Suffering from chronic Knee Pain?

Approaches to Knee Pain Relief

by: Eddie Tobey

You use your knees every time you walk, run, or move your lower body at all. Knee pain, therefore, dramatically affects the daily life of sufferers, who must use their knees throughout the day. Knee pain is the second only to back pain among American adult pain sufferers. Knee trouble is most often caused by osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition in which the cartilage that surrounds the two bones that comprise the knee joint wears away, sometimes causing painful joint-on-joint contact.

There are many treatment options for knee pain. Under the care of a doctor, sufferers can select the most appropriate course of treatment to provide optimum knee pain relief. Over-the-counter and prescription medications including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin reduce pain, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, can reduce inflammation as well as knee joint pain. At-home remedies like ice packs and capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, often have a similar effect.

Natural supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine have become popular alternatives to traditional medicines in recent years because they present fewer risks of side effects. Both are naturally occurring substances in the body. The former aids in building joint cartilage, while the latter fights against degeneration of cartilage. Studies have proven their effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain, but have yet to demonstrate that these supplements actually reverse the effects of cartilage degeneration that have already taken place.

Modifying knee activity with physical aids such as padding, crutches, and splints, and even simple rest take the pressure off of the knee and provide temporary knee pain relief while the joint recovers from injury. Conversely, specific exercises, stretching, and low-impact aerobic activities such as biking, walking and swimming increase joint strength and flexibility, promoting healing and reducing the risk of further injury.

For severe knee injuries that have not responded to the aforementioned treatments, surgery remains an option. There are several common knee surgeries, which range from exploratory arthroscopic surgery, which orthopedic physicians use to diagnose the exact source of knee pain so that they can determine which behaviors and activities need to be modified, all the way to a total knee replacement. Whichever course of treatment a patient decides upon, it is important to work alongside a physician to ensure proper care.

Pain Relief provides detailed information on Pain Relief, Arthritis Pain Relief, Back Pain Relief, Joint Pain Relief and more. Pain Relief is affliated with Chronic Pain Management.

I recommend the following recource for even more information on Knee Pain Relief.

Back Pain - How Much Do My Daily Activities Create The Pain?

Back Pain - How Much Do My Daily Activities Create The Pain?
By Philip V. Cordova, D.C.

Uh oh, it's happened again. You can feel the initial "twinge." That is, you can feel the early warning sign that you low back pain problem is about to come back again. You knew you should have been keeping up with your chiropractic visits and the exercises your doctor gave you, but you just haven't done it.

You feel great most of the time, but you've learned that when you get this feeling, things are about to go downhill...fast. Sometimes you get off easy, just a few over-the-counter remedies and you can get back to work. Sometimes you're going to be spending the weekend putting ice on your back and waiting for the doctor to open up first thing Monday morning.

Worse case is that you'll spend the next couple of weeks trying to get yourself back to feeling not just pain-free, but to the point where you don't feel like things are about to go bad at any point. That's the worse feeling.

So it's somewhere in one of these episodes that you begin to ask yourself, "Why does this keep happening? Is it something I'm doing or not doing?" Most of the time, the answer is "yes!" Now, our bodies are not made out of concrete, and no one can make sure that your back pain will never, ever return again. However, there's plenty that you can do to keep the episodes at bay and keep from feeling bad more often than not.

Let's not even get into some of the preventative measures like regular chiropractic care. Let's just realize that your daily activities are usually what is contributing to your problem. If you sit all day on the computer, then get in your car and sit, and then go home and sit, and then go to sleep and do the whole thing all over again... you're going to have problems.

Some people will do some exercises, but that seems to be primarily made up of sit-ups, walking, and riding their bike. None of these activities will strengthen the spine to any noticeable degree. Certainly nothing that is going to keep that "feeling" from coming back again. Your normal daily activities have a focus on actions that occur in front of you with almost no engaging of the back muscles for anything other than keeping you upright.

If you're going to keep a back problem away, you're going to need to strengthen your back. Taking some time out to follow your doctor's recommendations and perform some regular activity for the sake of your spine will go a long way in keeping things together. Keep the weight down, the stress away, some regular general exercise, and some regular exercise focused on strengthening your spine and you should do okay.

Dr. Philip Cordova is a chiropractor in Houston, Texas. More information about this [http://www.myhoustonchiropractor.com/ title=Houston Chiropractor]Houston Chiropractor can be found on his website at http://www.MyHoustonChiropractor.com

Back Pain - What Is Your Body Telling You When It Creates Pain In Your Back?

Back Pain - What Is Your Body Telling You When It Creates Pain In Your Back?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Merrow]Kathryn Merrow

Back pain is a warning cry.

Your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong, and it wants your help to make it stop!

Your back probably was tolerant for a long, long time while you did things to aggravate it. But there comes a time when a body says, "Enough! Stop hurting me! Let's get back on the road to recovery, already!"

If you don't listen to that message, your pain will get "louder." Now are you listening?

There are several things you can do to begin to reduce your back pain.

Consider getting a professional therapeutic massage. Seek a massage therapist who is familiar with pain syndromes. Get someone who will work where the cause of your pain is, and not just rub where the symptom (the pain) is.

Start a stretching program to loosen areas of muscle tightness in the front of your body. What?! Your pain is in the back of your body? Yes, I'm sure it is. But the muscles in the front of your body are causing your poor back to be overstretched.

Improve the quality of your diet and drink lots of water. Bodies need nutritional support and muscles need to be well hydrated to function their best. If you eat lots of water-filled fruits and vegetables, that counts toward your water intake, too. In fact, if you eat lots of fruits and veggies, you are improving your diet already.

Start an exercise program to strengthen and create balance in your whole torso, especially your back side.

Your body wants to be well and feel good.

Sometimes it just needs a little "tweak" or a little help. It needs someone to massage a tight muscle; figure out the natural, logical cause of your back pain; help you get back into balance; or point out a situation which is causing pain.

A wallet in a man's back pocket, for instance, causes back pain because every time he sits, the wallet presses on one side of his low back. Just on one side, so that little wallet creates a twist in his spine, over and over and over again. Eventually his body says, "Whoa! This isn't working for me anymore!"

How about a woman who carries a large shoulder bag? Perhaps she hikes up the shoulder she carries her bag on, over and over again. Over time this will cause neck and back pain.

What about sitting curled up on the couch, always on the same end of the couch. If we place ourselves in the same position repeatedly, we are creating the same stresses on our body over and over until we end up, eventually, with pain.

Let's work together to figure out ways to reduce or eliminate your pain.

And now I'd like to invite you to discover more ways to relieve your pain naturally at http://www.SimplePainRelief.com Let Kathryn Merrow, The Pain Relief Coach, be your guide to a pain-free life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Merrow http://EzineArticles.com/?Back-Pain---What-Is-Your-Body-Telling-You-When-It-Creates-Pain-In-Your-Back?&id=1115613

Back Pain Medication - If you suffer from back pain the one thing you want as quick as possible is pain relief. The level of pain felt will vary betwe

Medication For Your Back Pain, Know What You Take
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Richard_Collins]Richard Collins

If you suffer from back pain the one thing you want as quick as possible is pain relief. The level of pain felt will vary between persons, it all depends on the pain tolerance a person has but also on what the cause of the back pain is. Most often you can treat the pain with medication like naproxen or ibuprofen. These are so called non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs. One of the biggest problems with these NSAIDs is that you can get potential side effects like increased risk of heart attack or stroke and/or gastrointestinal bleeding.

