Temporomandibular Joint Disorder|Joint Pain Relief

Neck pain or Cervicalgia is a common disorder inflicting two-thirds of the world population. The area affected by pain is the lower neck region and upper back region. This area bears and supports the load of our head. The top three joints of the neck are responsible for maximum and flexible movement of neck and head. The lower joints and those constituting the upper back, collectively form an effective support system for the head. When this support system undergoes an adverse attack by any one of the several reasons, neck pain is generated. The root of the pain lies in the tightening of neck muscles and pinching of spinal nerves.

To understand neck pain, we have to first know about the structure of the neck. The spinal column in the neck is made up of seven vertebrae besetting the spinal cord and canal. Tiny discs occur between vertebrae and through the little opening at the sides of the discs pass the nerves of the neck. In other words neck region is a complex collection of neck muscles, arteries, veins, lymph glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, wind pipe, food pipe or esophagus and larynx.

Medical conditions affecting any of these neck tissues lead to pain. The pain may be piercing: sharp shooting pain accompanied by tingling sensation and numbness in the neck and upper limbs, or may be in the form of a dull ache. The other symptoms associated with neck pain may be tenderness of neck muscles, difficulty in swallowing, gland swelling, pulsations, dizziness and swishing sounds in the head.

Causes of Back Neck Pain

1. Spondylosis or degenerative arthritis
2. Ankylosing spondylitis
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
4. Thyroid trauma
5. Esophageal trauma
6. Tracheal trauma
7. Torticollis
8. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
9. Rubella
10. Certain cancers
11. Congenital cervical rib
12. Lymphadenitis
13. Spinal stenosis or constriction of the spinal canal
14. Spinal disc hermiation or protruding discs
15. Infections like retropharyngeal abscess etc
16. Carotid artery dissection
17. Referred pain due to acute coronary syndrome
18. Traumatic or minor injuries or falls from car accidents or certain sports
19. Cervical spine fracture
20. Head injury
21. Emotional and physical stresses
22. Muscular strains due to over exertion or over use
23. Poor sleeping and sitting postures

Neck Pain Treatment

Neck braces like soft collar, Philadelphia collar, halo, sterno-occipital device are often given to patients. These braces support the spine, compensate for neck muscle weakness, check the risk of further injury, quicken healing and also keep the neck in a proper position as is required.

Some patients are treated with ultrasound which can also be of help. The common medications for neck pain include analgesics like acetaminophen, carprofen, ketoprofen or Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine, massage creams containing counterirritants. Epidural steroid injections also are given to reduce inflammation of nerve roots. They are mainly used to treat spinal stenosis. Surgery may also be required in critical cases.

Herbal pain relief oil such as Rumatone Gold Oil is very effective ayurvedic herbal formula for getting relief from back neck pain. Regular application of this anti-inflammatory massage oil reduces pain and inflammation and provides lasting relief.

Chiropractic care is most often thought of as something individuals seek when they are suffering from back pain. But it can also help with a variety of other problems, such as Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ). So the answer is YES, chiropractors can fix TMJ.

The ability to speak, chew and swallow or even yawn is a result of the jaw acting as a hinge to connect the mandible with the skull. This joint is one of the most commonly used joints in the body.

TMJ occurs when the disc becomes displaced or when the surrounding muscles and tendons become inflamed. The results are:

• Pain and tenderness around the joint directly in front of your ear


• The opening and closing of the mouth will become difficult or painful


• A grinding or crunching sound when an individual opens or closes their mouth

People with TMJ can also have earaches, headaches, dizziness, and muffled hearing.

A chiropractor can help with treating TMJ in two ways:

1. Providing Chiropractic Adjustments to the upper neck or jaw.


2. Recommending exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to help speed recovery and prevent a relapse

Chiropractic treatment is very effective for patients with TMJ. Before treatment a Chiropractor will perform a full spinal analysis focusing on the upper neck and evaluating the jaw joint. Treatment plans will include chiropractic adjustments of the upper neck and/or jaw area. Depending on severity, patients may see immediate relief or will need a series of adjustments over time to see relief. Usually, the longer one waits to see a chiropractor for treatment, the longer the recovery time.

