You are here: Home / Archives for Joint Problems

ANKLE SPRAINS A NEW TREATMENT CONCEPT

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

With 25,000 ankle sprains occurring in the US daily, not to mention the remainder of the world, one can see this is a very big cause for loss of sport, loss of work and overall a consuming loss of time until full function is attained.  Whenever an ankle is sprained, the degree of injury can be minor with little down time or more commonly it is a major sprain with the associated swelling pain and bruising. I have seen patients who felt their severe sprain was just that only to find out later a fracture (broken bone) was involved.  If that is found immobilization or even surgery may be necessary.  For our purposes, it is assumed you have been found by primary doctor, ER or urgent care to be fracture free and, therefore, the following is an appropriate discussion.

R.I.C.E. has been the conventional treatment regimen for many years.  This is short for rest, ice, compression and elevation.  A newer concept is becoming more prevalent and since returning to the sport or back to work in the quickest time and with the strongest ankle  is the bottom line this new concept deserves a serious unbiased look.  The newer concept is too lengthy to discuss here, but if you are interested in returning to full function in the quickest time (I believe all of us are) then you should look into

http://www.rehabanklesprain.com/ .  It is routine for ankle sprains to rehab in 1-2 weeks vs 5-8 weeks under the older regimen.  Another very important aspect of healing any injury is to have natures super foods supply the vitamins and minerals.  My recommendation is vitaforce found at  http://www.dynamicsofnature.com/.

 

Filed Under: Common Foot Problems, Joint Problems

Shoulder Problems

November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Shoulder problems resulted in 1.6 million emergency visits in 2006, the last year with complete statistics.  How many of those visits and the subsequent visits to the care provider could  have been prevented, is unknown.  Hopefully, a more informed person with a shoulder problem could self-treat and eliminate the need for some of those visits.  I will go through the common causes and the relatively easy solutions, followed by what to look for that might point to a more serious problem that would require professional help.

The most common problem that most people are able to self-diagnosis is the simple muscle sprain.  Weekend athletes are commonly the injured party and they know that in a few days of TLC (tender loving care) is all that is needed.  The trouble begins when there is no obvious injury and the shoulder begins to hurt.  This is the type of shoulder problem that I see most commonly.  Repetitive activities with the arms extended, eg., window washing may not be felt as an injury, but a tendinitis is frequently the end result. When an obvious cause is not forthcoming the patient becomes worried that something serious is occurring.  Generally this is a tendinitis and rest of the extremity (this does not mean a sling usually), cold compresses or low heat pad settings along with an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory is the initial treatment.  It frequently comes on as the person awakens and hurts at rest as well as while being used, though using it aggravates the discomfort even more.  It presents in the front and top of shoulder and can even refer discomfort down to approximately half way to the elbow.  Caught early and treated aggressively with OTC anti-inflammatories and daily range-of-motion (ROMs) exercises, these modalities will usually resolve the problem within a week.  ROMs are necessary for a few minutes a day to lower the likelihood of a frozen shoulder.  That discussion will be later in the post.  Throughout these articles my common theme when it comes to taking OTC anti-inflammatories is this: I recommend aleve over ibuprofen due to the amount necessary to resolve inflammatory problems like tendinitis.  The amount required is more than the label will recommend.  The OTCs’s recommendations are based on what it takes for temporary relief of pain, not the resolution of inflammation.  That takes more and with aleve 2 tablets 3 times a day with meals is the appropriate dose.  With ibuprofen  it is 12-16 tablets divided into 4 doses with food.  At this dose unacceptable side-effects, besides stomach irritation, can occur and ringing in the ears is possible and that may be permanent.   The 6 aleve though not without similar side effects are not as likely to be permanent and the 6 aleve is not as close to its toxic dose as 12-16 ibuprofen is. Whatever you choose, it needs to be taken routinely until the pain has resolved.  Think of inflammation as a fire and you will more likely take the medication correctly.  Of course, if active intestinal bleeding or active ulcer disease is present, then one should not be taking any anti-inflammatory with the possible exception of Celebrex, but this requires a care provider seeing, diagnosing and determining if anti-inflammatories are appropriate before the Celebrex can be prescribed and it may require special reports to be filled out by your care provider to have the insurance company accept its need.