When you're looking for medication witch don't have these side effects maybe COX-2 inhibitors are an option. At this moment they haven't shown any negative side effects on the gastrointestinal system. Testing, however, is still continuing because the long term safety still has to be determined. Long term usage of non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs can have the increasing potential of gastrointestinal and/or kidney damage. The verdict on COX-2 is still out until the research on long term use is done and the effects are known to us.

Although most of the over the counter drugs don't have the same strength as NAIDs, Acetaminophen has shown some successes as pain medication when it comes to reducing the discomfort of having a back pain, and this all without having the many side effects NIADs have. When muscle spasm is the main cause of the pain there are only a few options in pain medications that can reduce the pain.

Drowsiness is the cause of pain medication

The most prescribed drugs, which are part of a persons back pain medication, are muscle relaxers. About 30% of those users have reported that they become extremely drowse when they take them. Muscle relaxers also have not proved to be very effective against muscle spasms even when they are used together with NAIDs no there was no real benefit shown. Muscle relaxers may be more effective then a placebo but the effects physicians have seen they have on alertness makes them very reluctant to prescribe them.

When a person has acute back pain, in some cases, an opiate medication may be prescribed only they have certain side effects you will have to take in to account. These side effects are sedation, clouded judgment, nausea and not in the least the high potential for addiction. Therefor you will never be allowed to take this type of medication for more then a few days. Constipation is one of the most heard of complaint. All though opiate medication or narcotics as pain medication is very effective for pain relieve they will not help to reduce any of the healing time.

No benefit has been shown of oral steroids being a good medication for back pain and there is also no benefit if taken as an injection in the back or as epidural. When used on sciatica they have been successful but without sciatica it's not known to give any relief as a back pain medication.

Richard Collins knows about back pain first hand. He has seen all kinds of doctors and done all kinds of therapies. On his blog at [http://www.gottabackpain.com/]www.gottabackpain.com he talks about what can be done to alleviate the pain.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Collins http://EzineArticles.com/?Medication-For-Your-Back-Pain,-Know-What-You-Take&id=1109990

Got a Slipped Disc? - Try this alternative remedy...

Ozone Nucleolysis Or Ozone Discectomy Is A Non-Operative Intervention For Slipped Disc
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gautam_Das]Gautam Das

Ozone nucleolysis or ozone discectomy is a non-operative intervention slipped disc / disc prolapse & discogenic pain.

Muto suggested intradiscal injection of ozone for disc hernia in 1998 under CT guidance. Leonardi popularized fluoroscopy guided ozone injection into the intervertebral disc. After that, successful outcome has been reported from various European centers. It is very important to note from those reports that complications are remarkably few. Not a single serious life-threatening complication was found even after 300000 cases of Ozone nucleolysis, which stresses the safety of these procedures

How ozone acts? The action of ozone is due to the active oxygen atom liberated from breaking down of ozone molecule. When ozone is injected into the disc the active oxygen atom called the singlet oxygen or the free radicle attaches with the proteo-glycan bridges in the jelly-like material or nuceus pulposus. They are broken down and they no longer capable of holding water. As a result disc shrinks and mummified. So the intradiscal volume and intradiscal pressure is reduced. Thus there is decompression of nerve. It is almost equivalent to surgical discectomy and so the procedure is called ozone discectomy. It is also called ozone nucleolysis or ozonucleolysis. Besides, it has an anti-inflammatory action due to inhibitions of formation of inflammation producing substances and tissue oxygenation is increased due to increased 2,3 diphosphoglycerate level in the red blood cells. All these factors lead to decompression of nerve roots, decreased inflammation of nerve roots, and increased oxygenation to the diseased tissue for repair work.

It is done usually under local anaesthesia. Light general anaesthesia may be administered in apprehensive patients only. The patient is taken to the operation theater lying on prone position. Very fine needle is introduced into the diseased disc under fluoroscopic guidance. The position of needle tip may be confirmed by injecting some small amount of radio-opaque dye. Then some 3-5 cc of oxygen-ozone mixture (at a concentration of 29 microgram/ml.) is injected into the disc. Ozone at this concentration is not all harmful for the surrounded tissue. So if ozone spreads to the surrounded tissues including spinal cord causes no harm. Ozone molecule is not stable. It has a half-life of about 20 minutes only. So, within 20 minutes only half of the original ozone remains, the rest becomes oxygen. Increase in temperature decreases its half-life. For injection it is always freshly prepared on site (from an ozone generator) for immediate administration. Only Ozone resistant syringes can be used for injecting it. While needle with the syringe is taken out some amount of oxygen-ozone mixture is also injected into the paraspinal muscle and para-radicular soft tissue to reduce nerve root inflammation and increased oxygenation of the para-spinal muscles. Some 15 to 30 minutes is required to perform the total procedure depending on the experience of the interventionist.

There are few conditions when this procedure should not be performed. They are active bleeding from any site, pregnancy, G6PD deficiency, active hyperthyroidism, loss of control of urination & defecation, and progressive sensory & motor loss (paralysis).

Ozonucleolysis, ozone nucleolysis or ozone discectomy has a success rate of about 80%. On the other hand surgical discectomy has similar success rate but much higher side effects compared to remarkably few side effects of ozone discectomy. Ozone discectomy is usually a day care procedure and general anaesthesia is not usually required. Total cost of the procedure is much less than that of surgical discectomy. All these facts have made this procedure very popular European countries. It is also gaining popularity in India too due to low cost, less hospital stay, no post-operative discomfort and morbidity and very few side effects. http://www.painindia.net http://www.painindia.net/ozone.php http://www.painindia.net/ozonenucleolysis.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gautam_Das http://EzineArticles.com/?Ozone-Nucleolysis-Or-Ozone-Discectomy-Is-A-Non-Operative-Intervention-For-Slipped-Disc&id=975082

Back Pain - Herniated Disc Treatments

Herniated Disc Treatments - A Safer, More Effective Option
By George Best

Herniated disc sufferers have traditionally had the treatment options of medication, physical therapy, spinal injections, and/or surgery, and because of the limited effectiveness of these approaches, many simply have had to learn to live with the pain. But a new option is now available and while not appropriate or effective for every person with a herniated disc, it does represent a huge leap in effectiveness and safety in treating herniated discs.

Spinal decompression is a new form of spinal traction. Regular traction has been used for a number of years to treat herniated discs, unfortunately with poor results in many cases, and with symptom aggravation occurring in some cases. The problem with regular traction is that it activates the body's muscle guarding response and can trigger muscle spasm, which produces pain and may even result in increased pressure on herniated discs.

Spinal decompression has solved these problems though. Although still technically traction machines, true spinal decompression systems pull very slowly and gradually in order to keep the muscles relaxed and avoid triggering spasm. In addition, the more advanced of the spinal decompression systems also have computer-controlled motors and have sensors to measure the body's resistance to treatment. If the body's muscles begin to contract and resist the treatment, the system will immediately reduce its pull and the body's muscles will relax again. The most advanced of these systems can respond to what the body is doing in an amazing 1/17th of a second. Since the body's reactions take place in approximately 1/5th of a second, these advanced spinal decompression systems can modify treatment before the muscles can spasm, allowing for comfortable herniated disc relief.

