Endometriosis Causing You Pain? 4 Treatments You Should Try

Endometriosis can really take its toll on your wellbeing, not only affecting your sexual health with severe pain during sex and infertility, but also presenting with other upsetting wellness concerns, such as backache and painful bowel movements. Unfortunately, there is no cure for endometriosis, but there are a number of endometriosis treatment and management options that can help you to cope with the condition.

 

1. Medical Therapies: The most common medical endometriosis treatments are hormonal contraceptives and other hormonal regimens, such as GnRH agonists (gonadotropin releasing hormone drugs). These drugs control the hormonal stimulation of your endometrial tissue. If you are suffering from pelvic pain, your first-line management includes hormonal contraceptives – be they oral, transdermal or injectable – along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. These treatments are cheaper, easier to use and less likely to produce side effects than other hormonal treatments, and so may be used indefinitely to help you manage your symptoms. A type of androgen (Danazol) is sometimes used to treat endometriosis, but it can cause some undesirable side effects. These include weight gain, hirsutism (hair growth), fluid retention, fatigue, hot flashes, decreased breast size, acne, oily skin, irritation or inflammation in your vagina, hot flushes, muscle cramps, emotional instability and a deeper voice.

 

2. Surgical Procedures: If you have surgery, this can be something as simple as a laparoscopy to something as drastic as a hysterectomy. If you have a laparoscopic procedure, your surgeon will either use heat or laser to destroy your endometriotic implants, or else cut them out. This can be a complicated surgery if the endometriosis is in your ureters or bowels. If your doctor recommends that you have a hysterectomy, you should be aware that this involves the removal of your uterus and potentially your ovaries, both of which you need to have a baby. Therefore, you should only have this procedure if you’re absolutely sure you don’t want children, and exploring other – potentially less effective – treatments is worth that goal. If you wish to preserve your fertility, discuss other options with your health care professional and consider seeking a second opinion.

 

3. Alternative Treatments: Complementary therapies for relieving the painful symptoms of endometriosis include traditional Chinese medicine, nutritional approaches, homeopathy, allergy management, and immune therapy. Again, you need to bear in mind that none of these treatments can cure endometriosis. That said, you should talk to your doctor about these options. Some doctors believe going down the alternative wellness route is a waste of time, but others will tell you that it’s always worth try alternative methods of pain relief as long as they are not harmful to your condition. Either way, you should always consult a doctor first, as you need to know exactly what you’re putting into your body.

 

4. Pregnancy: Although pregnancy is by no means a cure for endometriosis – and you shouldn’t have a baby just for nine months of pain relief – some women do find that being pregnant helps to lessen their pain. Moreover, even though the chronic condition won’t disappear with pregnancy, many women still find that the pain is substantially improved after they have a baby, and some women find that the pain does not come back at all. The reason behind this is that pregnancy stops the ovulation process, causing your endometriosis implants to become less active and, as a result, become less painful or large than they once were. Or, the reason why pregnancy eases your endometriosis pain may be because you’re not having periods, and menstruation triggers the pain that many women with endometriosis feel.

Categories: endometriosis, hormonal, hormonal contraceptives, Pain, Pain Relief, pregnancy, Treatments

Battle Balm® - The Best Natural Pain Reliever

In the world of topical pain relief, there are numerous choices.  The plethora of products can be dizzying, but armed with the right information, a consumer can be much more savvy about his or her purchase.  Sifting through product ingredient lists, one can find that many of these analgesics are fraught with chemicals, artificial ingredients, and potentially hazardous substances such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine (DEA), propylene glycol (PG), and phthalates.

 

The good news is that there are a growing number of manufacturers that have answered the call for healthier alternatives.  Battle Balm® is a company that has gone one step further and created a plant-based topical analgesic that is both friendly to the body as well as to the planet.

 

Battle Balm® is an adaptation of the ancient Chinese herbal formulas called dit da jow (or “hit fall wine”) historically used to help heal the wounds of Chinese martial artists.  Using a carefully selected balance of pain alleviating herbs, Battle Balm® has created a formula unlike any other before it.  20 plant ingredients are combined using both traditional and modern herbal techniques to create Battle Balm®.  Originally created by martial artists for martial artists, Battle Balm® has been literally battle tested and is now reaching out to treat more general pain sufferers.