More serious problems that will likely require the expertise of an orthopedist is a long lasting pain problem that started with a defined injury.  It is significant if a pop and the sudden loss of ability to lift the arm occurs.  Again, if the pain is in immediate area of the shoulder, again usually anterior, this may be a injury to the rotator cuff, the conjoined tendon from four different shoulder muscles that are responsible for all shoulder motion and this requires the orthopedist’s expertise.

If there is any associated numbness or tingling into the arm below the elbow and especially into the hand, this implies a problem with the nerves coming out of the neck and again an expert evaluation is required.

A less common, but equally devastating problem is frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis (our term).  Usually it starts as a tendinitis, but instead of a return to normal after a short time, a stiffness sets in the shoulder and there is a progressive loss of motion and as one tries to move the shoulder more pain ensues and less motion is the conscious result by the patient to reduce the pain, thus more adhesions and resultant stiffness.  Though unknown as to why, diabetics are particularly prone to this malady.  This requires an accurate diagnosis by usually the orthopedist and an aggressive physical therapist and the patient’s knowledge that this is one of those problems that fit into the old adage “no pain no gain”.

An uncommon cause of referred pain to the shoulder, besides neck problems, which can directly effect the shoulder by disrupting the appropriate nerve impulses, is gall bladder disease.  This can cause shoulder pain, but it has no effect on the use or strength of the shoulder and acts as a dull ache in the right shoulder only.  If you can move the uncomfortable right shoulder without adverse effect and especially if you should have abdominal problems at the same time, then the gall bladder needs to be evaluated.  The left shoulder can’t be involved due to the position of the gall bladder on the right side of the upper abdomen under the liver.

For more information about shoulder exercises you can do at home, view this post.

 

Filed Under: Joint Problems Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tendinitis

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The two most common problems seen in my general orthopedic practice are various tendinitis problems and arthritis, with the most common arthritis called degenerative arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis).  Tendinitis is frequently associated with repetitive activities with an obvious injury not usually a factor.  Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon and rest of the effected part and local measures, eg., heat and cold application will both increase the blood supply to the area, thus speeding up the recovery.  OTC (over-the-counter) anti-inflammatory medications, examples being Aleve and Advil (known also as ibuprofen and Motrin) are readily available, but must be taken with food, not taken in face of active ulcer disease and with the knowledge that even potentially life-threatening intestinal bleeding can occur.  Though ibuprofen is the more widely used OTC medication, the amount necessary to have a positive long-lasting effect on the inflammatory process is daunting.  Though the label will not indicate this, if taking the 200 milligram tablet, you would need, as an adult, 12-16 of the tablets a day.  A better choice is Aleve and again the label will not reflect this dosage, but 2 tablets 3 times a day with meals is the appropriate dose.  There are prescription  medications available, but that requires a provider visit and this post is all about treatments that , hopefully resolve the problems without thatvisit becoming a necessity.

Filed Under: Joint Problems Tagged With: , , , ,

Got Joint Problems? The Good And Bad Foods

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Rheumatoid Arthritis, an acute inflammatory disease, sometimes results from intolerance to certain foods or chemicals. If you have a family history of asthma, hay fever, rhinitis, or eczema, this could be significant in your case.

Like other allergy-related ailments, many joint problems are improved following a switch from normal eating habits to the pattern explained on the Harmonious Eating Page.

Rheumatoid arthritis, fibrositis and all the other conditions of muscular inflammation, also, respond well to dietary change; even gout can be successfully controlled by very careful eating. Many cases of rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis and even gout respond dramatically to a two-day fast followed by a raw food diet for some weeks. See below for how to carry out the Two-Day-Fast.

Foods to avoid

Potatoes, aubergines (eggplant), peppers, paprika all belong to the Nightshade family of plants: avoiding them has brought relief to a great number of sufferers from joint problems.

