Temporary Relief for Arthritis Joint Pain
April 28, 2009
In addition to medications and supplements there are many methods to provide temporary or short term relief for joint pain flare ups. These methods also help make it easier to exercise. Discuss these methods with your doctor before starting.
- Moist Heat - Use hot packs, warm towels, a bath or shower for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day. Talk to your doctor or therapist about deep heat from short waves and ultrasound. Deep heat can not be used however can not be used on acutely inflamed joints.
- Cold - Try a bag of ice or even a frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Caution, people with Raynaud’s phenomenon should not use this method.
- Hydrotherapy - Exercise in a pool can decrease the pain and stiffness because it takes the weight off your joints. Some people find that the heat and gentle movement of whirlpools are good at relieving joint pain.
- Mobilization Therapies - These include traction (gentle, steady pulling), manipulation (using the hands to restore normal movement to stiff joints) and massage. When done by a professional physical therapist or massage therapist these can help control joint pain add joint motion and provide muscle and tendon flexibility.
- TENS - In TENS (trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), electrodes are placed on the skin and an electrical shock is transmitted through them. These machines can be costly, ranging from $80 to $800. The treatment is time consuming, yet the unit can be worn throughout the day and turned on and off during the day.
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Does Anybody Really Know What Fibromyalgia Is?
February 11, 2009
It seems like the only people who know what Fibromyalgia is are those who suffer from it. People know the name, but until it comes “a knockin” its not relevant to most of us. It’s truly a mystery disease, and as such, is completely misunderstood.
Actually, Fibromyalgia is not a disease, but is a syndrome. So what is the difference, you might ask? Well, a syndrome is a group of problems, not an individual disease. Fibromyalgia took years to be recognized. It was ignored and misunderstood, and there are still doubters who consider this syndrome a legend more than accepted disease entity.
So what are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is characterized by the presence of multiple tender points and a constellation of symptoms.
Pain
The pain of Fibromyalgia is profound, widespread and chronic. It knows no boundaries, migrating to all parts of the body and varying in intensity.
Fibromyalgia pain has been described as stabbing and shooting pain and deep muscular aching, throbbing, and twitching. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling, and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient. The severity of the pain and stiffness is often worse in the morning. Aggravating factors that affect pain include cold/humid weather, non-restorative sleep, physical and mental fatigue, excessive physical activity, physical inactivity, anxiety and stress.
Fatigue
In today’s world many people complain of fatigue; however, the fatigue of Fibromyalgia is much more than being tired. It is an all-encompassing exhaustion that interferes with even the simplest daily activities. It feels like every drop of energy has been drained from the body, which at times can leave the patient with a limited ability to function both mentally and physically.
Sleep problems
Many fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder that prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive abnormalities in the Stage 4 deep sleep of Fibromyalgia patients. During sleep, individuals with Fibromyalgia are constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in deep sleep.
Other symptoms
Additional symptoms may include: irritable bowel and bladder, headaches and migraines, restless legs syndrome (periodic limb movement disorder), impaired memory and concentration, skin sensitivities and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, anxiety, depression, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision problems, Raynaud’s Syndrome, neurological symptoms, and impaired coordination.
It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for an Fibromyalgia patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. Fibromyalgia affects predominantly women (over 80%) between the ages of 35 and 55. Rarely, fibromyalgia can also affect men, children, and the elderly. For some, the onset of Fibromyalgia is slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body.
So does anybody really know what fibromyalgia really is? No one is exactly sure what causes it, it comes in many forms with many different symptoms, cloaks itself with other diseases, and can take up to 5 years to be sure you have it! No wonder it is one of the most misunderstood of diseases. Whoops, did I say diseases?—I guess I meant syndromes…. 
Does Exercise “Prevent” Arthritis?
February 11, 2009
A study released earlier this year in Australia shows that exercise may actually act as a preventative for the stiff, achy joints that accompany arthritis. According to an article recently published in the Journal of Arthritis Research & Therapy, exercising as little as one hour and 15 minutes a week now can make a difference over the next three years. Although the study was performed on women only, it can be assumed that the same benefit results in men. More women than men suffer from arthritis, and the risk increases greatly with age.
The study suggests the more time older women spend exercising, the better their chances are of staying pain-free from one of the biggest chronic conditions plaguing developed countries - arthritis! Doctors have long encouraged exercise among aging patients to keep joints flexible, muscles strong and to keep off weight, which is a leading risk factor for arthritis, but this is the first study that focuses specifically on middle-aged and older women who did not have a previous history of stiff and painful joints. Women in their 70s who exercised 75 minutes a week reported fewer symptoms of arthritis than those who did less, while more spry women who were active at least 2 1/2 hours weekly had even less pain in the three years that followed. The study was performed on more than 8,700 Australian women over a three-year period.
Doctors have long encouraged exercise among aging patients to keep joints flexible, muscles strong and to keep off weight, which is a leading risk factor for arthritis. “I don’t think the results are suggesting that you should just become this maniac exerciser,” said lead author Kristiann Heesch from the University of Queensland, Australia. “What it does suggest is that just adding some walking and moderate activity to your life can make a big benefit.” “Maybe the exercise directly benefits the joints. Maybe exercise makes you lose weight and the latter benefits the joints. Maybe exercise causes pain sensing receptors to become less sensitive so one feels less pain,” said Dr. John Hardin, chief scientific officer at the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation, who did not participate in the study.
Arthritis is on the rise, one in five American adults has been diagnosed with it. Fully half of those over the age of 75 have reported it. In both the United States and Australia, arthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability. It is clear that exercise is a contributing factor to relief of arthritis pain. Simple exercises like swimming, walking, aerobics and other action-oriented leisure activities can surely help keep you away from the harmful steroidal prescriptions, that doctors customarily prescribe to mask the pain of arthritis. And since exercise helps keep the weight off, this reduces the strain placed on joints each day.
So as you approach your forties, fifties and beyond, pick up your equipment, put on your sneakers, and get in motion! This study shows clearly that you’ll regret it in a few years if you don’t!