This ability to avoid the body's muscle spasm response allows spinal decompression systems to dramatically lower the pressure within a herniated disc. In fact, disc pressure is actually dropped into the negative pressure range, creating a suction that pulls the bulging disc material back towards the center of the disc and away from sensitive nerves. An additional effect is that nutrients and fluid are pulled into the disc to stimulate disc healing. Over time and repeated treatments, the herniated disc material is pulled back in, and the healing of the disc provides stabilization of the outer wall of the disc to prevent further bulging.

The frequency and duration of spinal decompression treatment will vary depending on the age and condition of the patient, the severity of the herniated disc, and the number of herniated discs. Spinal decompression can be used in both the lumbar and cervical spine very effectively.

Statistically, spinal decompression with the more advanced machines, and with appropriate patient selection has a success rate of 80-90%, and of those who are successfully treated, the results hold up well long-term in most cases. Given the success rate and the fact that the most common side-effect is some temporary post-treatment muscle soreness, spinal decompression is often the best option in herniated disc treatment.

Unfortunately, there has been a tendency toward overly aggressive advertising and hype, and in some cases, inappropriate application of spinal decompression in recent years by some health care practitioners. This has led to unrealistic expectations by patients and actions by regulatory agencies on advertising claims, leading to a damaged reputation for spinal decompression. While spinal decompression does represent a major advance in the treatment of herniated discs, it is not a cure-all, it is not 100% effective, and it is not appropriate for every patient.

Spinal decompression, when used appropriately, does produce enough improvement and disc healing in the vast majority of cases to allow patients to resume normal lives and return to most activities (even playing golf or tennis and working in the yard), but it does not restore a herniated disc to 100% normal. No treatment can. Even the still-experimental disc replacement surgery does not restore the spine to a normal condition and future back problems following disc replacement are to be expected. Overwork, poor posture, or failure to use good bending and lifting techniques can set the stage for a recurrence of disc problems no matter how good the results of treatment are initially.

With appropriate patient selection and by giving patients realistic expectations, spinal decompression providers can supply a very safe and effective treatment option for those with a herniated disc.

Dr. George Best provides spinal decompression in the San Antonio, Texas area. For additional resources concerning herniated discs, sciatica, or other degenerative disc disease, please visit his herniated disc website.

Article Source: EzineArticles, Herniated-Disc Treatments

Tried everything to relieve that pain in your foot?

Top 7 Tips To Relieve Foot Pain
By Raymond Geok Seng Lee


The average person walks about 100,000 miles which is equivalent of four times around the Earth over the course of a lifetime. And every single step along the way exerts hundreds of pounds of pressure on the feet. Actually, for all wear and tear they endure, your feet hold up surprisingly well. Their complex construction makes them quite sturdy and flexible. Unfortunately, man people wrongly believe that foot pain is normal and part of the price that humans have to pay for walking upright. Foot pain is not necessary caused by something serious. But like any other pain, it is your body's way of telling you that something is not right and needs attention. Here are some tips that you can consider helping your feet to feel better.

1. Take A Break From Shoes

You know how much better you will feel when you slip out of your shoes at the end of the day. Your feet appreciate it too. The human foot was designed to be bare. Therefore, kick off your shoes whenever you can.

2. Try Sole Support

If your feet is constantly ache, consider wearing insoles. They are especially useful and helpful in shoes with thin soles, like deck shoes. They make your feet feel much better. You can purchase insoles in drugstores and may sporting goods stores.

3. Put Them On Ice

To reduce any swelling, apply ice to your feet for 15 to 30 minutes, three or four times a day. Use a disposable ice bag or a reusable ice unit that you freeze, like the ones for picnic coolers. Whichever you choose, be sure to wrap it in a towel to protect your skin from damage.

4. Don't Lose Your Marbles

You can try this exercise to soothe tired, aching feet. Lay 20 marbles on the floor, then pick up each one with your toes and drop it into a small plastic bowl. It is recommended to use plastic because it muffles the sound of the marbles dropping into the bowl. That way, you can do the exercise in your office, seated at your desk. Aim for at least one session a day.

5. Soak In Scented Water

When your feet ache, soaking them in water can be very refreshing. It is recommended adding 10 drops each of juniper and lavender essential oils to 2 quarts of cold water, then soaking your feet for 10 minutes. Essential oils are available in health food stores.

6. Give Them A Lift

Elevating your feet can help reduce any swelling. It is recommended raising them 6 to 8 inches above your heart, especially when you sleep. Use pillows for more comfort.

7. Try Massage

Massaging your feet stretches the tissues and increase circulation. It is recommended to adopt this simple self-massage technique. Sit in a comfortable chair and cross your left foot over your right leg. Oil your fingers, if needed, with vegetable oil or massage oil. Glide the tip of your thumb up the middle of your sole, from the back of your heel to the base of your toes. Repeat on the right side of your sole, then on the left side. Then switch feet. You should spend about 2 minutes on each foot.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

Dealing with nagging Shoulder Pain?

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Shoulder Pain
By Raymond Geok Seng Lee


You began your Saturday with 18 holes of golf, then followed up with an afternoon of trimming hedges, pulling weeds, and planting flowers. Now it is bedtime, and you can barely raise your arm to brush your hair. It has every reason to balk. After all, your shoulders work very hard over the course of a day. They are involved in numerous routine tasks, from turning doorknobs to writing notes. Among all the joints in your body, your shoulders are perhaps the most versatile. They combine with a variety of tendons and muscles to give your arms their broad range of motion. So you feel as though you have been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders literally. The good news is that you don't have to just grin and bear the burden of pain. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt for fast relief.

1. Move Your Body Right

Whether you are a weekend warrior or a serious athlete, you can avoid a repeat performance of your shoulder injury by having an expert check out your body mechanics. A qualified fitness trainer or coach can spot what you are doing incorrectly, for example, when you swing your tennis racquet, or lift a barbell and teach you proper form and technique.

2. Test Your Flexibility

You should be able to raise your arms overhead, both from the side and from the front. It is recommended practicing these movements until you can do them easily. Also practice reaching up behind your back, as if you were unhooking a bra. But don't try so hard that you strain yourself.

3. Limit Lifting

It is also a good idea to refrain from heavy lifting while your shoulder is sore. The rule of thumb is, don't hoist anything heavier than a briefcase or a gallon of milk.

4. Stretching

Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises are important to your shoulder's rehabilitation because they help to restore and improve flexibility. It is recommended to adopt this move to keep your shoulder loose and limber. Move the arm on the same side as your sore shoulder across your chest, toward the opposite shoulder. Then gently pull the arm toward you by placing the opposite hand over the elbow. You should feel the stretch in the back of your shoulder. Hold for at least 15 seconds. Repeat at least three times a day.

5. Stop What You Are Doing

If a particular activity has aggravated your shoulder, then give it up or at least cut back for the time being. Avoid any movement that can make your pain worse, mainly reaching over or behind your head.

6. Make Nice With Ice

Applying ice for the first few days that your shoulder hurts can help reduce inflammation. It is recommended using a freezable gel pack, which you can purchase in a drugstore. Wrap the pack in a thin towel and lay it on top of your shoulder, perhaps wrapping an elastic bandage around it to keep it in place. Leave it on for no more than 20 minutes and reapply it three times a day.