Chiropractors are concerned with not only treating patients until their pain dissipates, but also assuring their problems are permanently eliminated.

What are some of the philosophical elements associated with chiropractic care? Among them:

• Naturalism


• Rationalism


• Holism

Chiropractic care focuses on the total human body, in the belief that it is inter-related with both the environment and individuals' lifestyles.

In many cases, chiropractic care is proven to be more effective than drugs and medicines. Not only is it more effective, it helps patients through care that is gentler, cheaper, and does not include the potential for negative results later.

Chiropractors can recommend certain pain relieving exercises that help relax jaw muscles and relieve stress. Meditation and massage are some of the other methodologies adopted by the chiropractor to treat their patients.

Since chiropractic care is effective with disorders which are mechanical in nature it is very effective with TMJ. Not only is chiropractic effective, it is preferable when other options are more closely examined. For example, most people suffering from pain believe medication will provide quick relief for their problems. This is true, but medications only provide temporary pain relief and do not eliminate the cause. Medications may also result in harmful side-effects.

Surgery is another option for TMJ. But surgery can be costly, demand time away from work and other activities during recovery, and it can be dangerous.

The colder months of the year can be miserable for sufferers of Arthritis. The cold and damp can play havoc with joint mobility, causing inflammation and pain. If you suffer from this condition you are far from alone. The information that follows will hopefully provide you with some useful tips to help you get through the winter months with less pain.

The Statistics

• Arthritis and Rheumatic disease affect around 8 million people in the UK


• More than 3 million people have a significant disability


• Osteoarthritis - the most common joint disorder in the UK affects more than one million people.


• It affects 10 - 25% of people aged over 65


• Around 600,000 people have Rheumatoid arthritis


• Arthritis and rheumatic disease are the most common causes of long-standing illness, and account for one fifth of all visits to the doctor.

The term "Arthritis" means damage or swelling of joints. Joints are the points where 2 bones meet. The ends of bones are covered by a thin layer of gristle or cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber when you put weight on a joint.

Cartilage is the tough, rubbery coating you can see on the ends of chicken thigh bones. It cushions the joints and ensures a smooth motion.

Joints are surrounded by a membrane called the Synovium, which produces a small amount of thick fluid called Synovial Fluid. This nourishes the cartilage and keeps it slippery. The Synovium has a tough outer layer called the Capsule, which stops the bones moving too much. Ligaments on both sides keep bones firmly in place. These are thick, strong bands usually just outside the Capsule. Tendons are also on both sides and attach muscles to bones. They keep the joint in place and help to move it.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the end result of a number of different episodes of damage to the joint over a period of time. Genetic inheritance may play a part with some people. Being overweight, injury to the joint and repeated minor pressures on the joint, e.g. some sports or occupations involving repeated kneeling or lifting, can also cause this condition.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs at the knee (more common in women), the hip (equally common in men and women), the spine, and in the hands, especially at the base of the thumb and in the fingers. Osteoarthritis can produce a mild ache to crippling pain, when Total Hip Replacement or Knee Replacement may be indicated.

In severe osteoarthritis, the cartilage can become so thin that it no longer covers the bone ends. The bone ends touch and start to wear away. The loss of cartilage, the wearing of the bone, and the bony spurs at the edges can change the shape of the joint. This forces the bones out of their normal position and causes deformity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, auto-immune disease where the body turns against itself. Normally, inflammation is our immune system's response to fighting bacteria, viruses etc. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis the tissues and joints are attacked, which damages the cartilage, bones and sometimes the ligaments and tendons, too. When this happens the joints become unstable and deformities can occur.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women and usually occurs between the ages of 40 to 60 but can appear earlier. It can also be hereditary in some families.

With rheumatoid arthritis the symptoms can come and go unpredictably. Sometimes physical exertion, an illness, or an emotional experience may trigger a 'flare up' but other times there may be no obvious cause.

Helpful Tips

Information and education - knowing how and why arthritis occurs can help to slow down or prevent further deterioration.

Weight management - being overweight puts further stresses on the joints, particularly the knees and hips. A reduction in weight can make a significant difference.

