Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Alternative Arthritis Remedies

Alternative Arthritis Pain Relief Methods
By Tim Gorman

There are times when the pain of arthritis can seem almost unbearable. The good news is that there are a lot of alternative arthritis pain relief options available to help you feel better, and either lessen the pain or make it disappear altogether. Rather than trying to avoid pain by doing as little as possible, it's better to keep trying to stay as active as you can by managing the pain effectively.

Sometimes, the simplest remedies are the best. One of the most natural forms of pain relief is heat. Heat causes your muscles to relax, which assists in the relief of arthritis pain. However heat is only a temporary solution. Once you turn off the heat, the pain generally returns in a few minutes. Still, it can be helpful as a pain relief method, particularly at times when you've already taken medicine and don't want to risk taking any more.

Another possible method of pain relief is massage therapy. A great deal of pain is caused by stress and anxiety, and the advantage of massage therapy is that it causes you to deeply relax, thereby letting of a great deal of tension and pain. Your body relaxes, becomes looser, and pain levels can drop. Unfortunately, just like heat, this is also only a temporary solution. Still, it can feel wonderful during the therapy, and if you suffer from persistent foot or ankle arthritis pain, it may be worth investing in a foot spa. This combines massage and heat, and can do wonders to reduce pain in many people.

Acupuncture is another alternative arthritis pain relief you might like to try. This is an ancient Chinese method of pain relief. It can also be used for many other medical conditions. It's not a certified method of treatment, or a certified pain reliever, but many people find it very effective in reducing the symptoms of arthritis. However, if you suffer from acute pain, acupuncture isn't recommended. If touching the skin with minimum pressure is painful, acupuncture probably isn't the method to use.

The sad part about arthritis is that, for now, there is no cure. You can find various methods of dealing with the pain, but it will return. But if you can find a way to minimise the pain, it's possible to enjoy a full life, and indulge in all your favorite activities. Yes, medication can be of great assistance, but you also have to be careful that you don't overdo medications. That's why some of these alternative pain relief methods, even if temporary, can be such a great help.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Health-Fitness-Solutions.com He provides more arthritis relief tips and information on alternative arthritis pain relief methods that you can research in your pajamas on his website.



Food That Cause Arthritis

Stop Arthritis Pain - Make Wiser Food Choices!
By Michael Russell

The pain associated with arthritis can definitely be very intense. What’s worse is that every time your arthritis flares up, your normal range of motion can be limited to a significant degree. As a result, you cannot do all the things you used to do before arthritis took over a great part of your life.

There are many different forms of arthritis, the most common of which includes rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. Contrary to popular belief, arthritis can be managed quite successfully. All you need to do is enlist the aid of certain medications formulated specifically to deal with the symptoms of the disease and adopt some healthy lifestyle changes. Be free from the ties that bind you with arthritis and live life the way you used to! Here are some surefire strategies that can help you deal with arthritis:

• Keep excess weight off! Those extra pounds just add stress to your already inflamed joints so you better do something about it! Eat a well-balanced diet and make sure that you have enough of the nutrients needed to reduce the pain associated with arthritis. Getting enough vitamin C will help your body repair damaged tissue while substantial amounts of vitamin D will help your body absorb calcium, protect your bones and prevent bone loss. And don’t forget to get enough calcium – it will help strengthen your bones.

• Give those joints some work out! To reduce arthritis flare ups, you need to adopt a moderate exercise routine. This may help you increase your flexibility and stability and may also aid in strengthening your joints. However, people with rheumatoid arthritis should refrain from exercising during flare-ups to prevent further damage. A word of caution - you should only exercise to the point where you feel mild discomfort. Do not over-exercise!

• Sleep it off! You should be getting enough sleep – it would be great if you can put in 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night.

What you put in your mouth has a great deal to do with your arthritis. Eat the wrong kinds of foods and you are sure to suffer from the consequences of your actions. Eat the right kinds of foods and you’ll be spared from the pain. There’s just no getting around it – your diet can determine your fate! To help you in dealing with your problem, here is a list of some of the foods that can be your ally in your fight against arthritis.

Bananas - These golden fruits enjoy the status of being one of nature’s "perfect foods". Bananas are better known for being one of the richest sources of potassium but do you know that they are excellent arthritis fighters as well? Bananas contain high amounts of vitamin B6, folate and vitamin C – some of the nutrients needed to keep your joints and bones healthy. They are also a great source of soluble fiber so they can play an important part in your weight loss efforts as well!

Green Pepper - Vitamin C can be of great help in controlling the symptoms of arthritis but if you are not very fond of eating citrus fruits, you can reach out for a green pepper instead. A single green pepper can provide you with 176% of your daily needs for vitamin C while the red and yellow varieties can provide you with more than twice that amount! And not only that - sweet peppers are also known as excellent sources of vitamin B6 and folate.

Salmon - Salmon is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, also known as the "healthy fats". It also contains calcium, vitamin D and folate – some of the nutrients that help in the fight against arthritis.

Shrimp - The mighty shrimp can be one of your best bets in conquering arthritis pains. You can get about 30% of your recommended daily amount for vitamin D in just three ounces of cooked shrimps. That’s much more than what you can get in a cup of milk! Shrimps also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, iron and vitamin B12.