7. Switch To Heat

Once the inflammation subsides, you can begin treating your sore shoulder with heat. It can help loosen up your shoulder if you are stiff. Just be sure that you use moist heat, like a hot shower, rather than dry heat, like a heating pad.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

Understanding and Living With Fibromyalgia

Understanding and Living With Fibromyalgia
By David Slade


Do you hurt all over? Are you extremely fatigued? These are some of the signs of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The diagnosis is based on the finding of tender points in specific locations, by the physician.

Fibromyalgia is not well understood by the medical community. It is known, though, that certain people are more at risk of developing fibromyalgia than others. The symptoms of fibromyalgia can include everything from widespread pain to fatigue; menstrual pain to sleep disturbances. Because of the variety of these symptoms, there are a number of associated conditions linked to fibromyalgia.

Since most of FMS symptoms may occur in other conditions, Dr. Carla Ockley, says: "FMS is not always the first thing looked for when a patient walks through the door with pain in his joints."

Since there is no cure, treatment is aimed at the two major symptoms, which are pain and a lack of sleep. Well, then, can help be found if you think you have FMS? In her book When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away, Gayle Backstrom suggests contacting the Arthritis Foundation or a rheumatologist.

Sometimes conventional medicine is just not enough to provide you with the relief from fibromyalgia that you need. Fibromyalgia treatment often includes various types of alternative therapy many of which have been proven to be very effective. To be able to help someone cope with FMS, I feel that we first need to gain knowledge of this disease. Then we can show empathy and understanding with those who are suffering.

Written by David Slade author of Mandarin English XL at http://www.luomapinyin.com

Top Tips To Treat Abdominal Pain

Top Tips To Treat Abdominal Pain
By Raymond Geok Seng Lee


Abdominal pain can be a sign of a serious condition. Fortunately, minor causes for abdominal pain are much more frequent than major ones. Abdominal pain can come from the esophagus, the stomach, the bowel, the female organs, the rectum, the gallbladder, r from other organs. Appendix pain usually occurs in the right lower quarter, kidney pain involves the back. The gallbladder involves the right upper quarter, the stomach the upper abdomen, and the bladder, colon, or female organs the lower areas. Exceptions to these rules do occur. Pain from hollow organs such as bowel or gallbladder tends to be intermittent and to resemble gas pains or colic. Pain from solid organs such as kidneys, spleen, or liver tends to be more constant. There are exceptions to these rules also.

In seniors, the colon is more frequently a source of pain than earlier in life. Colon out-pouchings, called diverticula, can become inflamed just like the appendix and cause "diverticulitis." Minor obstruction of the colon is not uncommon. If pain is very severe or bleeding from the bowel occurs, you need to see a physician immediately. Pain localized to one area is more suggestive of a serious problem than generalized pain, although again there are many exceptions to this rule. Gas pains and minor viral infections usually respond to home treatment.

If the pain eventually proves to be due to a serious problem, and the stomach should be empty to allow the prompt surgery or diagnostic tests. Anticipate this possibility. Sips of water or other clear fluids may be taken, but avoid solid foods. A bowel movement, passage of gas through the rectum, or a good belch may give relief - don't hold back. If you have not had a bowel movement for several days, an enema can sometimes give relief. Be gentle. A warm bath helps some of you. The key is periodic reevaluation. Any persistent pain should be evaluated at the emergency room or the physician's office. This treatment should be reserved for mild pains that resolve within 24 hours or are clearly identifiable as viral gastroenteritis, gas pains, heartburn, or another minor problem.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

Car Accidents - Products to Help Manage and Relieve the Pain, and Quicken the Healing Process

Car Accidents - Products to Help Manage and Relieve the Pain, and Quicken the Healing Process
By Richard Chandler



In the blink of an eye, an otherwise normal, healthy individual can receive serious injuries with long term consequences from a car accident. Whether you suffer from an injured back, a broken limb, or simply a sore neck, recovery can be a long and painful process.

Thanks to advances in traditional pain relief and treatments as well as further exploration into alternative healing methods, the recovery process does not have to take nearly as long nor does it need to be as painful. With over six million car accidents in the United States last year alone, almost half of which resulted in injuries, the need for pain relief and faster recovery time is becoming more and more important. A wide variety of products are available to the public that provide all types of therapy in the comfort of your own home.

Pain Relief Methods Depend on the Type of Injury

Before deciding what methods of pain management and rehabilitation to use, it is important to see a doctor after a car accident if you are in pain. Different types of injuries require different methods of recovery and pain relief, so be sure to get a thorough evaluation done by a physician.

If you have ever had to visit a physical therapist or sports therapist to recover from a previous injury, you have probably heard of the terms "TENS Unit" or "Electronic Muscle Stimulator". The two devices, while very similar in appearance and function, use electronic pulses to treat pain in two different ways. A TENS Unit, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, emits an electrical signal through two or more electrodes which stimulates neurons through your skin. The resulting stimulation is used to treat pain caused by damaged nerves. An Electronic Muscle Stimulator, or "EMS Unit", uses similar electrical impulses at a low to cause specific muscle groups to contract. This type of therapy is widely used by hospitals and sports therapists to help treat muscular injuries and for re-education of paralyzed muscles. Often misconstrued as a substitution for exercise, Electronic Muscle Stimulation is also used to tone and restore muscles that have begun to atrophy.

While both TENS Units and EMS Units include self-adhesive electrode pads, some patients may begin to experience skin irritation from prolonged use. Tyco has released a Conductive TENS Unit Gel that can be used with either application and contains aloe vera to make the treatment more comfortable for your skin.

Heat Therapy vs. Cold Therapy

Heat therapy and cold therapy can be very effective in helping car accident victims deal with the pain during the recovery process. Not only do the two types of therapy take effect quicker than pain medications, but they also eliminate the risk factors associated with prescription medications such as misuse, abuse, and addiction. While some skeptics dismiss hot and cold therapy as "old-fashioned", only somewhat effective, and time consuming to apply, technological breakthroughs have made these traditional methods of recovery ideal for some of the worst types of injuries.

Heat therapy is commonly used to relieve soreness and stiffness in muscles and soft tissue. This is especially useful for patients who have started to exercise again after recovering from an injury and are using muscles that have been dormant for some time. Heat therapy is available in an assortment of products and comes in three forms: moist heat, dry heat, and infrared heat. Dry heat is commonly found in electric heating pads and hot/cold gel pads, but has a tendency to leave the skin dehydrated. It lacks the ability to fully penetrate into muscles and soft tissue like moist and infrared heat, but is preferred by some people because of how easy it is to apply.

Moist heat is found in a wide variety of products. Some electric heating pads, such as the Theratherm Digital Moist Heating Pad and the Thermophore Automatic Moist Heat Pad, combine the convenience of an electric heating pad with the therapeutic benefits of moist heat. Unlike hot towels or moist heating devices that require you to heat them up first, the Theratherm and Thermophore heating pads provide a constant temperature for longer sessions. Besides being great for those recovering from car accidents, moist heating pads are widely used by people with arthritis. Other products, such as the Bed Buddy Body Wrap, Bed Buddy Joint Wrap, or the Bed Buddy Back Wrap, provide moist heat when placed in the microwave but do not require you to add water.

Infrared heat therapy is available in a variety of forms ranging from handheld devices such as the Light Relief® Therapy product to the Far Infrared Home Sauna which can seat two to three people. Infrared rays, which are completely harmless, penetrate deep into your skin, effectively warming muscles and soft tissue. They increase circulation and help to speed up the healing process by stimulating the production of collagen, an essential building block of human tissue.