Exercise - aerobic exercise where the individual raises their heartbeat, sweats and becomes breathless is good for the whole body and can help in the management of weight. It may also increase general well being. Local strengthening exercise is particularly useful in arthritis of the knee. By strengthening the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh, pain can be reduced and balance and stability can be improved, therefore lessening disability. A physiotherapist can teach the exercises.

Frequent breaks in activities - it is sensible to have frequent breaks when gardening or doing housework to avoid mechanical stress.

Sensible footwear - a good training shoe for arthritis of the hip or knee is designed to absorb any impact when walking. Shoes should have a thick sole, no raised heel, a broad forefoot and soft uppers.

Drug therapy - no drugs are totally safe but Paracetamol is usually the first painkiller to try. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen may be the next choice but they have the potential to cause side effects, especially stomach problems, and may interact with other drugs. NSAIDs can inhibit repair of the joint.

Natraflex - a natural, herbal balm containing Boswellia, Capsaicin and MSM has been shown in trials to be effective in over 75% of people with arthritis and is available from Health Food Shops or the internet.

Diet - Nutritionists recommend that we eat a diet which is 80% alkaline and 20% acid. Instead, most people eat the opposite. Acidic bodies also cause calcium to be leached out from the joints, making the condition worse.

Foods that should be avoided

• Alcoholic drinks


• Caffeine-Coffee, Tea, & Chocolate


• Packaged or processed food with artificial additives


• Chinese food (contains Monosodium glutamate)


• Dairy products


• Eggs


• Refined flour


• White sugar


• Salted foods


• Fried foods


• Burnt, charred or rancid food


• Animal proteins-red meat


• Foods containing nitrates


• Citrus fruits


• Aubergines


• Tomatoes

• Yams


• Celery


• Sea vegetables e.g. seaweed, kelp


• Garlic and onions


• Pineapple -contains the enzyme Bromelain


• Bananas


• Apples, pears and paw paws


• Water - at least 2 litres of filtered water each day


• Herbal tea


• Rice milk


• Oats, oatcake biscuits


• Rice cakes (with no added salt)


• Brown rice


• Millet


• Flax seed or linseeds


• Linseed oil


• Cider vinegar


• Tuna, mackerel and sardines


• Nuts and seeds (make sure they are not mouldy) - Brazil nuts, almonds, hazel nuts, cashew nuts (not peanuts), sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds (Tahini paste)


• Dried fruits


• Pulses -lentils and beans


• White meat -chicken, lamb, and game


• Herbs -basil, coriander, and ginseng

Any allergens or food intolerances should be identified to reduce the load on the immune system, particularly with Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Milk, yeast, eggs, grains and citrus fruits are the common foods that cause intolerance (see list of foods to avoid, above).

Fish oils are recommended to help lubricate the joints and therefore reduce the damage. MSM (methylsulphonylmethane) has also been found to reduce degeneration of the joints and can be taken orally or as a skin cream. Glucosamine is also recommended by Rheumatologists as it speeds up joint repair.

Doctors practising in nutrition recommend taking a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement each day, which provides the daily values of all essential vitamins and minerals.

By understanding the facts about arthritis and following these simple diet and lifestyle recommendations, you can help to control or even reduce the symptoms of this common disease.

Healthy, natural, pain relief - killing two birds with one stone.

Pain killing drugs may work well (for pain) but they are not good for your health. The most commonly used pain killers are called NSAID's for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. And drugs like these kill. Prolonged NSAID use is associated with kidney problems, GI bleeding, ulcers, and even heart disease.

Killer NSAID's

The Associated Press reported the results of a research study on over-the-counter pain killers like Aleve, Motrin and Advil. The study found that anyone taking any of these drugs for at least 6 months had "twice the risk of dying of a heart attack, stroke or other heart-related problem".

Tylenol is no better.

Many people, hearing of the dangers of NSAID's turn to acetomenophen (Tylenol). Unfortunately acetomenophen is "the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States".

A particularly diabolic drug combination is found in Vicodin. Vicodin contains opiates which are addicting combined with acetomenophen which damages the liver. Vicodin is also the most prescribed drug in the United States. In giving Vicodin to a patient a doctor is giving and addictive drug that damages one's liver.

Vicodin referred to by surgeon as "Candy and Poison".