Dairy products, wheat, oats, eggs, refined carbohydrates along with processed foods have all been known to aggravate symptoms of joint disease. The following foods should be avoided by sufferers of gout:

Offal (the parts of a butchered animal that are considered inedible by human being), all yeast and meat extracts, chicken, beef, pork, tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, cola drinks, sardines, anchovies, whitebait (small fish usually cooked whole), sprats, herrings, mackerel, mussels, scallops; all fish roe (including caviar and taramasalata-a Greek dip or paste of smoked carp roe combined with milk, bread crumbs, lemon juice, and olive oil); partridge and guinea fowl.

These are danger foods for gout sufferers because they contain purines, which increase the level of uric acid in the body. This exacerbates joint pain. Also avoid alcohol because it also inhibits excretion of uric acid.

Foods to eat

In one of the earliest trials of diet therapy in arthritis, a number of patients at London’s Royal Free Hospital were put on the diet of raw foods recommended by Dr Max Bircher-Benner. To learn more about this pioneer click here. Many of the patients made astonishing recoveries. Diet based on just eating raw food will improve digestion and elimination, reduce inflammation, and raise general resistance and vitality.

Traditionally, strawberries and raspberries have been forbidden fruit for the arthritic. French research shows that both fruits help eliminate uric acid, and have a positively beneficial effect on gout, osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Here is a list of the beneficial raw foods: fruit: Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, apples, plums, blackcurrants, gooseberries, melon, pears, grapes, bananas, lemons; vegetables: Artichokes, carrots, cabbage, onion, leek, celery, chicory, olives, dandelion, fennel, radish, turnips, nettles; grains: Rye Soya brown rice, millet, buckwheat; nuts, seeds, pulses: Walnuts, sprouted alfalfa, sprouted mung beans, bean sprouts; herbs: Chervil, parsley, garlic, juniper, thyme, sage, camomile, rosemary, marjoram.

Two-Day Fast

The best possible introduction to your new way of eating is a cleansing two-day fast. It is not, however, recommended for everyone who is suffering from, or has had gout. Gout sufferers should instead try the Three-Day Elimination Diet.

It is not wise to smoke or take drugs while fasting. Check with your doctor if you are taking prescribed medication. Before you start the fast, have two days of preparation, during which you should not eat any meat. You should also restrict your tea and coffee intake to no more than two weak cups of either per day: this is because the withdrawal symptoms from caffeine-containing drinks can be very severe, hence making the fast itself even more difficult. For the same reason, you should avoid chocolate, cocoa and cold drinks. For the two days prior to the fast eat only fresh raw fruits, raw or lightly cooked vegetables, and small quantities of protein in the form of grilled, poached or steamed fish on the first day and nuts, seeds, beans or grains on the second. Its important also to keep up your fluid intake, so drink plenty of filtered or bottled spring water. Dairy products and alcohol should be avoided for these two days.

For the fast itself, pick two days when you don’t have to be active physically or mentally, and when you can close your door to any visitors. You may feel perfectly well, but you will have no energy to spar. You many also have a strong reaction to the fast as toxins stored in the body for years, perhaps, are released into the bloodstream for elimination. Headaches, an unpleasantly furred tongue, bad breath, low back pain from extra kidney activity, and general aches and pains may be felt, but the feeling of well-being afterwards is well worth it.

During the two days of fasting, eat absolutely nothing, and drink only bottled spring water, at room temperature. Drink as much as you like. And for these two days, forget about vitamins and mineral pills.

Coming off a fast, even a short one, is as important as the fast itself. A rump steak, french fries and a bottle of wine may sound appetizing after not eating for two days but the effects could be catastrophic. Instead, break your fast the first morning with freshly pressed fruit juice and a few grapes; mid morning, have a little fresh fruit. At midday, eat a couple of rye crisp breads or wholemeal toast without butter, but with a raw vegetable salad. Mid-afternoon drink herb tea with some dried fruit and nuts. For the evening meal, have a brown rice dish with a selection of cooked vegetables, followed by fresh fruit.