Cold Therapy, or Cold Compression Therapy, is used to relieve pain and reduce swelling in soft tissue injuries. It is especially recommended by doctors and therapists for strains, sprains, pulled muscles, and pulled ligaments as well as to reduce swelling after surgeries. Cold therapy can be as simple as wrapping a few ice cubes in a towel, but because soft tissue injuries can happen anywhere on the human body, a wide variety of products are available.

Elasto-Gel Hot and Cold Packs are available in several styles and range from traditional hot/cold packs to ergonomically designed packs that are for specific areas of the body. The hot/cold packs come in several sizes while the ergonomic wraps are designed for the wrist, the neck/cervical area, the patella/knee, the shoulder, and the lower back. The gel inside each one of the products will not leak if punctured and allows the wrap to be flexible even at -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The above-mentioned Bed Buddy products can also be put in the freezer to be used for cold therapy.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can be useful in the later stages of recovery, but visits to a therapist can be expensive and are not always covered by insurance. A wide variety of home massage therapy products allow you to reap the benefits of a relaxing or deep penetrating massage in the comfort of your own home, at a fraction of the cost. The Body Back Buddy is a versatile massage tool that enables you to effectively massage those hard-to-reach places on your back with minimal effort. The s-shaped curve allows for the application of deep pressure while the eleven therapeutic knobs provide different massages for different parts of your body. Those with limited strength and mobility will enjoy the benefits of using the Body Back Buddy long after recovering from their injury.

Acuforce Massage Products are best suited for use with a partner. Each of the products is weighted to provide the necessary downward force for a deep penetrating massage without putting strain on the wrists and hands of the person giving the massage. For a more powerful and penetrating massage, the DMS Deep Muscle Stimulator uses percussion and mechanical vibrations to reach deep into muscle tissue to stimulate proprioceptive functions. Unlike any other device on the market, the DMS increases muscle metabolism and the lactic acid cycle to relieve pain while breaking up muscle scar tissue. It constructed of 100% stainless steel and titanium, and is very effective for helping to get rid of muscle spasms.

Before Beginning Home Therapeutic Recovery Treatments

It is best to check with your doctor before beginning certain types of treatments. As certain wounds heal differently and people heal at different rates, your physician can suggest when to use certain treatments and how long to use them for. While none of the above-mentioned products should be used in place of seeing a doctor after a car accident, they will help to make your recovery process as quick and as painless as possible.

Richard Chandler researches innovative new healthcare devices, medical supplies, and pain management products for ActiveForever and specializes in writing informative articles and web content. For more information on pain relief solutions, hot and cold therapy, infrared heat therapy, and massage therapy products, please visit http://www.activeforever.com/

Don't ingore your pain!

5 Reasons to Embrace Pain
By Kimyon Zari


Whatever your pain is there is a reason she exists. She is there to inform you that you have an appointment to make and to keep. Whether your pain is arrogance, fear, insecurities, or low self-esteem, consider sitting down and embracing her without delay. Only then will you be able to feel (heal) better. Below I've listed 5 reasons to embrace pain.

Pain:

1. ...is the best life makeover on the market. No one sells anything better to get us moving.

2. ...forces you to hit the wall -- hard!! Then, you realize you can recover from that TKO.

3. ...draws you into fear's arms, which encourages action and change. (Feeling pain is an indicator that you are alive and can feel like's sting)

4. ...opens your heart. It is a beginning in eliminating the lies you tell yourself and others.

5. ...allows you room to grow and then compels you to live fully alive and without apology.

What kind of story is your life telling the world? What kind of story is your business telling the world? What are you really made of and how long will you hold on to that pain? When will you begin to take control of your life? After all it totally belongs to you. Each time you decide to address and change an area in your life that is not working, you replenish your mind and body with the necessary vitamins it needs to function appropriately. Why not accept pain for what it is: A reminder that where there is pain, there lies a reason to change.

The hardest person I have ever had to face is ME. What about you?

Kimyon, LDC
A DIAMOND COACH

Published writer on Success.com, featured in Today’s Charlotte Woman, Pride Magazine, and Arrive Net Advertising and Marketing. Creator and manager of Blue Waters, a grassroots online newsletter encouraging subscribers to live fully alive and without apology. An entertainer, vocalist and theater actress having traveled the globe opening for entertainers Chaka Kahn, Mikki Howard, and jazz sensation Phil Perry. Born and raised in Springfield, MA, resides in North Carolina with her two young adults. For more info email me at adiamondcoach@gmail.com or visit my black business space.

Magnetic Therapy – Can it Help You?

Magnetic Therapy – Can it Help You?
By Mary Isaacs


Magnetic therapy has been around for centuries and is gaining popularity and effectiveness in today’s world. Magnetic therapy is a safe, effective, alternative source of pain relief for muscle and joint discomfort. Magnets are non-invasive ways of helping the body heal itself with out adverse side effects. This is an excellent choice for everyone.

Magnetic therapy works by helping the chemicals within the body to move to the affected area. For a body part to heal the site must be restored to its natural state. Pain and inflammation is removed from the area and oxygen and nutrients are moved into the affected area.

Magnetic therapy is safe. Complications should not occur if magnets are used properly. However, if you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, insulin pump or other electro-medical implants you should not use magnets.

Magnetic jewelry can be worn daily so you get continuous therapy. Magnetic jewelry can provide pain relief in your joints. There are two ways that magnet jewelry can provide a stimulus to increase endorphins, a natural way to gain pain relief and help in circulation. This helps to flush out toxins which may be a cause of pain in the body. By using magnets as self-help health care alternative to pain relief of neck, wrist, shoulder, knee, back, elbow or ankle, one may feel relief within a few hours or a few minutes. A beneficial side effect from using magnets could be increased in energy to help carry you through your busy day(s).

Magnetic wraps, braces or supports can be used by athletes or the general population to help heal joints caused by injuries or osteoarthritis to one’s arms, legs, hands, and wrists. By increasing blood circulation to a specific joint(s) the healing time and pain relief is shortened. Magnets can help prevent muscle spasms that occur with pain associated with joint pain.

Arthritis sufferers are probably the largest portion of our population that uses magnetic therapy. Many people often wonder why they waited so long to start magnetic therapy after receiving relief in a short amount of time.

Patellar Tendinitis

Patellar Tendinitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods
By Juliet Cohen


Patellar Tendinitis is an extremely common malady that can plague almost anyone, from athletes to laborers. Patellar Tendinitis is also known as jumpers knee. It is common in people involved in activities that include a lot of running, jumping, stopping and starting. The patellar tendon is a structure that attaches the quadriceps muscle group to the tibia (shin bone). This tendon connects the patella (kneecap) to the lower leg bone (tibia).

The patella (knee cap) is a sesamoid (floating bone) incorporated into the patellar tendon. ellar tendinitis is seen in athletes participating in sports such as volleyball, basketball, the high jump and soccer. Patellar tendinitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the patellar tendon. It occurs when you place repeated stress on your patellar tendon, often when you suddenly increase the intensity or frequency of your workouts. In extreme cases, the patellar tendon may become damaged to the point of complete rupture. Pain from patellar tendinitis is felt in the area just below the patella. There may be swelling in and around the patellar tendon and it may be sensitive to touch.