The foregoing information on acetomenophen is found in an article titled The Danger Of Mixing Candy And Poison. It was written by a liver transplant specialist at the University of California. No doubt this doctor is seeing personally the ill effects of Vicodin in his liver transplant patients.

Pain also causes damage.

I would never suggest that anyone suffer pain. Pain is also damaging to the body. One study followed chronic back pain sufferers for one year. MRI scans of the brain were taken at the beginning and end of the twelve month period. These MRI's were compared with MRI's of matched subjects who did not suffer any pain whatsoever. The difference was astounding. Normally as we age, we lose grey matter in our brain. The MRI scans could measure the amount of grey matter in the brain of each test subject at the beginning and end of the one year time period. The brains of the group suffering chronic pain aged the equivalent of 10 years when compared to the pain free group.

Healthy pain relief found with fish oil.

So what's a solution? How about natural pain killing omega-3 fats that relieve pain with no negative side effects, only spectacular health benefits?

By now most everyone has heard of the benefits of taking fish oil, flax oil (oils containing Omega-3 fats). The important component of Omega-3 fats when it comes to pain is EPA. EPA is a building block for a potent anti-inflammatory hormone found naturally in the body. Most Americans are woefully deficient in Omega-3 fats and EPA. When our body doesn't have enough of the building material to make this critical anti-inflammatory substance, it cannot control inflammation. (Chronic pain is often associated with chronic inflammation). EPA is especially concentrated in certain fish oils.

Research studies show the pain relieving effects of fish oil.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons published a study entitled "High-Dose Omega-3 Oils used to Treat Non-Surgical Neck and Back Pain". This study involved 250 patients who suffered from chronic neck pain and who were taking NSAID's for relief. Researchers gave the patients high doses of fish oil daily. After 75 days nearly 2/3's of the patients (59%) had stopped taking their pain drugs for pain, saying that the oil provided satisfactory relief. 88% of the entire group in the study said that they planned on continuing with the oil after the study.

Many types of pain are relieved by fish oil.

Another study published in The Clinical Journal of Pain was titled "Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Neuropathic Pain: Case Studies". Neuropathic pain is nerve pain. This pain arises directly from the nerve and is different than the pain of arthritis, a strained muscle or a bruised knee. Neuropathic pain is usually harder to treat and is often more severe. The study followed the cases of five patients. Each patient had a different ailment causing pain. They suffered a cervical radiculopathy (a pinched nerve in the neck), thoracic outlet syndrome (nerve compression in the chest/shoulder), fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and one a burn injury. The patients were given high doses of omega-3 containing fish oil. Here's how each of these patients fared after just taking oil.

Pain from pinched nerve and herniated disc relieved.

Patient #1 was a 53 year old man, had a disc herniation in his neck pinching a nerve, which caused radiating pain into his arm. Previous treatments such as physiotherapy and NSAID drugs did not help. After 2 翻 weeks taking fish oil his pain lessened. After taking 8 months he had improved so much he started playing competitive hockey again. After 19 months he felt he was cured and had no restrictions whatsoever. However, if he stopped taking the oil for more than 4 days, his pain began to return.

Fibromyalgia pain and thoracic outlet syndrome relieved.

Patient #2 was a 48 year old nurse who was injured at work. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and thoracic outlet syndrome. (Thoracic outlet syndrome is a compression of nerves as the travel from the neck to the arm through the upper chest and shoulder). Previous treatments with pain drugs and physical therapy had not helped. After 7 months of taking high doses of fish oil she had improved greatly. After 13 months she felt she was cured of both conditions.

Man with disabling pain after an auto accident gets relief with fish oil.

Patient #3 was a 50 year old man who suffered from chronic neck pain and arm pain as a result of being in a car accident. This patient remained disabled even after treatments including chiropractic, massage, physiotherapies and NSAID drugs. After taking large doses of fish oil his pain began to improve. Eventually he was able to resume working out at the gym without pain. He also reported that he was thinking more clearly and had better concentration.

Patient with carpal tunnel syndrome avoids surgery and gets pain relief with fish oil.

