Temporomandibular Joint Disorder|Joint Pain Relief

Hip joint pain is a common problem. It needs to be treated immediately and with great care, as hip joint pain reduces a patient's level of activity. There could be many causes for hip joint pain. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of hip joint pain. It can be treated with medicines, but in some cases one may require hip replacement surgery if conventional treatment fails.

Trochanteric bursitis, caused by inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint, is another common cause of hip joint pain. Tendonitis, in any of the tendons surrounding the hip joint, could also cause hip joint pain.

Apart from this, some of the other causes of hip joint pain include osteonecrosis, snapping hip syndrome, strained muscles or hip fractures, and other hip injuries. Sometimes, certain hip-related problems faced during childhood could also cause hip joint pain later in life. Take for example developmental dysplasia, in which hips are dislocated in infants. This could hamper the proper development of hip joints. During childhood it may not cause pain, but a few years later it could lead to arthritis, causing problems even in walking.

Another disease, called perthes, can permanently damage the hip joint during childhood. The treatment for hip joint pain depends on the cause of the problem. It is important to understand the cause before starting any treatment.

The treatment of hip joint pain often involves use of heating pads and ice packs. They are quite effective in reducing inflammation and providing relief from pain. In most of the hip joint pain cases, the patient is asked to rest the joint. This allows inflammation to subside. It also provides relief from acute pain. The patient may be asked to use crutches or a cane in some cases, to reduce the stress on the hip joints while walking.

The majority of people seem to assume that arthritis refers to just one medical condition when in fact the word arthritis encompasses over one hundred different known diseases. Nearly every joint in the body can develop a distinct form of arthritis, sometimes resulting inflammation and related pain that is physically overwhelming.

Arthritis does not choose to attack only a certain age group or gender; everyone is potentially susceptible. Despite the widely held belief that arthritis is an old people disease, many children also suffer from arthritis, the number of them reaching well into the millions. In some cases, these children's forms of arthritis are worse than those that adults contract.

Although it is frequently diagnosed, degenerative arthritis is not at all easy to deal with. The pain and inflammation that this condition causes often stops people from carrying on their normal daily activities. It can vary from mild to severe problems, which can seriously impact day to day life.

You need to take the matter of finding effective treatment for your degenerative arthritis very seriously if you have developed this illness. Instead of simply allowing your doctor to worry about it, you need to proactively work to find a treatment for this arthritis condition, taking responsibility for your own health.

Finding a treatment for degenerative arthritis that is both effective and lacking in unpleasant side effects is not something that you can do all by yourself. You must avail yourself of the assistance that only a trained medical professional can offer you.

Even if your search for an effective treatment for degenerative arthritis lasts for years, do not give. Do all you can to be optimistic.

Available Treatments

Medications prescribed to you by your doctor are a good first step in your search for an effective treatment for degenerative arthritis, whether it be of the spine, hand, or anything else. Prescription drugs tend to have the best success rate when it comes to treating arthritis.

Using prescription drugs when you are first beginning to treat your arthritis is a wise choice even if you plan on switching to an all natural treatment method later. You will be better able to undergo natural treatments if you pain is under control.

Arthritis cannot yet be cured, but that does not mean that it cannot be treated effectively. Be positive and keep up the hunt for a successful treatment method so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest despite your arthritis.

If you are like me, you will have reached the age where you now suffer from a few pain issues. Therefore you will more than likely be interested in a simple way of decreasing inflammation, RSI, muscle, tendon, and medial nerve pain particularly in your hands, wrists and other joints.

For over 10 years now I have suffered from these problems particularly in my hands, wrists and right knee joint, which all become more inflamed when I play my favorite sport -- golf once a week.

Some years ago I came up with what I believe to be a pretty ingenious solution that enables me to cope with the pain when I play. There are about 14 points where I experience pain in my hands and wrists when I grip the club and take a swing. Sometimes it hurts so much I can barely grip the club at all.

My simple method is to place small circles of BluTack held in place by rigid tape at the points of pain, commonly where the finger joints form a V on top of your hand and sides of your wrists. This is then covered with an elastic pressure bandage. I guess you could possibly relate this method to some type of acupuncture, where you are applying pressure to a certain point. I don't really care about the theory -- all I know and care about is it works and I can continue playing golf.

10 years ago I could only play three painful holes of golf before the inside of my right knee would swell to the size of a tennis ball with inflammation, I either had to waddle on in severe pain or give up.

An old football friend of mine showed me how to do a kind of figure 8 bandage around my knee using rigid tape, which stabilized the joint and supported my kneecap. Walking up to 36 holes pain free became possible after mastering this simple taping technique.

Three years ago I started taking a cheap brand of fish oil capsules and noticed some minor improvements in my joints. However 18 months ago I stumbled across a superior brand of fish oil on the Internet with a high concentration of DHA omega-3 fatty acid in particular. There has been a marked improvement in reducing joint pain in my hands.

Think about trying natural alternative methods to control your joint, muscular, tendon and nerve pain, including stretching exercises. Taking painkilling pills or rubbing on these types of chemical ointments is not necessarily the most effective, safest or best long term solution.

Defination of Lumbar Sponylosis

This is the degenerative condition when the lower spine of a person is affected in way that it is troubled by a narrowing of the space between the spine bones.

Overview of Lumbar Spondylosis

Lumbar spondylosis is a degenerative joint disease which is common in aging individuals. This occurs due to wear and tear of the bones of the lower vertebrae. The degenerative nature of spondylosis makes it function with repetition, which causes another. This disorder commences with the discs when they become dry and less flexible. This makes them shrink in dimension and move about in an unusual way, which influences the joints and ligaments surrounding them. Lumbar spondylosis occurs as a consequence of new bone development in areas where the anular ligament is stressed. The lumbar spine is the region that carries most of the body's weight so the degenerative forces affect the most of this region of the spine. Spondylosis is normally described by slippage of one spine over the other. Symptoms associated with spondylosis of the lumbar vertebrae differ depending on the lifestyles of the individuals.

What are the symptoms of Lumbar Spondylosis?

