by Victor Volder

Treating arthritis is not easy.

Apart from the regular medication, proper diet, rest and relaxation, doctors also recommend arthritis exercises. These are specially designed exercises for people with different types of arthritis. Exercising is a must do for all people suffering of arthritis because it will help them increase the flexibility of the joints, increase bone vigor, muscle strength and energy levels, so they will have a better control of their weight and a strong heart.

But most of all, exercising will help keep joints completely movable and will fortify the adjacent muscles. This way, arthritis sufferers will experience less pain when performing the everyday activities. So it is fair to say that arthritis exercises are strongly recommended for arthritis patients by all the doctors in the world.

But depending on the type of arthritis one person might have, the doctor will recommend a certain type of exercise. People should not choose the exercise program on their own; instead, always ask your doctor what exercises are recommended for your type of arthritis. Depending on the severity of the condition and which joints are affected, the doctor will propose a certain type of exercising program.

There are three types of exercises: range of motion, strengthening and endurance. Range of motion exercises, for example, dancing, are the ones that move the joints in all directions, as far as possible. These are the easiest type of exercises recommended for all types of arthritis because they will keep the joints mobile and will prevent stiffness. Doctors advise their patients to perform a range of motion exercises every day, or at least every other day. The number and intensity of exercises can be gradually increased as the patient gets in shape.

Strengthening exercises include isometric and isotonic movements. Isometric exercises are the ones that work the muscles without moving the joints, while isotonic exercises work both the muscles and the joints. Both types of movements help with building strong muscles around the joints that are causing problems. Stronger muscles will better support the joints, meaning pain will be reduced and the patient will move more easily. Unless the patient has swelled joints or severe pains, the doctor suggests doing strengthening exercises every other day.

Endurance exercises are the ones that improve the cardiovascular condition by increasing the heart rate for at least 20-30 minutes. Not all arthritis patients can perform endurance exercises. Depending on the patient’s age and physical condition, the doctor will recommend or not endurance exercises and also the type of exercises.

Walking, bicycling or swimming are the best choices, because their joints are not that stressed by these type of activities. For example, making exercises in warm water will help in two ways: the warm water will aid by decreasing the pain and relaxing the muscles, and at the same time the water will be supporting the body, this way placing less stress on the joints. Endurance exercises should be performed three times a week for about 20-30 minutes.

There are also other types of simple exercises that can be done by all arthritis patients. The every day activities can be easily transformed into arthritis exercises. In the morning when you get up and get dressed, try to amplify your movements, this way the morning stiffness of your joints will rapidly disappear.

Also, take every chance to do some household activities like: wash the car or do the dishes because these movements will help decrease the pain from your joints. When you watch television, during the commercial breaks get up of your chair and do something; even small movements burn calories and help you reduce your weight. You can also park your car a little further away from office or home as walking will do you good.

Before beginning an arthritis exercises program, always consult an experienced doctor or a physical therapist. They are the ones that can advise what exercises are recommended for specific types of arthritis. They can suggest a particular type of exercises for inflamed and swollen joints or certain exercises for particular joints. The exercising program should be started with easy exercises, but the difficulty of the movements should be gradually increased. The patient should also be careful to thoroughly warm up before starting the exercises and cool down after finishing the program.

Although exercising is good for arthritis patients, occasionally some people can get into some uncomfortable conditions: augmented weakness, constant fatigue, joint swelling or pain that lasts more than one hour after exercises are finished. This means that exercises are too strenuous and the patient should talk to his doctor and make the necessary changes in his exercises program. After finding the ideal arthritis exercises program, the only thing that patients have to do is to strictly follow it and the improvements will soon appear.

For more information regarding natural arthritis treatments, please visit: www.arthritis-solution.com

by A. Raymond Randall

On September 30, 2004, Merck & Co Inc (MRK) recalled Vioxx due to negative clinical trial results. Recipients of this drug seem to experience increased experience of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or intestinal bleeding. Both the American Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine stress the dangers of this prescription drug.

European and American cardiologists recognize the implicit dangers of this highly marketed arthritis prescription. This does not have to happen to you when safe natural and effective arthritis pain relief might provide relief!

Did you know that pharmaceutical drugs have their history embedded in herbal medicine? Apothecaries offered medicines with medical care. The cost of medical help was expensive (sound familiar), so many families made home remedies.

