About Massage for Chronic Pain

Why does it hurt?

For the discussion below, the source for pain excludes disease processes and illnesses. Instead, we look at pain caused by dysfunction in the affected muscles and soft tissue which can be eased or erased with manual therapy that includes muscle energy techniques (MET) and myofascial release.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction is caused by excessive sustained contractions of the muscles that open and close the mouth. TMJ can be initiated by poor posture, stress, whiplash or other physical trauma, grinding of the teeth or maloccluded teeth. Pain in the jaw often radiates to the head, face, neck and shoulders. Myofascial release and massage with MET can reduce pain and muscle spasm.

The most common types of headaches are migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches. Of these, tension headaches are the most common. With tension headaches, physical, emotional and psychological stresses can cause the muscles in the head, jaw and neck to contract painfully, pinching nerves and bringing on headaches. Again, massage with MET relieves pain, increases circulation in affected muscles and relaxes the whole body.

Many factors contribute to neck and shoulder pain. These include poor posture, injury or trauma, psychological or emotional stress, inactivity, degeneration of the cervical vertebrae, and aging. The neck or shoulder or both may feel tight and stiff or achy or experience sharp pain. The pain can range in severity from nagging nuisance to severe and can either stay localized or radiate to other areas of the body.

So many people experience back pain, especially low back pain whose cause is controversial. We do know, however, that most low back pain results from lack of proper functioning of the spine and soft tissues rather than from disease. Many factors contribute to back pain. These include sedentary lifestyle habits such as extensive periods of sitting or driving and lack of exercise. Other factors include poor posture, obesity, fatigue, emotional stresses, joint dysfunction and muscle imbalances. Low back pain can refer pain into the legs.

And then there are stresses. Depression, anxiety, resentment, fear. These emotional stresses create areas of prolonged muscle contraction with decreased blood flow which leads to muscle fatigue and changes in muscle movement and pain.

The importance of good posture cannot be exaggerated. Poor posture creates a forward head position that pulls strongly on the muscles at the base of the neck. Over time the shoulders become rounded and both neck and shoulders become stiff and lose the full range of motion. Continued sustained contractions in the mid back can lock in the "dowager's hump," dysfunction and instability in the low back.

Sciatica often occurs when one or more contracted muscles of the gluteal region tighten over or around the sciatic nerve. Symptoms include diffuse pain in the buttock with pain, numbing or tingling along the back of the thigh.

A fibromyalgia diagnosis traditionally has been difficult to come by. In 2010 new criteria for a positive diagnosis include an analysis of widespread pain over 19 areas of the body and an assessment of the severity of that pain. Sufferers may experience chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating and physical symptoms such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, headaches or IBS.

Chronic Headache Pain

Chronic headache pain is one of the most common pain complaints, and covers a wide range of conditions and causes, from occasional, benign tension headaches to debilitating and chronic migraines. In addition to true headaches, neck or upper back pain may also sometimes be interpreted as a headache.

There are several different ways to classify headaches, but let's start by dividing them up into primary and secondary headaches. In primary headaches, the headache itself is the main problem. In secondary headaches, the headache is just one symptom of an underlying problem that can range from caffeine withdrawal to simusitis to high blood pressure or a stroke. Both primary and secondary headaches have the potential to result in chronic pain, so we'll discuss both types here.

It is a myth that chronic headache pain is a part of life and you should just suffer with it. It is still frustrating for me to see how often a client comes in and tells me they have been having headache pain for years without relief. It's true that everyone gets headaches once in a while; however chronic, painful headaches are not normal or acceptable. Once you have an idea of what might be causing your headaches, there are a variety of treatment options available,

Primary Headaches

The most common type of primary headaches are tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cluster headaches. It is very unlikely that these types of headaches are actually dangerous; however, without accurate diagnosis it's hard to be sure that there is not an underlying medical cause that might need treatment.
Tension Headaches usually begin in the back of the head or the neck. The most common description of the pain is that it feels like a or a feeling of pressure. Sometimes you may feel like there is a band pressing across your forehead or eyebrows.
Migraine Headaches are probably the type of headache most likely to be thought of as chronic, and is also among the most debilitating. People with migraines (including me) describe them with words like pounding or throbbing. Migraine headaches are often limited to one side of the head, but not always. Migraines are often made worse by sounds, light and physical activity. Click here for an in-depth discussion of chronic pain related to migraines, and ways to prevent or control migraines.

Cluster Headache Pain Generally comes on quickly and without the warning aura frequently found with migraines. The pain reaches its peak within 15 minutes, and is often described as deeply intense, explosive and nonfluctuating. A minority of people describe an additional sensation of a stabbing sensation in the area just behind the eyebrows. The pain nearly always is limited to one side of the head. Follow this link for a full discussion of cluster headache pain and alternatives for treatment.

There may be cases in which what appear to be migraine headaches are actually symptoms of problems in jaw alignment, specifically the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Secondary Headaches

While primary headaches are generally presumed to not be dangerous, secondary headaches by definition have underlying causes that can be very serious. These causes can include, but are not limited to:

High Blood Pressure - particulary when it comes on suddenly.

Infections - such as meningitis caused by bacterial infection.

Tumors - in the brain, including tumors that have spread from another part of the body.

Hypothyroidism - in which the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone.

Strokes - due to either a ruptured vessel in the brain or a blood clot in the brain.

Chronic Sinus Infections.

Overuse of Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers.

You should always see a doctor if you have any concerns that your headaches may have an serious underlying cause that needs treatment.

Alternative Headache Treatments

As with any type of chronic pain, the emphasis is on management of pain, rather than finding an ultimate cure, and there are a number of treatment alternatives that can help. Combine these treatments with a wellness mindset and lifestyle, and most people can significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of their chronic headache pain.

Caffeine and Headaches

Caffeine is an ingredient in a number of pain medications, but there continues to be a little controversy about its role in chronic headache pain. View a summary of some recent research.

Chronic Arthritis Pain

While many people think of bad backs when they think of chronic pain, chronic arthritis pain is probably the most common cause of pain, and in fact is probably the most common chronic disease for people past the age of 40.
We think of arthritis as something that happens in our "senior years," but over half of people with arthritis are under age 65. You may think of arthritis as a disease of joints in the legs or hands, but many people develop arthritis in the lumbar and cervical spine, resulting in chronic back or neck pain.

Types of Arthritis

Since you've found your way to this blog, you probably already have quite a bit of information on what type of arthritis you have. For those who would like more information, take a look at these pages on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Arthritis Pain Management Options

pain management Since chronic arthritis pain does not have a cure, it become important for you to have a good management system in place. Work with your doctor to find the best balance of traditional and alternative therapies for you.

For that to work, you need a doctor with at least two characteristics:

1) Listens well enough to tailor a plan specific to your needs, and to get feedback about how your current plan is working, and

2) Has an open mind to the role of alternative pain management techniques.

If you've got that, then your way ahead of the game.

Chronic Knee Pain and Arthritis

Your knees are joints that are very prone to the development of osteoarthritis. Read more about the reasons for this, and some recent research on new treatments, at the Arthritis Knee Pain page.

Conventional Arthritis Pain Management

Your doctor will go over the pain medicine options for managing chronic arthritis pain. That should include information on over-the-counter medications and prescription medicines (both narcotic and non-narcotic).
I believe that almost everyone can benefit from some or all of the alternative pain management techniques available for arthritis. Consider alternative techniques if:

*You prefer holistic treatment to medical treatment when possible,

*You are concerned about medication side effects,

*You can't afford prescription medications, or

*You are not getting sufficient relief of your pain.

Alternative Arthritis Pain Management

There are a number of alternative methods for managing arthritis pain that have some demonstrated effectiveness. These include:

*Changes in diet and use of supplements for arthritis pain,

*Exercise programs tailored to the needs of people with arthritis,

*Acupuncture,

*Relaxation training, hypnosis and/or imagery, and

*Psychosocial support

Chronic Pain in Women

Pain in Women
A Unique Perspective

Pain in women is not entirely the same as it is in men; no surprise there. If you are a woman with chronic pain, you also won't be surprised when I tell you that until very recently there has been little or no attempt to understand how women's pain might differ from men's. This area of research is expanding, but there is still a lot to be learned about how to address women's specific pain needs. Let's take a look at what some of the early research is showing.

The Role of Hormones

Research is beginning to show that women experience pain in different ways, and for different reasons, than men (and no, I'm not referring to menstrual pain). One radical difference being researched has to do with the role of hormones on pain perception. Estrogen and testosterone both affect the central nervous system, which is critical in transmitting and receiving pain sensations. Some researchers suggest that this is why women have a much higher incidence of irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, and headaches.
Hormones may also play a role in other type of pain in women, including inflammatory conditions such as sciatica, endometriosis, and other types of pelvic pain.

Role of the Immune System

yoga, immune system, relaxation
There also appear to be significant differences between the immune systems of men and women. Women tend to have stronger and more alert immune systems. Because of this strength, women's immune systems are more likely to attack themselves, possibly causing those diseases thought to be related to over-reactive immune systems - chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, various kinds of pelvic pain, and irritable bowel, all of which come with chronic pain.
Pregnancy and Back Pain

Low back pain is a frequent problem during pregnancy. Our page on Back Pain and Pregnancy give information on how to prevent and treat back pain during pregnancy, and signs that you need to see your doctor.
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

Two of these immune system related conditions that have recently received a lot of attention include fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Pain in women is often associated with these two conditions, which occur in women six times more often than men.
After many years of being dismissed, ignored and misunderstood, there has finally been an increase in attention paid to these diagnoses. There has been more attention from the Center for Disease Control to letting women know about these diseases, and there has likely been more research into finding treatments. Follow this link to find out more about fibromyalgia treatment.

Women and Headaches

Twice as many women have migraines compared to men; the same holds true for other types of headaches. This link will take you to our page on chronic headache pain.
"Female Pain" and Breaking Down Stereotypes

Women for years have not been taken seriously when they complain about chronic pain. With a wife and two daughters, I've seen it happen too often. There is an unfair bias that women maybe "too emotional" or "histrionic," and this is used as a reason to avoid or minimize the seriousness of pain. This is especially true in the case of pelvic pain, which is often very hard to pinpoint and describe. Too often women in pain have discovered that not enough time is taken to sort through the alternatives and come up with a good diagnosis and plan of care.
While more practitioners are becoming aware of concerns and conditions related to pain in women, women still need to be very vigilant about seeking our doctors who have current training and are open to considering all options. It is important to organize your questions and concerns, make a list, and advocate for yourself. Ask you doctor what tests can be done to determine the source of the problem. As long as you are in pain, don't take "I don't know" or "no" as a final answer. There are more tips on working with your doctor on our page on Pain Education.

Medical Treatment for Women's Pain

You may use some combination of over-the-counter pain and prescription medications. Medical treatment should also be combined with alternative treatments to minimize risk of side effects, and to provide balanced overall wellness.
In addition to medication, other medical interventions include injections, including fairly recent use of Botox injections for pain.

Alternative Treatments - Women's Pain

If you are a woman with chronic pain, you can benefit from many of the same alternative treatments I describe throughout this site. Pain in women can specifically be helped by use of:
*Acupuncture

*Massage Therapy

*Progressive Exercise

*Relaxation Training

*Yoga

*Cognitive Therapy for Associated Depression

In addition to those options, here is some information about using TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to manage pain.

Knee Pain Diagnosis

If your pain is sudden and acute, severe, or accompanied by fever, see a doctor immediately.

Depending on your insurance plan and procedures, you will probably need to visit your general practitioner to get a referral to an orthopedic specialist, preferably a knee specialist. You may wish to visit several specialists to confirm your knee pain diagnosis before you decide upon a method of treatment, especially any type of surgeries.

What To Tell Your Doctor

Some key facts to report to your doctor to help get a good diagnosis:

1. How the pain started: an accident, slowly progressed, etc.
2. When the pain began
3. How the pain has changed
4. The quality of the pain: sharp, dull, aching
5. Whether the pain is constant or comes and goes under certain conditions
6. What makes the pain better or worse: ice, heat, activity, rest

Risks and Complications

Even though some people may say it is "only an arthroscopic surgery", and we all see pro athletes who have knee surgery and return to their sport a short time later, knee surgery requires that you go under complete anesthesia, which always carries risks. 

Make sure before you undergo surgery that you understand the possibilities and statistics for complications, and that you have evaluated all the options that you might want to try before having any surgery.

Are There Non-Surgical Options for Knee Pain?

Yes, non-surgical options your doctor might recommend may include:

1. Physical therapy
2. Pool exercise programs 
3. Podiatrist and shoe evaluation
4. Posture evaluation
5. Waiting it out 
6. Medications 
7. Weight loss

Fibromyalgia Chest Pain, Chronic Chest Pain, Armpit Pain, Underarm Pain

This page is about fibromyalgia chest pain and chronic chest pain. If you have sudden, acute chest pain, please seek emergency medical help to rule out a heart attack.

Your doctor will need to make a diagnosis to determine the best treatment for you, depending upon whether your have costochondritis, fibromyalgia chest pain or another condition.

One of my most prominent areas of chronic chest pain is a deep aching on both sides of the upper chest near the armpits. Yes, armpit pain or underarm pain

I haven't found much helpful info on the Web about armpit or under-arm pain - people like to laugh about it or say "Arm pit pain? I never heard of that... there's nothing there."

But lo and behold, I have a deep aching pain between the ribs near the under arms. One thing that helps me is a hot shower.

Another thing that helps me is the self-pressure technique I will explain here... a hands-on treatment you can do for yourself if you have chest muscle pain, or pectoral pain.

As always consult your doctor or physical therapist if you have any questions at all whether this would be beneficial for your condition.

If you have muscles aching between the ribs, along the pectoral or pectoral minor muscles, sometimes you can get some relief by manually applying pressure between the ribs. Basically, pushing deeply with your thumb on the muscle fibers as they run along the sternum towards the armpit.

Here's how I do the self-pressure massage, on ribs from sternum to under arms:

Lie on the side that is painful, with head and neck properly supported by pillows.
Start with a point near the sternum, aka breastbone. Push to apply pressure with the thumb of the hand that is nearest to the floor.
Using the hand of the arm that is nearest the floor allows you to roll towards the floor with your torso, and use the weight of the body to dig in to the muscle easier.
Use the other hand to stabilize the lower wrist if the lower hand is weak.
Hold this "dug-in thumb"  position for about five seconds then release, then rest for about 15 seconds.
Lather, rinse, repeat!
Move up to a higher rib or down to a lower rib, and start the process again. Begin near the sternum, working your way towards the armpit or side.Make sure you rest for longer periods then you push, in order to let the blood circulation return fully both to your hands and your pectoral muscles.

Observe your neck and jaw to make sure you do not tighten them as you work to loosen other muscles! Experiment to see if inhaling or exhaling at certain points allows you to dig in easier, or to relax the muscles more.

All About Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Osteoarthritis is the consequence of a variety of musculoskeletal disorders causing complete functional and structural breakdown of one or more muscle joints of the body. It is a complete malfunction and subsequent loss of the cartilage of one or more of your joints. Cartilage is a protein component in the body that provides a cushion support between the joints and the bones. And when this cushion degenerates due to various other muscle disorders, it causes Osteoarthritis. This medical ailment is also termed as Degenerative Arthritis, and is one of the most common forms of arthritis among 20 million people in America.

Osteoarthritis is a common disease among men at 45, and affects most women after menopause. The disease can affect any part of the body, most commonly the feet, hands, spinal cord, knees and hips. Sometimes, no genuine cause of such ailment is found and is termed as primary Osteoarthritis. The most common ones are termed as secondary.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

The exact cause of Osteoarthritis is still not known by the doctors and researchers, but a more common combination of various situations and health conditions can define the cause of this disease more accurately.
√ With aging cells, the cartilage of the joints ruptures gradually, and the chondrocytes fail to produce any further cartilage support for the bones and the joints with increasing age. This proceeds towards acute Osteoarthritis in aged people.
√ Metabolic diseases and inflammatory joint disorders like joint infections, gout or rheumatoid can also cause this disease.
√ Various genetic disorders causes breakdown of the cartilages much early leading to Osteoarthritis.
√ Abnormal anatomy and congenital diseases
√ People suffering from Obesity, Diabetes and other endocrine problems are more prone to degenerative arthritis.
√ Hemophilia and several neuropathic diseases are also the core causes behind Osteoarthritis.

Common Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Degenerative arthritis generally occurs during the late 40’s and continues to enhance in intensity with growing ages. The disease can be easily identified with the following symptoms:
• An acute pain at the joints that is defined as a stiff, aching pain that causes almost numbness of the affected area. The situation worsens after long period of no activity.
• A pain that gets relief with rest and aggravates with activity. In the advanced stages, the pain can occur even when you are in rest.
• When the pain increases with humid weather or at night, it is perhaps Osteoarthritis.
• Some patients experience a crackling noise in the joints while in activity. Otherwise, it gives a grating sensation to the joints.
• Some may also experience contractions of the joint tendons or acute muscle spasms while suffering from Osteoarthritis.
• The pain is generally recurring in nature.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is not life-threatening, but significantly deteriorates the quality of life and working ability of a person. There is no winning cure for this disease, but a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, exercise, and on very rare case, a joint replacement surgery, can provide immense relief from such agonizing pain.
Lifestyle changes like weight loss, giving up smoking and alcohol, regular joint exercise, ice and heat therapies and proper pain management techniques can help in providing great relief to the paining joints. Otherwise, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain-relief ointments and sprays can also work wonders. For more intense pain, the patient may also need to undergo surgical process or stronger corticosteroid injections or narcotic drugs.
Osteoarthritis is an aging ailment. Proper identification and diagnosis can help towards determining the appropriate treatment process. However, it is better to harp on the preventive measures prior to falling prey of such disease.

How Osteoarthritis and Diet Work Together

People who get older and find that their bodies hurt when they first get up in the morning and find that they can’t climb stairs like they used to without pain in the knees, sometimes find that they have osteoarthritis. These are symptoms of it, and when you have pain the first thing that is on your mind is, “Make the pain go away.” So you go to your doctor, tell him your symptoms, and he tells you that you need to take some pain relievers. But the pain relievers only do so much good, and it’s up to you to keep the pain from getting worse. How do you do this?

First of all you must go on an osteoarthritis diet. Now don’t groan; it doesn’t mean you have to count every calorie you put into your mouth, and it doesn’t mean you have to go on a low-calorie diet. It just means you need to be mindful of putting the right kinds of nutrients into your body. Eat healthy, high fiber foods, such as whole grain breads, vegetables and fruits. Eat foods that have antioxidants in them, such as colorful fruits and vegetables. It means you need to eat fish oil, or foods that have a high fatty acid in them, such as sardines, salmon and mackerel. It also means you need to drink lots of water so that your body can get rid of toxins that try to build up inside you. Give your body the right kind of nutrients and your body will be able to function with less pain.

Also, when you are on the osteoarthritis diet, you need to exercise. If you don’t make your body move once in awhile, your body will forget how. You need to walk around, ride a bicycle, lift weights, swim if you have the chance to. If your joints and muscles don’t get the proper amount of exercise, you’ll end up with more inflammation and therefore more pain. Don’t let this disease take over your body and ruin your golden years by giving you nothing but pain. Fight back by eating right and exercising on a regular basis. This way you will enjoy the years that you have worked hard to get to.

Osteoarthritis Signs

What are The Signs of Osteoarthritis?

• Swelling of the joint
• Osteoarthritis Pain:
• Osteoarthritis pain is a pain that may also arise with movement. The first embarrassment that manifests itself is a pain. It evolves slowly. The pain expressed especially when the person is mobilizing and articulating when under load, but may increase during the day. Sometimes these symptoms appear when a person is getting ready after a moment's rest, in this case, we speak of "osteoarthritis pain” of getting started." At a more advanced stage, the joint is sometimes less mobile and  osteoarthritis pain may occur both at rest and in the night. The osteoarthritis pain occurs at the joint. Osteoarthritis of the hip can cause osteoarthritis pain in the groin, it can radiate in the thigh, buttock or the knee.
• Tender spots around the joint margin (tenderness in nearby structures)
• Bony enlargement of the joint
• Firm swellings of the joint margin
• Coarse crepitus (cracking or locking)
• Signs of mild inflammation (cool effusions)
• The articular inflammation: Especially in the case of osteoarthritis of the knees and fingers - can lead to articular inflammation. In this case, the joint is painful, hot and swollen. These inflammations are related to arthritis and are not synonymous with rheumatoid arthritis.
• The movements cause the sound of cracking :
• The cartilage is damaged, the ends lack of elasticity in mobilizing one to the other. This may cause a noise or crack friction. This noise is not indicative of the degree of severity of disease and similar noises can also occur when joints are sound.
• Joint deformity or poor alignment - eg bow leg or knock knee

The signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are localized to the affected joints, since the disease is rarely associated with systemic symptoms. Complications are related to local changes in joint structure, the pain and disability caused by the damaged joint, or the adverse effects of treatment.

The most common affected areas related to OA of the body:

• Hands
• Hips
• Knees
• Spine
• Uncommon areas: jaw, shoulder, elbows, wrists and ankles

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

What are The Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

• Instability or giving way of the joint, experiencing difficulty to use the joint
• Use-related osteoarthritis pain (rest and night pain; tenderness) or osteoarthritis pain after period of inactivity
• Grating sensation when you use the joint
• Stiffness in a joint (“gelling”) after inactivity (early morning stiffness, usually <30 min.):In addition to the osteoarthritis pain, patients often suffer from stiffness in the affected joint, especially after a moment's rest. A person may, for example, feel a certain stiffness of movement at the time, after a long time in a sitting position. In this case, we speak of "stiffness getting started." Because of this stiff, a person may have difficulty getting up from a chair. This stiffness disappears when the person starts to move.
• Patients may notice it especially when they wake up in the morning after a period of inactivity
• Loss of movement (difficulty with certain tasks) and normal function of the joint and the person. Depending on the joints with the disease, some movement can no longer be executed, or are more difficult and it depends joints suffering from the disease. Osteoarthritis of the knees or hips can make walking difficult or painful sitting position. It can also become difficult to remove their shoes or socks. In case of osteoarthritis of the shoulder, arm mount the high can cause problems. Due to a less efficient and articulation of a violation of muscles annexes, the joint can lose its stability. In these circumstances, the patient may feel unstable and fear of falling.
• Feelings of insecurity or instability especially obvious severe bone/joint destruction
• Changing the static body:
  At one stage of the disease changed, the position of the bones can change. This is likely to promote the development of, for example, curved legs or knees cagneux. Osteoarthritis of the hips can cause a difference in length between the two legs.
• Functional limitations and handicap
• Restricted, painful movements
• Tightness of the joint

Pregnancy and Acne!

Why Do So Many Women Put up With Acne?
At a Time That Should be so Enjoyable!

Pregnancy and Acne are not inevitable bedfellows; there are no natural laws like the laws governing gravity that say; women experience pregnancy and acne always breaks out.

To understand the relationship between Pregnancy and Acne better,
let us first look at what acne is.

According to most medical dictionaries, acne vulgaris commonly just called acne is a widespread human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with multiple comedones, caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands through bacterial infection.

To translate this into plain English; Acne is a breakout of inflamed red pimples, pustules, papules or “zits;” (officially known as comedones.)The pores of the skin become clogged with dead skin particles mixed with an excess of oily substance exuded from glands in the skin.

Now this “oily substance” or sebum is a normal product of your sebaceous glands (Where your hair roots are located) and is an essential ingredient needed to keep your hair and skin supple and not dried out and helps to limit skin infections.

Why should there be an “excess of oily substance” in your skin?Well, the standard explanation is, it is caused by bacteria coupled with the effect of hormonal irregularities in the body.Well bacteria, like yeasts are always with us but your bodies regular defences usually cope with their ill effects, so they are not normally a problem.
However, when you defences are down you can be more susceptible to attack and may need a little extra help.

This leads us onto yet another question; “What causes hormonal irregularities in the body?”

There are four likely answers to this question, together with all of the possible permutations:

1, Natural Hormonal changes in your body
2, Stress, worry and other emotions like nervous tension
3, Your food intake or diet
4, Chemicals in your environment

Let us look at each of these in turn
and discuss what can be done to minimize the harmful effects.

1, Natural Hormonal changes in your body! Umm?
Now we are looking at Pregnancy and Acne are we not? So, do Hormone changes go with the territory?

Are there any hormonal changes happening in a woman’s body whilst she is pregnant?

Of course there are!

2, Stress, worry and other emotions like nervous tension!
Do pregnant women ever suffer from stress or nervous tension?
Does the sun ever come up in the morning?

3, Your food intake or diet! Do women ever change their diet whilst they are pregnant?(You must have heard tales of pregnant women wanting ice cream for breakfast and pickled onions at 03:00 in the morning)

4, Chemicals in your environment! Do you live or work in the vicinity of any pollution, such as traffic fumes; household cleaning products and bleaches; chemicals and fertilizers sprayed on farm crops?

On the face of it, if any or all of these triggers applies to you, you could be forgiven for thinking that Pregnancy and Acne always go together.
Well, the stark answer is, Pregnancy and Acne do not have to go together, unless you are prepared to let it.

Let us look again at those 4
causes of hormonal irregularities in the body?

1, Natural Hormonal changes in your body. Can she do anything to control these changes?Unfortunately, just like teenagers in puberty, there is very little anyone can do.

2, Stress, worry and other emotions like nervous tension.Do these things have to get on top of you?It is easy to say, “pull yourself together” but it is not very easy to do.However, what you can do is try to minimize the amount of stress and anxiety in your life.

Try some of the so called alternative therapies like meditation, crystal healing or homeopathic remedies.You could be pleasantly surprised at how relaxed it is possible to become.

3, Your food intake or diet.This is probably the one area that you can have most control over.It is tempting to grab a TV dinner, pizza or deep fried chicken meal at the end of a hectic day and perhaps wash it down with a fizzy cola or soda pop from your local fast food outlet!This is just asking pregnancy and acne to go hand in hand.

You must eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.Skip all sauces like ketchup, mayo, margarine and syrups.Try to drink four pints or
two litres of water every day, its great for washing toxins out of your body.

4, Chemicals in your environment.This is a part of your life where you have no idea of all the toxins you are exposed to.Short of living inside an oxygen tent there is very little you can do to control these substances.However, what you can do to minimize your risk is cleanse your skin two or three times a day and apply a skin care management system specially formulated to treat acne from the inside out.

I hope you enjoyed this article and I was able to convey to you that pregnancy and acne do not have to go together.  If you would like to know more about eliminating Acne during Pregnancy or at any time in your life;

How to Get Pregnant When Your Tubes Are Tied

Tubal ligation is one of the effective methods of contraception, which can last for a year. This method of contraception will severe your fallopian tubes, making it more popular with the term having one’s tubes tied. Since tubal ligation is very effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, it seems like you will find difficulties when trying to get pregnant again.

The truth is it will take only a year or maybe less than a year to get pregnant after having your tubes tied. Keep in mind that the effectiveness can only last for a year and in some cases, the fallopian tubes can reconnect themselves. However, another treatment can be necessary since the fallopian tubes may fail to reconnect themselves naturally. In case it happens to you, you can have tubal reversal to repair the fallopian tubes at the time you want to get pregnant again.

Be sure to discuss it with your health provider before choosing to have tubal reversal since, as I told you earlier, the fallopian tubes may have returned to their normal condition. Most importantly to notice, there is no assurance that the condition of the fallopian tubes will be the same as they were before tubal ligation. In fact, tubal ligation can put more risks of ectopic pregnancy on you. Therefore, it is better to use another method of contraception at the time you want to break from becoming pregnant for a while.

Though it offers a shorter time to get pregnant, the risk of ectopic pregnancy should be taken into account. Please read Pregnancy Miracle system to get more detailed information on how to get pregnant when your tubes are tied along with any information about the risk of ectopic pregnancy you may get.

With the complete holistic guide, you will learn how to get pregnant when your tubes are tied. Most importantly, you will find complete information related to tubal ligation, its effectiveness in preventing unwanted pregnancy, the side effects and medical treatments you may need to repair the fallopian tubes after the procedure.

As I told you earlier, having your tubes tied can put more risks of ectopic pregnancy. In fact, you will find detailed information about ectopic pregnancy, what you can expect in case it happens and, of course, any medical treatment you may need to get pregnant after ectopic pregnancy.
Since the doctor will remove the embryo as soon as ectopic pregnancy detected, it can cut off your chances to have a baby. What about other fertility problems you may have after tubal ligation? In fact, you may get your period irregularly after tubal ligation. If his is an issue, it is necessary to wait some time to get your period back to normal.

Otherwise, you can do several tips to gain your fertility after tubal ligation like going on a balanced diet with more dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grain and other foods with low glycemic index level and plenty of fiber. Be sure to choose organic foods only when it comes to plant and animal foods and avoid junk foods, fried foods, refined carbohydrates and acidic fruits to prevent other serious problems associated with those foods.

Some of you, in fact, may use certain medications like Metformin to increase ovulation. Though it is safe to use the medication, keep in mind that Metformin is for those with diabetes. It is not recommended to take the medication though it has been proven that it can increase ovulation in women with anovulatory. In case you are interested to use the medication, be sure to discuss it with your health provider to find out whether it is safe for you. In fact, Metformin is not hypoallergenic and has side effects which can be harmful if not treated properly.

Pregnancy Pillows

If you are pregnant, it can be difficult to get relief from certain pains and aches and forget about comfort while sleeping.

As you will progress through your pregnancy, you will notice the increase in the size of your bump. This increased size of tummy has its own challenges, one of which is to sleep comfortably. As you can no more sleep on your back to avoid pressure on your internal organs at this stage, you are also facing leg cramping, leg and back aches as well. A perfect pillow and sleeping position can help in easing these pains to a great extent.

There are thousands of pregnancy pillows available to help you sleep better and reduce those body pains. But how do you choose the right pillow?

Benefits of Pregnancy Pillows:

Pregnancy pillows not only help you sleep better but they also provide necessary support for your body as well as reduce pains, sleeplessness, fatigue and other sleep-related problems you may be prone to develop while you are pregnant. When your sleep quantity and quality is improved, you wake up fresh and relaxed without having to wake up throughout the night.