In lumbar spondylosis, the spine is affected by a contraction of the spaces between the vertebrae causing many health concerns ranging from back pain to neurological issues. This starts becoming evident when the person gets older and the vertebrae undergo several changes. In lumbar spondylosis, the general effects are; stiffness in the spine and pain at the lower back. But sometimes symptoms of lumbar spondylosis occur slowly and in some cases the symptoms not at all develop. The individuals' lifestyle and activities such as weight Lifting, leaning, standing or sitting for long time can strengthen the lower back pain. However the Lower back arthritis may go downwards in the buttock area, thighs and legs. The patient can also face bowel and bladder malfunctioning. There may also be muscle spasms and a severe back pain. The symptoms usually commence after the age of forty and continue to increase in potency as the individual grows old.

How can Lumbar Spondylosis be caused?

Spondylosis is the condition of degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the center of the spinal vertebrae. The foremost basis of this degeneration is the aging progression in an individual. The lumbar spine comprise of most of the body weight, so when an individual reaches an older age, the spines experience aging as well which causes tightening of disc spaces. Thickening of ligaments, that surround the disc, takes place and it becomes calcified.

Other causes are the sitting or standing for long hours and injuries in the lower spine of an individual. Inheritance of this disease and obesity are also the factors identified for occurrence of this disease, if an individual has excessive body weight, it exerts more pressure to the spine which can subject it to the degenerative process. When the person is aging the capability of the body decreases and the spine is prone to the development of arthritis. Individual activity levels also predict the occurrence of this disorder.

How can Lumbar Spondylosis be treated?

The treatment of lumbar spondylosis is physiotherapy and other medicine practices. Patient awareness programs on his/her lifestyle are necessary. The changing of an individual's lifestyle predominantly work-related changes helps in controlling pain to some extent. A modification in in the diet and lifestyle, together with adequate exercise can also help to restrain the symptoms. The use of corset or brace, provides a support to the lower back region and help relieve the pressure and pain. However surgery is performed after a deep and careful diagnose and there is no surety for a permanent cure through surgical methods.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic disease that comes with pain and loss of movement of the joints. It is a joint disorder caused by disease, infection, anomalies and other factors that affect the everyday activities. Arthritis affects the people of all ages, including children and young adults but generally people over 50years show more signs of arthritis because the joint naturally degrades overtime. Arthritis is not a single disease, but a term that covers over 100diseases and medical conditions that can affect many parts of the body. It is a long term disease that cannot be totally cured but can be managed with proper medical care, adequate therapy and by treating its symptoms.

However, it should be noted that arthritis is associated with diseases of other tissues and organs in the body and as a result it is considered as one of the major causes of disability in people who are over 50years and above. In the United States, arthritis is the leading cause of disability and researchers claimed that nearly 1 in every 5 adults has some form of arthritis.

We have various types of arthritis and for this article l would like to write on the most common types of arthritis and these are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis Arthritis - is a disease that can cause the breakdown of joint tissue which leads to joint pain and stiffness. It is normal inflammatory and at onset is subtle and gradually starting from one or few joints. It is also known as degenerative joint disease, resulting from wear and tear of cartilage usually associated with old age. The pressure of gravity causes damage to the joints and surrounding tissues leading to pain, tenderness and sometimes swelling at different parts of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis - is a chronic disease potentially disabling type of arthritis that occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining the joint). It usually causes severe joint pain, loss of joint function, stiffness, swelling and sometimes leads to permanent deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose early because the symptoms can be deceptive. As a result no single test can conclusively establish its correct diagnosis. It is responsible for arthritis pain and inflammation joints that affects most joints of the body like fingers, wrists, kneels and toes.

Treatment of Arthritis

Over the years proper treatment have help to relieve arthritis symptoms and correct many serious joint problems. Sometimes physical and occupational therapy is used to control and maintain joint mobility and range of motion. The proper kind and amount of this therapy depends on the underlying cause and individual factors.

Arthritis cure largely depends on the type, the severity of the problem and previous response to treatment by the patients. As a result, medical supervision is a must because arthritis like rheumatoid can be crippling and can affect other organs in the body. Doses of aspirin or aspirin-like drugs are common prescription that effectively reduced arthritis pain and inflammation. In case of severe pains, drugs like DMARDS or SAARDS (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or slow-acting antirheumatic drugs) such as anti-malaria are administered.

Once again l would like to emphasize that all these drugs prescribed require close supervision and that most of them have hazardous effects, for example in some patients aspirin interferes with platelet function and this can cause serious bleeding.

Finally, in treating arthritis the major concern of the doctor is to provide the best treatment that will reduce the pains, or further damage to the joints and prevent any permanent deformity.

The dangers of processed foods have been revealed. Numerous web pages and print pages are filled with how processed foods are killing the modern generation. Yet, Americans continue to spend about 90 percent of their food budget on such foods. They can't help it. Their hectic lifestyle and lack of awareness coerces them to stuff their refrigerators with all the edible junk they can find in the market.

There are 5 ingredients used in processed foods that make them a killer. Read them carefully so that next time you think twice before opening a box of ready-to-eat food.

Trans-Fats

This is the biggest killer and is found in ALL processed foods! Trans fat is associated with cancer, heart disease, digestive problems, and degeneration of tendons and joints. It leads to learning disabilities, skin problems, auto immune disorders, and stunted growth in kids.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

This substance raises triglyceride levels as well as bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. This happens within an hour of eating fast food that contains this ingredient! In 2005, most of the cases of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypoglycemia were associated with this ingredient. The average per head consumption of this substance in America is 68 pounds per year.

White Sugar

Studies have shown sugar to be more addictive than cocaine! It gives you an instant "high" and a sudden "low" thereafter. This white slayer damages your defense mechanism against infections and suppresses your immune system. It has been found to promote cancer cells. It's also related to ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostrate cancer. Scared? And to think of it, you've being consuming the white crystals for so long, unaware of the dangers of processed food! The average annual per head consumption of white sugar in America is 197 pounds.

Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are NOT a safe and better alternative to sugar as they are thought to be. These sweeteners harm the ability of your body to control body weight; they activate your hunger, and promote more fat deposition and weight gain. They also tend to give you more carb cravings.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
This is a concentrated salt. It's also an excito-toxin, which activates your cells so much that they get damaged. In other words, MSG acts as a poison. This ingredient on food labels is often disguised as gelatin, casein, broth, hydrolyzed, autolyzed, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, malted barley, yeast extract, rice or brown rice syrup. MSG is associated with loss of vision and damage of nerves.

So, folks, now you realize that you're not feeding your kids with food, but are preparing them for a slow death! The dangers of processed foods are so deadly; it's high time you banished them from your refrigerator and your life.

Noises in the jaw joint are extremely common and do not automatically mean that something is wrong. Like your knee or shoulder, the TM joint and/or muscles in our jaw can be strained or injured. The injury can be the result of a specific trauma or can result from prolonged microtrauma due to oral habits. Once a joint or muscle is strained, it can be easily re-aggravated like a sprained ankle which is subsequently more prone to re-injury. Because we use the jaw for so many activities (talking, eating, yawning, and laughing etc), TOTAL relaxation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles is difficult. However, holding the jaw muscles and joints in a relaxed position is very manageable with practice. This plus avoidance of activities that would overwork the area will be helpful to reduce pain and prevent additional strain. The following suggestions should help:

1. Eat a Pain-Free diet. Avoid hard foods, such as nuts or bagels. Avoid chewy foods such as steak or candy. Cut fruits into small pieces and steam vegetables. Chew with your back teeth rather than biting with your front teeth. Eat anything you want as long as it does not cause pain or locking in your jaw. If "normal" food causes pain, put any food you like in a blender and start on grind. Blend the food to the chewiest consistency that does not cause pain or locking in your jaw. Do not stay on a soft food diet too long and periodically increase the hardness/chewiness of your diet as tolerated. Discuss the details of your diet with your dentist or therapist. Chew your food on both sides at the same time to reduce strain on one side. Specifically, cut your food into its normal size, cut that in half and put one piece on both sides of your mouth and chew. This will take practice.

2. Tongue Up, Teeth Apart (Tatu), And Jaw Muscles Relaxed. The teeth should never be touching/resting together except occasionally they touch lightly with swallowing. We suggest that you closely monitor your jaw position during your waking hours so that you maintain your jaw in a relaxed, comfortable position. This involves placing the tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth while allowing the teeth to come apart, and relaxing the jaw muscles. Another option is to practice "clucking" your tongue.

3. Avoid nicotine and minimize caffeine. Caffeine is a "muscle tensing" drug and can make your muscles feel tighter. Caffeine or caffeine-like drugs are in coffee, tea, soda, "energy" drinks, chocolate and some aspirins. Decaffeinated coffee typically has half as much caffeine as regular.

4. Avoid oral habits that put strain on the jaw muscles and joints. These include teeth clenching, teeth grinding, touching or holding the teeth together, biting fingernails, cheeks, lips, pens or pencils etc. DO NOT CHEW GUM. Avoid resting your jaw on your hand and activities that involve wide opening of the jaw such as excessive yawning.

The TMJ is an overworked joint in the body and there are many people who may not be aware of what a TMJ disorder and its symptoms are. Known as the Tempero Mandibular Joint disorder, this is a condition that causes pain that is brought about by the tenderness in the joint situated between the lower jaw that is also called the mandible and the temporal bone of the skull.

The TMJ is made up of bones that are used for chewing, biting, swallowing, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, spitting and other similar movements that involve the mandible. The symptoms of this problem are chronic headaches, severe facial pain, clicking jaws, inability to extend the mandible without experiencing excruciating pain.

Prevention, of course, is one of the best cures for TMJ. It makes sense to avoid any movements of an already overused joint, i.e., do not chew gum, avoid teeth grinding and jaw clenching, talk sparingly when you know you have been talking too much previously, and maintain a good posture that does not additionally tax this joint. These simple tips do not completely guarantee that you will be TMJ disorder-free, but they can certainly help.

There are simple cures for TMJ and you can follow them easily. Mild massaging and stretching helps alleviate much of the pain. A mouth guard that is soaked in hot water for some time should be placed in your mouth so that you bite on it instead of grinding your teeth. This cure helps you to steady your jaw to some extent.

Many elderly people complain of joint pain. It can be so debilitating at times that it can restrict mobility, making a person completely invalid. An aching joint thus interferes much with day to day activities. The main cause of joint pain is damage to the joint. The phenomenon is also termed as arthritis. Knee, hip, shoulder, spinal joints etc are prone to easy damage for they bear the load of the body or support the body structure.

Wearing out and tearing of cartilage, exposing bone heads at a joint to friction is the basic cause of pain in joint. Friction between bone heads reduces them to spurs. This leads to pain at joints, tenderness, swelling, heat, stiffness, and redness of skin at the joints. The pain may be acute or chronic, making mobility quite impossible. Aging and cessation of cartilage repair process, obesity, bone infection, prior history of bone fracture or any other bone injury, auto-immune joint disorder, elevation of uric acid levels and crystallization of uric acid within joint, drying up of synovial fluid are factors leading to pain in joint.

It is necessary to timely manage joint pain. Light exercise, massage, heat compress, Epsom salt bath etc can minimize the negative impacts of joint pain to some extent. The market offers uncountable analgesics, steroid drugs to manage joint pain. But one must think twice before trying them out, keeping in mind their adverse side-effects on human body.

Therefore it is best to treat pain with supplements that are purely natural in formulation. Joint Advance is one such natural joint pain relief supplement, shielding your joints, making them healthy and nourishing them from within. Joint Advance is free from harmful side-effects, for it is composed of herbal ingredients. The supplement enjoys doctors' endorsement, and you will feel its amazing results within 30 days of intake. This stupendous product will make you feel strong at your joints like never before. The manufacturer of the product enjoys GMP or good manufacturing practicing status.

The ingredients of Joint Advance are Glucosamine complex, Chondroitin Sulfate, MSM, white willow barks extracts, ginger, and Vitamin C. These ingredients are easily metabolized in to the patient's system, providing nutritional strength to the weak joints. With Joint Advance you will throw away your walking stick and feel like dancing again! This is 100% herbal and natural, hence there is no side effects of using this for long time.