However, today’s pharmaceuticals derive from the the medicines stirred and pounded by the apothecary in the mortar by the pestle. “The history of Merck & Co., Inc. can be traced back to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668 when an apothecary named Frederic Jacob Merck opened a chemical firm.” If curious about Merck’s history, learn more about it here: http://tinyurl.com/4m4ft.

Further historical proof is found in 1792, Alexandria, Virginia. Three Hundred homes nestled near the Potomac River; on Fairfax Street, Edward Stabler, a Quaker pharmacist, started a family business which operated until 1933. To this day, many of Stabler’s herbs, potions and paper labels in his apothecary desk. Stabler like other apothecaries of his day prescribed Native American Indian remedies like witch hazel for external treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Today, most patients visiting a doctor go for cold and flu symptoms or joint and muscle pain. Modern prescriptions provide relief, but sometimes with side effects. Now, you can get temporary relief from minor arthritis pain by using remedies derived from all natural ingredients. For example, the non greasy, penetrating and topical cream referenced below, brings soothing relief quickly. Further relief comes from Boswellia serrata, used in India for centuries as a proven pain reliever.

Although pharmaceutical drugs may cause side effects, other studies indicate that glucosamine, a common recommendation for arthritis discomfort, has no effect. You might consider reading this October 2004 study by researchers at the University of British Columbia: http://tinyurl.com/676h6. Whatever choices you make, take time to research, and then take action. Despite these debates, the American Journal of the American Medical Association has considered glucosamine effective when promoting cartilage formation for your joint health. So, why not get some spring back in those steps? You can find relief using high quality natural alternatives to side-effect laden drugs. One manufacturer with years of experience has natural alternatives. This company started in 1955; read about this remarkable company, its philosophy and contributions here: http://tinyurl.com/3ma7w.

To read more about these natural and effective alternatives to arthritis, type the product numbers found below into the search box found here: http://tinyurl.com/4zg4x.

Pain Relief – 20667
Read the label: http://tinyurl.com/5p5y6
Read the product information sheet: http://tinyurl.com/4zy2h
Joint & Muscle – 20669
Read the label: http://tinyurl.com/68zll
Read the product information sheet: http://tinyurl.com/4ngkb
Joint Health – 20668
Read the label: http://tinyurl.com/6jgo9
Read the product information sheet: http://tinyurl.com/58odo

Sometimes too much information brings confusion; on the other hand, too little information leads to unwise choices. Good health involves your wisdom, discipline, and desire to feel better. As a friend reminds me, I remind you, “Think healthy”, and choose your medicine carefully. Always read every label closely. The natural alternatives offered in this article provide you with a safe, natural, and effective arthritis pain reliever.

The Internet serves a library of information and resources. We all have to be careful about self-diagnosis and prescription. Read wisely by cross-referencing the content. These articles may be of further benefit as you search relief for your arthritic pain. You may read the source for these references by reading the entire article in the Echievements article library: http://www.echievements.com/articles/2534.

“Vitamin C and Arthritis” http://tinyurl.com/6z4jr
“The link between smoking and rheumatoid arthritis in men” http://tinyurl.com/63z5a
“Ice beneficial in treating gouty arthritis” http://tinyurl.com/6nk4l
“Genetic Factors Play Small Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief” http://tinyurl.com/6gadt
“Benefits of exercise decline over time in osteoarthritis sufferers” http://tinyurl.com/6ynwc
“Vegan diet may be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis” http://tinyurl.com/6cm2x

About the Author

Ray Randall is a registered investment advisor with Ethos Advisory Services, www.ethosadvisory.com and coordinates Echievements. Ray holds a Masters Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. You may email him or call (877-895-3756). Ray has used the products of this recommended company for 30 years.

by Charles Essmeier

The recent withdrawal of Vioxx and Bextra from the marketplace, due to concerns over unwanted side effects, has many arthritis sufferers concerned. These drugs, which belong to a powerful class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, are quite effective at fighting the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Unfortunately, they have been linked to increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. Their manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn them from the market.

There are still alternative medications available, such as Celebrex, and traditional medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Aspirin and ibuprofen may not be suitable for everyone, as they can cause stomach discomfort in some people. While a good anti-inflammatory can certainly provide more comfort for arthritis pain, there are some non-medicinal steps that patients can take that may provide some relief from their pain.

Get plenty of rest. Your body works best when its well-rested, and its a well-known fact that most Americans fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Exercise. Joints and muscles work best when theyre well toned, and that is true for arthritis sufferers as well as the public at large. Not all exercises will be appropriate, however. A patient with arthritic knees will probably not benefit from playing basketball or tennis. Low impact exercise like walking or water aerobics may help, however. Patients with arthritis are advised to discuss exercise options with their physician.