 

The benefits of a plant-based herbal analgesic such as Battle Balm®, are many fold.  Clinical studies have shown that plants have numerous medicinal properties.  High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays have marked plant molecular compounds and allowed scientists to study each one individually.  Therefore, a wealth of data exists for plant use in medicine.  Battle Balm® has deeply researched the clinical and empirical data to refine its unique balm blend.

 

The synergistic combination of Battle Balm® herbs can be used to treat conditions such as arthritis, back pain (lumbago), neck pain, muscular strains, spasms, bruises, contusions, tendonitis, edema, circulatory problems, and more.  But Battle Balm® admits their formula is not just for treating pain.  There are benefits of using Battle Balm® that go beyond that of a typical analgesic.  As per their website, Battle Balm® can be used to naturally and safely nourish and moisten cracked skin, open congested nasal passages, reduce itching from bug bites, soothe burns, improve athlete’s foot, reduce keloid scar tissue, and repel insects.  If that wasn’t enough, Battle Balm® contains natural vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids to support skin healing and pliability.

 

Battle Balm® has been independent laboratory tested for anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties per USP 51 challenge against the most common strains.  Battle Balm® has been shown to be effective against staph (Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli (Escherichia coli), pseudomonas aeruginosa, candida albicans, and aspergillus niger.

 

Lastly, Battle Balm® is sustainable and eco-friendly.  All of the ingredients are plant-based and are grown with concern for the environment.  The Battle Balm® company’s desire for a superior eco-friendly product trickles down to even the product labels, which are made from corn, another renewable resource.

 

Currently, there are 3 versions of Battle Balm®:  Original Strength, Extra Strength, and Demon Strength.  Each version contains varying quantities of FDA approved ingredients for pain relief.  Product pricing start at $8.95 and can be purchased directly from http://BattleBalm.com.

Categories: balm, battle, battle balm, eco-friendly, martial artists, Natural, nbsp battle, Pain, Pain Relief, pain reliever, plant based

Five Ways to Deal With Your Chronic Pain

Pain warns us of injuries. It’s a sensation that can normally be depended on to fade, but chronic pain defies this typical behavior. An underlying condition generates pain that never leaves. Managing chronic pain is a lifetime challenge, one that must be met if the sufferer is to enjoy life. Although managing your pain can be a difficult and trying experience, there are different ways of minimizing the pain in order to move on with your life.

 

The Practice of Meditation

Find a space and a period of time each day to sit and become conscious of mind and body, visualizing a force of relaxing energy flowing and washing away the pain. Meditation is an established means of bringing balance to the mind, and the mind has great power over pain. It may take time and education found in classes and literature, but a novice can learn to clear the mind and, in turn, reduce pain. When you take the time to focus your mind on something positive, it can do wonders to take your mind of your chronic pain.

 

Pain Medications

Physician prescribed to ease the pain of arthritis and degenerative spinal ailments, prescription pain medications may be what you need to relieve your chronic pain. It can be tough to rely on a medicine day in and day out to live a comfortable life, so it’s best to combine this method with other more natural methods to try to find balance in your relief.

 

Acupuncture Treatment

Whether we subscribe to the Eastern understanding or simply believe the mountains of proof, there’s no denying that acupuncture can relieve chronic pain. Placement of hair-thin needles by a qualified acupuncturist lead to lasting pain relief. Consult a certified professional and learn more. Many people are skeptical of this practice, but it is generally safe when done by a certified professional and it can’t hurt to try it.

 

Pain Management Specialists

Instead of diluting effort with tiring research, consolidate energy and turn to an authority in pain relief. In Oklahoma this authority comes with the backing of programs offering viable alternatives for fighting ailments that cause long-lasting pain. Visit a pain management Oklahoma City resource and learn of the many effective ways of mitigating chronic pain. If you have tried all the more natural methods of pain relief and still have trouble doing basic everyday things, this may be the best option for you.

