Living with Shoulder Arthritis
July 2nd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Q: My doctor has told me that the pain in my shoulder is due to arthritis. Is there anything that can be done about it?
A: Has throwing the ball with the kids become a big pain in the shoulder? As we get older our joints may deteriorate, with loss of the smooth cartilage coating of the bones in the shoulder joint, a process known as arthritis. It can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common process in the shoulder is degenerative joint disease (DJD). The shoulder is made up of two distinct joints, the large ball-and-socket Gleno-Humeral Joint (GH), where the arm meets socket of the shoulder blade, and the much smaller Acromio-Clavicular (AC) Joint, where the top part of the shoulder blade (the acromion) meets the collar bone (clavicle). Either or both joints can become damaged and painful, and X-rays will be used to detect whether arthritis is present.
Once the diagnosis is made, treatment generally starts with oral medications to reduce the pain and inflammation within the joints. This generally starts with medicines like Tylenol or anti-inflammatories known as NSAIDs, either over-the-counter or by prescription. Sometimes it is necessary to use a short course of stronger anti-inflammatory medicines known as steroids, such as prednisone, usually given in a precise regimen that is tapered quickly. Some patients will benefit from Physical Therapy treatments, which can help by improving the range of motion and strength in the shoulder.
If this approach is not successful, a patient may need to have a steroid injection in the shoulder, which can be effective by placing the anti-inflammatory material directly into the painful area. The effect may not last long, but the injection can help to confirm that the arthritic area is actually causing the shoulder pain. On the other hand, some shots will lead to long-term pain relief. We have some patients who come to the office every six months for a steroid shot and function well between visits.
If this approach is not working, surgery may be needed. An MRI is often obtained to rule out other shoulder damage, such as tendonitis or a rotator cuff tear, and it is also useful to gauge the full extent of the arthritis.
If the upper (AC) joint is the primary source of pain, and conservative measures have failed, relatively simple surgery can usually solve the problem. The AC joint pain seems to come from the deformed ends of the bones which rub together once the cartilage coating has worn away. We can remove the ends of the bones and the scar that fills the space will gradually become comfortable. At first, this was done as an open procedure, but now it is done routinely through small stab wounds using a fiber-optic tool known as an arthroscope.
When the ball-and-socket shoulder joint (GH) is arthritic and requires surgery, things get more complicated. As an open procedure, requiring an incision that is about six inches long, the damaged joint surfaces can be replaced by an artificial joint made of plastic and metal. This procedure has evolved over the years and is now very reliable. The recovery period will last six to twelve months and will require Physical Therapy. When a patient has fully recovered, the shoulder strength and function should be reasonably good, but patients almost always report that their pain is gone. In fact, some of our happiest patients are those who put up with severe shoulder arthritis for years and after getting a Total Shoulder Replacement could finally get a good night’s sleep.
We have a dilemma when a patient has severe ball-and-socket shoulder arthritis along with a large rotator cuff tear. The soft tissue envelope of tendons around the shoulder is known as the Rotator Cuff, and if it is massively torn and unrepairable, a conventional shoulder replacement may not work well, because the shoulder will be weak and unstable and the components will tend to become loose and painful. Fortunately, an ingenious solution has been developed to deal with this situation. A Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty is a plastic and metal device which replaces the socket with a ball and replaces the ball with a socket, allowing most patients to regain overhead motion without an intact rotator cuff. The surgery is somewhat more complicated and there are more potential complications, but for certain patients, it is just what the doctor ordered.
What to do: If you have shoulder pain that lasts more than a few weeks, try gentle stretching and over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol or NSAIDs. If you cannot get relief, make plans to see your doctor. These days, most shoulder pain can be resolved. With any luck you will be able to get back to throwing in the backyard in time for spring training.
About the Author
Dr. Martin R. Coleman is a physician with OSC-Ortho, a leading provider of Newport News Orthopedics, Newport News Shoulder Replacement Surgery, and Newport News Physical Therapy. OSC-Ortho can be found online at: OSC-Ortho.com .
Do You Know the Types of Lupus?
July 1st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the body in many different ways, from mild to fatal. Some people exhibit symptoms affecting the skin and joints, while others suffer damage to the lungs, blood, brain, tissues and kidneys. Lupus nephritis, for instance, is the inflammation of the kidneys, which affects the body’s ability to filter waste from the blood, which may necessitate a kidney transplant or dialysis. Many people suffer increased blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), which may cause congestive heart failure. Heart attacks may occur if there is a hardening of the arteries, or “central nervous system” lupus can create strokes, memory problems, confusion and headaches. The brain’s blood vessels can become inflamed, creating fevers, seizures and psychosis. It’s hard to calculate how quickly systemic lupus erythematosus will progress or what systems will be affected, but careful monitoring is a must.
There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss. The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. Most people have “flare-ups” or episodes. To test for lupus, your doctor will ask you some questions, run a standard physical, take urine and blood samples and perform an electrocardiogram.
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is a very strange condition resulting from a reaction to medication. The drug may cause the body to form antibodies that attack healthy cells. Some medications that have caused drug-induced lupus include:Chlorpromazine, Hydralazine, Isoniazid, Methyldopa, Penicillamine, Procainamide, Quinidine and Sulfasalazine. Symptoms such as a fever, swelling and pain in the joints, chest pain and skin rashes occur after taking the drug for at least 3 to 6 months. Usually, the symptoms disappear once the medication is stopped, but sometimes patients are directed to take coricosteroids, NSAIDs or antimalarial drugs to treat skin and arthritis symptoms.
If you’re diagnosed with lupus, then it’s important that you get 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Remember that even small amounts of sunlight can hurt your skin, so wear protective clothing, such as long shirts and pants, use SPF 15+ sunscreen, avoid tanning beds and use plastic devices that block UV emissions from indoor lights. Getting regular exercise is also important in recovering from flare-ups, reducing heart attack risks and fighting depression. If you’re a smoker, then doctors recommend that you quit because the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the added vascular stress caused by nicotine. Lastly, eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To keep your mood elevated, the Lupus Foundation offers educational programs, counseling, group exercising classes and community events like “Walk For Lupus” to help raise money and awareness. Becoming an advocate is a great way to regain a sense of control.
Spinal Decompression - Is It For Real?
June 30th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
In case you’ve never heard of it, spinal decompression is a relatively new treatment for pain and other symptoms caused by herniated and degenerated spinal discs. I have been involved in providing spinal decompression in San Antonio, Texas for the past few years, and although it quickly is becoming more accepted, there still exists considerable doubt and controversy about the effects of this type of treatment. Although many patients and doctors alike have been very pleased with the results of spinal decompression, some still think it is just an elaborate and expensive hoax.
The truth is, like any treatment for spinal discs, spinal decompression is far from a cure-all. It is not appropriate for all cases, and although it does offer a much higher chance for a good result than any other form of disc treatment, it does not work for everyone.
Because spinal decompression does not work 100% of the time, and because some providers use a lot of hype in their promotion of this form of treatment, there are bound to be a few patients who are disappointed in the outcome of their treatment. This disappointment comes out in the occasional forum and blog posts that I’ve seen in which a few individuals did not get good results proclaim the treatment to be universally worthless.
In fact, spinal decompression is highly effective for most patients who are treated with it for disc bulges and herniations and mild to moderate amounts of disc degeneration. The overall success rate for spinal decompression is much better than for steroid injections in the spine and for disc surgery, and spinal decompression is quite a bit safer than either of these common forms of disc treatment.
I know that some doctors are still of the opinion that spinal decompression only provides temporary symptom relief and that most patients will need disc surgery eventually anyway. This is not the case at all.
There is now considerable evidence in the form of pre and post spinal decompression treatment MRI scans that decompression does in fact make positive changes in the discs. In the majority of cases of disc herniation, the amount of disc bulge is significantly decreased with a series of spinal decompression treatments. This provides objective evidence of the claim that spinal decompression actually promotes disc healing, not just short-term symptom improvement.
While every case is different, from my experience in my San Antonio spinal decompression clinic, most patients not only get good symptomatic improvement, that improvement is long-lasting and allows those patients to return to their normal activities. Most have been able to avoid surgery and are now living much better lives because of their spinal decompression treatment.
For more information visit the spinal decompression San Antonio website and get your free report on spinal disc problems and the treatment options for them.
Living Life With Arthritis
June 28th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Magnetic Arthritis Pain Relief get more information on this alternative treatment today.
Research information confirms that approximately 1 in every 6 adults in the United States suffers with some form of arthritis , and the pain and discomfort that goes along with it. People suffering from arthritis are starting to reach record numbers as the babyboomers approach their retirement years . Children add a smaller portion of those afflicted by arthritic conditions .
Arthritic Pain
Sometimes arthritis is a a little underhanded as it gradually works its way into your joints coming on leisurely with just a few hits of joint inflammation and pain sprinkled here and there . Then before you recognize the extent of its hold on you, the pain is more than you care to bear . Not all arthritis pain is the identical .
Arthritic pain can be stabbing , or a throbbing and dull pain ,but then at other times it can be hardly noticeable . However, when a flare up occurs you are very attuned to it as the pain can be excruciating.
Causes Of Arthritis
In a broad sense ,the causes of numerous types of arthritic diseases are not known . Bacterial infections, joint injury, repetitive injuries, the over use of joints, and the buildup of uric-acid crystals in the joints as seen in cases of gout, can all contribute to arthritic conditions.
Why it is Difficult To Treat Arthritis
Arthritis for all its infamy is still encircled by an abundance of misinformation, myths, and facts on the painful condition.
Finding ways to live with arthritis can be easier said than done. and treatment plans can include taking medications, diet changes, exercise, but unfortunately when it comes to treatment plans one size does not fit all.
Many people are unaware that there are over one hundred different types of arthritis, so treatment plans will vary for each individual.
It is important to speak to your medical doctor when you begin have joint pain and inflammation. Most types of arthritis will require very particular treatment plans, so it is essential to see your physician, or be referred to a Rheumatologist to lay out a plan to treat your arthritis pain.
Arthritis Treatment Plans
What are some of the other some other options that may help with pain of arthritis?
Finding Arthritis Releif
Physical Exercise :
Exercise is vital to keeping your joints healthy. “Keep moving and you will stay mobile” is my motto. Keeping your weight in check is the first plan of action when you suffer from arthritis. You can do this with exercise, and exercises also provides strengthening to muscles and ligaments that surround joints, provide lubrication, and transports important nutrients while removing waste products to and from the cushioning cartilage between the bones.
Believe me I know firsthand how hard it can be to even consider exercising when you are in throbbing pain, but studies confirm that it is vital to your health.
I have found through my own research what I consider one of the pieces of best exercise equipment, and I personally use are light weight resistance bands.
Resistance bands Are Also Known as;Resistance Workout Bands
These really light weight exercise tube bands are really amazing as they can offer most of the necessary exercises needed to maintain your joint health, and strength training: You can perform Range-of-motion Exercises, and Strengthening Exercises (no heavy dumbbells needed).
Healthy Diet :
A diet for arthritis can be tricky as there are different dietary needs for different types of arthritis. Eating healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, low calorie juices, stay away from alcohol, and foods with a lot of preservatives. When drinking water makes sure that you filter it, as your city water supply is full of chorine and many people find that this can exacerbate arthritis pain.
Magnetic Arthritis Relief
OK, go ahead and think I am a loon, but I’m telling you medical magnets work. I have been using them for years, and they have almost cured my migraines, and help relieve the inflammation in my joints. My knee used to swell up on a weekly basis, and would be so painful I would just sit in a chair all day with the heating pad watching TV. Now using the magnetic knee wrap, and magnetic bracelets it is the difference between night and day. Let me tell you I am a huge skeptic, and I did bunch of research before shelling out for any “Quack Bracelet” as my hubby called them. Well, he’s quacking now, and had to eat crow when I bought him one for his birthday, and he was really surprised at the level of pain relief. He has been out golfing almost every day feeling virually pain free.
I am an arthritis sufferer too, and I am comforted by the fact that I am not alone, but it does not make the pain hurt any less. You are not alone either. You should not stop living when you suffer from arthritis.
“Keep moving and you will stay mobile”
I hope you are inspired to keep moving, and enjoy your life. You can find more information and research about Magnetic Arthritis Relief .com
Interstate Moving Quote: Aid for Arthritis patients
June 27th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
With so many people who have arthritis, you probably know at least one. arthritis is a chronic illness that affects the joints. There are a variety of different types of arthritis a patient can get. The causes of arthritis vary as well. People with autoimmune disorders can get related joint pain/arthritis; the elderly can get it, it can also be caused by infections, chemical intake, or stress. It does not matter where the arthritis is located, it will cause you to be in pain, some times worse than others. There are times when the arthritis gets so painful that it is impossible to move.
Diagnosing the specific type of arthritis a patient has can be difficult. The type of arthritis that is most common is one caused by aging. For example, the person may have trouble moving their hands. This can create difficulty for someone who needs to be able to lift things or even walk. Weather can impact this as well as other arthritic conditions, which means patients who live in hot, humid weather will likely experience an arthritis flare.
One treatment for arthritis is by using medicine. It is important to stay up to date on medication in order to control pain. Other treatment types include lifestyle changes, visits to the doctor for physical therapy, or pain management. In order to properly treat the arthritis, a doctor must first determine what type of arthritis it is. A patient may require treatment in order to engage in specific activities.
At any time, arthritis can limit what the person is capable of doing. If you are planning anything big, you will need to remember the person with arthritis and what their capabilities are. For example, if a family is planning to relocate to a new location, the afflicted person may require assistance packing and moving boxes. Where the family moves can have an influence over a person with arthritis. Temperature can play a part in how much the member can help in the move . Keep these things in mind when planning to move.
If plans cannot be changed, you will need to work around the needs of the one with arthritis. You may want to hire professionals to do your packing and moving. It may be more comfortable to hire a auto shipping and take a plane to the new house. By going online you will be able to find a interstate moving quote. There are companies that will do the packing and moving, so you will want to shop around to find the company that offers what you are looking for.
If someone is healthy, moving can create stress; however, a person with arthritis will likely incur more stress than the average healthy person. You will need to have patience with the person with arthritis. A relaxed attitude will help the arthritis patient remain more comfortable. So to recap, remember: consider the environmental effects, the limitations the person suffers, the type of arthritis they have and how it impacts them personally, and working around that will make for an arthritis-compatible move. Make sure the patient’s medication does not get lost in the move as well. With plenty of planning and preparation, you will be able to move your family with as little stress as possible.