If you are serious in your desire to control your arthritis, be sure to include these wonder foods in your diet. They can sure help you a lot!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Arthritis

Arthritis Knee Support

Knee Pain Relief - Elastic Knee Braces For Daily Use
By Daniel P. Sims

How is your knee doing?

If you or someone you know suffers from mild knee pain on a regular basis, there is something you can do to help. Elastic knee braces, or knee sleeves, are an easy and affordable way to help provide some added support to help reduce pain. There are times when a really deluxe knee support is just a little over the top, and one of the valuable options you have available to you is the use of an elastic support.

There are many kinds of knee problems that people can suffer from, ranging from mild discomfort to more serious injuries or conditions. For problems that do not involve conditions such as significant tears in the ligaments or other injuries to the knee area, elastic knee supports can be what you need to alleviate the discomfort.

Anyone who participates in a sport on a regular basis, at some time, will develop a knee problem due to the repeated movements and stress that are placed on the joint. Trust us, we do not want you to have knee problems, but if you do it is time to face them.

Wearing a lightweight and well designed elastic knee brace can be the answer to allowing you to play with that added support you need. These elastic supports are not only for athletes, but also for those who suffer conditions like arthritis or bursitis in the knee. These pain issues can worsen over time, and as we all age they can create a more serious and more painful condition in the knee.

Wearing a supportive knee sleeve or an elastic knee brace can help make daily movements possible and can help reduce the pain that is felt.

If you experience mild pain in or around the knee joint, you should consider trying an elastic knee support. One of the best things about them is that they are not going to cost you an arm and a leg. They are commonly found on the internet and come in a variety of styles and sizes. They are designed to fit comfortably over the knee and can be worn for long periods of time. The lightweight material that is used is comfortable and will provide your knee area with some added support.

When it is appropriate, one of the biggest advantages to wearing an elastic knee support is that they allow you to have full movement of your leg, and will not keep you from being able to move freely. They are also easy to put on and take off. Some people choose to wear them only during an activity that aggravates the knee, while others prefer to wear them every day to help provide some added support.

If you would like free information just like this visit us online at http://www.drbraceco.com - Dr. Brace Co. is an education based site that can provide helpful information and meaningful support for your knee.

Arthritis Knee Brace

Knee Pain Relief - Types of Knee Arthritis & Knee Braces That Help Provide Support
By Daniel P. Sims

You do not really know how much you need your knees until something goes wrong. They are a crucial part of the human body, and preserving them is extremely important . Knee arthritis can strike anyone at any age, but it is most common in people who are over 50 years of age. Other contributing factors, in addition to someone age, would include being overweight, suffering through trauma to the knee and ligament or bone damage.

Symptoms of knee arthritis are often painful and debilitating, especially if the problem is left untreated. However, unlike most diseases, symptoms can fade or disappear altogether some days, and strike fiercely and unexpectedly other days.

There are three main types of knee arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form, and generally strikes people who are middle-aged. This type of knee arthritis usually gets worse as time goes on. Gradually, the cartilage that surrounds the knee is worn away, causing your bones to rub together.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation of the knee that can destroy the cartilage surrounding the knee. This type of knee arthritis can strike at any age, and it generally strikes both knees and not just one.

Post-traumatic arthritis is the final, main type of knee arthritis. As mentioned, this type of knee arthritis occurs after an injury. It may not show up for years after you have sustained an injury to the knee, but once it does, it can be painful.

Symptoms of knee arthritis are different from patient to patient. You may experience "good days", or "bad days". In some cases, knee arthritis sufferers complain that the weather affects their symptoms. If it is damp or cold outside, your symptoms may increase in severity compared to when it is dry and more warm outside.

Symptoms of knee arthritis include:

A weakness in the knee

Joint swelling

Knee area feels stiff

Range of motion is reduced

Knee can become deformed

The knee and surrounding area becomes sore to the touch

Do not allow knee arthritis to ruin your mobility. If you notice any of the symptoms of knee arthritis listed above, see your doctor. The longer you leave it, the worse the symptoms can become.

While visiting with your physician is important there are a number of things you can do to alleviate the pain in your knees, if you are suffering from knee arthritis.

First and foremost, if you are overweight, you should strongly consider losing weight in order to take some of the pressure off your knees.

Staying away from any exercise that may exert extra, unneeded pressure on your knee is also recommended. In extreme cases of knee arthritis, you may be required to undergo knee replacement surgery.

A knee brace can also be used to lend extra support to the knee. If you tend to have more pain when certain knee movements occur you should highly consider the support a knee brace can provide. A low profile knee brace can prevent excessive movements and as a result reduce your pain. This is extremely important when you forget about your arthritic symptoms and make a movement without thinking. This is when the knee brace can be your aid.

If you have osteoarthritis a knee brace can also helpful. If you have malalignment due to arthritic anatomy changes at your knee joint. An "OA" (osteoarthritis) knee brace can help maintain proper alignment, thus reducing your pain.

For more free information just like this, you can visit us drbaceco online. We can provide you with extremely affordable knee supports that can help reduce you knee pain, whether you have arthritis or not. Many people visit us for arthritis knee braces, be if you are looking for a football knee brace, a basketball knee brace, or a sports knee brace, in general, we have many options that can help you. Visit us at http://www.drbraceco.com