It was Christmas 2010 and I was completely incoherent, couldn't think straight and had excruciating hip joint pain, so much so that I wound up having emergency surgery, all due to Lyme disease. My sister Tina, who lives not far from Lyme, Connecticut, the epicenter of the Lyme epidemic, asked, "do you get your yard sprayed for ticks?" No, we had never heard of that. Didn't know it was even possible. Sure enough though, it is possible, and there is a new and growing industry built around spraying for ticks and mosquitoes.

The barrier spray business within the pest control world has blossomed into a growing field specialized in ridding yards of the ever increasing problem of ticks and mosquitoes. Ticks carry Lyme disease and other co-infections. Lyme has been called the great imitator and it is often misdiagnosed as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, eye problems, hearing loss and sometimes even death. Mosquitoes are not only annoying but they can carry diseases including West Nile Virus. Both can be effectively eradicated.

Depending on the program offered, pest control companies will come out to your residence per a prescribed schedule and spray your yard for ticks and mosquitoes. The intervals of spraying generally are every three weeks during the "season". The season generally begins when the instances of these pests rise and when people start spending more time outside. Interesting to note, ticks do not hibernate, they are active all winter.

There are two methods of yard spraying. The first is the saturation method. Where pesticide is sprayed through a high powered hose on your grassy areas and fringe areas. The second and more common method is via a backpack sprayer. A backpack sprayer looks just like the leaf blower that the lawn service guys use. The difference being, instead of high powered blowing, the sprayer shoots out a very fine mist that will coat vegetation and with the correct pesticide, kill ticks and mosquitoes on contact and provide an invisible barrier that will last up to three weeks depending on the product.

There are many pesticide options for the professionals to use. The most common is pyrethroid based. Pyrethroids are comprised of the synthetic derivatives of the chrysanthemum flower. There are also organic options out there such as rosemary oil and to a lesser extent garlic. Who knew that a flower and herbs would kill ticks and mosquitoes?

This season it is possible to have a tick and mosquito free backyard.

Living with a sore jaw bone on a regular basis could mean that you suffer from a condition called TMJ. Over 12 million people in the world suffer from TMJ. TMJ, also known as Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome or TMD, is a condition involving the alignment of the jaw which causes pain and discomfort. Here are the top 4 TMJ Symptoms:

1. 
   Jaw Clicking and Popping - Misalignment of the jaw bone and other disorders associated with TMJ cause a fairly classic symptom, which is a popping of the jaw joint or clicking sound. This clicking and popping may or may not be painful.


2. 
   Migraines - Migraines or frequent tension headaches could be a symptom of TMJ. Individuals with TMJ often suffer from these types of headaches on a regular basis, sometimes making everyday life difficult.


3. 
   Lock Jaw - Lock jaw describes a limited to no ability to open the jaw or mouth. At this point, emergency intervention is sometimes needed in extremely severe cases.


4. 
   Neck and Shoulder Pain - TMJ places an extreme amount of stress on the entire head and neck area. Tension, stress, and pain in the neck and shoulders is often one of the first symptoms of TMJ, along with jaw pain.

TMJ or Temporomandibular joint disorder, is a very painful joint disorder that is caused when the joint between the jawbone and where it connects to the skull becomes "disjointed". The result can be as mild as a clicking sound when you eat to as chronic as a sharp pain similar to a cutting knife every time you open and shut your mouth.

To make matters worse, surgery is not a 100% effective in TMJ patients and can cost thousands of dollars. In this article, I am going to go over a couple natural methods to ease the pain that TMJ causes. I am also going to show some key vitamins that may help those who have to live with the pain.

To Reduce TMJ Pain, you must first reduce the inflammation that it causes.

Most people simply look for a cure rather than what is causing the symptoms. In a lot of cases when it comes to home remedies, discovering the catalyst can become the key to understanding how to treat the problem. Most people who have issues with TMJ have it because there is inflammation in the jawbone. This jaw pain can be caused by the grinding of the teeth at night or even by simply chewing gum.

And the good news is that there are certain plants as well as foods that can help eliminate the problem quickly. These plants will help to alleviate jaw pain by reducing the inflammation caused by TMJ.

• Magnesium will help to reduce jaw pain primarily because of what magnesium does for the body; it relaxes the nervous system. Ironically, magnesium's effects are directed squarely on the jawbone.


• MSM can help to reduce the muscle spasms of the jaw and is noted to help reduce inflammation as well.


• If you have cartilage damage due to TMJ then you will want to supplement your diet with Glucosamine Sulfate. While not clinically recognized as proven to work, thousands of people have attested to glucosamine for relieving joint pain.

The lumbar spine is composed of five vertebrae; each one is connected to the next by the intervertebral disc and two facet joints. The discs between each vertebra are made up of a tough outer ring called an annulus and a soft inner core called the nucleus pulposis.

The annulus is a ligament like material that connects the vertebra together around the outer edge. It provides a tough strong connection between the vertebrae and holds the soft jelly like nucleus pulposis in place. The intervertebral disc acts as a shock absorber, and allows limited motion Each Level.

The facet joints are a zygapophyseal joint, which means that they have two smooth surfaces that glide across each other contained inside of a joint capsule. The joint capsule is filled with synovial fluid that lubricates the joint. These work with the intervertebral discs to control of the motion of the lumbar spine.

As we age, the annulus becomes dry and stiff, and the nucleus pulposis loses its water content becoming hard and fibrous. At the same time, the facet joints are getting worn and irregular, and possibly developing bone spurs. This makes your back stiff and painful when you try to move.

Trying to live your life in spite of this pain is not always easy, but there are some things you can do. Over the counter pain medicine, staying thin, and staying active and involved with your life can all help. Carefully avoiding bending and lifting will help to avoid exacerbations of pain.

Steroid injections are sometimes helpful when one specific pain generator can be identified, but in most cases the pain is widespread and the condition exists at multiple levels. There are some surgical options but none of them are very good. A lumbar fusion is possible, but it is usually very difficult to identify which level is causing the pain, and you can't fuse every level.

You should always check with your doctor before beginning any new medication, but over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs can provide relief of the arthritis in your back. There are other topical agents that will also help.

