Glucosamine Chondroitin Supplements

Q: My doctor has told me that the pain in my shoulder is due to arthritis. Is there anything that can be done about it?

A: Has throwing the ball with the kids become a big pain in the shoulder? As we get older our joints may deteriorate, with loss of the smooth cartilage coating of the bones in the shoulder joint, a process known as arthritis. It can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common process in the shoulder is degenerative joint disease (DJD). The shoulder is made up of two distinct joints, the large ball-and-socket Gleno-Humeral Joint (GH), where the arm meets socket of the shoulder blade, and the much smaller Acromio-Clavicular (AC) Joint, where the top part of the shoulder blade (the acromion) meets the collar bone (clavicle). Either or both joints can become damaged and painful, and X-rays will be used to detect whether arthritis is present.

Once the diagnosis is made, treatment generally starts with oral medications to reduce the pain and inflammation within the joints. This generally starts with medicines like Tylenol or anti-inflammatories known as NSAIDs, either over-the-counter or by prescription. Sometimes it is necessary to use a short course of stronger anti-inflammatory medicines known as steroids, such as prednisone, usually given in a precise regimen that is tapered quickly. Some patients will benefit from Physical Therapy treatments, which can help by improving the range of motion and strength in the shoulder.

If this approach is not successful, a patient may need to have a steroid injection in the shoulder, which can be effective by placing the anti-inflammatory material directly into the painful area. The effect may not last long, but the injection can help to confirm that the arthritic area is actually causing the shoulder pain. On the other hand, some shots will lead to long-term pain relief. We have some patients who come to the office every six months for a steroid shot and function well between visits.

If this approach is not working, surgery may be needed. An MRI is often obtained to rule out other shoulder damage, such as tendonitis or a rotator cuff tear, and it is also useful to gauge the full extent of the arthritis.

If the upper (AC) joint is the primary source of pain, and conservative measures have failed, relatively simple surgery can usually solve the problem. The AC joint pain seems to come from the deformed ends of the bones which rub together once the cartilage coating has worn away. We can remove the ends of the bones and the scar that fills the space will gradually become comfortable. At first, this was done as an open procedure, but now it is done routinely through small stab wounds using a fiber-optic tool known as an arthroscope.

When the ball-and-socket shoulder joint (GH) is arthritic and requires surgery, things get more complicated. As an open procedure, requiring an incision that is about six inches long, the damaged joint surfaces can be replaced by an artificial joint made of plastic and metal. This procedure has evolved over the years and is now very reliable. The recovery period will last six to twelve months and will require Physical Therapy. When a patient has fully recovered, the shoulder strength and function should be reasonably good, but patients almost always report that their pain is gone. In fact, some of our happiest patients are those who put up with severe shoulder arthritis for years and after getting a Total Shoulder Replacement could finally get a good night’s sleep.

We have a dilemma when a patient has severe ball-and-socket shoulder arthritis along with a large rotator cuff tear. The soft tissue envelope of tendons around the shoulder is known as the Rotator Cuff, and if it is massively torn and unrepairable, a conventional shoulder replacement may not work well, because the shoulder will be weak and unstable and the components will tend to become loose and painful. Fortunately, an ingenious solution has been developed to deal with this situation. A Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty is a plastic and metal device which replaces the socket with a ball and replaces the ball with a socket, allowing most patients to regain overhead motion without an intact rotator cuff. The surgery is somewhat more complicated and there are more potential complications, but for certain patients, it is just what the doctor ordered.

What to do: If you have shoulder pain that lasts more than a few weeks, try gentle stretching and over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol or NSAIDs. If you cannot get relief, make plans to see your doctor. These days, most shoulder pain can be resolved. With any luck you will be able to get back to throwing in the backyard in time for spring training.

About the Author
Dr. Martin R. Coleman is a physician with OSC-Ortho, a leading provider of Newport News Orthopedics, Newport News Shoulder Replacement Surgery, and Newport News Physical Therapy.  OSC-Ortho can be found online at:  OSC-Ortho.com .

Miscellaneous Content newport news orthopedics, newport news physical therapy, newport news shoulder replacement surgery

Magnetic Arthrits Pain Relief get more information on this alternative treatment today.

Research statistics confirms that approximately one out of every six adult men and women in the U.S. is known to suffer from some type of arthritis , and the disabling pain that comes along with it. People suffering from arthritis are beginning to approach reach record numbers as the babyboomers approach their golden years . Young children contribute a smaller portion of those afflicted by arthritic conditions .