Watch your weight. Arthritic joints work best when they aren’t overly burdened. If you are overweight, you are making a bad situation worse by forcing your joints to work harder than they otherwise might. A loss of just a few pounds could make a huge difference, especially if you suffer from arthritic knees.

These tips are certainly not intended to be a substitute for medication, but with a chronic condition like arthritis, every little bit that you can do to ease the stress on your aching joints can provide a bit more relief.

About the Author

Copyright by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including Bextra-Info.net, a site devoted to the withdrawn drug Bextra and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to structured settlements.

by Nathan Wei

…and one of these tips you can get from a sewing class!

More than 100,000 Americans are unable to get from their bed to the bathroom without assistance because of problems related to their hip or knee. So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He adds, Too many people put up with pain when there are so many treatments available.

The hip joint plays a major role in weight-bearing and walking.

Its a ball-and-socket joint that combines great stability and a wide range of motion. This joint is comprised of the head of the thigh bone (femur) which is shaped like a ball. This sits inside a cup-like area of the pelvis called the acetabulum (socket). It is surrounded by powerful muscles that help maintain the body in an upright posture and also help with walking. Many ligaments also help support the structure of the hip.

The most common symptom with hip problems is pain

Pain due to hip problems may be felt in the groin, on the outside of the hip region, the buttock, inner part of the thigh, the front of the thigh, and even the knee. In fact, there have been patients who’ve had knee surgery… when the problem was really in the hip. NOT a good thing! Pain coming from the hip joint also needs to be distinguished from low back disorders as well as knee disorders. Activities of daily living that are affected by hip pain include going up and down stairs, getting out of chairs, getting out of bed, getting shoes and socks off and on, and sexual intercourse.

Hip pain is often aggravated by weight-bearing.

Besides arthritis, hip pain can be due to bursitis. The most common is trochanteric bursitis. Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the large bursa that sits on the side of the hip. It tends to come on in middle-aged people. The major symptom is a deep aching pain over the upper outer thigh. It is made worse by walking. It is often bad at night and is aggravated by lying on the affected side. The treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, steroid injection, and stretching exercises.

Another potentially serious condition is avascular necrosis of the hip.

Here, a patient will have severe pain- usually in the groin. Weight-bearing is excruciating and the pain may also be present at night. Avascular necrosis is a condition where the blood supply to the head of the femur (the ball) is interrupted… and the head of the femur actually dies! The bone collapses. Remember the great athlete, Bo Jackson… he had avascular necrosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by MRI scanning and the treatment involves surgical procedures. In patient with an arthritis condition, treatment modalities should include anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, exercises, and weight reduction, if necessary.

Specific stretching exercises are helpful.

Dr. Wei says, One of my favorite is called thread-the-needle. You cross one leg across the thigh of the other. Reach down through the hole formed by this crossing over maneuver with the same side hand as the leg youre using to cross over. Clasp fingers with the other hand behind the thigh and gently pull. Youll feel the stretch! Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with the other side.

Joint replacement- known as hip arthroplasty- is still the resort of choice in patients with end-stage arthritis.

Indications for arthroplasty include: pain that hasnt responded to more conservative measures and… loss of function in the hip.

In the past, the limiting problem was that the replaced hip was only good for 10 to 15 years with normal use.

Problems that limit the lifespan of hip replacements are wear and… inflammatory response to particles that eventually cause loosening in some patients.

About the Author

Dr. Wei (pronounced way) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com

by Raj Kenshin Norbu

The purpose of this article is to provide information on methods and techniques on how to cope with pain, or in some instances, possibly even overcoming pain with the use of techniques derived from Yoga meditation.

Chronic pain sufferers spend millions of dollars to find ways of relieving their pain. This article hopes to share a process that is natural, and free.

Meditation: The Most Popular Alternative Pain Relief Therapy

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, mind-body medicine is the most popular alternative approach for people in pain. And at the heart of mind-body medicine lies the age-old practice of meditation; a quiet, simple technique that belies an extraordinary power that has scientifically been proven to boost disease resistance and maintain overall health.

For many people who suffer from chronic pain, spending quiet time in meditation has proven to be the first step in learning how to cope with their pain. Over the years, thousands of individuals have sought help at stress reduction clinics that teach meditation techniques to people with pain. Their symptoms vary -from headaches, arthritis, and back pain to anxiety, eczema, and many other conditions- but their stories are remarkably similar. For those seeking help in coping with their problems, meditation works.