 

The Practice of Yoga

A perfect companion to meditation and other Eastern practices, a daily routine of yoga exercise raises awareness of the body. The Asanas, postures, strengthen the core, improve circulation, easing emotional turmoil. Many people find that getting proper exercise can strengthen their body and releive pain, but be sure to consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.

 

Chronic pain stresses the mind almost as much as the body. There’s a very real feeling of pervasive hopelessness that quickly transforms into depression. Although it can often be hard, you can still live a full life while minimizing your pain. There are many different options, both natural and medical that can soothe debilitating pain.

Categories: certified professional, Chronic, chronic pain, deal, lasting pain, Natural Methods, nbsp pain, Pain, pain management, pain medications, Pain Relief, ways

Nine Foods That Fight Common Health Problems

People struggle with health problems every single day. It’s something that our lives will never allow us to get away from. Illness is just a natural part of life that we can’t avoid thanks to the myriad bacteria, viruses and the natural breakdown of cells in the body that contributes to serious problems throughout your life.

 

But while many people suffer with issues for their whole lives, there are actually simple and effective ways that you can deal with many problems. Primarily this can come through added certain foods into your diet. Here is our list of nine foods that can really help you out with certain health problems.

 

What is good for arthritis?

 

Ginger

Ginger is not only a delicious additive to many different foods such as soups and curries, but it can also be very beneficial to your health. It can work in a similar way to anti-inflammatory medicines and so can function as pain relief. It’s important to remember that it is also a blood thinner, so it shouldn’t be eaten too excessively or taken with other blood thinning medicine.

 

Pumpkin

According to recent research, the high levels of antioxidants in pumpkins can help to prevent arthritis and provide pain relief through anti-inflammatory methods. You could try eating pumpkin puree to get plenty of it on board. Pumpkin soup is highly delicious too and well worth eating to get your fix.

 

Red bell pepper

With a large amount of vitamin C and a good number of carotenoids, which are great for fighting inflammation, red peppers are very good for you. With regards to the vitamin C, it’s been shown in a number of studies that a lack of vitamin C in your diet can lead to an increased risk of arthritis. Given that peppers can be put in virtually anything, it’s easy to get more of them in your diet.

 

 

What is good for diabetes?

 

Beans

Beans are great for diabetes, whether they are kidney beans, pinto beans or anything of the other beans. They are able to stabilise the blood sugar levels which is exactly the problem that people with diabetes have.

 

Egg whites

We know the quality of eggs, but you might think that the yolk is the only way to get ideal nutrients. But it seems that egg whites are great for the battle against diabetes. This is because they are very low calorie but high in protein.

 

Nuts

Nuts are highly delicious and they are extremely versatile. There are many different types of nut including pistachios, brazils, almonds and peanuts. They are all great for fighting diabetes because of their high levels of protein. They are also packed with healthy fats that are actually good for you.

 

 

What’s good for PMS?

 

Cheese

Studies have shown that women who suffer from PMS often have low levels of calcium. There is no doubt that cheese has high levels of calcium and given that it’s very tasty you can add it to almost anything and it stays great.

 

Pineapple

Pineapple does a lot for you if you’re suffering from PMS. It’s a great source of manganese, which can help reduce mood swings in women with PMS. It’s high level of water can help reduce the bloating that many women experience during their struggles with PMS.

 

Almonds

Almonds are a fantastic source of magnesium which is a mineral that is known to relieve the symptoms of PMS. Almonds can be eaten simply as a great snack or can be put in salads and other dishes to eat as part of a main meal.

Categories: anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Diabetes, egg whites, health problems, high levels, levels, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, Pain Relief, PMS, pms nbsp

The Sexy Six: How Does Sex Benefit Your Overall Health?

You don’t need a sexual health expert to tell you that sex feels good and puts you in an amazing mood, but did you know that sex also benefits your wellness in a number of not-so-obvious ways? Scientists have found that, during lovemaking, your body products a cascade of hormones and other biological changes that can lower your risk of cancer, boost your immunity, ease your pain and even offset the symptoms of menopause – taking care of your wellbeing has never been so much fun!