Patellar tendonitis can also happen to people who have problems with the way their hips, legs, knees, or feet are aligned. Examination techniques that detect tenderness and swelling in or around the patellar tendon are helpful in determining if someone has patellar tendinitis. The pain can become continuous both at rest and during training; unfortunately it is only at this later stage that athletes tend to seek medical advice. The patellar tendon may sometimes tear completely, or rupture, during strenuous activity. The patellar tendon becomes inflamed and tender due to overuse. Overuse injuries of the patellar tendon occur when you repeat a particular activity until there is micro-failure of the tissue that makes up the substance of the tendon. The best course of treatment for jumper's knee is to discontinue any activity that is causing the condition, until the injury is healed. A MRI is useful in patients with chronic patellar tendonitis to look for areas of degenerative tendon.

Causes of Patellar tendinitis

The common causes and risk factor's of Patellar tendinitis include the following:

Overuse of the knee tendon.

A sudden, unexpected injury like a fall.

Running in the "shoulder" of the road.

Frequent impact to the knee.

Muscle weakness or imbalance.

A sudden increase in the intensity of training.

Lack of proper stretching.

Symptoms of Patellar tendinitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Patellar tendinitis are as follows:

Pain and tenderness in the patellar tendon below the knee.

Swelling in your knee joint or swelling where the patellar tendon attaches to the shinbone.

Progress to be present before, during and after physical activity.

"Snapping" sensation with squat motion.

Become a constant ache that can make it difficult to sleep at night.

Pain with activities, such as jumping, running, or walking.

Treatment of Patellar tendinitis

Here is list of the methods for treating Patellar tendinitis:

Apply ice or a cold pack to the knee for 15-20 minutes, every 4 hours, for 2-3 days. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel.

Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

Heat therapy prior to activity followed by increased stretching.

Rest & Immobilization.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and swelling.

Special stretching exercises to loosen up the muscle.

Another helpful tool is to apply a strap above the knee with pressure placed just above the site of irritation (above the lateral epicondyle). This band helps dissipate the tension on the tendon.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases treatment and online health tips. She also writes articles on rare skin disorders.

Control of and Freedom From Pain

Many of our aches and pains are a direct result of our sedentary lifestyles. These conditions often begin to show themselves when we stress ourselves in new activities, become over tired or they may just come on their own.

It is becoming a common belief that these pains in our back, neck, knees, etc. are a result of our body being out of sync and telling us something is wrong. Through stress or injury, or lack of consistent stretching to keep our muscles loose and supple our bodies become out of symmetry. Muscles that don’t get stretched on a continual basis begin to pull our body out if its normal balanced stasis. This starts to put stress on the supporting structure of our skeleton and, instead of our body load being spread evenly over support structures it gets spread to one side or the other. Parts of the body that were built to share the load find themselves carrying a greater proportion of the load. These spots begin to deteriorate and send out help signals on the way of pain.

An easy example is our spine. It is designed to carry our weight in a gentle s-curve which places the load squarely across the surface of each vertebra. This curve is maintained in its proper shape by the strength of the back muscles counterbalancing the strength of the abdominal muscles. Our back muscles get a daily workout in general just keeping us upright and as in our everyday activities, we lift things, move ourselves up and down as we get out of chairs, etc. Our abdominals unfortunately don’t get this rigorous work out unless we intentionally focus on it. Our back muscles are constantly working and strengthening; they need a conscious effort to stretch them to help them relax and stay supple. Our abdominals are loose and relaxed; they need us to consciously work at strengthening them. If we don’t continually focus on these two needs:

Our back muscles strengthen and tighten pulling our spine out of its proper s-curve

Out abdominals loosen and weaken allowing the spine to slip out of its proper s-curve This results in the body mass being shifted to the edges of some of the vertebrae which causes overloads resulting in degeneration and pain. If we don’t do things to counter this lack of symmetry we are destined to a life of pain and agony.

This example of back pain is one way we put our bodies out of symmetry. We also do this by slouching in chairs as we watch TV or read books, working at a job station that causes us to do most of our effort in a one-sided fashion, receiving an injury that causes us to favour one side of our body and carry the load more with the other. Just being left-handed or right-handed causes us to do things unevenly. There are many things that we do or have happen to us that may cause us to lose the healthy symmetry of our body structure. If we allow this state to continue some part or parts of the body take more of a load then they were designed to carry. This results in pain which, if unattended become chronic pain and then a disabling condition.

At this point I’m going to tell you a short story about a good friend of mine; Phil. He is an avid skier and it was on the mountains of Alberta, B.C., and the North West States that I have shared some tremendous times with him: but enough about that.

Phil had tremendous back problems. Each morning before skiing he would literally role out of bed onto the floor and work at limbering up his back enough to be able to move about in a normal manner. We would then ski the day away. Did I tell you that he had a tremendously high pain threshold?

Phil was this way when I first met him and for several years from that time. He read a great deal about his condition and was quite an expert on everything about it except making it go away. He had been to several doctors and had undergone various treatments including acupuncture. He was at a point of desperation and was seriously considering undergoing spinal fusion as a last resort to overcoming the pain.

It was at this point of desperation that he happened upon a life-changing discovery. My friend Phil did not go through with the spinal fusion surgery. He did however, go on to control and conquer his back pain.

It wasn’t magic and it wasn’t complicated. What he came upon was a book that changed his life. His changes were so positive that the rest of us, learning of the book, investigated, and have used the information to help us as well. My wife has found help for many of the pains caused by her arthritis. The book has been so helpful to me and to many of my friends that whenever someone complains of pain form other than an recent injury or over-done workout the book title is the first thing that crosses my lips. We have all passed the book around among friends and made it known to acquaintances who have suffered from pain. In our circle it has indeed become the bible of pain control and freedom.

The Book was called “Pain Free” by Peter Egoscue. If you are interested in reading about him click here. The important thing is that he has developed the”Egoscue Method” which he has used to help the unknown to the likes of Jack Nicklaus. **His basic belief is that most of our pains are a result of our posture and the fact that our bodies have lost symmetry as a result of injury or just learned bad posture.

In his book he gives us a recipe for evaluating our body type. By body type it refers more to what degree of asymmetry one is at. He basically categorizes us unto 3 body categories. Once this is established he gives us a routine of activities specific to our particular body category. The routine is a mix of stretching and strengthening activities designed to help bring your body back to its natural symmetry. If you follow these routines it is amazing the improvement it will bring.

He, at this point, has written at least four books on the topic of being pain free, he has several clinics around the US, athletics training camps, the Egoscue Research Institute which is dedicated to providing the resources necessary for the research and education in the fields of physical health, self care and functional independence. He also operates Pain Free Radio from which you can either receive Pod Casts or download and listen to archived shows from this Site. Information about these can be found on his Web Site. These Podcasts gives you an insight into the type of person he is and the work he is doing.

From his PainFree Site you can find examples of how to evaluate the posture condition 1, 2, or 3 that your body is in and from there select a menu to use to help correct the condition. At this spot he three menus; a pain fee menu (to ease the pain) an office menu (self explanatory), and and active menu (to strengthen needed ares to maintain symmetry). NB Read the Free Menu updates overview before you start. He also has traveling clinics in the US. You can access the schedule from this spot.

Pete Egosque appears to be a man on a mission to "treat chronic musculoskeletal pain without using drugs, surgery, or manipulation, enabling people to enjoy a pain-free active life."