Patient #4 was a 47 year old man with carpal tunnel syndrome. After 8 months of taking high doses of fish oil his pain symptoms improved significantly. A nerve conduction test also showed significant improvement in nerve function. He improved so much that he was able to avoid surgery.

Patient with 2nd and 3rd degree burns gets off of morphine and relieves pain with fish oil.

Patient #5 was a 54 year old man who had suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 30% of his body. He was hospitalized for over a month and had extensive skin grafts. His pain levels continued at such a high level that he was on morphine. Taking high-dose fish oil alleviated the pain so much that he was able to get off of the morphine.

Fish oil supplementation provides tremendous health benefits. Some of the documented health benefits include relief of inflammatory joint pain and chronic spinal pain, improvements of autoimmune diseases, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improvements and reduced risk of depression, and relief of pain in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Things to be careful of when taking high doses of fish oil.

• Fish oil is a blood thinner. If you are taking a prescription blood thinner, you should start at a low dose while monitoring clotting times. If you are going to have dental work, surgery or any other invasive procedure (like a colonoscopy) you should stop taking fish oil two weeks before, because of its blood thinning effect.


• Before taking high doses of fish oil you should have a blood test that measures the ratio of Omega-6 (AA or Arachidonic Acid) to Omega-3 (EPA or EicosaPentaenoic Acid). An ideal AA/EPA ratio for heart health is 1.5/1 to 3/1.


• Take only "clean" fish oil. Better products are cleaned of contaminants and toxins commonly found in today's ocean fish (mercury, PCP's, dioxins). The gold standard cleaning process is called molecular distillation.

The vast majority of gout attacks occur in the big toe. And if you're a gout victim then you know just how painful it is. That's why you need to get immediate treatment. But if you've tried prescription meds, then perhaps you've found that although your symptoms seem to go away (eventually), the gout keeps returning. Here, you'll discover 3 top natural remedies that gout sufferers are using to get fast gout toe pain relief.

Between 70% and 90% of gout victims have gout toe. But it can occur in other joints such as the ankle, knee, elbow and hands. It's caused by urate crystals that form in the joints, e.g. the big toe, because of high uric acid levels in the blood.

You can get drug-based medications such as anti-inflammatory's, pain killers and drugs to reduce uric acid. But, apart from the horrible side effects that they can have, they are also only of use whilst being taken. This means that, unless you do something about the underlying causes of gout, you can continue getting gout attacks after you come off them.

But there are very many natural ways to get gout toe pain relief. And more and more gout sufferers are successfully using these. There are too many to list here, but here are 3 gout pain relief tips to get you going. You can get gout toe pain relief...

1. By Drinking Plenty of Water

This is a must. By drinking water throughout the day you're keeping your body hydrated. This is important because a dehydrated body is an easy target for gout. And water helps your kidneys to flush uric acid out of your body too. Drink at least 3 to 4 litres every day.

2. By Eating Cherries

These have great natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some experts suggest eating 30 to 40 cherries every 4 hours during an attack. They are also known to help reduce uric acid levels in the body.

3. By Changing to a Low Purine Diet

Purines are chemical compounds in the body and in foods. They help produce uric acid during the body's normal metabolizing process. Some foods are higher in purines than others. Typical foods to avoid are red fatty meat, game, offal, poultry, seafood and some vegetables.

These are effective natural remedies for gout toe pain relief in their own right. But, there are a number of other underlying issues for gout that you need to address to enable effective gout prevention. Because recurring gout attacks can leave you with permanently damaged joints, kidney problems and even hypertension (high blood pressure).

Arthritis is a very common chronic disease which is characterised by the inflammation of the lining of joints in your body which can lead to disability and loss of function. It is the leading cause of disability. It progresses in 3 stages:

Stage 1: Swelling of the synovial lining, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint.

Stage 2: Rapid division and growth of cells which causes the synovium to thicken.

Stage 3: Enzymes are released by the inflamed cells that may digest bone and cartilage which causes the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, more pain, and loss of movement.

Types of Arthritis:

Osteoarthritis: This is the most prevalent form of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates. This causes pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Here the joints get inflamed leading to swelling, pain, stiffness, and the possible loss of function.

Gout: This often attacks small joints, especially the big toe and this can completely controlled with medication and changes in diet. It is more common in men.

Ankylosing spondylitis: The spine gets affected. As a result of inflammation, the bones of the spine grow together.
Juvenile arthritis: Seen in children.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus): This can damage joints and other connective tissues throughout the body. It is a serious disorder.

Scleroderma: Here the skin gets thickened and hardened.
Fibromyalgia: Pain affects the muscles and attachment to the bone.

Symptoms:

o Joint Pain. It starts with smaller joints like your fingers and hands. The pain will be mostly symmetrical,meaning that if a joint hurts on the left hand, the same joint will hurt on the right hand.

o Fatigue

o Weakness

o You experience stiffness particularly in the morning and when sitting for long periods of time.

o Fever

o Pain associated with prolonged sitting

o Muscle pain

o Loss of appetite

o Depression

o Weight loss

o Anaemia

o If you observe lumps of tissue under the skin typically found on the elbows

o Involvement of the glands around the eyes and mouth, causing decreased production of tears and saliva

Treatments:

Arthritis comes in different fronts and ways and so the treatments vary accordingly. Current treatment methods focus on relieving pain, reducing inflammation, stopping or slowing joint damage and improving your functioning and sense of well-being. This is a critical disease so do not avoid it. It is important that you get an early treatment so that you can live with it.

As you grow old, your chances of getting arthritis increase. Joints naturally degenerate over time. This being a chronic disease it will be with you for long and maybe even life long. But the good thing is arthritis can be managed by taking the right medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. Your doctor should be able to decide on the best treatment for your case. You should be positive thinking and with the help of family and friends you can continue with your daily activities without any fear.

Scoliosis, or the sideways curvature of the spine, can cause back pain. The medical community has struggled to find an effective treatment for this type of pain, with most doctors believing that surgery is the only way to reduce the curvature. If you are unwilling to have surgery, then, you are left with pain medication to mask your symptoms and leave the causes untreated.

Fortunately, there are conservative treatments that not only ease the pain of scoliosis but actually reduce the curvature as well.

Why It Hurts

While some people with scoliosis experience no symptoms, others may experience back pain, neck pain, headaches, difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time, reproductive dysfunction and difficulty breathing. The symptoms depend largely on the location and degree of curvature, but also on your behaviors. If your head is off-center or one shoulder or hip is higher than the other, you may have scoliosis.

Some are treated in adolescence with bracing and surgery to reduce the spinal curvature, while others go untreated. Adults who experience scoliosis pain may feel it from muscles, spinal discs or both. The muscles of the back try to pull the spine back into alignment so they can return to their normal length and tension. These muscles are constantly overworked, trying to support the upper body without a stable spine to help. The discs of a curved spine also undergo asymmetric loading, which can cause bulging and herniation. These disc problems are often associated with nerve impingement, causing sharp, traveling pain.

Adults may have scoliosis from birth, or may acquire it due to osteoarthritis (if one side of the spine's joints deteriorate faster than those on the other side). Those who acquire it will have added pain due to joint inflammation and friction.

Natural Treatments

If your doctor tells you that your only option is surgery, he or she may be wrong. Scoliosis pain has been shown to decrease with chiropractic care and physical therapy. While many doctors prescribe physical therapy as part of a pain management strategy for scoliosis, combining it with other treatments is not always considered. Contrary to what most seem to think, these treatments have proven their abilities to reduce spinal curvature as well as back pain.

Physical therapy is effective for scoliosis pain when it focuses on the relaxation of chronically-strained muscles and postural retraining. Yoga, for example, may be helpful. Chiropractic care is administered to restore alignment and improve nerve function. You may be given traction treatments as well, which stretch the spine and its surrounding ligaments and muscles and increase disc space. An example of a scoliosis treatment regimen can be seen here: http://www.scoliosis-treatments.com/OurScoliosisTreatment/tabid/58/Default.aspx.

As with many forms of alternative medicine, studies into the non-surgical treatment of scoliotic curvature are few and small. However, the existing studies give us compelling evidence that surgery is not the only answer. A study of 19 individuals showed spinal manipulation, traction and muscular work to significantly reduce spinal curvature after 4-6 weeks. More on this can be found at http://www.scoliosiscorrectioncenter.com/casereport.html.