On the second day after the fast, breakfast should be herb tea, a tempting selection of fresh fruit, and plain yoghurt with a little honey and/or some nuts and seeds. For the midday meal, eat a bowl of muesli or a rice salad, with a fresh raw salad, and some dried fruit. Herb tea and a slice of wholemeal bread and honey can be an afternoon snack. The evening meal can consist of a good homemade vegetable soup followed by a little steamed or grilled fish with salad.

For the rest of the week, your diet would be best with no meat, keep tea and coffee consumption to a minimal as possible, and eat as much raw fruit and vegetables as you can.

If you are going strong, and would like to go further, follow the two days on nothing but water with five days of only raw fruit and vegetables, with herb teas, mineral water and diluted juices to drink.

You will find that even a short fast will bring tremendous improvement in all joint problems. And most sufferers who try it will want to repeat the two-day fast every couple of months, making sure that during the weeks in between, they stick to the better foods and not the foods to avoid.

© Marie Milton

Written by MarieMilton

Filed Under: Joint Problems Tagged With: , , ,

What Omega 3 weight loss and exercise Can Do Against Joint Pain

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Joint pains are unbearable and these pains often hit us after middle age and gets worse in a higher age. Since many joint problems are caused by arthritis, what you do against arthritis will reduce your joint pains.

Lifting heavy weights plays a significant part in joint pain. This is especially true in the weight-bearing areas of the body – hips, ankles, back  and knees. It is better  to reduce the likely-hood of this problem developing  by sticking to a healthy weight. This will go a long way in combating it.  If you are already overweight, it is better to talk to your doctor about losing some weight. A healthy diet will do wonders for joint problems. What, however,  does a healthy diet imply?

Omega 3 is without doubt an essential component of a healthy diet.  Fish is rich in omega 3. Omega 3 will help your joints  repair themselves. The omega-3 fatty acids have been confirmed through research to reduce pain and stiffness in the joints. Even if you aren’t a fan of eating fish, you’ll need its benefits. Just try fish oil supplements. There are many kinds of capsules on the market, the capsules reducing the after-taste . Krill oil has some promise in supplying a better absorbed and much more functional omega 3 & 5.  My recommendation is Krill Oil by Mercola.  It is prepared in such a way that oxygenation, that degrades other preparations, does not adversely effect this variety.  It can be obtained through Amazon.  It, also, has potent anti inflammatory properties and this is especially helpful since so many of our maladies have inflammation at the core of the problem.

A healthy skeletal system is essential in avoiding joint pains. Avoiding osteoporosis (which is quite common in women) also means taking a Vitamin D3 supplement of 1000IU daily along with Calcium.  It, also, can be obtained in the form of capsules.  Because of  valid concerns about skin damage that possibly will degrade into cancer,  sun exposure  in many is kept to a minimum.  One of advantages of sun exposure is the manufacture of Vitamin D3 in the skin.  Taking Vitamin D3, as a supplement,  is the best way to solve this dilemma and not require over-exposure to the sun’s effects.

Both omega 3 and calcium can be obtained from many kinds of foods. But, ingesting capsules guarantees that you’ll take the same amount  every day. Eating fish every day is boring. There are valid concerns about the mercury levels and the fish and omegas, taken as a supplement guards against this potential problem.  Children are frequently finicky eaters, but they especially need the omegas, thus capsules.  You need only 2 grams per day.

Omega-3 is comprised of two fatty acids abbreviated EPA & DHA.  They are needed by our body to work normally and we must obtain them from outside sources.   The human body does not produce any of these essential fatty acids. We have to provide omega 3 to the body through foods or supplements.

Joint pains are preventable or at least lessened by preventive care. If you are already suffering from joint pains, some measures will also reduce your pain. Talk to a doctor about starting an exercise program, losing weight and taking supplements.   Though exercising sore joints may be too much pain, exercising uninvolved muscles and joint under a special program could go a long way in strengthening the body and losing significant amounts of weight.  I have tried the following program and I can contest to its helping tremendously.  View more about this program by clicking here.

 

Filed Under: Joint Problems Tagged With: , , ,