Ulcerative Colitis

Investigate on ulcerative colitis new treatments are being conducted at some universities and medical research institutions. Approximately 300 patients with ulcerative colitis die every year in the United States, so that the humanity rate of this disease is relatively low. Regardless, doctors think it a serious gastrointestinal disease. It represents 80,000 hospitalizations each year and doctors stipulate more drugs to two million this year.

This disease gets its name since the infection causes sores to rise in the colon and intestines. These ulcers can manufacture rotten blood, and often. Medical researchers have not been able to develop solutions for ulcerative colitis. Some drugs have been urbanized to relieve pain symptoms. These drugs also reduce inflammation, slow the progression of the disease, avert complications and to replace blood loss and nutrition. In addition, these medications can help heal injured tissues, preventing further attacks and reduce the need for surgery in the future.
When choosing medications ulcerative colitis, the doctor will assess the progress of the disease, a part of the colon is affected, and the complications that may have developed. If the disease is mild to modest stage, the first choice of drug is usually aminosalicylates. Drugs called sulfasalazine or mesalazine is often the first choice in these situations. The focus on reducing all current Aminosalycylates inflammation, promoting remission, and prevent the disease from becoming lively again. Aminosalicylates is frequently all it takes to keep it in reduction. Discount means that you skill symptoms or illness.
When aminosalicylates do not work fine enough, corticosteroids are typically the next election. The main purpose is to eliminate steroids irritation, and is used when on earth it is necessary for the inflammation under control. When an aminosalicylates or corticosteroids lead to reduction, your doctor will most likely have to try other drugs. Typically, such medicines include immunomodulators, cyclosporine, and infliximab. These medications help condense or eliminate inflammation by controlling the way your untouchable system reacts to your suffering.
Pregnant women with this situation should discuss with their physician about medications. Aminosalicylates and corticosteroids are in general considered safe for pregnant women, especially if your doctor thinks that the disease is a greater threat to the unborn child that all the personal property of the medication. More ulcerative colitis medications are accessible that are formulated to be used depending on the stage of pregnancy and the sternness of symptoms.

Caring for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic condition in which the mucous membranes of the colon become inflamed, causing ulcers. These ulcers cause painful symptoms such as gas, bloating, pain and diarrhea. UC can also cause hardened stools, which makes the colon have to work overtime. As a result of the hardened stools, diverticulitis can also be a symptom of Ulcerative Colitis. Diverticulitis is small bulging pouches on the inner lining of the intestinal wall that can become inflamed or infected.

Although the true cause of ulcerative colitis is still a mystery, there are many factors that can assist the condition’s onset, including bacteria, poor dietary choices, allergies and stress. A diet lacking fiber and containing a large amount of  meat might cause calonic inflammation. Meats contain arachadonic acid, which reacts with intestinal fluid much more proactively then a high fiber diet. In severe cases, UC ulcers can become cancerous, so regular physician checks-ups are essential.
Your diet is the most controllable form of treating ulcerative colitis. In traditional Chinese medicine, good health begins with plenty of fiber in your digestive system. Fiber fills you up fast, while softening and gently massaging the inner lining of your intestinal wall. This massaging increases muscle flexibility, allowing for smoother bowel movements. Fiber is best consumed in the form of green leafy vegetables, fruit, beans and sprouts. Oats, brown rice and quinoa are also good forms of fiber. Avoid harsh fibers such as wheat germ or bran, since these may aggravate the intestinal wall.
The most important form of treatment besides food intake is liquid intake. The additional fiber in your diet can lead to constipation. Increased water intake will help alleviate any additional complications. Avoid fried, greasy foods and bubbly drinks – these will only increase inflammation. Keep dairy at a minimum or use non-dairy milk and cheese, as the lactose can cause diarrhea.  Herbal supplements such as aloe vera and greasy elm can be used to alleviate symptoms. Both of these help by calming the mucous membranes.

Natural Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a serious condition which effects the colon and rectum, causing inflammation, ulcers and bloody stools. It is considered an autoimmune disorder. While there are no medications that can cure the disorder, patients are often prescribed steroids and a cocktail of other drugs to control flare-ups and bleeding. The only cure for ulcerative colitis is the surgical removal of the colon. The severity of the disease can range from minor with intermittent flare-ups to severely debilitating. Internal bleeding can cause severe anemia, diarrhea can cause dehydration, and the pain of a colon spasm can become quite intense. Symptoms can become so severe that sufferers of the disease have been known to skip meals to avoid the pain. However, there are several natural methods to manage the disease.

There are ways to regulate your immune system and decrease the likelihood of inflammation without the use of steroids. Steroids can cause many side effects, especially when used for long periods of time. Long term steroid treatment can lead to bone loss, water retention, insomnia, psychosis, and even organ failure. Researchers also suspect that the euphoria caused by some steroids can lead to a chemical dependence.
There are a number of enzymes and essential fatty acids that may reduce the immune system’s aggressive response to UC. Fatty acids such as Omega-3 and cetyl-myristolate have been used to productively treat a variety of autoimmune diseases. The enzyme Serrapeptase has also been used to treat UC. Serrapeptase is excellent for reducing pain and inflammation in many parts of the body, including the colon.
Several vitamins might also be very beneficial for managing ulcerative colitis. Vitamin C is known to regulate the immune system and reduce irritation. Sublingual Vitamin B Complex can help regulate the nervous system, reducing stress, and in turn, reducing UC attacks.

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