There are a number of reasons to avoid surgery: cost, recovery time, invasiveness, risk of failure and a curve that gradually returns over the years. Talk to your doctor about a referral to a chiropractor with experience treating people with scoliosis. Talk to a physical therapist about retraining posture and restoring muscle balance. There are natural ways to relieve your pain.

Arthritis is actually a general term for any of about one hundred different diseases that cause swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. It is the top cause of disability in the United States, affecting about 40 million people, or forty percent of the population. While primarily considered a disease of age, arthritis also affects almost 300,000 children in the U.S. Arthritis crosses all boundaries of social strata; economic status, gender, geographic location and race.

What exactly is arthritis and how can we avoid and treat it?

In a normal joint, cartilage cushions the area where the bones meet. Cartilage is a strong, smooth, elastic tissue, which, along with the bone ends is encased in a joint capsule. The joint capsule is filled with synovial fluid, which secretes from the synovial membrane lining the capsule and further cushions the joint. Arthritis is experienced when anything goes wrong with this system, and pain results.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form. It is most common in people over 55 and affects approximately 20 million Americans. OA is created by the breakdown of the cartilage cushion between the bones, creating friction at the bone ends, which manifests as pain and swelling. In some cases bone spurs will also develop, exacerbating the problem. It is most commonly found in the large, weight bearing joints of the knees and hips, but is also common in the spine, hands and feet. It can however, affect any joint in the body.

Rheumatoid, or inflammatory arthritis is somewhat different from OA. Here, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and swollen causing the pain and stiffness. Blood flow is increased to the area because of chemicals released by the inflamed tissue and this can cause the joint to appear red and feel hot. Inflammatory arthritis may be caused by immune system deficiencies, crystal deposits in the joints, or infection.

In any case, the patient will tend to favor the painful area, often holding it stiffly to ease the pain. This can cause the supporting muscles to weaken from disuse and also create serious tightness in the tendons that support them. All of this combined can cause the joints to contract or change shape and may result in complete loss of movement in the affected joint.

Doctors who treat arthritis, called rheumatologists, have a variety of diagnostic tools to use to determine the type and severity of a patient's arthritis. As there is currently no known cure, treatment is applied to ease pain and increase mobility. Various pain killing and anti-inflammatory drugs; rest and exercise are tools available to aid the patient. There are a few drugs for specific types of arthritis that can slow the advance of the disease.

Regular, light exercise is a most important key to not just treating, but avoiding arthritis. For patients with arthritis an excellent exercise is swimming, as it allows activity with little joint pressure. Exercise, plenty of rest, a constant intake of fluids to keep well hydrated and a good diet with supplementation can all help to prevent arthritis.

The top five health concerns of women are breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, depression, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and lupus in which the body attacks itself. Although the most common cause of disability for women in the United States is arthritic disease.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that causes damage to the joints of the body. There are different forms of arthritis and each has a different cause; however, the most common form is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) that results when a joint is injured or becomes infected. While its origin is uncertain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful autoimmune disorder that leads to chronic inflammation at the joints. Osteoarthritis is a more common illness caused by a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Any form of arthritis typically worsens with age, but ironically, almost two-thirds of people with arthritis are under age 65, and more than 60 percent are women.

Who Is At Risk?

Arthritic disease affects 46 million Americans, or more than 21 percent of the adult population. The disease affects Caucasians and African-Americans equally. That number and the costs associated with treating the disease is expected to rise even higher as baby boomers age. Currently, arthritis treatment costs Americans more than $128 billion a year in lost earnings and medical care. Those who are overweight are especially prone to having arthritis due to the extra stress that obesity places on the joints.

How can holistic therapy help women with common arthritis?
Experts advise staying active and keeping your weight under control to help prevent or treat arthritis.  If you lose as little as ten pounds, you can decrease pain in the knees and hips by 50 percent. With exercise, you can decrease the progression of the disease. Chiropractic care has similar positive effects. If you suffer with low back pain or neck pain you may benefit from gentle spinal care to facilitate mobility and reduce stress.  Related conditions such as fibromyalgia, lupus, carpal tunnel syndrome, and rheumatic/giant cell arteritis may also be helped with chiropractic care.