Arthritic Pain

Sometimes arthritis is a little sneaky as it gradually works its way into your joints coming on leisurely with just small clues of pain and joint inflammation popping up now and then . Then before you identify the extent of its hold on you, the tender joints, and stabbing pain becomes more than you can tolerate without seeking treatment . Not all arthritis pain is the identical .

Arthritic pain can be stabbing , or a throbbing pain ,but at times it can be barely noticeable . However, countless arthritis suffers know when you have a flare up the pain can be agonizing

Causes Of Arthritis

For the most part,the root cause of many types of arthritis are not known . Things that may contribute to arthritic conditions include; joint injury, repetitive injuries, bacterial infections, the over use of joints, and the buildup of uric-acid crystals in the joints as seen in cases of gout, can all contribute to arthritic conditions.

Some Of The Difficulties In Treating Arthritic Conditions

For all its notoriety this painful arthritic condition is still surrounded by an abundance of misinformation, myths, and skewed facts.

Individuals suffering with the many different type of arthritis will tell you that learning to live with the pain and discomfort of arthritis can be easier said than done. and management of arthritis can involve taking medications, diet changes, exercise, but unfortunately when it comes to treatment plans one size does not fit all.

Research has found that there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, so treatment plans will vary for each individual.

You don’t just have to suffer with your arthritis pain, it is important to speak to your general practitioner when you first have joint pain and inflammation, so that the right treatment can be started. As there are over 100 different types of arthritis, you should make an appointment with your doctor to define a treatment plan. It is important to see your doctor, or be referred to a specialist called a Rheumatologist to plan out how to care for your arthritis pain effectively.

Arthritis Treatment

Let’s take a look at some other options for helping with pain that you might find helpful too.

Finding Arthritis Releif

Exercise:
Exercise is necessary to maintain healthy joints .“Keep moving and you will stay mobile” is my motto. Maintaining a proper weight will be a great benefit if suffer from painful arthritic conditions. This can be accomplished with exercise, and the exercises will also provide strengthening to muscles and ligaments that envelop your joints, providing lubrication, and transporting important nutrients while removing waste products to and from the cushioning cartilage between the bones.

Believe me I know firsthand how hard it can be to even consider exercising when you are in throbbing pain, but studies confirm that it is vital to your health.
I have found through my own research what I consider one of the pieces of best exercise equipment, and I personally use are light weight resistance bands.

Resistance Bands Are Also Known as;Resistance Tube Workout Bands

These light weight resistance bands are really remarkable as they can provide you will most of the required exercises you need to maintain your joint health, and strength training: You can perform Range-of-motion Exercises, and Strengthening Exercises (no heavy dumbbells needed).

Choosing Healthy Diet Choices:
A diet for arthritis can be tricky as there are different dietary needs for different types of arthritis.  Eating healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, low calorie juices, stay away from alcohol, and foods with a lot of preservatives. When drinking water makes sure that you filter it, as your city water supply is full of chorine and many people find that this can exacerbate arthritis pain.

Magnetic Products

OK, go ahead and think I am a loon, but I’m telling you medical magnets work. I have been using them for years, and they have almost cured my migraines, and help relieve the inflammation in my joints. My knee used to swell up on a weekly basis, and would be so painful I would just sit in a chair all day with the heating pad watching TV. Now using the magnetic knee wrap, and magnetic bracelets it is the difference between night and day.  Let me tell you I am a huge skeptic, and I did bunch of research before shelling out for any “Quack Bracelet” as my hubby called them. Well, he’s quacking now, and had to eat crow when I bought him one for his birthday, and he was really surprised at the level of pain relief. He has been out golfing almost every day feeling virually pain free.

I am an arthritis sufferer too, and I am comforted by the fact that I am not alone, but it does not make the pain hurt any less. You are not alone either.  You should not stop living when you suffer from arthritis.

“Keep moving and you will stay mobile”

I hope you are inspired to keep moving, and enjoy your life. You can find more information and research about Magnetic Arthritis Relief .com

Miscellaneous Content Arthritis, arthritis relief, arthritis treatment, magnetic arthritis relief, magnetic arthritus relief, magnetic healing, magnetic therapy

The term “Arthritis” refers to more than 100 different types of diseases which all cause pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints of affected people. Joint pain is Prevalent in all forms of arthritis. Every type of arhritis can vary by degree of seriousness, pain, degree and duration of joint pain.