Pregnancy Pillows are able to provide;

• Good and Relaxed Sleep
• Support for Belly, Back, Head, Neck, Knees and Ankles
• Easy Blood Circulation
• Prevents Allergies
• Prevents Body Aches and Pains
• Flexible Sleeping Positions
• Prevents Poor Sleeping Positions

It is a key to find a pillow that can support head and neck and allow for comfort while sleeping on your side. To support side sleeping, it is important to have a pillow between your knees and ankles. And if you are sleeping on your side, you need support both in front and behind you.

To remedy this, pregnancy pillows designed in U shape is invented. This pillow support you from head to toe and because of the shape, it supports you on both sides of your body. It provides a cocoon of comfort like no other pillow.

For versatility, a body pillow should be able to adapt to different positions. It should support you under your knees while you are up reading, watching TV, sitting in the car or in bed.


Different Types of Pregnancy Pillows:

Here are some of the types of pregnancy pillows available in the market and how they can help you sleep better.

Pregnancy Wedges

As the name tells, these come in a wedge shape and can be slid under your tummy for support and to avoid pressure or stretching from weight. It can also be used for back support as well as for extra head support to reduce pregnancy heart burns.

Full Length Pregnancy Pillows

These run along your body and are of the same height as yours. You can hug these pillows while sleeping adjusting them under your head, belly and between the knees and ankles. This one body length pillow is easier to manage rather than multiple pillows while tossing and turning during sleep.

C-Shaped and U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillows

These are ideal pillows for pregnancy as they allow you to curl up inside them. they not only give support for your front but also for the back while you sleep on your side.

How to Choose Pregnancy Pillows:

Pregnancy pillows come in various sizes and are made up using different filling materials including micro beads, polyester, memory foam or wool, kapok or any other organic filling. It is important to see which filling material suits you best and choose the one that might not cause you any allergies due to the material they are made up of. Also, make sure to buy the appropriate size that is not too big or too small for you and in which you can adjust your body comfortably.

You should also pay attention to the problem points and areas of pains and aches be it your back, neck, ankles, knees or shoulders. While pregnancy pillows can help you ease the pain, it is important to know if the pains and aches are due to your sleeping position and then get a pillow that will support these areas in particular. If it is a non-sleep related pain, then you might have to talk to your doctor to figure out what is causing the pain.

Osteoarthritis Diet

The best eating regimen for people with osteoarthritis is a complete food regimen. Nevertheless, while you think this sounds easy, let’s understand it more.

It is important to know that “whole food” means the food is not processed. By the time natural food is processed, most of its nutrients are extracted or not useful at all. Take for example carbohydrates, whole grains enriched with protein, and important fatty acids. When these foods are processed into flour, pasta, or bread, certain nutrients such as fatty acids are removed. This does not necessarily mean that fatty acids were removed because they are bad. They are removed because fatty acids will only aid spoilage.

Maintaining these fatty acids in bread and pasta will only lessen the shelf life of the product. When this happens, the manufacturer will only incur more expenses. With this, it is best that fatty acids are removed from these products. With these, you can clearly understand now why you have to eat foods as natural as possible. This will guarantee nutritionally-packed foods including vitamins, minerals and essential acids that contribute to your well being.

Now that you know what to eat when it comes to complete foods, the next thing you should know is what foods you should eat as far as osteoarthritis is concerned to help reduce the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis.

Next to consuming a reasonable amount of vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, fresh fruit, and dairy, it is best to consider foods that will help you put a stop to inflammation, enhance collagen and encourage good bones and cartilage. It is best that you consume oily fish because it is the main element in the anti-inflammatory category. A daily supplement of fish oil and a weekly consumption of oily fish will definitely help you in beating persistent inflammation.

Next to oily fish, red and black grapes, citrus, garlic, beets, and blueberries are also included in the anti-inflammatory group. Improving collagen is the main feature of citrus foods. Collagen helps tissues maintain and improve elasticity and strength. Solid amounts of collagen are needed for stronger bones including calcium from eggshells and dairy and amino acids from good sources of protein.


Finally, glucosamine, mainly found in shellfishes including its shell, guarantees your joint cartilage remain intact and your body repair anything that gets damaged. In truth, it is really not easy to always eat healthy. But if you really want to live a healthy life without osteoarthritis, always make it a point to eat food with natural food based supplements.

To help you prevent and relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, you need to consume more glucosamine hydrochloride and omega 3 fatty acids. The first can be found in shrimp and lobsters while the second supplement can be found in fishes. Glucosamine hydrochloride is known to protect your cartilage while omega 3 fatty acids are known to relieve inflammation.  These two act together to generate remarkable results. And getting glucosamine supplement is less complicated than getting it from shrimps and lobsters.

For women, it is best that you take calcium and vitamin C complex. These things are important supplements to promote healthy bones and healthy collagen. And now, it is time to discard all of those processed foods since the only best diet for people with osteoarthritis is whole foods. They only provide nutritionally empty calories.

Natural Cures For Arthritis

Osteoarthritis Natural Cure

Arthritis pain and joint pain relief is curable. Find out how natural treatments can help you.

Most of the people take this for granted that all the bones of the human body are meant to driven by the sensation of the brain and thus to keep the civilization mobile. But any one takes the time to think the life without the bones. Arthritis is the disease that can cause problem for the human limbs and can lead to permanent damage of that organ. The disease Arthritis consists of more than 200 disease and their symptoms, though it looks like singular form apparently.

New natural arthritis healing products are being developed to cure joint pain and arthritis. Since there has been an increase in people having arthritis pain the need for a natural product is wanted.

The word “Arthritis” means “joint inflammation” or joint pain that happens in the junction of the bones that can be affected by the repeated and wear and tear use of the limbs. At the end of the bone there lies cartilage that provides the cushion in form of the smooth surface for the bones to absorb the shock and the rub. Muscles and ligaments link the bones together and form a capsule in which the synovial fluid is found to act as the lubricant to ensure safer and smooth movements with out any friction of the bones. No of the people who have become the victim of arthritis is more than 30% among the whole population of United States.

The most common two types of arthritis are seen in the world are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.


By far the most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis. This usually occurs as part of the ageing process and is caused by degeneration of the cartilage. As the cartilage starts to thin, inflammation occurs within the joint, damaging the joint and leading to pain and swelling. As the disease progresses, the joint may become disfigured and eventually lose all functions. Osteoarthritis commonly results in pain and inflammation in knee, wrist, spine and it can reach further to intolerable back pain with the swelling and redness.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the terrible form of arthritis found with all the common symptoms of Osteoarthritis like warmth, tenderness and the swelling. People of around 20 to 50 yrs of age can have the chance to get affected with this disease. More than 2.1 million people have been suffering from this disease in United States. One of the specialties that this kind of arthritis has got is to attack people with the symmetrical pattern. That means if one limb like the left hand of someone has been affected, there is the probability for being attacked on the right hand as well. The continuous studies of botanical and organic treatments are the safe and secure way to cure arthritis and its tendon.

Osteoarthritis Explained

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes swelling and pain that can range from mild to excruciating.

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis, afflicting approximately 40 million American. Up to age 55, about the same percentage of men and women have osteoarthritis, with men being slightly more vulnerable. After that age, women are more vulnerable and it affects them in different ways. In women, the disease seems to affect the hands, knees, ankles and feet, usually involving multiple joints. In men, the hips, wrists and spine are more likely to be affected.



The word ‘arthritis’ means joint inflammation.  The pain and inflammation occur when the cartilage that protects the bones from rubbing against each other wears down.  The disease usually appears in joints that do most of the body’s hard work, like the knees, the hips, the spine, the hands and the wrists.  Osteoarthritis involves the entire joint and the joint cover (capsule).

Although injury or the normal wear and tear of life often can result in cartilage damage, there are other aspects that can make it much worse like food allergies, poor diet, and mineral deposits in the joints.  Some sufferers of arthritis find that the effects of mental and emotional stress can aggravate arthritis pain.  Also, changes in the weather, usually rain and falling barometric pressure, often cause arthritis flare-ups.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis…

• Morning stiffness – you may also feel a “grating” or “catching” sensation in the joint during movement.
• Restricted range of motion.
• Painful, swollen joints - you may feel pain during movement or even at rest.
• Deformity of joints (in some cases)

Root causes of Osteoarthritis…

• Fractures or other injuries, even those that could have occurred earlier in life.
• Excess of body fat, which then causes extra undue stress on joints.
• Food allergies.
• Hormone imbalance.
• Having a diet that is high in fats and animal products, both of which promote an acidic internal environment.
• Poor posture or imbalance due to abnormal foot arch.
• Emotional and mental stress.
• Diabetics are prone to osteoarthritis.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are treatable, especially in the early stages of the disease.  There are different therapies available to help reduce or eliminate the pain associated with osteoarthritis.  The main ones are listed below…

Over the counter medications (OTCs) – Usually the first drug prescribed for osteoarthritis is acetaminophen (Tylenol).  If that doesn’t help then the next drugs to be prescribed are usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil).  Newer OTC preparations include chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate, which are natural substances found in the joint fluid.

Natural Remedies – If the thought of taking OTC’s or prescription drugs for pain relief does not appeal to you,  then you do have other options.  There are quite a few natural remedies for osteoarthritis on the market, but make sure you check the ingredients, and confirm that they are actually natural.

What you need to look for in the ingredients is that glucosamine complex, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM are present.  Most over-the-counter pain preparations like Advil and Tylenol, destroy sulfur while being metabolized by the liver. But, the body needs sulfur for normal re-building of tissues.  This is why the MSM is so important. It replaces the sulfur lost when the body detoxifies the pain relievers.  glucosamine complex and chondroitin sulfate, with MSM, work as a team, enhancing each other. Glucosamine and chondroitin help supply the nutrient building blocks for cartilage health MSM supplies the sulfur necessary for the integrity of connective tissue.  All this will help relieve your pain and discomfort.

Self care - One aspect of this is weight loss.  If you are overweight then you are putting undue stress on your joints and that can increase your chances of getting osteoarthritis.  Another example is exercise - regular exercise may help to strengthen the muscles and potentially stimulate cartilage growth. (Avoid high-impact sports, though).

Adding vitamins and minerals to your diet has showed to improve osteoarthritis pain – antioxidant vitamins C and E may provide some protection, and vitamin D and calcium are recommended for strong bones.  Heat is another option - Hot soaks and warm wax (paraffin) application may relieve pain.  Both heat and cold can help relieve osteoarthritis, depending on the symptoms. If pain is the main problem, heat will help. If swelling is the main problem, then cold will help.

Splints or braces help with joint alignment and weight redistribution. Other examples include walkers, crutches or canes, grab bars and orthopaedic footwear.

Bodywork – Massage, reflexology, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy are all great bodywork techniques that can help to alleviate the pain of osteoarthritis.  Massaging the areas around an arthritic joint will reduce the build-up of lymphatic fluid and help it drain away. Also, massage helps to relax the body and mind and loosen the muscles that have tightened in reaction to pain.

Just soaking in a hot bath with Epsom salts or mineral salts for at least 20 minutes will help eliminate toxins through sweat and the salts will help replenish the body’s mineral stores.

There are many different oils that will reduce stress, so try which one appeals to you.  Some good choices are chamomile, jasmine, lavender and rose.  To assist in cleansing the joints of mineral and acid deposits, use juniper or lemon balm in a hot bath.

Stress reduction – Many doctors and other experts have noted that emotional stress and an inability to accept criticism seem to appear frequently in arthritis sufferers.  Also, osteoarthritis in itself can cause great tension, both muscular and emotional, and even depression.  General stress reduction therapies would include yoga, tai chi, or Pilates.

Other recommendations – Vitamin D from sunshine is crucial to bone health.  Don’t let osteoarthritis pain keep you from getting out in the early morning sun every day that it’s sunny.

Arthritis sufferers often cut back on activity, but studies show that moderate exercise actually reduces pain and swelling.  While you must avoid high impact and joint pounding workouts like tennis or jogging, low impact ones like swimming, aqua-aerobics, cycling and walking are excellent choices.

THE ANATOMY OF THE EYE

The anatomy of the eye is truly incredible.

who would take the time to stop to think how the eye works, to give us a visual image of our world.  Simply from the light rays that enters in through the open transparent space at the front of the eye called the pupil, and if the surrounding light is very low the pupil size is very small.  As the light gets brighter the pupil size gets larger, and letting more light in through the pupil.

The anatomy of the eye lens can refract or bend light rays.

Behind the pupil is the lens of the eye, it is located between the Anterior and Posterior chambers, the lens refracts or bends light rays.  The light rays are focused on the nerve cells of the Retina.  Aqueous humor, and the Vitreous humor is a clear liquid that fills the empty space inside the eye ball.

The rods and cones synapse with the bi-polar cells.

The Retina hold the rods and cones and the bi-polar cells.  Rods are sensitive to light but do not sense color.  Cones do sense color. Fovea centralis has the highest concentration of cones on the surface of the retina.  The rods and cones synapse with the bi-polar cells which synapse with the ganglia cells which synapse with the Optic nerve. The Optic nerve then sends the signals to the Occipital lobe of the brain for the interpretation of the outside world.

Acne lotion

This is a acne lotion special problem at what time you bear acne. Cosmetics actually befall held to occur singled made known nicely near all particularly, they are recommended by your dermatologist. At what time you bear cosmetics which may maybe occur wanted to occur modified, you'll feel similar to to adjust to substance by means of the function of are grease free of charge and are noncomedogenic. Other than, you may acne lotion maybe locate instances by means of the function of the usage of cosmetics is of thumbs down fantastic whatever. So, on this spot, it can occur best to befall rancid away your skin entirely entirely free of cosmetics.

They are recently around of the substance you be inflicted with to to acne lotion purchase into account in the role of reminders for family tree whove acne. The best caution and treatment would extremely offer you the best outcomes.

Acne is a all-purpose shape of skin problem noticeable collectively by means of teenagers. It occurs due to congestion of skin pores by excessive sebum previous to grease and lifeless skin cells. At what time party enters indoors to adolescence, hormonal fluctuations occur acne lotion indoors body, stimulating the grease glands. Excessive grease collects indoors pores, gets soil and infected leading to a broad variety of skin complications, labeled in the role of acne.

Acne appears in the course of adolescence, continues indoors to old age and vanishes often dead 30. Men are new prone to acne than women. Acute acne may maybe preside over to scars and blemishes, in so responsibility causing the victim to suffer as of poor acne lotion self-confidence.

They hold sebum previous to mottled sebum. At what time comedomes are underneath the skin face and are sallow, they are called sallow heads. At what time the collected sebum spills concluded the skin face and gets mottled indoors get on to friend by means of by means of pollutants, they acne lotion turn made known to befall black and are known in the role of blackheads.

Pimples are minuscule pus satiated mounds, red on the stomach and sallow on the summit. Pimples are an rabble-rousing skin problem, a ration known in the role of pustules. Papules are pin-heads, fairly analogous to pimples. They are slighter indoors size. Cystic acne is a new acute shape of acne. Pustules may acne lotion maybe a ration blow up beneath the skin face, resultant indoors infected cysts by means of hardened crust.

Herbs can occur extraordinarily informative indoors treating acne previous to pimples. Our skin is a natural gift of God and it is best to treat approximately skin problem by course of wholesome natural products. More than a few herbs can bear a rejuvenating effect on our skin, which is perhaps the near all receptive acne lotion fraction of our body.