Staying thin and staying fit will help because any weight you carry in front pulls on your back. Exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles as well as exercises to strengthen your back will go a long ways toward relieving the pain of degenerative disc disease and arthritis in your back.

Staying active and choosing to be happy can also help relieve pain. Being involved at your church and with other activities can distract you from your pain and bring periods of relief. The pain of degenerative disc disease and back arthritis will likely never be relieved 100%, but with a little bit of help and a good attitude we can learn to live with it.

One of the worst sicknesses that a dog can have in his years is dog arthritis, which is a degenerative disease that involves damage to the joints and cartilage and result in pain and having a hard time walking or running. This can strike on any dog, whether small or large, whatever the age and condition. As pet owners, you must have knowledge of the different types of dog arthritis so you can take care of your dog more:

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of dog arthritis where it is caused by a trauma to the joint, infection or age. It is a degenerative joint disease that is progressive and the cartilage breaks down. This results to the bones rubbing against each other, thus resulting to the joints being painful and stiff.

Another type is the hip dysplasia, which is a genetic joint disease. This is where hip sockets are deformed and there is inflammation of the joint and the tissues surrounding the area will begin to deteriorate and have a breakdown. Elbow Dysplasia is a degenerative hereditary disease where bones do not form well and chip. This is the common cause of lameness of the front legs and is usually seen on large breeds of dogs. There is also the knee dysplasia, which is the malformation of the leg bones and results the loosening of the kneecap bone.

Other types of dog arthritis are: hypertrophic dog arthritis where there is excessive bone growth and spurs in the joint; osteochondrosis, which is caused by poor diet and cartilage deterioration; and degeneration of the shoulders where a trauma or an unstable joint causes the breakdown of shoulder cartilage. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to watch out for the signs and symptoms of dog arthritis so you can prevent it from happening. Some of the symptoms are: loss of appetite has a hard time walking and running, sleeps more/inactivity, stiffness and limping, usual urinating in the house, always irritable, and depressed or withdrawn. If more than two of these symptoms, it's time to bring your dog to your trusted veterinarian. You need to know what kind of treatment is best for your dog so as you can help in relieving their pain. One of the common treatments is physical therapy where exercise is encouraged. This preserves join flexibility and maintains the dog's muscles. One exercise that improves the muscles without making it tired is swimming.

Then there are medications that can relive the dog's pain, and one recommended is Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammation Drugs or NSAIDS. This medicine will not repair the whole dog arthritis, but instead relieve the pain to, at least, make your dog's everyday life normal. It will actually depend on the vet what medicines he or she will give base on the tests done on your dog. Last, but not the least treatment is supplements that contain glucosamine. Glucosamine promotes new cartilage growth and relieves pain, since this ingredient is always present on animal bones. It also improves mobility of the joint and can be used a dietary supplement.

A pet owner will always be responsible for his or her pet and taking care of dog arthritis is a number one priority. One of the things you can do is prevent dog arthritis by giving your dog exercise and proper diet. Watch their diet and give them food that are rich in vitamins and minerals, plus exercise for their bones to be strong and healthy.

What is Hip Dysplasia?

The hip joint consists of a 'ball" on the femoral bone, and a "socket" on the hip bone. Canine hip dysplasia simply defined is when a dog's hips do not develop normally and the ball does not fit snugly into the socket.

What Causes Hip Dysplasia?

While there is no conclusive proof of the cause of hip dysplasia, there are 2 general schools of thought about its cause - 1) genetic or 2) environmental.

These two differing viewpoints often place the dog breeders at odds with the dog owners, causing each to blame the other for the problem.

Genetic: The puppy is born with the problem

Environmental: The puppy is too heavy resulting in excessive growth and/or over or under exercising a puppy during its growth phase resulting in developmental problems.

The most common theory is that hip dysplasia is indeed genetic. Most breeders have their breeding dogs' hips rated by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (Penn-HIP), or various other international orthopedic groups. We could discuss the merits of both theories, but it doesn't change the facts. If your dog has hip dysplasia, you need to deal with it.

When Does a Dog Get Hip Dysplasia?

If you subscribe to the theory that it is genetic, they are born with it. Dogs that have severe hip dysplasia often begin to have problems as puppies. Sometimes, the hip dysplasia does not cause pain for the dog, so they do not show signs of it until they develop arthritis in their hip joints. Some dogs that are not as severe can live out their entire lives with few, if any symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia?

There are a number of symptoms of hip dysplasia. Some dog owners only say that their dog didn't walk right. Others will say they saw no symptoms at all, or just that their dog began to limp. Following is a list of common symptoms, of which your dog may have a couple and not have hip dysplasia.

Bunny Hopping: The dog tends to use both hind legs together, rather than one at a time. This occurs when the dog is running, or going up stairs.

Side Sit: Also called lazy sit, slouch or frog sit. When the dog sits, its legs are not positioned bent and close to the body. They can be loose and off to one side, or one or both legs may be straight out in front.

Sway Walk: Also called a loose walk. When the dog is walking, the back end sways back and forth because the hips are loose.

Unusual Laying Position: Legs are straight out and off to the side when the dog is laying on its stomach or legs are straight out behind the dog. (All dogs lay with their legs behind them on occasion, many dogs with hip dysplasia lay like this all the time.)

Limping: The dog may favor one hind leg or the other, and may alternate legs that it is favoring.

Quiet Puppy: Puppies who are already in pain from hip dysplasia tend to be very good puppies. They do not rough house the way that normal puppies do. They also tend to sleep for a long time after playing or going for a walk. Some owners describe their puppy with hip dysplasia as the best puppy they've ever had.

Dog Doesn't Jump: Not only do they not jump on you, they seem to pull themselves up by their front end onto furniture as opposed to jumping up.

Underdeveloped Hind Quarters and Overdeveloped Chest: This is caused by the failure to use the hind legs normally and jump. The dog also may actually be shifting weight forward.

Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia

The only way to diagnose hip dysplasia is with x-rays. However, I must note here that you should treat the dog and not the x-rays. Some dogs with seemingly mild hip dysplasia are in a lot of pain, while other dogs with apparent severe hip dysplasia do not display symptoms.

What Can Be Done for My Dog?