Of particular immediate interest to us is a Site in which he lists the areas of the body in which you might experience pain. Click on the appropriate body part and a pop-up appears with description and picture of two good exercises to help alleviate the pain. This is an excellent start if you have pain. If you are experiencing chronic pain I would recommend the book however as it gives you a much more thorough plan to eliminate the source of the pain. The book "Pain Free"; I wouldn't be without it. If you have chronic pain I truly believe it is worth your time to investigate further.

Until then . . . in pain or not . . . . . . you still . . . look . . . marvelous!

To read the rest of this article: http://myhealthandfitnessstrategies.com/2007/08/06/control-of-and-freedom-from-pain/

Bill Jensen operates http://myhealthandfitnessstrategies.com/ a blog all about fitness of mind,, body and spirit. He loves giving away free things and is now giving away free membership to his monthly newsletter. You are not going to believe what you get when you sign up and it's all free!

http://myhealthandfitnessstrategies.com/

Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Micro-Current Stimulation, Acupressure, Relief From Arthritis Pain

Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Micro-Current Stimulation, Acupressure, Relief From Arthritis Pain
By Jim Thomas


Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Acupressure or micro-current stimulaton; what's the difference and does it REALLY matter?

Well, the difference may surprise you; but once understand, you may well be on the road to faster relief.

Simply stated, electroacupuncture, also known as micro-current stimulation, is a faster, easier, cheaper, safer and do-it-yourself way to experience all of the benefits of acupuncture, without the needles.

Just how did this leap from acupuncture with needles to electroacupuncture (herein also understood to mean micro-current stimulation) without needles come about?

Back in the late 1960’s Dr. Julian Kenyon, a UK surgeon and Master Acupuncturist, had a vision of putting the healing power of acupuncture into the hands of the lay person.

After twelve years of research, the result was the first micro current device or Energy Point Stimulator (also known as EPS) of its kind.

The device allowed the user to locate acupuncture points with 100% accuracy and then stimulate that point with a very minute electronic pulse. It turns out, the intentional and extremely low energy output of the device is very important.

In his research, Dr. Kenyon found that bi-polar micro currents, in the range of less than 50 micro-amps, having a square waveform and frequency of 10 hertz, When coupled with traditional acupuncture protocols, could trigger the body’s natural healing system and promote tissue regeneration. Not only were these results remarkable, they were repeatable.

Thus, Dr. Kenyon had successfully "joined" micro current stimulation with acupuncture, allowing anyone the opportunity to use acupuncture on themselves and enjoy the benefits of acupuncture, only without the use of needles and without invading the skin in any way.

Continued research and refinement, together with nutritional support has resulted in remarkable breakthroughs in dealing with very tough health issues, which will be the subject of future articles.

Look! The concept of acupuncture without needles is relatively new. Discover why more and more people are turning to this concept to successfully address over 150 health disorders for themselves and loved ones in the convenience of their own home, Right Here at: http://www.Acupuncture.Info-UnLTD.com

Weaning from Pain Meds - This Really Hurts

It's now the end of July and I'm weaning from my maximum "on demand" dosage of 1600mcg. per day, to zero, zip, nothing per day; bing, bang, boom. And it hurts.

Strangely, this experience is not what I expected it to be. I thought I'd be rolling violently on twisted sheets, foaming at the mouth. It's not like that. Symptoms of with-drawl in me are a marked increase in the nerve pain I feel in my feet, ankles, shins and buttocks. I hate the meds. All of them, and I don't want to be beholden to them any longer.

I'm only 48 years old, and it would be a lie if I told you that I didn't expect that daily doses of methadone and opioids would make me high. I thought they would; I thought a significant side-effect would be a pleasant dizziness or disorientation. I expected that in addition to the mitigation of my neuropathic pain, I'd also experience a reprieve from real life. It wasn't that way when I stepped-up to stronger prescribed drugs, and it sure as hell isn't that way now.

With-drawl symptoms manifest in me greater pain, and I haven't yet started reducing my daily methadone intake. As background, I've weaned from all of my meds at least once, and was shocked then at the level of pain this traitorous spine visits on my body every moment. So, why do it?

I'm taking this big step backwards now so that I can hopefully take a bigger step toward less pain and greater functionality in the future. My pain doctor believes that at some point, in some people, the opioid they ingest actually cause greater pain. He's not saying that one's body develops only a tolerance, but that in addition to a tolerance opioid can become a driver of neuropathic pain. This seems quackish; it's not.

No matter who you are, long courses of narcotic relief carry this risk. So, how do you find out? Remove the drugs. Yeah, it's just how it sounds, too. It's brutal. Electric pain fires down my legs all the way to my toes; sometimes a null feeling so that I or someone else can push pins into my feet or toes, and at other times it's exactly the opposite when the weight of the sheet on my bed feels like bricks dropping on the tips of my toes. You folks know what I mean. How about that 'shins on fire feeling' or trying to lift your own body weight in the car by grasping the handle above the window on the passenger side for hours, just counting the miles left to drive. We all know what I'm talking about so I'll stop; but we also know about those times when the med's don't work. That is a symptom of tolerance.

So it seems as if the solution would be easy, raise the med's. The problem is that you reach a point when you just can't take more, either the side effects or the dosage can kill you. Life's hard, but it's harder when your stupid...or broke...or live in an area with poor medical coverage...

This is what I going to do. Reset my body by removing all of the heavy-duty pain killers (HAH!). I'm going to a clinic in Miami, I live near NYC, that is run by a neurosurgeon who doesn't believe in opioid, and I'll give it the old college try for at least a month. This is when I'm clean of all the drugs, (Maybe it'll work!).

It will be lonely and hard, but you betcha' I'll do it. Never bet against me. Any bet that involves me and my body either holding my breath, experiencing pain, or losing weight I always win. I've never lost. Just to brag a bit, I recently lost 30 pounds in 7 weeks, from 210 lbs. to 180 lbs. and won a grand.

But this isn't just a macho, look at me, thing. The worst case is pain. The rest is all up-side: Starting meds at low levels, new methods of dealing with pain, and the opportunity to do the most important thing of all.

I believe that I am the way God wants me to be, for His reasons and His glory. And I'll pray for His strength, to do His will, which maybe just to share my experience with you. No matter the outcome, I will put myself in the backseat for a while, and let Him drive. Lord, Thy will be done...God bless us all, Colin.

I became disabled at age 46 after 2 failed spinal surgeries. I married my college sweetheart. We have four kids. I'm rebuilding my life after having been diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, an incurable, progressive syndrome causing loss of many ordinary bodily functions and characterized by grinding, incessant nerve pain, like a toothache but a lot more severe. I walk with a cane and choke down a host of pills, many of them narcotic.

I built a web-site, Chronic Pain Lifestyle that I write with 3 people who suffer the same condition. Our page is not a forum, nor is it a source of medical information. Our page is about how we're rebuilding our lives. Sometimes we're funny, other times sad. We mix nostalgia and disappointment with hope, experiences and fellowship.

Importance of Journaling to Help Deal With Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, is a condition in which a person experiences recurring pain or discomfort in the bladder and pelvic regions. It can be extremely painful and uncomfortable, and can have several different symptoms. The symptoms vary from person to person, and can differ from one day to the next in the same person. This is one reason it is important to keep a journal of your symptoms.

With IC, individuals can experience mild to extreme pain and tenderness. They may feel the need to urinate frequently, and may also experience a painful urgency to urinate. There also may be irritation or pain when urinating. You may even experience symptoms that aren't listed here.