Acne can occur a vast dilemma for numerous family tree, such in the role of all one teenagers and adults. Lots of people believe by means of the acne cream function of the presence of acne lengthy for reduce following their toddler years are around other than for a destiny of adults, this actually is basically not the spot. Thumbs down count their age, all by means of acne may maybe well lengthy for require to seek elsewhere an efficient acne remedy to occur able to assist rid their pores and skin of this acne lotion unwelcome trespasser.

Lower Right Back Pain

Lower Right Back Pain: Possible Causes
One of the most common complaints medical doctors hear from patients is back pain. This can be due to a number of reasons including strained muscles, bad posture or even arthritis. Suffering from back pain is not really unusual as the back is quite susceptible to injury primarily because it bears the upper body’s weight and is actually responsible for more movements. Because of the constant movement, the parts are more susceptible to wear and tear.

On the other hand, if the back pain is localized at the lower right area, it could be a sign of a much more serious health condition. Among them are:

Lumbar Strain

It is very likely the cause of the lower right back pain is tearing or pulling or any of the ligaments, muscles or tendons located at the said area. You will be surprised to know that even a microscopic tear can cause muscle spasm and trigger inflammation, which could worsen the pain. Lumbar strain can be due to lifting objects incorrectly or hurting your back from athletic activity.

Usually, the pain can go away after strengthening exercises but a trip to a doctor or chiropractor might be needed. In any case, you should limit activity involving your lower right back. Alternate cold and hot compress is also advisable to relieve swelling and stimulate blood flow.

Sciatica

Lower right back pain can be caused by a problem with your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the human body running from the spinal cord to the back of the legs. You need to understand sciatica is actually a symptom of a much more serious nerve-related problem like herniated disk.

Symptoms of sciatica include muscle weakness, numbness and pain from lower back to the buttocks to the back of the calf. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, prescription drugs (anti-inflammatory medications), steroid injections and even surgery for severe cases.

Herniated Disc

Also referred to as ruptured disc or slipped disc, herniated disc involves the soft tissues between the spine’s vertebrae which work to provide cushions and offer flexibility. When the soft jelly inside these discs is pushed out, it can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain. Aside from lower right back pain, a person can also experience weakness or numbness. Treatment usually involves narcotics, pain medications, muscle relaxers and cortisone injections. Physical therapists can also teach positions which will minimize lower right back pain caused by the herniated disc. For severe pain, surgery is an option.

Kidney Stones

Another possible reason for your lower right back pain is the presence of kidney stones. Made with acid salts and minerals which crystallized together, kidney stones can be quite painful if they are passing through the bladder.

Small kidney stones do not usually require invasive treatment. In many cases, drinking water can easily flush out these crystals. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you can always take pain medication until such time the stones have passed. Your doctor can also prescribe certain medications to relax the ureter muscles.

On the other hand, large kidney stones can cause much pain, bleeding and even kidney damage especially if they are too large to pass. More invasive medical treatment might be required including Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and surgery (nephrolithotomy).

Kidney Infection

Lower right back pain can also be brought about by kidney infection, a type of urinary type infection involving the area from the urethra to the kidneys. It is important to treat this particular infection as it can lead to more permanent kidney damage.

Infection of the kidney can be due to bacteria entering the urinary tract via urine. First line of treatment is usually with antibiotics but severe cases might require hospitalization. Some individuals suffer from recurrent kidney infection and should consult a kidney specialist to determine the cause of the recurrence.

Other possible causes:

• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal deformities
• Fractures
• Spondylolisthesis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Spinal tumors
• Bacterial infection

Prevention

For lower right back pain caused by muscle strain, it is important that you keep the muscles in the area strong. You can accomplish this by engaging in back-strengthening exercises. Of course, a good posture helps as well. It would be better to avoid heavy lifting too as this is seen as one of the common reasons for having back pain. Keeping a healthy diet that is rich in protein, wearing flat, well-cushioned shoes and losing weight should also be considered to avoid unnecessary toll on the lower back

Medical conditions which list lower right back pain as a symptom should be identified as early as possible. Most of the time, the pain is indicative of something more serious and getting it checked will not only stop the pain but treat it as well.

Some Home help for eczema

There are various causes for eczema. These are allergies, varicose veins, faulty body metabolism, changes in weather, nutritional deficiencies, and the body’s failure to excrete all the toxic substances it takes in. For those who don’t have an idea about what eczema is, here is a quick description. It refers to a chronic skin inflammation that results in the formation of vesicles or pustules on the skin. Early during infancy, this skin condition is already present, and in fact it looks more serious during this stage than in adulthood. Appearing on the upper and lower extremities, face, neck, upper chest, and back of the knees, it causes atopic dermatitis. This means that persons who have eczema suffer from itchiness, redness, and dryness of the skin. While it seems like a serious problem, it is not a contagious disease.

Since eczema is a chronic condition, persons suffering from it must find ways on how to ease the symptoms. Here are a few home cure for eczema.

Exposure to sunlight

According to some patients,  getting a tan or sunburn does wonders. This method helps kills bacteria in the skin. When the skin heals after a sunburn, the condition of the skin improves. However, this technique may predispose you to skin cancer so this isn’t highly recommendable.

Cold Compress

Cold compress, on the other hand, has been proven useful as a home remedy for eczema. Depending on the severity of the problem, this can be applied two times a day.

Herbal compounds

Some herbs and herbal plants may also help ease the symptoms of eczema. A mixture of sandalwood and camphor in equal parts is an example. Simply apply the paste on affected parts, and the itchiness is lessened. Another good combination is turmeric powder and bitter neem leaves. Likewise, take equal parts of them, and make them into a paste. Rub them in affected areas to alleviate discomfort. Mashed almond leaves, spearmint leaf juice, lemon juice, nutmeg rubbed against a smooth stone are also effective home cure for eczema. Coconut oil can also give you this benefit, and apart from relieving eczema symptoms, it makes you maintain a soft skin.

Glycerin Soap

While it is recommended that you avoid harsh chemicals and soap, glycerin soap has proven effective as a home cure for eczema. A tablespoon of chlorine in a basin of water is also helpful. Make use of these whenever you take a bath, then apply the pastes mentioned above to affected areas.

Most patients have attested that these methods are effective home cure for eczema. The preparation is quick, and most importantly, most materials are easy to find. Herbs are naturally found in the environment, and they pose less risks to health. In addition, they are more cost-effective, since commercial ointments are expensive and often have side effects. If you tried these methods and none of them are effective for you, then maybe it’s time to consult your dermatologist. But as far as most patients have affirmed, one way or another, there is really a home cure for eczema that works for you.

About Back Pain due to Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the cartilage. The common locations for osteoarthritis are the spine, the hips, knees, hands etc. In the spinal osteoarthritis, the smooth articular cartilage coating the facet joints of the spine get deteriorated gradually. The bones of the joint can't move smoothly over the roughened cartilage. This cause irritation and damage to the bone and may cause you severe back pain.

Why Back Pain?

Spine is one of the most common places for osteoarthritis. The spinal osteoarthritis can sometimes be very painful. You would have to face the back pain that sometimes could be severe. But, usually, there isn't any inflammation in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the spine. In the advanced cases of osteoarthritis of the spine, the bits of cartilage may break off and float around inside the joints. This would cause irritation to the soft tissues and inflammation may result and also you would experience the back pain. Physicians would advice you to go for an x-ray that would help to determine if there are bone spurs or damage to the bones. The damage in the spinal osteoarthritis could be of varying degrees. The mild damages sometimes do not have any symptoms or often come with mild back pain. The advanced degrees of damage may include rubbing of the bones in the joint. But it should be remembered that the amount of back pain would not tell you the exact picture of your damage. Therefore, the proper investigation is very much necessary to determine the amount of damage in the spine.