 

1. Lowers chronic pain: While having a headache is a go-to excuse for not getting down in the bedroom department, having sex may make that headache disappear. When your clitoris and vaginal walls are stimulated, your body triggers the release of natural painkillers like endorphins and corticosteroids. According to Barry Komisaruk, PhD, a Rutgers University psychology professor and co-author of The Science of Orgasm, this relieves headache pain and muscle soreness from before orgasm to up to two days later. In fact, he reports that self-stimulation through the front wall of your vagina increases your pain tolerance and pain detection thresholds by up to 50%.

 

2. Lessens breast cancer risk: As arousal and orgasm raises your “happiness” hormone level, you have more oxytocin and DHEA in your body, which may help keep breast cancer at bay. Research has demonstrated that having sex more than once a month makes you less likely to develop breast cancer than women who are less sexually active. Another study from Greek researchers showed that men were significantly less likely to develop breast cancer if they had at least seven orgasms a month in their 50s.

 

3. Exercises your heart: For a mild-to-moderate cardio workout you’ll actually enjoy, get busy between the sheets! The more vigorous you are, the more you benefit your heart. However, the cardio health benefits also somewhat depend on the positions you try. As being on top requires more effort, it’s more cardiac-friendly. Plus, at the peak moment of orgasm, your heart rate may hit 110 beats per minute, which is comparable to what walking quickly or jogging might achieve.

 

4. Protects your partner’s prostate: Scientists surmise that the reason why Catholic priests have an elevated chance of dying of prostate cancer is that they aren’t getting any. A 2003 study, this time undertaken on middle-aged Australian men, found that having at least four ejaculations a week gives your partner a one-third lower chance of developing prostate cancer than those who have fewer. Irwin Goldstein, MD, head of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital, explains, ‘”When you drain the pipes, as it were, you have less clogging.’

 

5. Reduces stress: In 2005, researchers showed that men and women who had sex in the two weeks before a stressful day had an easier time while doing public speaking and some verbal arithmetic. Having sex beforehand prevented their systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood-pressure reading) from increasing as much as those who had no sexual relations or had other forms of sex, including non-coital interactions or masturbation. Having sex also caused the participants’ blood pressure to drop back to its normal level at a faster rate. The researchers put forth the theory that having sex requires more complex brain activity, or it stimulates a number of important nerves not triggered during other kinds of sexual activity.

 

6. Amps up your immune system: According to research from Wilkes University, college students who engaged in sex once or twice a week had 30% higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies than did their abstinent classmates. This is not the only study that shows sex bolsters your immune system; in 2004, German scientists produced similar results.

Categories: blood pressure, Breast, breast cancer, cancer, develop breast, immunity, nbsp, orgasm, Pain, Pain Relief, prostate cancer, stress reduction

Could Chinese Medicine Ingredients Help You?

Three new studies have confirmed the value of three traditional features of Chinese medicine – ginseng, ginger and acupuncture. In the clinical studies, it was found that ginger can be used to reduce nausea that is often attributed to chemotherapy treatments. Acupuncture can beat conventional medicines for treating lower back pain, and Asian ginseng can work as a natural anti-inflammatory. The best feature of these treatments is that they are natural, so there are no side effects compared to those that may arise from more conventional medicines. They’ve been used in traditional medicines for centuries thanks to the benefits they off the body, and the way in which they alleviate symptoms such as pain and sickness. Here are the facts on each of these traditional treatments, and what they can do for your health.