If you have had x-rays taken of your dog's hips at your regular vet, you may have been referred to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon is going to recommend various surgical options for your dog. I am going to give you a very brief overview of these surgeries. You will need to discuss your dog's options with the surgeon. They will provide the details of each surgical option. Some people are able to treat their dog with nutritional supplements and avoid surgery. Ultimately, it will be your decision to determine the best treatment for your dog.

Surgical Options:

Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) - This surgery is performed on puppies under 20 weeks of age, generally when the puppy is neutered or spayed. It shows great promise as a preventive measure, by altering the pelvic growth. This surgery has a short recovery period, but is generally done before a puppy can be diagnosed. However, once you've lived with hip dysplasia, it may prove to be worthwhile for a puppy considered at risk for developing hip dysplasia.

Dorsal Acetabular Rim (DAR) - This surgery consists of bone grafts being taken from other areas of the pelvis to build up the rim on the hip socket (cup). The idea is for the femoral head to have a deeper socket to fit into. It's relatively new, so there is some question as to how a dog will do into old age - there aren't many older dogs that have had it done.
Triple Pelvic Ostectomy (TPO) - This surgery involves cutting the bone around the hip socket and repositioning the socket for a better fit with the femoral head. The bones are plated back together so they heal in the correct alignment. This surgery is performed on young dogs before they have finished growing.

Total Hip Replacement (THR) - This surgery consists of replacing the hip joint similar to a human hip replacement. A new cup is usually attached to the hip bone, and the femoral head is cut off the leg bone and an implant is inserted into the leg bone. This surgery is done on more mature dogs that have finished growing. Due to the size of the implants, this surgery is done on larger dogs. Previously, all artificial hip components were cemented in place. More recently, cementless hip replacements are being performed.

Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) - Also know as femoral head and neck excision. This surgery consists of removing the femoral head of the leg bone to eliminate the pain of hip dysplasia. The dog's body will then develop scar tissue to create an artificial hip joint. Long considered only appropriate for smaller dogs or as a salvage operation for a failed THR, it has become increasingly popular for larger dogs.

Non-Surgical or Conservative Management Option

Many people choose to have surgery performed on their dog only as a last resort. Some are able to manage their dog's hip dysplasia with supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic care, exercise and weight management. Sometimes, the puppy will show signs of pain from hip dysplasia, and once it is done growing and the muscles are fully developed, they seem to "go into remission", developing signs of hip problems again as the dog ages. Surgical options are still available to you if the conservative path is unsuccessful.

For additional information on hip dysplasia, please visit MyPoorDog.com.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can commence at any age but generally begins between the ages of 20 and 45. This article examines some of its symptoms and causes.

The symptoms and signs: Joint stiffness, particularly in the hands and feet, in the mornings when getting up from bed. A telling sign can be that the stiffness is experienced in either both hands or both feet - not just one. Stiffness that lasts for over an hour, or pain and swelling that persists for more than a month or so may also be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis.

Early symptoms may also include fever, excessive tiredness or nodules under the skin - these feel like pea-size lumps. Other possible symptoms are anemia, fluid collecting on the ankles or behind the knee and loss of appetite. In children, a pink rash may follow the characteristic swollen joints and there may be shaking chills.

Why the condition is painful: Cartilage does not cause pain (it has no nerves to transmit pain signals), so it is thought that irritation of other tissues in and around the joint affected is the cause of the joint pain typical of rheumatoid arthritis. However,the relationship between joint pain and cartilage destruction is still not fully understood.

The irritation in the joint may be caused by 'chemical messengers' such as prostaglandin E2 that have been found to be associated with the disease process. For this reason, administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) helps as it inhibits production of prostaglandin.

Joint pain that is similar to that caused by rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by a number of other conditions. Among these are chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and even bunions. Only a doctor can identify the cause accurately, as similar symptoms can result from other autoimmune-related conditions from other kinds of arthritis to serious conditions such as cancer.

Other factors: The disease is more common in older people, though it can occur at any age, even in children (Still's disease). Studies have suggested that a high body mass index, particularly in women, may increase the risk of contracting the disease. Also, obesity places a greater strain on joints and may contribute to the breakdown of joint tissue in rheumatoid arthritis. Overweight people are also at greater risk from other forms of arthritis.

Self-care: This can be managed by adopting a regime that includes the following -

• Balancing exercise sessions with periods of rest
  Eating healthy foods
  Caring for your emotional health during times of stress
  Protecting your joints during everyday tasks
  Applying local treatments for joint pain
  Adopting healthy habits in general

Exercise: Consult your physical therapist or doctor to help you formulate an exercise program that uses the full motion range of your joints and strengthens muscle. Plan for plenty of rest between exercises but keep up a daily program even if you don't feel like it - your mood should improve, joint pain lessen and you should sleep better.

Although some discomfort is to be expected this should only last for a short time after exercise - any new joint pain or other sharp pains need to be referred to your doctor for advice on how to proceed.

Although rheumatoid arthritis is not a condition to take lightly, it can be controlled to some degree. Early diagnosis helps reduce loss of mobility and joint pain caused by the disease in advanced form, so the best advice this article can give is to see your doctor immediately if you suspect you have the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, especially if you experience stiffness and joint pain.

All advice in this article is given in good faith but does not pretend to replace the diagnosis or professional advice of a qualified medical doctor.

The benefits of physical activity are numerous and very well documented. Aside from substantially reducing the risk of dying of a heart attack, regular physical activity decreases the risk for stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain forms of cancer. Regular physical activity helps to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis. Regular physical activity helps reduce the symptoms of arthritis and degenerative joint disease and reduces the falls among older adults. Regular exercise has even been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. As overwhelming as these benefits are, the sad fact is that less than half American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits. Less than one third of adults in our country are physically active in their leisure time. The good news is, it's never too late to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Activities performed at a higher intensity or longer duration generally offer greater health benefits; this however, may not be a realistic goal or starting point for everyone. Healthy benefits can be gained from activity as simple as a brisk 30 minute walk five or more times a week. Life can be busy and hectic but with a little creativity and planning every body can make room for physical activity. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Replace that coffee or cigarette break with a fitness break by talking a brisk walk or doing some stretches at your desk. Play with the kids or the dog. Instead of driving around to find the closest parking spot, park farther away and enjoy the walk. Remember when it comes to physical activity every little bit helps.