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis destroys joint cartilage and is the most common form for this type of joint cartilage arthritis. Bony outgrowths or bone spurs as they are commonly known are found in many cases of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is usually found in people over the age of 55. That is why most people say it is an ‘aged disease’ of the joints. Hands, feet, spine, hips and knees of the afflicted are the most common places to find Osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients experience white blood cells in the synovial membrane dividing, growing and multiplying. They produce inflammation of the joint capsule and synovial membrane, a decrease in space in the synovial cavity, stiffness and joint pain. Arthritis treatments are imperative, otherwise cartilage destruction is an inevitable outcome.

Apart from these types of arthritis, another type of arthritis that commonly affects people is “Inflammatory Arthritis”. This type of arthritis causes very severe inflammation in the joints and the tendons of the victims.

This is by and large characterized by the swelling up and inflammation of the synovial membrane – thereby inducing terrible pain and stiffness in the joints of the sufferers. The joints of Inflammatory arthritis sufferers look red and are warm to the touch. Sufferers need relief from the constant pain of arthritis.

In most countries arthritis treatments are very important, especially so in the USA as arthritis is the #1 physical disability. 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis in one form or the other, thats a staggering 16 percent of the total population of the united states.

Adults are not the only ones who need relief through arthritis treatments, children also require pain relief and treatment. In the United States, about 300,000 children suffer from one type of arthritis related disease or another. Relief from arthritis pain and effective treatment is more important for children as their tolerance to pain is a lot lower than adults. Adults on the whole can endure more pain than children, that is why relief from arthritis is needed as soon as the problem starts for children.

Miscellaneous Content Arthritis, arthritis doctor, arthritis pain, arthritis treatment, Rheumatoid Arthritis

In dicussing the overall topic of osteoarthritis it is important to note that our bones is made up of many joints, Knee joints, Hip joints & more. The joints in our fingers and the joints in ones toes. Wherever bones join, there exists cartilage which is a rubbery protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and without pain. But even cartilage can do this tremendous job alone, a slender membrane called the “synovium” provides fluid that makes slippery the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out the synovium gets inflamed, the result is mainly a case of “osteoarthritis” or “rheumatoid arthritis”. In the case of osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be worn down so much that bone ends up rubbing on bone. These types of arthritis actualize gradually over a lifetime as a simple effect of the wear and tear placed on ones joints over the years. Very few human beings escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the level of pain varies a great deal.

Continuing the discussion of joint arthritis – It is said that, if you are fifty plus, you are likely to have at least one joint damaged by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women in the same numbers and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list. With rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is seen to be the root cause of trouble. Experts are not absolutely sure of the root cauase, but many think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system is seen to attack various tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Some three quarters of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in America are female. The condition can start as early as the teen years.

Investing a little time in developing a quality weight-bearing stretching plan can add up to great effects when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles assist to take care of the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible. This is the reason that the focus for fitness is at hand, even if you are 50 years and over. However, most Americans over half a century in age are still right where they always were sitting back and observing others jog by. Most of them contend that that is just for citizens who have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise is for young individuals and engaging in exercise will do them more harm than good. When dealing with ankylosing spondylitis arthritis there are still some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they do not just have time or they have less energy than ever before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising. Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk.

Miscellaneous Content ankylosing spondylitis, Arthritis, arthritis disease, arthritis knees, arthritis pain, arthritis symptom, degenerative arthritis, glucosamine, gout, inflammatory arthritis, joint arthritis, Osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis cure, ostio arthritis, rheumatoid, severe osteoar

If you are experiencing pain from arthritis, you probably don’t enjoy the pain-free life-style you once had. It makes even the simplest activities uncomfortable or painful to do. If you want to reclaim a more active life-style, then you need to seek the right arthritis pain relief.

Usually, prescription drugs are used to treat arthritis. However, you only enjoy a short-term relief. You also need to be careful abou the side effects. These include diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating. It is usual for the patients to be dependent on the drug when they use the drugs for too long. In short, you must find a more safer treatment of arthritis pain.

Although these drugs such as NSAIDS (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and DMARDS (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) can prevent inflammation of the joints but the extended usage may cost a lot of money. If your condition is chronic, you only manage the pain. This another reason to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs.