How Pain Relief Is Attained Thru Meditation (Why Meditation Decreases Pain)

The human body can produce its own natural chemical self-stimulants called endorphins. Among other things, this group of molecules alleviates stress, reduces pain, and gives a feeling of pleasure.

During meditation, when the brain is in a highly synchronous and coherent state (as measured by EEG brainwave biofeedback machines), it produces large quantities of these pleasure-causing neuro-chemicals, i.e., endorphins, making the whole experience pleasurable, giving an overall feeling of well-being. Many report a feeling of peace, happiness, connectedness, and a sense of wholeness when meditating.

Scientists have found that when the brain is stimulated by a pleasurable experience, it is capable of overwhelming or inhibiting other stimuli. Thus, pleasure can overcome depression or pain.

Yoga Meditation Methods For Coping With Or Overcoming Pain

There are many meditation methods and techniques, but they can generally be divided into several categories listed below. You may experiment with each one, and maybe even combine them to suit your needs. It all depends on what works best for you. Meditation is a very flexible tool.

Category 1: Breathing

One of the first steps in meditation is being aware of your breath. This method involves the use of specific breathing patterns to bring about relaxation. Essentially, as you slow your breathing rate, the body relaxes, and the mind calms down, as well. Based on my own personal experience, the more relaxed you are, the less pain you will feel.

Category 2: Transformational Life View

Meditation does not only involve breathing awareness. Many meditation traditions ask you to ponder on life-changing concepts such as what reality is and who you really are.Understanding your True Self, and experiencing your True Self directly thru meditation causes practitioners to undergo a profound transformation of view.

This transformation of view leads them to a different way of looking at themselves, namely from a perspective of wholeness. With this change of perspective, a new and profound coming to terms with their problems and their suffering begins to take place. From feeling out of control, helpless, and beyond help, they develop a sense of inner peace and acceptance, and even a sense of the possible, a feeling of calm confidence, and control. This attitudinal and emotional transformation plays a major role towards better health and often causes a reduction in physical symptoms and improvement in a person’s physical condition.

This transformational life view brings about an ability to act with greater balance and inner security in the world, especially when encountering stress, pain, or illness.This category includes the popular mindfulness meditation which is used extensively by stress reduction clinics that have helped thousands of chronic pain sufferers and people with illnesses.

Category 3: Visualization/ Imagery

Visualization or imagery is a commonly used technique to relieve anxiety and pain. It involves imagining a pleasant and relaxing, or even exciting, place or activity that has brought you happiness in the past or is appealing to you. Mentally exploring this place or activity in great detail can help induce a sense of calm.

Category 4: Prana/ Chi / Life Force

It is said that a life force flows through our bodies, invariably known as prana or chi, and that this energy flows through the body within a psychic nervous system composed of subtle channels. There is an intimate relationship between our mind and this subtle nervous system and we can control or direct this energy for improved well-being, such as for pain relief.

You can also visualize blue, white, or pink healing light having a positive effect on the painful area.

Conclusion

These Yoga meditation techniques have been used for centuries for spiritual purposes.However, they can also be used as natural pain relief methods. By applying the meditation techniques specifically for pain control, practitioners are able to have a positive effect on such severe kinds of pain.

I hope these methods help those of you with chronic pain so that you can use meditation to lead better lives.

Copyright (C) Raj Kenshin Norbu

About the Author

Raj K. Norbu is founder of a site that shows you how to experience your True Self thru Yoga meditation, enabling you to increase pain threshold and perform amazing feats.Ebooks available include The Yogic Method For Developing Supernormal Powers and The Ultimate Yoga Meditation Course. To know more, visit: www.PainRelief-Meditation-Yoga.com

by Yvonne Loubet

We use this title because not all arthritis treatments are, shall we say, enjoyable. If you suffer from the painful effects of this debilitating condition though, very little can seem worse. The pain is often so severe that the simplest movements can cause anguish and even tears. But, there are treatments to help arthritis. Can they cure it? That is still to be seen, but many have shown to be effective in fighting off the pain.

First, there are many different types of arthritis. The causes of each will help to determine the treatment. But, here, we will talk mainly of the treatment options available and then those that are quite possibly the best at treating rheumatoid arthritis.