 

Ginger

Ginger supplements have been proven to relieve the nausea that many people undergoing chemotherapy treatments suffer with – a trial showed a 40 percent reduction in a randomised study. Researchers noticed that when 644 cancer patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups, they have an improvement in symptoms when taking ginger supplements. Some groups were given placebos, some 500mg of ginger, some 1000mg of ginger and others 1500mg of ginger. Nausea precedes vomiting, but people who feel nauseated may not always vomit. Cancer patients complain more about suffering with nausea than they do with vomiting, because they are unable to relieve severe nausea. It hasn’t yet been found how ginger can help with this problem but it is thought to be because ginger is an anti-inflammatory and is absorbent, so it acts on the gut before nausea sets in. You can add ginger into your diet through taking a supplement, or by adding it to your diet in the fresh form – smoothies, stir fries and soups can all benefit from ginger, or you can add it to freshly brewed tea for a spicy and warming infusion.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is well known for being good for pain, and a new study confirms that it can be used to treat lower back pain. In a study of 638 people who were receiving treatment for lower back pain, the pain scores of people after eight weeks had improved by 4.4 or 4.5 points. People who had received regular medical care only improved by as much as 2.1 points. The pain relief was not only more successful, but it also lasted for longer with up to a year’s success for some people. Acupuncture is the treatment of various ailments and works by a trained practitioner inserting fine needles into pressure points in the body. It’s been used for centuries as a treatment for numerous conditions, from fertility to migraines, but this new study offers hope for sufferers of chronic back pain. If you think that you may benefit from acupuncture, seek out a local practitioner in your area who can assess your condition and how many courses of the treatment you need.

Ginseng

There’s still some work to go in proving the effects of ginseng, but a new trial has shown that it could be used to treat inflammation. Seven of the nine ginseng extracts used to treat human immune cells in a trial were able to inhibit the expression of a gene that promotes inflammation. It’s been used for many years in Chinese medicine, but this new trial could offer new clinical evidence that proves that ginseng is a viable treatment for inflammation in the body. The cutting edge science used in this most recent trial suggests that there could be new routes for medicine. Botanical researchers could better understand this herb and the uses it has in our diets.

Categories: acupuncture, anti-inflammatory, cancer patients, chemotherapy treatments, Chinese medicine, conventional medicines, ginger, ginger supplements, Pain, Pain Relief

What Are the Options for Alternative Childbirth?

The recent royal arrival has sparked a new wave of women looking into alternative childbirth methods, after it was reported that the Duchess of Cambridge wanted to try for a natural birth – she even looked into hypnobirthing as a way of reducing the labour pains, instead of using conventional pain relief. Most women give birth in the NHS maternity units around the country, and just two percent of mothers give birth at home in England, but these are quite different from the clinical environments of decades before. A lot of hospitals have no removed the traditional hospital beds in favour of more relaxing and calming spaces where they can be surrounded by their personal possessions.

 

There is now an increasing trend for alternative births where the mother uses a doula – this is a non-medical birthing companion who is there to support the labour and help the mother deliver her baby, as well as being present for a short while afterwards. Her role is to literally be there as another mother who can offer guidance and support. An agency is available which offers a choice of over 500 qualified doulas, all but one of which are female. In the past, this role was one which was taken on by the pregnant woman’s mother or sister, but as nuclear families are no longer the norm, and geographical distances become more common, this isn’t always possible. Doulas can help to provide support in an understanding way, helping to offer an insight into the pregnancy as you go through it which can be reassuring if this is your first birth.

 

Aromatherapy is an option with childbirth, and there are a number of essential oils which are safe in pregnancy. These include lavender, rose, peppermint, lemon, chamomile and eucalyptus, all of which can reduce stress and anxiety, decrease pain levels and lift the spirits. This therapy isn’t for everyone and can cause irritation in some women, but it can be an option for some – it’s advised that you seek medical advice from your GP before using this form of therapy. You should steer clear of them entirely if you have a history of miscarriage, have diabetes, heart problems, epilepsy or have suffered with vaginal bleeding during the pregnancy.

 

Hypnobirthing, such as the form that Kate Middleton was tempted to use, is a technique which many women opt for. It can help to calm the mother and relieve anxiety, as well as calming the body and mind. During the pregnancy itself there will be a number of stages, including your after breaking and the initial contractions – this can be a daunting time, especially if you’re new to mothering and are unsure what to expect. Many women find that having someone with them to go through the process with and express their anxieties too helpful, which is why so many are now seeking the advice of a doula. The more common forms of pain relief include epidurals, gas and air, or morphine. However, for women who don’t want to bring their baby into the world in a drug-infused environment, these are less than desirable.