The publicity of adverse effects from using these drugs has encouraged researchers to seek alternatives to eliminate arthritis pain. No wonder, many arthritis patients are trying natural remedies to reduce the inflammation and relief the pain. Recently, many arthritis patients have enjoyed better quality of life because of colloidal solution.

Another natural way to relieve pain is daily exercise. You should not perform exercises that place too much strain on the joints. Simple exercises like gentle stretching would be good enough to provide pain relief.

Supplements are another great help with arthritis pain. They can improve the immune system to counter the arthritis. Moreover, you should feel less pain and stiff.

Many believed that omega-3 fatty acids can effectively relieve pain and inflammation of the joints. There are many anti-inflammatory properties in omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that they can reduce stiffness and inflammation of the joints. With early detection of the symptoms, omega-3 fatty acids reinforce your body’s protective linings and lubricating fluids to prevent further damage. Supplements help to get rid of drug dependence that you use to ease pain.

Miscellaneous Content Arthritis pain relief, inflammation, Joint pain, stiffness

Many experts are of the opinion that arthritis is the most popular health problem people face in their old age. This condition makes a person’s joints weaker, and is accompanied by an intolerable pain in these areas. In some arthritic patients, more than one joint will be affected. Usually, it is the legs and the hands that are affected when a person becomes arthritic, but other joints may also be affected to a lesser extent. Though the common notion is that only older people suffer from this condition, the truth is that younger people can also be affected. Some kinds of arthritis are gender-dominant, such as rheumatoid arthritis that happens more commonly in women than in men.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Before seeing what treatment methods exist, it is important to know the symptoms of the condition. The symptoms of arthritis include pain in the joints and occasional stiffness, swelling in the area where the pain occurs, redness in the area and limitation of motion.

Many people get fevers too. An unexpected loss in weight can occur. Some people experience more serious complications, such as difficulties in breathing all from rheumatoid arthritis.

How is Arthritis treated?

Treatment of arthritis is best done medically, through a course that extends for a few weeks and sometimes even months. Since arthritis is a chronic condition, the treatment needs to be planned meticulously. The initial meeting with the doctor is about explaining the condition and making them understand all the facts that pertain to the case such as other health problems, other medications, lifestyle traits and the like.

A few tests and diagnoses may be conducted in the initial stages too. The common tests are those of urine, blood and the synovial fluid, which is the fluid present in the joints. Depending on the results of these tests, medications are planned out. If the condition is too severe, even surgeries may be planned.

However, mild cases of arthritis can be cured by the use of herbal oils and lotions which are quite easily available online. These are completely non-invasive methods, meant only for topical application. Being herbal, they show no side effects and are very effective methods of treatment. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure also have their own ways of controlling and treating the arthritic condition.

Miscellaneous Content Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

All body movements occur at the joints, from the small, delicate movements of the fingers to the large, powerful movements at our hips and legs. The strength and flexibility of the surrounding ligaments determine the strength, stability and range of movements of the surrounding joints. Many conditions can affect the joints either singly or in combination causing joints pain.

Fractures of the bones or dislocation problems can also be a cause of joints pain if these have not healed properly. What happens is that sometimes the bones do not set properly. This leads to a misalignment around the joints leading to joints pain. If you are a person who prefers an active lifestyle, take only moderate amounts of exercise that involves impact, twisting and turning which affects the hip joint and the other joints in the lower part of our body.

The joints of the foot are also particularly susceptible to joints pain. Our foot consists of many small and complex bone structures that are connected together by connective tissue to perform a wide range of actions. The bones of the foot primarily act as levers when we walk. The foot is connected to the bones of the leg above the heel. This is the primary joint of the foot that acts as a lever and propels us forward when we walk or run. The walking motion of the foot is also aided by the joints of our toes. These joints act as secondary levers and help in adding stability to our motion while we are walking or running.

Those of us, who have to do strenuous physical tasks for a living or are professional sportspersons, place much stress on the foot with the hard and quick range of motions that are required to be performed with the feet. This leads to severe joints pain. While we cannot change our profession to suit our bones, what we can definitely do is to take some measures to make life easy for our bones.

One of the easiest ways by which you can protect the bones of the feet and leg from joints pain is by selecting the right kind of shoes and footwear. Overly padded footwear is not very good as it does not give good balance and stability when we wear them. Choose footwear that is well fitting and has a good grip to prevent the onset of joints pain.

Miscellaneous Content Arthritis, health and fitness, joints pain