Most people do not know that arthritic pain symptoms often appear as a result of food allergies. Food sensitivities often manifest in a delayed matter, which means that something you ate in the previous 24 to 48 hours may be the culprit. Keeping a food diary or having a ALCAT (food and chemical sensitivity/intolerance test) will help you determine a cause. The most common foods that trigger arthritis pain are:

Beans      
Beef         
Corn      
Nightshades  (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, eggplant) 
Nuts       
Salicylates  (naturally-occurring chemicals found in some fruits and vegetables)
Soy            
Wheat       
Yeast       

By avoiding foods the body is allergic or sensitive to, arthritic symptoms may be eliminated. Even if there is wear and tear of the joints, pain is dramatically reduced.  During my 17 years of treating people with food allergies, I have seen arthritic symptoms disappear through natural holistic therapy.  While the joints may appear the same, the pain is relieved. My hope is that you find help to relieve your joint pain.

Might you have a food intolerance that makes your joints ache?
 
If you thought your joints felt achy after a meal, only to doubt yourself after hearing that no evidence links food allergies to rheumatoid arthritis, you're not alone. Until now science offered little evidence to support this connection.
 
Most studies have focused on antibodies (proteins that attack foreign substances) in the blood, but that focus may have been wrong. Food-related antibodies may not show up in the blood but in the gut of people with rheumatoid arthritis, and that's just where researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway, looked. They found that, in test tubes at least, the intestinal fluid of people with rheumatoid arthritis had higher levels of antibodies to proteins from milk, cereal, eggs, cod and pork than in people without rheumatoid arthritis.
 
Gut to Brain: Here Come the Allergies
Since your gut welcomes food first, the gut's immune system is the first to recognize potential substances that cause allergic reactions.  
 
Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly believes that something you ate is harmful. To protect you, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E  -  also called IgE antibodies -  against that food. The antibodies set off a chain reaction that causes symptoms. 
 
In some people, the antibodies and proteins bind together and form immune complexes in the intestine. These immune complexes then circulate and get into every nook and cranny of the body, including the joints, where they may contribute to inflammation.  Once antibodies are made against a particular food, the body instantly recognizes that food the next time it is consumed, and the cycle begins again.
 
Do Certain Foods Make Your Arthritis Worse?
If you think certain foods affect your arthritis, you could try eating the standard Stone Age Diet, which includes only fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, for one month, or follow the elimination diet, which is discussed in the book The Real Life Diet. Studies have shown that if a person is food-sensitive, this type of diet can help reduce morning stiffness and pain, improve range of motion and lower inflammatory mediators in the blood.
 
In a recent study British researchers noted that when on The Real Life Diet, more than one-third of participants with rheumatoid arthritis felt better and had less morning stiffness. A few study patients were able to return to walking and all other previous activities.
 
Investigate the Food Detective for Food Intolerance
Self-diagnosis by diet alone can be difficult, as food intolerances often have a delayed onset. This means that symptoms can arise hours, days or weeks after you've eaten a problem food.
 
An alternative way to check whether you have food intolerance is to use a new test called the Food Detective. A first in the world, the test can be done at home with a simple pinprick of blood, which will yield a result in 30-40 minutes.
The test results will show which food(s) you should eliminate from your diet to alleviate your symptoms. These foods include gluten, rice, cocoa beans, mushrooms, yeast, nuts, soya, shellfish, eggs and dairy products. More than 70% of testers who eliminated offending food groups from their diets experienced an improvement of their ailments.
 
If you're suffering with aches and pains or diagnosed arthritis, it might be worth it to eliminate the guesswork and get yourself properly tested. If you have food intolerance the symptoms can range from anxiety, constipation and diarrhoea to insomnia, migraines, arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome.
 
The Food Detective is a useful tool and not very expensive, which makes it even more attractive as it takes much of the guesswork out of the process. Once you've identified the foods that may be causing the problem, it's ideal to omit those from your diet for a month, making sure you have plenty of alternatives to replace the missing nutrients. Within a month or two you should notice a significant difference to your symptoms, if it's diet-related.