 

The desire for organic and natural remedies in everyday life are now seeping into more medical procedures, including pregnancy. The same can be said of the afterbirth, where you may need treatment for tears in the vagina or perineum – alternative therapies may be useful here too. Your GP will be able to offer advice on what your options are during your pregnancy so that you can prepare accordingly when you give birth.

Categories: alternative childbirth, birth, complementary, mother, Pain Relief, pregnancy, Women

Breaking the Fragments of Ankle Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronically painful disorder with very little that can be done, aside from pain-relief as the bones grind against each other with every movement. The worse that the disorder becomes, the harder it is for the limb to move, let alone be used. As a result, the “end stage” of the arthritic agony is a daunting prospect for many sufferers.

Does it have to be the only one?

Doctors say otherwise.

If you suffer from ankle arthritis, then you may be familiar with joint-replacement or fusion techniques. If you are not, then this may be a way out when you’re coming towards the end-stages of arthritis.

Often called athrodesis, joint-fusion is a great source of pain relief. It focuses on putting metal plates together where the pain is most problematic; whilst motion is lost on the particular joint, the good news is that the pain decreases significantly. The surrounding joints around the ankle further compensate the lack of movement in the foot.

With modern medicine reaching rapid new developments, the alternative to athrodesis is a full joint replacement – this means that the ankle is completely replaced with man-made structures that have little to no friction between them. The results from those receiving the treatment are said to enable engagement in daily routines and low-impact sports.

The third option is usually used for young people who are unfortunate to develop symptoms known as distraction arthroplasty. A framework of pins are set into the bones that slowly adjust the bone to pull apart or “distract” the joint surface. In doing so, it allows the cartilage to naturally recover around the ankle.

Determining the right treatment may take a good deal of consideration; taking into account aspects such as activity levels, bone stock, weight and the amount of pain. A physical examination is done, as well as an X-Ray.

You do not have to give into arthritis – sometimes, it is just a means of finding out what the best source of treatment is for you. The “end stage” is not truly the end – in fact, it could be the start to setting yourself free.

Breaking the Fragments of Ankle Arthritis

Categories: Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Pain Relief

Orgasmic Health: Can Sex Help to Improve Your Wellness?

Sex is not just about passion, love or romance, but also it gives you major benefits to your wellbeing without you even realising. This is according to Dr Jennifer Berman, co-founder of the Female Sexual Medicine Centre at UCLA, who notes that, when you have an orgasm, this increases your circulation, keeping the blood flowing to your genital area. As a result, this keeps your tissue healthy.

Berman explained that, although a quickie is by no means an alternative to daily exercise, having an orgasm is a wellness-boosting cardiovascular activity. ‘Your heart rate increases, blood pressure increases [and your] respiratory rate increases,’ she said, noting that your body also releases endorphins because sex is akin to running in many physiological respects. Other hormones released during orgasm – namely, dopamine and oxytocin – have what Berman terms “mood-enhancing effects.”

But the added benefits of sexual health don’t stop at cardio. According to a recent survey of 1,800 women, over 30% of us use sexual release as a natural sedative for a good night’s sleep. Moreover, orgasms can work to soothe certain aches and pains, such as migraines and menstrual cramps. This is something that dates way back to Victorian medicine, and Berman explains that the contractions that make up an orgasm help to evacuate blood clots during your period, and this provides some temporary relief.

So that’s your heart health, sleep patterns and aches and pains, but what about your mind and emotions? Barry Komisaruk, PhD comments that orgasms actually nourish the brain with oxygen. ‘Functional MRI images show that women’s brains utilize much more oxygen during orgasm than usual,’ he says. Berman adds that being sexual also gives your brain a break, helping you to relax. She says, ‘When we’re stressed out and overextending ourselves, [we"re] not being in the moment. Being sexual requires us to focus on one thing only.’