To reap the full health benefit of physical activity an exercise plan should address the five components of physical fitness as outlined by the Centers of Disease control. These five components include cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, and flexibility. In future columns we will more specifically address these individual components, as well other pertinent topics such as nutrition, weight management and injury prevention. Information that will help you stay Looking Better, Feeling Better, and Playing Better! But in the mean time...Get Moving!

Arthritis and joint pain are the two major culprits that greatly affect the life of old aged people. Below are some effective arthritis joint pain herbal remedies that work.

1. Essential oils are pure in form and can be very helpful in treating inflamed joints. They penetrate the cells easily; repair quickly the damaged tissues and cells by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the stiff muscles and damaged tissues. The essentials oils, in other words, have the power to rebuild joints and restore flexibility and mobility. Oils extracted from cypress, juniper, basil, peppermint, birch, eucalyptus, rosemary, ginger, nutmeg, pine, fir, spruce, marjoram, wintergreen are some important essential oils highly beneficial for ailing joints. These oils can be applied directly on swollen joints and used as an effective rub. One can apply any one of these oils, or several oils in combination. Also any one of these oils may be used in combination with virgin olive oil for massaging joints. The aromatic property of essential oils is an additional advantage. The sweet fragrance relaxes the mind.

2. Compressing affected joints with powdered ginger can give much relief.

3. Epsom salt may be added to the water used for bathing. It reduces joint stiffness.

4. Sesame seed soaked in water overnight may be taken along with the water every morning to get relief from frequent pain attacks.

5. Alfalfa tea made from alfalfa seeds is a good herbal remedy for arthritis.

6. Half teaspoon cinnamon powder mixed with one tablespoon honey may be taken every morning to get relief from inflexible joints.

7. Rubbing painful joints with the sesame oil in which few red chilies and ginger slices have been boiled can be very useful.

8. The herb guggulu is very good for curing arthritis. It may be consumed daily.

9. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and may be used as poultice.

10. Fish oils rich in Omega3 fatty acids have pain lessening properties. It is very good for treating rheumatoid arthritis. The main ingredients in fish oil are DHA or docosahexaenoic and EPA or eicosapentaenoic which stop the inflammatory agents from attacking the joint in case of rheumatoid arthritis.

11. Heated mustard oil mixed with camphor powder is good for massaging painful joints.

12. Almond oil, grape seed oil, olive oil can function as effective carrier oil for massage.

13. Rumatone Gold oil available in market is specially prepared herbal oil that can penetrate skin and soothe the stiff muscles, thereby making them flexible.

14. Rumatone Gold Capsule is also effective herbal pain relief supplement.

15. Castor oil can function as an effective pain relief rub. It is also effective in arthritis pain relief. The method of using the oil for pain relief is as follows: One has to soak cotton in castor oil, and place it over a swollen joint. Then one has to cover the soaked cotton pack with a plastic wrap and place a hot water bag over it. The treatment is to be continued for at least 30 minutes every day to get relief from pain. Massing the area directly with heated castor oil also helps. The massaging should be done following up and down strokes.

Research suggests that many back problems result from a combination of poor posture and body mechanics which create abnormal stress on the spine. This stress can eventually develop into structural changes in the spine which manifest as disc and joint degeneration, shortening or lengthening of support ligaments and muscles together with wear and tear on cartilage. All of these changes can lead to pain.

The key elements to keeping your spine healthy are learning and practicing good posture, using good body mechanics during everyday activities together with regular exercise.

The basis of effective back care begins with good posture. Poor posture can cause spinal pain as well as exacerbate existing pain, it can also delay rehabilitation. Poor posture has been associated with chronic headaches, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) and shoulder pain.

People spend hours during their daily activities lifting, bending forward and sitting. Consider your lifestyle, how many times during the day do you compromise your spine when lifting, bending, or sitting at your computer.
If you can master maintaining a neutral spine, retaining the three natural curves of the spine as you move from one position to the next you will be closer to protecting your spine from unnecessary stress and strain. It is clear that once the spine is placed in a neutral position it needs to be kept there and it is the postural muscles that achieve this.

The muscles that hold the spine in correct alignment are found deep in the body close to the spine they are referred to as stabilisers naturally, because this is their function, to help stabilise the spine in readiness for activity.

These deep abdominals respond most effectively to a gentle contraction and together with a neutral pelvic alignment and a lateral thoracic (wide and full) breath create the correct intra-abdominal pressure to assist with spinal stability. (Richardson et al 1996, Queensland University). Another good reason to locate and activate them.

The deep abdominals or postural muscles are also commonly called the core. The core, simply, is the muscles that connect your lower body to your upper body, it is made up of four major muscles:

The Transversus Abdominis (TA) The Pelvic Floor The Diaphragm The Multifidus

The transversus abdominis (TA) is the body's natural corset. It's the muscle you use to pull in your tummy when you walk along the beach! The T.A. connects at the left of the spine, wraps around the abdomen attaching to the ribs and hips, until it reaches the right side, encasing the internal organs. The more superficial abdominal muscles that give you a six pack are layered on top of these support muscles. However if you want those washboard abs., to stay flat you will need to work your core as well as trim the fat and work the more aesthetic muscles. Of course another important function of the TA is to assist with spinal stability which is essential for good posture.

The pelvic floor (PF) are those muscles you use when you need a toilet and can't find one. You will also be aware of them when you cough or sneeze as they tend to tense spontaneously under this pressure.

Unfortunately people generally do not pay enough attention to these important muscles. The PF is the structure, not unlike a basket that holds in and supports the abdominal organs, stablise the hips in association with the core and helps with balance as well as reducing the risk of stress incontinence.

(The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that works with the muscles of the ribs to expand and contract the ribcage during respiration (breathing). We do not often take control of the diaphragm. The way we control our diaphragm is usually through breathing; rate, rhythm and depth, you don't focus on the muscle but the inhale and exhale. The stronger we make the diaphragm, however, the deeper, slower and more paced our breathing will be.

