back or you could just massage your back with comfrey oil. For heartburn, a suggested cure consist of mixture made from ginger, quasi, sal volatile and sulphate of soda. A teaspoon wheat charcoal and a spoonful of glycerin are believed to be beneficial in preventing heartburn.

Herbs are indeed a wonderful creation of God for mankind and it’s up to us to extract the many hidden healing powers that lie within those plants. It’s generally believed that over the centuries, we have only discovered less than 5 percent of the herbs and plants for medicine purpose. Therefore it’s crucial that mankind protects the natural resources that we have especially the ancient rain forest for benefits of our future generations especially people suffering from chronic physical pain.

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The Arthritis Foundation Is Your Friend

arthritis pain is

According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis affects 27 million Americans, rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million Americans and juvenile arthritis affects 300,000. In fact, arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. This crippling pain is no joke: it can cause sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, swelling, skin aberrations, subsequent diseases and a whole host of other serious symptoms. If you have the chronic pain that characterizes more than 100 disorders that fall under the “arthritis” (or inflammation) banner, then your best recourse is to get geared up at the Arthritis Foundation website and be prepared to fight the good fight. You do not have to suffer!

The Arthritis Foundation offers many events and programs year-round to help those suffering with arthritis, as well as their friends and family who are right there suffering with them. The “Time to Walk the Walk” event encourages you to be a team captain or just take a walk to fundraise for the cure, making a difference in the lives of almost 46 million people who live with the daily pain of arthritis. The “Life Improvement Series” program is designed to help sufferers with pain management and functionality. The “Joints In Motion” marathon training program and “The Jingle Bell Run/Walk” are two more events that help raise money and connect people with arthritis, to find greater strength in numbers. Each year, the traditional black-tie gala dinners, wine events and themed parties raise more than $8 million for chronic pain research. By getting involved, you can restore a sense of control and improve your morale, while doing what you can.

You can get the latest news and advocacy information through the Arthritis Foundation website. Read about the latest on the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act that is being passed around Congress or about which representatives are fighting for you. Read inspirational stories, like how Lynn Sanders, a volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, started her own foundation called “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Network C.A.R.E.S. INC” to educate and help with pain management. Read about highlights from the 10th Annual Advocacy Summit and remain informed with all the latest news!

Even if you don’t know what’s causing your chronic pain, the Arthritis Foundation can give you information about the 100+ diseases classified as “arthritis.” The website is no substitute for a doctor’s visit and professional medical advice, but reading about signs, symptoms and potential treatments can at least guide you toward living a relatively pain-free life. So many Americans silently suffer, opting to take a nap, sit by the sidelines or withdraw themselves from their everyday activities. Yet by learning more about arthritis, you’ll find that living a satisfying life is still possible!

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