The most common location for the back pain due to spinal osteoarthritis is the lower back. The lower back carries most of the weight of the body. It is also the area of the body that gets the most of the mechanical stress. Due to the excess stress on the lower back, the back muscle gets strained and it can irritate spinal joints that have already been damaged by osteoarthritis. In case of osteoarthritis in the upper back, the back pain may flare up from slouching.

Symptoms

The symptom of the back pain may come out gradually. It may start with the pain in the morning for the first half hour. The back pain may typically improve during the day and then worsen in the later half of the day or at evening. During this time, many people reduce their daily activities because of this back pain. They think that the daily activities may worsen the back pain. But reducing the daily work, in fact weakens the muscles that support the back and as a result, more stress is placed on the spinal joints.

Treatments

Exercise is the best treatment to cope with the back pain. There are several strengthening exercises that you can do regularly to strengthen your back and abs. Strong muscles absorb shock before it reaches the joints of the spine and hence help to support the spine. Stretching exercises decrease the stiffness and help to ease the back pain. Low-impact aerobics such as walking, swimming, or using an exercise bike could help you to increase the blood circulation in your body and it would also decrease the stiffness.

Children Suffering From Eczema: Questions They May Ask

There are many children with eczema and many are babies, too young to understand what is happening to them. Older children however have some understanding. If you are a parent suffering from eczema I am sure your children have many questions for you. Below are a few of those questions and possible answers:-

Question: Did I do anything wrong?
This questions just breaks your heart as although there may be many child eczema sufferers you child may not see them. They only see their friends and classmates with normal skin. It is a natural reaction for them to assume that they have done wrong, but of course they haven’t. You just have to tell your children that they haven’t done anything wrong, they have sensitive skinlike many other chldren and grown ups. This sensitive skin is a medical condition which both children and adults can have. It’s not their fault.
When will it be cured and go away?
This is a difficult question as some children to grow out of eczema whereas some have to suffer the condition throughout their life. You are not able to give them a definitive answer. All you can do is to talk to themn about ways to make life more comfortble for them and stop them scratching. It is a good idea here to use this as an opportunity to talk to your child about proper skincare and how important it is. Also tray to warn them to avoid pets and pet dander and the need to keep their skin moisturised with lotions and creams.
Can my eczema make others sick too?.
Another tear jerker of a question because this one is usually asked for a reason as another child or parent has said something about your childs skin rash and blisters. All you can do here is talk to your child and tell them no, it is not contagious and they can play with other children without any worries.
Can I swim?
One of the ways eczema can be helped is to take short showers or to bathe in lukewarm water. Chloriniated water is not good, neither is bubble baths. Simming however in fresh water or sea water however will do no harm.

Simple and easy ways of managing eczema

When you are suffering from eczema, you are already aware of how uncomfortable it is and how it is hard to control once it hastaken hold and your skin is very sore, red and itchy. If you do not want to suffer from the discomforts brought about by eczema, then you should keep these tips for eczema cure.

Eczema is a word that comes from Greek words meaning ‘to boil over.’ It is a condition wherein the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin becomes inflamed. This term actually applies to various skin conditions that are persistently occurring like itchiness, dryness, skin edema, blistering, cracking and other similar conditions. Studies say that the causes of eczema are unclean environment and allergic reactions.

For an eczema cure, the goal is to prevent further inflammation, itching and possible worsening of this condition. There are several treatment methods that you can have and these usually involve the use of medications and/or  lifestyle modifications. For the medications, the first thing that you have to do before taking anything is to check out with your physician. There will be proper tests that need to be done before a particular medicine is given to you, along with the dosage and the frequency. Common medications are corticosteroids which decrease the inflammation. For severe itching, antihistamines like diphenhydramine will be given to you. Just like with other medications that you take, you have to comply with what the doctor tells you so that the treatment will be successful.

Another eczema cure that may help to prevent further flare-ups is to keep your skin hydrated. You can do this by drinking plenty of water a day – about 8 to 10 glasses or more depending on how active you are. You can also use eczema creams and ointments that have low water but high oil content to avoid drying. When you take a bath, it is recommended that you use lukewarm water and apply emollient creams just after such that the moisture on your skin is sealed. With these eczema cures, you are able to maintain the hydration of your skin which relieves the itching and inflammation as well as avoiding worsening of your condition.

There are studies saying that one of the triggers of eczema is a possible food allergy. An important eczema cure then is to avoid the particular food allergen so that the symptoms will be minimized. Diet is also a very important factor in eczema treatment and  it is important that you always watch what you eat. Other than avoiding the particular food allergen that triggers your eczema, you should also eliminate unhealthy foods from your diet such as processed foods, carbonated beverages as well as foods that have high fat, salt and sugar content. What you should eat then are the healthy ones, especially the ones that make the skin and immune system healthier. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be a part of your daily intake, as well as the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If this is a sudden shift of dietary intake for you, you have to make the changes gradually so that our body can properly adjust.

Eczema cannot be treated suddenly and it is hardly avoidable if the cause is an allergic reaction. However, if you are obsercant and watch out carefully for the triggers  further attacks should be minimized.

Detoxification Helps Cure Eczema

Eczema or atopic eczema as it is sometimes called can be nasty to say the least, but the good news is that it is not untreatable. There are many lotions and creams that can be bought but natural treatment is the ideal way.  All those pills and creams may not help and this can be very frustrating. The problem is these very same pills and eczema creams may just be adding to aggravate the condition.  Chemical build up in the system does not help eczema. It is one of the negative effects of all the chemicals we put in our bodies. Flushing out these unwanted toxic chemicals will help to improve the condition almost immediately. Detoxification is one of the natural ways of curing eczema.

Detoxification to help cure eczema removes dangerous toxins from the body. This makes one less prone to eczema outbreaks and other disorders resulting from toxin collection in the system.

To understand the process of detoxification of eczema, one must understand what causes the condition in the first place.  Toxins, which are chemicals, collect in the body due to either internal process of the body or from external sources such as the air we inhale or the foods we consume.  Toxins that are created internally are known as endotoxins and the external ones are called exotoxins.

The body naturally eliminates these toxins by natural process. However living an unhealthy lifestyle or in a very polluted area can result in toxin build up. These chemicals gather in the system at a much faster rate that the body can eliminate. These toxins accumulate in the body over time leading to serious health issues. Some of the ailments include insomnia, fatigue, ulcers, stomach upsets, indigestion, asthma, allergic reactions, mood swings and inability to concentrate.
Although eczema is not caused by the toxins, the condition is aggravated by the undesired chemical build up. One is more prone to eczema outbursts by the toxins in the body making them the root of the skin condition.  As the body continues to collect more and more of these toxins, the sufferer is likely to continue having flare-ups making the situation worse.
Detoxification will help to eliminate the chemicals that have gathered and which the body cannot remove.  In addition to cleansing the body, detoxification helps in healing eczema by making the patient less inclined to have out breaks. Detoxification helps in decreasing the break outs and leading to a much better situation than before.

Detoxifying the body enables the body to function in a much better way. In this way, further treatments to cure eczema will certainly help to get a much better result. What this means is that, detoxification helps the body to react better with other medications following the detox procedure. This happens because detoxification aids eczema by making the body work more efficiently. The medications consumed to cure eczema, will be digested and circulated in the blood stream in a much more efficient way than before detoxification.  Creams and lotions that are absorbed through the skin will also be able to do so without the toxin obstructions.

Eating the right food helps in flushing out toxins from our bodies.  Fresh fruits juices and some herbs help in detoxification which helps to cure eczema. The diet really depends on the individual so it’s best to seek help from a dietician who may prescribe the best course of action in relation to eating habits.