The symptoms of any arthritis start with pain. There is pain in the joints in a way that limits the amount of movement a person has. Now, remember, as well, that arthritis can strike any individual, not necessarily just older people. So, if a child stops using a limb complaining of pain, a doctor should be seen.

On top of this, if symptoms of pain are accompanied with fever a doctor should be seen immediately, as this can be a sign of a deadlier arthritis known as septic arthritis. In all cases, arthritis is an inflammation in the joints. The problem in rheumatoid arthritis is that, in trying to deal with the inflammation, the immune system ends up attacking the cartilage in the joints. The end result is pain and lessened use of the effected joint.

In order to stop this process, arthritis treatments can be anything from surgery to medications. There are some good notes about medications, but in the end, they can not resolve the entire problem, only mask the pain for a while. Surgery is invasive and costly. Physical treatment is available and has shown good progress in helping some patients. There are also herbal remedies that have shown good signs of helping as well. There is one product that we would like to mention in a little more detail. What is so unique about this product, though, is that it is a natural treatment that can be taken.

In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in particular, collagen type II can be just as good as a cure to some individuals. This natural substance is actually a main component of cartilage itself. But, no injections are needed because this is an oral treatment. You will take a pill, in other words. There are many reasons why this medication works including the fact that it has an absorption rate of 70 to 90 percent. This means more of it is used and fewer doses are needed. There are other reasons why it works so well.

For instance, the immune system has a component of cells in the intestine called the GALT. This is where proteins are recognized as food or friend and therefore not treated as allergies or sensitivities by the digestive system. When collagen type II is ingested, the GALT recognizes this amino acid as a friendly protein. This action switches off the immune systems attack on collagen elsewhere in the body as in arthritic joints.

Instead of the immune system fighting the inflammation and destroying the remaining good material, the Galt simply tells it to stop. And, probably the most important aspect of this natural arthritis treatment is that it can also help to rebuild the damaged and destroyed cartilage. The combination of these two factors can help to restore a normal way of life.

No matter which method proves to be more beneficial to you, you’ll find that talking with your doctor about the type of arthritis you have and arthritis treatments can get you on the right track to overcoming this pain. You can regain your life!

About the Author

Yvonne Loubet is a Natural Therapeutic Specialist who retired from her 20-year massage therapy practice because of arthritis. She operates a website www.arthritispainsolution.com, which provides information on an alternative arthritis treatment. More information can be found at http://www.arthritispainsolution.com/arthritis-treatment/rheumatoid-arthritis.html

by Jim Dowler

When you ask what arthritis is, professionals will tell you it’s inflammation of one or more joints. But you know it better as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformity, and/or a diminished range of motion of those joints! It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other related conditions.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis seems to come with the wear and tear of aging and affects nearly three-quarters of those over 50. The onset of arthritis is marked by morning stiffness, crackling joints, and perhaps some pain. As it progresses it causes discomfort, more pain, and some disability. It also causes an enormous consumption of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that can have undesirable long-term effects.

If left untreated, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, along with other forms of rheumatoid disease, can become progressively worse… painful crippling can result. This is particularly true of rheumatoid arthritis, which can destroy joints, unless effective treatment is administered in time.

Modern medicine doesn’t have much to offer for these chronic conditions… offering only symptomatic temporary relief. True, painkillers along with the so-called NSAIDs, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are effective in reducing symptoms quickly. However,these often cause serious side effects such as ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, and they don’t stop the progression of the disease. In the long run they have actually proven to worsen the condition by accelerating joint destruction.

Coping with the chronic pain of arthritis can be frustrating. You get the feeling you’re all alone facing the daily challenges caused by your arthritis symptoms. And, the traditional treatments leave a lot to be desired. It doesn’t have to be this bad!

The last few years of research on arthritis have brought some hope to this dismal picture. Old herbal remedies such as ginger, nettle, and willow bark, as well as fish oils and the already well-known cartilage constituents glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, are about to revolutionize the treatment of arthritis. These substances not only give symptomatic relief, but, actually intervene at the root of the arthritis problem and help the body to rebuild functioning joints.

As they quickly sooth your pain, these powerful creams help repair, restore and regenerate cartilage, tendons, muscle and ligaments. Fast acting, these creams increase mobility and optimal repair of joint structures as they help reinforce the body’s protective linings and lubricating fluids by recovering cell stability and function to stop further damage. Really powerful stuff. You can learn more about this non-traditional arthritis treatment at our website. To your good health, Jim Dowler.