Keeping a journal of your symptoms, whatever they may be, and when you experienced them can help your doctor come up with a treatment plan. Different symptoms can require different kinds of treatment. Showing a journal of symptoms to your doctor can ensure that you don't receive the same treatment as another person who has symptoms completely different from yours.

With IC, you may notice that different things you do can trigger pains or other symptoms. For example, different foods that you eat may trigger pain in the abdomen, or drinking something acidic can worsen the pain when you urinate. Having a journal of these things can help you and your doctor notice a pattern, which will help you avoid things that trigger symptoms.

Until recently, IC was considered to be a psychological problem, creating pain and confusion in all types of people. Some individuals probably started to wonder if they were imagining symptoms. Thankfully, IC is now considered a real and physical problem, and more is being done to treat patients with this condition.

The symptoms of IC can make it hard to diagnose. In fact, it is often misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection, bladder infections, or kidney problems. Some of the symptoms are the same as the symptoms of these other conditions. It can be extremely frustrating to be diagnosed with something else when you have IC, as the treatment for something else probably won't help your symptoms.

If you think you may have IC, keeping a journal of your symptoms will help your doctor to diagnose you properly, and treat you with something that will lessen or alleviate your symptoms. The wide range of symptoms will also help doctors to realize that you aren't experiencing just a type of infection, but that you may have IC.

There is no downfall in keeping a journal, and it can only help. Track your pain, bathroom visits, tenderness, frequency of urination, and triggers. In women, the symptoms with IC can be worse as it gets closer to your menstruation time. Be sure to log this into your journal as well. Doing this will help your doctor to help you, and if you have experienced the pain associated with IC, you know that you can use all the help you can get. Get started today, and get well!

If you’re currently experiencing Interstitital Cystitis or painful bladder syndrome then you are not alone. Many people, just like you, have found relief from painful interstitital cystitis symptoms and are currently living a healthier and happier lifestyle. If you want to join the revolution for better bladder health, please visit http://www.interstitial-cystitis.net today!

Botox Injection Treatments for Migraines

Migraines are serious medical conditions for many people and although there are a variety of treatments for migraine pain, few are considered desirable treatments by patients. Botox injections are a relatively new treatment available, and migraine sufferers are reporting positive results with less after effects than with more traditional treatments. The discovery of Botox as a headache pain reducer happened purely by accident, yet it is now one of the more promising techniques for dealing with migraines.

Migraine attacks are painful episodes where sufferers have debilitating discomfort in the head. The pain associated with migraines is very intense. Researchers have suggested that migraine conditions are associated with a predisposition to strokes. Dealing with migraines proactively rather than just living with them, as people have done in the past is very important. The quality of the migraine sufferer is often not even a consideration of many traditional therapies. They were focused on relieving the pain somehow. The patient was left to do what they could to deal with the personal consequences of these attacks which could last for long periods of time.

The source or cause of migraines isn’t understood well enough, however a variety of approaches are recommended by doctors and other health care professionals to deal with the disorder. The two main approaches to managing migraines are (a) preventive and (b) abortive. Abortive therapy for migraine attacks seeks to control the factors that lead to an attack.

Preventative treatments are used when a sufferer has few attacks. Doctors may prescribe drugs used to lower blood pressure, anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, and anti-histamines. Here it the issue may be an inflammatory tissue problem that generates the pain.

Each individual patient may have different symptoms and underlying medical conditions that result in the migraines, so each will need a different treatment. Pain medications such as Advil, Aspirin and Tylenol are old reliables when it comes to treating headache pain, however migraines are not a typical form of headache. Many sufferers took pain medications for years only to find they wouldn’t work any longer. That’s lead to the search for new solutions and treatments for sufferers.

Some research has suggested muscle tension may be a causative factor. Certainly, as a migraine sufferer endures years of pain and is missing work and not enjoying their social and family life, they will begin to tense up. This is where blood pressure can rise and anxiety and depression can result. Muscle tension can occur in the patient’s scalp and head region.

Botox injections are treatments where a trained health professional injects small amounts of a substance called Botox into specific muscles in the individuals face and scalp areas. Botox is a trademarked substance manufactured exclusively by Allergan Inc. of Irvine California. Allergan distributes the product to a variety of doctors, clinics and qualified health care professionals for administering to patients who need them. Botox is well known as a beauty treatment, but through clinical use, it was discovered that it could be used in the treatment of headaches and even chronic sweating conditions.

Botox is made from a naturally occurring and common poison called Clostridium botulinum. In large doses it is toxic, but in small injectable doses, it can prevent muscle nerves from sending and receiving impulses. When injected into a muscle, the muscle relaxes. In beauty treatments, it causes unattractive facial wrinkles and skin folds to soften. The presence of deep lines and folds on skin gives you an idea of how prolonged muscle tension can affect bodily tissues. In the case of muscles on the scalp, the tension in them can put pressure on parts of the skull and create aches. With the inhibiting effect on neuroligical transmission, certain neurological pain transmitters are also inhibited. The collective result is the diminishment of headache.

Use of Botox injections for migraines doesn’t mean the underlying condition is resolved, however for many sufferers, relief from painful, debilitating migraines is all they want.

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Fibromyalgia And Anatrin - Ease The Pain Of This Debilitating Condition

A debilitating syndrome, fibromyalgia is something that causes much muscle pain and fatigue in its victims. It can wreak havoc on all parts of a person’s life. This lasting and unfortunate malady is also known as fibromyositis or fibrositis. Looking into solutions for some relief, Anatrin has been found to be a good choice.

There are around 3 to 6 million people in the US who experience muscle soreness with fatigue and other symptoms. It is a sad truth that these symptoms have no specific cause named. The people who have the symptoms may look fine and healthy, but they feel awful. Most sufferers say they have some pain all the time, and say it is very exhausting. Anatrin, with its natural ingredients, has been shown effective in eliminating the major symptoms. Lending support physically, Anatrin helps by providing nutritional supplementation

Patients with fibromyalgia complain often of fatigue and sleep disturbances. Sometimes they experience restless legs syndrome. These signs, when present, denote it is fibromyalgia and not some different diagnosis, per some experts. All in all, it is vital to address the situation sooner rather than later. It is very stressful, which only increases the problem. The good thing about Anatrin is that it also targets stress in the Anatrin formula. As well, Anatrin replenishes the many lost nutrients that become common in such cases.

Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include headaches, dizziness and digestive problems. Some complain of having to urinate frequently because of bladder spasms. Tingling in the hands and feet, or even numbness, can be present. It’s clear that developing a definitive plan to handle this malady is necessary, and Anatrin should be part of that plan. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Anatrin can become a very effective solution.

Exercise is very important in any routine. When your muscles are inactive, they start to lose strength. Even your bones and tendons can become weaker. So along with Anatrin, you should take part in an exercise regime for optimum handling. One big plus is that Anatrin is completely natural and safe. Anatrin contains researched herb compounds, vitamins and minerals, for excellent health.

With Anatrin, users have said that the symptoms of fibromyalgia have been put under control, and some have noticed dramatic results in as few as 30 days. Anatrin was developed specifically for muscle problems and should be included with your daily regimen of address to your problems. Anatrin can assist in controlling the fatigue and muscle soreness.

Gerry Lewis is a health and fitness fanatic who for many years has tried, tested and studied the natural health product marketplace. He provides impartial advice designed to assist potential users to make informed decisions. He runs a website dedicated to reviewing the effectiveness of Anatrin in the relief of Fibromyalgia at http://www.anatrin-review.info