Joint Pain Solutions BlogThe joint pain Blog is my mini-journal about joint pain. It.... -lets you know whenever new web pages appear about a new joint condition and treatment suggestions -keeps you up-to-date on other new postings or joint pain news To subscribe to my Joint Pain Solutions Blog (no e-mail necessary), right click on the orange RSS button (located on the bottom left Nav bar) and paste the URL into your RSS reader.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? - Identify rheumatoid arthritis symptomsWhat is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Learn to to differentiate this arthritis condition with others Exercise For Arthritis - Joint Pain Solutions for Arthritis Joint PainLearn the best forms of exercise for arthritis to help reduce your arthritis joint pain Joint Pain, Solutions For Painful Joint ConditionsInformation and solutions for relieving common joint pain conditions. Specific 'how to' advice for reducing your lower back, knee, hip, and arthritis pain. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Joint Pain, Solutions For Painful Joint Conditions" Back Arthritis - Joint Pain Solutions for Lower Back Arthritis PainBack Arthritis - information and treatment options for this common type of lower back pain Is Spinal Surgery Necessary?Has spinal surgery been recommended to reduce your lower back pain? Eighty percent of Americans will at some time experience lower back pain significant enough to see a doctor. If you find yourself among those seeking help, you might be surprised to hear that spinal surgeries are on the rise. Spinal surgery, however, may not be your best option. As health care technology improves, it would appear that the more tests and scans the better the treatment plan. In the case of lower back pain, this is not necessarily the case. Scans can be misleading. By middle age, most people have some spinal deterioration (disc degeneration, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and minor disc bulges) but do not experience pain. Thus, what shows up on a scan may not be specifically causing your pain. For that reason, MRIs and x-rays are generally not necessary unless pain continues beyond four weeks. Because the cause of lower back pain can vary, so does the treatment plan. There is no magic bullet and no one-size-fits-all program. The one thing that research clearly supports in reducing lower back pain is exercise. But, that being said, it has to be the right exercise program tailored to you and your specific condition. A recent study found that of 38 patients originally recommended for surgery, only three still needed it after a 13 month tailored exercise program. The typical lower back pain treatment plan should follow these general steps: 1. A prescription of anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxers, and/or pain medication. A heavy dose of ice (no heat), physical therapy, and potentially acupuncture. 2. If pain persists greater than four weeks an x-ray and/or MRI is generally ordered. 3. The most common next treatment recommendation once the MRI is performed is an epidural injection. 4. If a series of 3 epidurals and a long course (1 year) of physical therapy is not successful, then surgery may be considered. At most 10 percent of patients are candidates for surgery. Some studies indicate that long term outcomes are the same whether with or without surgery. So what should you expect if you’re going to see a doctor with lower back pain? • Don’t be surprised if x-rays or an MRI is not immediately recommended. • Exercise (not bed rest) should be part of the prescription. • Ice and not heat should be strongly encouraged. • As the right exercise program is a must, a prescription for physical therapy should be expected. • If the doctor starts talking surgery early on, seek a second opinion. Spinal surgeries should be a last resort treatment option. Make sure you have exhausted all treatment options before considering surgery. Is Dr. Oz Right About Inversion Tables?In an episode of the Dr. Oz show, the use of inversion tables was touted as an effective alternative medicine treatment option for lower back pain. What is an inversion table? Who might benefit from using one and who should definitely avoid inversion therapy? What is an Inversion Table? Inversion tables are devices which allow the user to attach his or her feet to the base, tilt backward, and hang upside down. Most inversion tables allow you to adjust the angle of inversion thus you can hang anywhere from a 45 degree angle to being completely perpendicular to the floor. The goal of the inversion table is to utilize the weight of your body to help provide traction of the spine. The idea is that for those suffering from sciatica or disc related low back conditions providing for a traction effect of the spine will help reduce a bulging disc, decrease nerve root compression, and possible add to the hydration of the discs. Who Should Use Inversion Traction? Based on the research, inversion traction is an effective means of increasing the space between the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. Studies have evaluated the use of inversion therapy for those with both acute and chronic lower back pain. Although the studies involve a small number of participants, there is evidence that inversion traction is effective in reducing low back pain. Who Should NOT Use Inversion Traction? Although on the Dr. Oz show inversion traction was touted as a means of increasing blood flow to the brain, this may not be a good effect for everyone. Studies have shown that blood pressure consistently increases when using inversion traction. Thus, for those who have high blood pressure, this form of therapy should only be considered under medical supervision. An increase in blood pressure can also have a negative effect on those with a specific eye condition. Those with a history of glaucoma, an eye disease associated with increased intraocular pressure, should also avoid inversion traction as increased pressure to the eyes and head occurs with the use of this type of device. Although the effect of inversion therapy helps to increase the space between the lumbar vertebrae, studies have found it has the opposite effect for the cervical spine in that it slightly adds compression. If you also have a history of a cervical condition, use significant caution as this form of traction can aggravate neck symptoms. Inversion traction does have some benefits in the treatment of low back conditions. The use of this therapy is not indicated for those with a history of high blood pressure or glaucoma. As with the use of any new therapy, consult a medical professional before implementing it into your treatment program. Avascular Necrosis - Joint Pain Solutions for Hip Joint PainAvascular necrosis is a potential source of joint pain. Learn what AVN is and treatment options Permalink -- click for full blog post "Avascular Necrosis - Joint Pain Solutions for Hip Joint Pain" Shoulder Impingement - Joint Pain Solutions for Shoulder Joint PainInformation and treatment recommendations for shoulder impingement syndrome. LLD problem 13 weeks post opI am now 13 weeks post op from a THR and my affected leg is now 1/4 inch (measured by my PT) longer than the other. My OS says that this is the case because Permalink -- click for full blog post "LLD problem 13 weeks post op" Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis; How rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are diagnosedDiagnosing rheumatoid arthritis is not easy. Learn what test and symptoms are used to make the diagnosis.
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