About the Author

Jim Dowler is the Webmaster of arthritis-pain-relief.gainstreet.com

by Nathan Wei

If you have to deal with chronic neck pain, it can be a real struggle. I know because I’ve had to do it myself, states Dr. Nathan Wei, a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland.

How arthritis causes neck pain…
The neck is an interesting structure. It’s made up of 7 bones stacked on top of each other. Each is separated from each other in the front by fibrous cushions called discs, and from each other in the back by special joints called facet joints. The maximum movement of the neck occurs between the 4th and 6th cervical vertebrae… and this is where the most wear and tear in arthritis is seen, says Dr. Wei.

Pain can come from anywhere!
Dr Wei adds, anything in the rear part of the brain can cause referred pain to the neck. This includes aneurysms, infections, and tumors.

Also, neck pain can be referred from the shoulder, the upper chest, or even the heart! Problems in the soft tissues of the neck such as growths or tumors affecting the thyroid gland, esophagus (food pipe), or trachea (wind pipe) can also lead to neck pain

Injury to the muscles and ligaments (example= whiplash auto accident) can cause neck pain. Dr. Wei declares, This is the type of problem I have had for many years. Ive been rear-ended a few times and I have degenerative arthritis in the neck at the C5-6 level. Patients I have talked with agree with me when I report popping or grinding in the neck with movement. Other patients say it feels like sand back there when they move their head

Pain from whiplash can radiate up the back of the head and cause headache. It may also radiate into the shoulders or between the shoulder blades.

Dr. Wei also adds, Some types of neck pain are dangerous. When neck problems are associated with pressure on the spinal cord, this is called myelopathy and is a neurosurgical emergency!

What are the most effective treatments?
Treatment obviously depends on making the correct diagnosis. According to Dr. Wei, the goals of treatment are to relieve pain, improve range of motion, prevent weakening of muscles, and restore function. Among the common treatments are non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory medicines or NSAIDS, topical agents such as Myorx, soft neck collars, neck support pillows, and exercises. Dr. Wei firmly reminds us, evidence of instability or cord compression is a ticket to see the neurosurgeon stat.

About the Author

Dr. Wei (pronounced way) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com

by Emily Clark

Minerals are essential to maintain our bodies in top condition …

In fact, our body is composed of many minerals, but unfortunately does not produce the minerals needed for a healthy body.

A deficiency of minerals can lead to various health problems, including arthritis!

The most common minerals used to reduce arthritic pains are:

Boron This trace mineral aids in bone health.

Calcium This is a much-needed mineral for bone health.

Magnesium Magnesium helps keep calcium in balance within the system.

Zinc This mineral is necessary for bone growth, but is often lacking in arthritic patients.

Manganese Manganese is also necessary for bone growth. Do NOT ingest manganese with calcium because they can work against each other.

Copper Copper helps to strengthen connective tissue.

Germanium This antioxidant helps with pain relief.

Sulfur A lack of sulfur can result in deterioration of ligaments, cartilage, collagen and tendons.

Our traditional source of minerals has been from fresh fruit, vegetables and some dairy products. Today we have to look at other sources to get sufficient minerals for a healthy diet. Some of the reasons for this are:

1) Loss of minerals in the soil
2) Modern food processing methods
3) Popularity of ‘Junk’ foods

An increasing number of people are turning to mineral supplements for their source of minerals.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

About the Author

Emily Clark is editor at Arthritis Health News, where arthritis sufferers can find the most up-to-date advice and information to assist in improving their quality of life.

by J Ratliff

Exomine may reduce joint pain caused from arthritis and help your body naturally strengthen joint areas.

50% of all people will experience osteoarthritis by the age of 65. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This disease affects humans and all vertebrate animals.

A strong and healthy joint is rich in glycosaminoglycans. In weak and unhealthy joints, levels of glycosaminoglycans and other key factors tend to be low.

Clinical studies show that the ingredients in Exomine can help. In one study over a three month period, subjects who took the same ingredients that are in Exomine experienced a gradual reduction in joint pain and tenderness while improving flexibility and range of motion.

In an eight week clinical study, the ingredients in Exomine provided more pain relief than ibuprofen with fewer side effects. Additionally, the benefits continued weeks after the study was completed indicating that tissue had been strengthened and repaired. Click here to read more about the ingredients in Exomine.

Learn more about Exomine at www.exomine.us

About the Author

J. Ratliff is an avid article writer for askwellness.com