The multifidus runs the length of the spine, it has a unique design which provides support as well as keeping us upright by providing scaffolding for the vertebral column. Researchers for the National Institute of Health found short stiff muscles packed in a finger-like covering; it is this particular design that is responsible for the extra strength and support the multifidus gives the spine.

Unlike most muscles when the multifidus is on stretch, (when we bend forward) it gets stronger. Generally if a muscles is lengthened it has a tendency to lose strength. Obviously the multifidus is operating under different rules.

("Our research shows that it's the strongest muscle in the back because of its unique design" states Richard L. Lieber, PhD. Lieber is the director of the National Center for Skeletal Muscle Rehabilitation Research, a professor and Vice Chair at UCSD's Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and a senior research scientist at the VA in San Diego.

It is clear from the information above that learning to utilise the core to initiate movement whilst in a neutral pelvic alignment will not only reduce your risk of injury and low back pain but go a long way towards improving your general posture.

You now have all this information and are aware of the value of neutral spine, using your core and breathing properly, so how can you use it?

When you are participating in your sport of choice, or exercise class, initiate all movement by using this simple system: Set the bones - Neutral Pelvis. Engage the muscles, the core and use a wide and full breath. Once you have initiated this set up you are ready to add the more superficial muscles that will move your body into action.

The muscles of the core only need a mild contraction to become activated and function effectively (Richardson et el 1996) much like a light switch, they are either on or off. Once they are on you can confidently use the large muscles for the action phase of a movement now that you have stabilised the spine and reduced the effects of stress on the spine from the activity. Try this test exercise:

Lay on your back on a mat or towel with your knees bent and feet hip width apart.

Allow your complete spine to "let go" of tension

Roll your pelvis backward and forward to find the range of movement

Place your pelvis half way between the two extremes (neutral alignment)

Exhale and gently draw your naval inward

"gently" if level 1 is no contraction and 10 is the maximum draw into level 3

Try to maintain this alignment with a gentle contraction whilst you slide your right foot along the ground, keep this a closed chain activity, with your foot always in contact with the floor

Only slide your foot as far forward as you can maintain the neutral spine, level 3 contraction of the core whilst you breathe naturally.

Repeat the movement up to 5 times on the right foot, then change to the left. This simple test of challenging your ability to move your limbs whilst maintaining the set up will demonstrate to you the subtlety of the action.

I recommend that until you are satisfied that you have your neutral set up and can maintain minimal involvement of the superficial abdominal muscles when working with low load (sliding the foot) you do not complicate matters by practicing more challenging abdominal exercises.

The purpose of first working in such a non challenging manner is to fully understand the "feeling" of the core connection. Once you are confident of course you will utilise this stabilising activation as the foundation to all abdominal exercises. Use the neutral set up as the start and finish of a movement; throughout the activity you will ensure the deep abdominals remain engaged so that all abdominal exercises are effective.

Of course you do not spend all your time exercising, throughout your day you will need to think about the value of stabilising your spine. Picking up your child for example, or taking luggage from the boot of the car require your deep abdominals to be stable before you complete the lift. The most stress is placed on the spine when it is flexed (bent forward) and loaded (lifting). Reduce your risk of injury and take a second to activate your core when necessary.

Briefly, good posture is awareness and persistence. Poor posture takes a lifetime to manifest and will take time and effort to rectify. However, perfect practice makes perfect , soon you will find your neutral alignment to be "natural".

The benefits are not only reduced risk of injury and reduction of low back pain, but a lengthened body appears slimmer and good posture can take 10 years off your age. So what are you waiting for? Start today.

Obesity, old age, lethargy etc are the primary reasons for arthritis in dogs. It is degenerative in nature and is not very different from the ones seen in humans. As a result of arthritis dogs suffer from stiff bones, rigidity in limbs and joints and at times unbearable pain. As a dog grows old his ability to withstand wear and tear grows weak and the pain that develops as a result gets intense. However the condition varies from dog to dog. One cannot assume that the arthritis is restricted to older dogs because even the younger ones may be a victim of arthritis. The main reasons why younger dogs suffer may be due to injuries or laziness. There are a few diseases and infections also that may also lead to arthritis. If a dog suffers from a serious injury on its limbs as a pup it may develop arthritis at a later stage in life. Canine hip dysplacia is a condition that may lead due severe arthritis in dogs.

Out of all types of arthritis osteoarthritis is the most common and it is related to normal damage to the cartilage. However, there are different types of arthritis. Older dogs usually go through this condition in their senior years. Blindness-complete or partial, deafness, disobedience, gastric troubles, indigestion are common ailments in dogs at a very old age.. To ensure dogs live longer happily it is imperative to consult a veterinarian since the condition may lead to unbearable pain and limit the dog's age.

The right medicine in the right quantity is a must to alleviate the pain. Consulting a vet is a must but besides that regular exercises and physiotherapy are useful to keep the condition at bay or control it if already the dog suffers. Regular exercising leads to the release the fluids that lubricate the joints thereby assist in improving the condition. There are medicines that give instant results to check the condition temporarily however there are other medications that do not let the condition from occurring. However, prevention is always better than cure. Keep a check of the condition of your dog after it crosses an age of six. However different sized dogs behave and react to such conditions differently. Heavier dogs understandingly suffer more than the lighter counterparts.

Arthritis can be degenerative or inflammatory in nature. The various conditions that indicate arthritis are reluctance to walk or climb, whining constantly, not able to keep up pace, lethargy in getting up and abnormal walking style. Constant jumping over obstacles, ligament tear, fall from heights etc can also cause the condition to occur. Degenerative arthritis is classified into primary disease and secondary disease. Loose knee caps, OCD, HD are causes of secondary degenerative joint disease.

Degenerative arthritis may not be known till the dog has had abnormal stress and the damage can progress with no outward signs till the joint is severely damaged and the fluid for lubrication has thinned down so much that it cannot protect the and the lubricating fluid has thinned and lost its ability to protect the bone surfaces. Infection of any kind causes inflammation of multiple joints and is accompanies by fever, chills, anorexia and overall stiffness. Since infectious joints call for different treatments administering immune suppressive pills surely help.