Furthermore, Logan Levkoff, PhD, a sexologist and certified sexuality educator, notes that you may increase your emotional confidence and intelligence when you know what it takes to make yourself orgasm. ‘When you understand how your body works and … [that it] is capable of pleasure on its own, regardless of your partner status, you make much better decisions in relationships,’ he says.

Orgasmic Health: Can Sex Help to Improve Your Wellness?

Categories: orgasm, Pain Relief, Stress Relief

The Ups and Downs of Arthritic Medication

If you are one of the millions suffering from chronic arthritis, then the news of dud painkillers and pseudo-drugs are not entirely encouraging. That being said, there are many ways to ease pain with less side-effects, reduced dependency and give that joint replacement pause.

Whether you take over-the-counter medicine or otherwise, they all carry with them certain risks that you need to bear in mind.

Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Diclofenac may be one of the most popular drugs in the world, but it has recently come to light that it also boosts your risks of having a heart attack or a stroke by 91 percent. Whilst this is daunting, there is an alternative that is not ingested. Diclofenac can also be found in cream form, which serves as the safest alternative to this dangerous problem.

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen also carry with them the risks of heart and liver problems by 29 percent.

Not everything however, is caused merely by the drug.

Viscosupplementation is one such example. It is the injection of a synthetic layer which is placed between the joints, acting like the cartilage that is lost through arthritis. Whilst a substantial relief, it is less effective if you are obese, inactive or if you lack leg strength. It is said however that even if you are young and athletic, there’s sometimes no benefit.

If this is all starting to sound very doom-and-gloom, then don’t be disheartened. There is another way. The answers may be a little simpler than you may imagine.

It was mentioned earlier that the safer alternative to oral or injection-based medication was that of gels and creams. Ointments containing a chilli-pepper extract (capsaicin) can reduce pain by 40 percent if applied daily. Capsaicin works by reducing the number of pain signals sent to your brain.

Stretching and exercise will also be a boon to your body. Warm water aerobics, an exercise bike or even just a walkabout will ease motion and build muscles to take the problem out of your bones. Talk to your doctor about the best routine for you – you may surprise yourself at what you can do.

It’s natural to believe that through exercise comes weight loss. By losing weight, you take the pressure out of your joints – each pound that you lose takes four pounds off your joints. Now isn’t that a sigh of relief?

Dieting – the other method of weight loss. Foods can ease off inflammation as easily as the tablets that you take – only with positive side-effects! Fruits and vegetables are a great source of anti-inflammatory goodness. Whilst refined grains, sunflower and soybean oils up the inflammation, foods such as strawberries, leafy greens, carrots, blueberries and cherries will help you. Try out fatty fish like omega-3 DHA-loaded salmon and trout; then drizzle salads with olive oil. Throw in some omega-3 rich walnuts; and wash it all down with green tea.

Now isn’t that a treat?

The Ups and Downs of Arthritic Medication

Categories: Alternative, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, diet, drugs, ease, exercise, medication, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Pain Relief, Risks, Weight Loss

The Investment of Arthritic Medicine

A new drug to help the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis has entered lawmakers’ scopes as is becomes a topic of controversy regarding investment issues.

A political debate over Xeljanz, produced by Pfizer, has cost taxpayers a whopping $24,666 (£16,193) a year, which is said to grow into $2.3 billion by 2018, reflecting the company’s initial investment of $1 billion two decades ago. Pfizer joined up with a research team to produce Xeljanz. Initially, the company declined involving itself with the research team in 1994, the pricing terms of which asked for the company to “reflect the taxpayers’ investment and the health and safety needs of the public.”

Two years later, the pricing clause was removed and Pfizer worked with the team to create Xeljanz, a protein-based drug to reduce the symptoms of arthritis.

“When taxpayer-funded research helps stimulate efforts like the Xeljanz research and development program, there is a substantial return on investment,” the Pfizer statement says. “If a company chooses to initiate a high-risk $1 billion investment, as we did, that is a significant return to the American public.”

The National Institutes of Health however, has been treated with scrutiny, with its research reportedly having no “treatment-related discoveries and did not contribute in any way to the Xeljanz R&D program.” Furthermore, the report was notably vague, which means that the public’s investments into the drug is being treated with significant concern.

“American taxpayers are entitled to realize a return on their investment in N.I.H. research resulting in this — or any other — breakthrough drug. Surely price gouging isn’t what they expect or deserve,” U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif told the New York Times.

With the grey area of tax-funded medication, the debate is drawn as to whether or not publicly-funded medication should cost its prescriber less. With companies attempting to make a profit and its consumers trying to improve their lives, it is interesting that the question is not “does it work?” but instead is, “how much will it cost?”

The Investment of Arthritic Medicine

Categories: Arthritis, business, company, Corporate, Finance, funded medication, investment, Osteoarthritis, Pain Relief, pfizer, Research, research team, xeljanz

How Is Emotional And Physical Pain Relief Linked?

New research into the relief we feel from pain, whether it’s stress related or physical, suggests that the psychological mechanisms our bodies go through when pain is removed is known as pain offset relief. This study has found that whether you’re healthy or display a history of self-harm, you’ll show similar levels of relief when the pain is removed – this shows that the offset relief that scientists have found is a natural reaction which is used to help regulate our emotions.

 

Feeling pain can lead to a negative show of emotions, which we are already aware of, but little has been studied about how we feel when the pain is removed. Does this offset, for example, link itself to positive emotions or are the negative emotions just removed? The study involved using electrodes to measure the participants’ negative emotion levels, with eye-blink startle responses, as well as the positive emotions which were recorded through the muscle activity behind the ear, with responses to loud noises. The participants showed an increased level of positive emotions  and lower levels of negative emotions following the pain offset. Scientists are keen to delve into this further, since the results show that the body is capable of providing an emotional level of pain offset relief, which could shed some light on why some people seek the relief found from self-harming behaviour.

 

The participants, whether they had a history of self-harm or not, were assessed for their level of emotional reactivity and psychiatric disorders. With a similar test used in the study itself, using electrodes, the researchers were able to measure the level of emotional responses to loud noises, whether alone or when combined with painful shocks. In an interesting result, it was noted that healthy individuals displayed pain offset relief levels which were comparable to those with a history of self harming. There was no link between the pain offset relief and the frequency of self harming. Researchers suspect that the biggest risk for non-suicidal self-harm is how people overcome the instinctive barriers that stop most people from self harming.

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How Is Emotional And Physical Pain Relief Linked?

Categories: emotional, new study, Pain Relief

The Yoga Poses That Can Relieve the Pain of Arthritis

Arthritis sufferers are always on the lookout for natural remedies to give them pain relief. There is no cure for the joint condition and all treatment focuses on simply managing the pain.

Exercise is known to relieve the symptoms of arthritis and yoga in particular is lauded as a gentle form of exercise that can improve flexibility and movement in joints affected by arthritis. Yoga has been developed over centuries to increase flexibility in the body with many yoga poses especially effective for increasing mobility and movement in the joints.

Here are 5 yoga poses that can offer relief from the pain of arthritis. To find out more about how yoga can help, you should seek out a certified yoga practitioner.

1. Sun salutation: Known as the Suryanamskara, the sun salutation involves placing the weight of the body on your hands and raising your back and head. The pose is used to start yoga exercises because it works to loosen up the muscles and prepare them for more challenging poses.


2. Hero pose: Also known as the Virasana, this seated exercise is very effective for easing pain in arthritic knees.


3. Child pose: Relax your neck and reduce pain across the shoulders by lying down like a baby.


4. Easy seat: The Sukhasana is another sitting pose that is used before going on to do pranayama, also known as the art of breathing control. This pose is another that helps to relieve knee pain as you must bend your knees to do it properly.


5. Tree pose: The Vrksasana works best to ease the pain in the lower back that can often by typical of arthritis. It works to strengthen the back by improving balance and flexibility.

Yoga has been proven over generations to help both mind and body. For arthritis sufferers, it may be the most natural remedy of all for pain relief.

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Categories: Arthritis, Pain Relief, yoga