• Home
• Back Pain Relief
• Privacy Policy

Coping With Ankle Arthritis

September 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have ankle arthritis, not only is the condition painful, but it can also make you unsteady on your feet.

There are a number of causes of ankle arthritis, and a case of this condition can often be attributed to a specific event or injury. This means that if you suffer an injury to your ankle in your earlier years of life, arthritis is a condition that you should be on the lookout for as you age. The good news is that there are a number of possible treatment options for this condition, and they can range from changing your footwear to a variety of surgical options. Your doctor will be the best source of information in diagnosing and treating your ankle arthritis.

There are a number of reasons why you might be diagnosed with ankle arthritis, and one of the most common is a previous injury to the area, such as a sprain or fracture. These types of injuries can lead to damaged cartilage in the ankle, and may result in accelerated arthritis in the joint as well. It is also possible to develop arthritis in your ankle if you are overweight and placing undue stress on the joints. Another possible cause of ankle arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis that can spread to any of the joints of the body, including the ankle joint.

Symptoms of ankle arthritis include pain, stiffness and swelling around the ankle joint. You may also notice that you develop bone spurs in the area, or that the joint itself becomes deformed. Another symptom of this type of arthritis is the feeling that the joint will give out, or you may feel that you are not completely stable on your feet. If you are noticing any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility that you have ankle arthritis and begin weighing your treatment options.

Treatment for ankle arthritus

Treatment for ankle arthritis can range from gentle strengthening exercises like yoga, to medication and cortisone injections, and even surgery in some cases. One of the first treatments that you can try is a simple modification of your footwear. Many who suffer from ankle arthritis find relief from the pain by simply using cushioned insoles inside of their shoes.

If a simple process like this does not help to ease your discomfort, your doctor can advise you in the use of anti-inflammatory medications and may prescribe cortisone shots for particularly severe pain. In some cases, surgery will be the best treatment for ankle arthritis, and this can range from arthroscopy to fusion surgical procedures.

If you suspect that you might be suffering from ankle arthritis, talk to your doctor today about a diagnosis and your treatment options. You will be glad you did.

Arthritis Symptoms: do you have arthritis?

August 3rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are many different forms of arthritis, and arthritis symptoms can occur at any age. You may have arthritis if you experience these symptoms:

* Joint pain and stiffness

* Tenderness in and around any joint

* Redness and warmth (inflammation) around a joint

* Limited range of motion in one or more joints

Degenerative arthritis is also known as Osteoarthritis and is the most common form of this painful disease. Degenerative arthritis occurs when cartilage in a joint begins to break down.

Degenerative arthritis commonly affects the feet, knees, fingers, and hips. This type of arthritis tends to affect people over the age of 45. Statistics show that more than 20 million Americans suffer with degenerative arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both the young and old. In children this form of arthritis is referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Both forms are believed to be a form of autoimmune disease, in which the immune systems attacks the lining (synovial membrane) of the joints. In RA, joint damage can become severe and cause joints to become deformed. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the entire body, and oftentimes causes fatigue, anemia, and weight loss. Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 million Americans. It tends to strike women more often than men.

Gout arthritis is a metabolic disorder in which uric acid builds up in the blood, causing crystals to form in the joints. It often occurs suddenly and affects the big toe, although any joint can be affected. More than 1 million Americans suffer with gout arthritis symptoms, with approximately 75 percent of the cases affecting men.

Psoriatic arthritis affects bone and other joint tissues, causing them to become inflamed. Typically, psoriatic arthritis affects people who have been diagnosed with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease. Psoriatic arthritis most commonly affects the fingers or spine. This type of arthritis affects about 180,000 Americans.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a form of arthritis that affects the skin, joints, muscles, and internal organs of the body. Lupus typically effects women of childbearing age, but can occur in anyone at any age. The most common symptom of lupus is a red rash that spreads across the nose and cheeks. It is often referred to as the “butterfly rash” because of its unique shape over the face.

Ankylosing spondylitis arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine. It oftentimes results in a fused vertebrae and rigid spine. Scientists believe Ankylosing spondylitis is a genetic disease. It affects about 400,000 Americans, usually men between the ages of 16 and 35.

Acid Reflux Symptoms: what are they?

July 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

In some ways, the symptoms of acid reflux can be similar to a heart attack - there’s a feeling of pressure and pain in your chest. However, there’s one major difference - a heart attack is mainly associated with physical activity. (If in doubt, see your doctor.)

Other symptoms of acid reflux:

* Burning in your throat

* Hoarseness, coughing

* Difficulty swallowing, and burping.

Many of acid reflux symptoms may occur together, or you may just get one, and their effects can  from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of the attack. The frequency with which a person suffers acid reflux may indicate something serious such as a hiatal hernia, or something as simple as having eaten too much.

Typically, stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus is the culprit for acid reflux, due to bad timing of the opening and closing of the lower esophagus sphincter, LES. This is a muscle around the esophagus at the point where it enters the stomach. The LES will open to allow food to pass into the stomach when a person swallows, but closes up to prevent the stomach contents from being passed back into the esophagus, eliminating the acid reflux signs and symptoms.

If you have any of the symptoms of acid reflux, you need to see your doctor, who will advise you on your diet and lifestyle, and may prescribe medication.

— Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 i Fix Pain Now

Credits: Top Metabolism - boost your metabolism now, lost weight and feel great at any age | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund