Category: Arthritis

Posted in Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Pain

Not All Pain is Created Equal

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Not All Pain is Created Equal

When we hear the word arthritis, we think of our grandparents talking about their joint aches. We had no idea it could happen to children and people of all ages.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related diseases, and not all arthritis pain is alike. It can originate in different areas of our body, triggering chemical and electrical signals that move from the area of pain or injury up to brain and back to let us know that hurt

I have a high tolerance for pain so when I am hurting, I know it’s bad. Everyone’s threshold and tolerance for pain is unique. Then, there are days I bump my hand or arm and I see stars. I just don’t understand it….

Living and coping with chronic pain can be the hardest part of living with a joint disease. It can disrupt every part of our life and many parts of your life can also affect your pain.

Facts on Pain

  • As many as 75 percent of those 65 and older report persistent pain from arthritis and other chronic conditions.
  • Almost four out of five older adults have multiple chronic conditions besides arthritis, like diabetes, heart disease and obesity. And the combination can heighten pain and discomfort.
  • Women are more likely to develop chronic pain and often feel pain more intensely than men.
  • In the United States, 23% of all adults—over 54 million people—have arthritis. About 24 million adults are limited in their activities from arthritis, and more than 1 in 4 adults with arthritis report severe joint pain

National Prevalence

  • From 2013–2015, an estimated 54.4 million US adults (22.7%) annually had ever been told by a doctor that they had some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia. Learn more about national arthritis statistics.
  •  

Throughout September, I want to help bring attention to living with chronic pain and the suffering arthritis frequently causes. Let your family and friends know it’s Pain Awareness Month and ask them to help spread the word about how important it is to find more effective treatments and a cure for all forms of joint pain and arthritis.

Most of all, make sure you take care of yourself.

Tips on taking care of yourself and living with arthritis

References

Managing a flare – Arthritis Foundation- https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/managing-pain/pain-relief-solutions/tips-for-managing-an-arthritis-flare

Exercise and kids with JA – https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/getting-started/best-exercises-for-children-with-ja

Arthritis , Autoimmune and Rheumatology Research Cure Arthritis https://curearthritis.org/arthritis-research

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Patient Leader, WegoHealth, WEGOHealthAwards, WEGOHealthAwards2020

I Am A Nominee In The WEGOHealth Awards 2020

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

I am so honored to share that I am a nominee in the WEGOHealth Awards for Best In Show – Community and Patient Leader Hero

#WEGOHealthChat #WEGOHealthAwards #PatientLeader #Osteoarthritis #Osteonecrosis #Grateful www,ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com and  https://avascularnecrosiseducation.com

 

My WEGOHealth Profile Link    Deborah Andio WEGOHealth Profile Link

Voting will begin in July and link will be posted then to vote.

Until then if you wish to nominate me or read about WEGOHealth or take the time to nominate other amazing hardworking Advocates please go to link below

WEGOHealthAwards Vote – Review Nominees – How It Works -The Judges

 

My Nominations

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, Hearing Loss, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Link-Between Hearing Loss and RA

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

When we think of hearing loss, you may associate it with your loved one who’s always asking you to repeat yourself, or the friend who may struggle to follow conversations.

Hearing loss is often caused by exposure to excessive noise and is even linked to the natural aging process. But did you know that hearing loss isn’t just caused by your loud job, or the blaring music at the concert ?

Along with lesser known causes of hearing loss like smoking and diabetes, a recent study found a link between hearing loss and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects many seniors, though young people can also suffer from the disease. Around 1.5 million Americans have RA, and this number continues to rise. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system turns against the body. Rather than protecting the body from sicknesses by warding off viral and bacterial infections, the immune system attacks the joints, causing swelling, inflammation, and pain. RA can damage cartilage and tissue around the joints, disform the joints, and even damage the bone. It becomes painful to move the affected joints, and leads to reduced mobility, and difficulty performing normal daily tasks.

Linking Hearing Loss and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Clinical trials looking at the links between hearing loss and arthritis found far higher rates of hearing loss among those with arthritis. Those with RA were more likely to have sensorineural hearing loss, hearing loss associated with the ear and not the brain. Delicate cells in the inner ear are damaged in this type of hearing loss, and once these cells are damaged, they don’t regenerate. You’ll be unable to hear certain sounds in the environment, since the cells in the ear responsible for those sounds have been destroyed.

A 2006 study found that around 43% of those with RA had hearing loss! And a study from the Mayo Clinic, reported that even though they weren’t able to detect measurably higher rates of hearing loss among those with RA, their patients with RA were far more likely to perceive that they had hearing loss.

 

How does RA Lead to Hearing Loss?

Researchers are still unclear on the how rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss are linked. However, it’s clear that RA can attack other body systems, not just the joints, so the cells in the ear can also be affected by this disease.

Another link could be the drugs used to treat the pain that goes hand in hand with arthritis. Many studies have found that common pain killers, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause hearing loss. Even taking these pain killers two or more days per week was linked to worse hearing health, while those who took pain killers six days a week had a 24% higher risk of hearing loss than those who didn’t take pain killers. Those suffering from RA often take a lot of painkillers just to get through the day, and these drugs are known to reduce blood flow and deprive the cells in the inner ear of the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

While doctors can’t cure RA, they all agree that treating the disease as soon as possible is essential for good health outcomes. Treating RA stops inflammation, prevents further joint damage or deformity, and relieves pain. It also improves overall well-being by allowing for increased mobility and physical function. Treatments include medications to ease symptoms, as well as to reduce inflammation and slow joint damage.

Self-management is also important when it comes to RA, and your doctor will help you be proactive in managing the disease and maintaining your overall quality of life. Eating well, exercising often and resting, using heat pads, and learning relaxation techniques all play a role in self-management.

Treating Hearing Loss

If you’ve been struggling to hear, and think it may be linked to your RA, call your local hearing center.

May is Arthritis Awareness Month

Posted in Advocate, Arthritis, Awareness, Meditation, Mindfulness, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Pain

How I Use Meditation and Palming To Help My Pain

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

So I have been meditating for over 18 months. It has helped me learn to quiet my mind. Focus on my breathing and start taking back some control of my pain.

It sure did pay off last week.

I fell after another bowman lost her balance her cane went sliding and she also grabbed onto me as for me to stop her fall.

That did not happen.

As with any time I am feeling pain I try to meditate the pain away.

Sometimes it works fantastically sometimes it just calms me which is also good.

Here are the steps I take to help meditate my pain away

Step 1: Stabilize your mind

Step 2: Identify the area where you feel pain.

Step 3: Focus your mind to the pain sensation in the area.

Step 4: Notice if the pain sensation changes.

Step 5: If your mind wanders, gently bring your mind back to the object of your meditation, which is a focused awareness on pain.

Mind stabilization can be achieved with mindfulness meditation, described as “a simple mental exercise, which develops mindfulness and concentration by paying attention on a chosen object (for example, taste of food or activity you wish to focus on) and holding the attention for a period of time. Mindfulness meditation does not necessarily require sitting but can be practiced while eating, walking, running, commuting, and doing other activities. This mental exercise also helps develop an ability to sustain mindfulness for prolonged time.”

Here are helpful tips for quieting an unquiet mind:

  • Meditate for only two minutes (gradually move to 3,4,5,15… minutes)
  • Use a timer to remind you of an end of a meditation session.
  • Instead of trying to stop, welcome it whatever arises.
  • If you cannot concentrate on the object of your meditation, pay attention to the thoughts and stories occurring in your mind instead.
  • If you cannot meditate while sitting, meditate while walking,hiking,running,laying down at night, eating etc….

Say to your self

I am

Breathe in I breathe out am – do this a few times then add I am pain free, I am healing, I am well.

When I’m finished doing this for a few minutes at the end I rub my hands together get them warm and gently place the palms of my hands on my eyes. It feels so good. You can then rub your head.

Feeling the energy in your body going to help your pain.

Palming helps the eyes

Palming: Palming, which was originally invented by Tibetan yogis, is done in darkness with the palms cupping the eyes. Palming soothes the optic nerve, which is often irritated. Sit in a darkened room with your elbows leaning on a table. Relax your back and shoulders, rub your hands together vigorously to warm them, then place your palms over your eyes. Don’t press the eye sockets and don’t lean on the cheekbones. Visualize total blackness, the most relaxing color for the brain, and breathe deeply. Let the blackness permeate everything: your eyes, your whole body, the room you sit in, the city, the state, the continent, the planet, the stars, the universe.

You may see all kinds of lights, which is an indication of irritation in the optic nerve. In fact, you may not see total darkness until you have completed several palming sessions. Palm for as long as is comfortable.

Meditation and Palming

I find this not just relaxing but I feel centered , calm , content and I have less pain when I do this 2x a day, for just 10 minutes.

Here are the links I used and still use sometimes

I am – guided meditation by Wayne Dyer https://youtu.be/BoE4QjMiHys

Palming for relaxing and helping eyes

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, Bone and Joint Health, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Joint Pain and Our Government

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

It’s that damn pain that may creep up slowly on you with a dull, discomfort in one or several of your joints.

Or it might be like a raging inferno it like a thief in the night, to steal your joy or try to…. the pain comes on suddenly without any warning, bringing on that stabbing intensity as sharp as a knife.

The pain might come and go, or it may last hours, days, weeks…. This pain is arthritis, and it’s likely you know someone living with it or you may be living with it yourself.

It is not just a grandparents issue.

I have been living with arthritis for over 20 years, I think I was 35-36 when I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, only years later to be diagnosed also with osteonecrosis in 2014 and spondylolisthesis for over 5 years. It can really be exhausting from always dealing with some sort of pain.

Arthritis can be crippling. Some people even need a stair-lift just so they can move freely around their house as they are in too much pain to walk up and down the stairs. Some end up in a wheelchair or using a walker.

Did you know that arthritis impacts more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. According to The Arthritis Foundation, the number of people affected by the condition is expected to increase to 65-68 million by 2030.

More research is needed to combat this health crisis, a disease and source of chronic pain for so many people that it is often marginalized by misinformed attitudes, old wise tales, and social stigma.

Our government officials are not helping us either. They are trying to tell doctors what to prescribe and how much and limit them on treating their patients.

I wish the government would stay out of my health and my doctors business.

My doctor went to school many years and I don’t want some politician giving me medical advice when they have no idea what I live with on a daily basis.Nor have they went to school to become a doctor either.

Many like myself cannot take NSAIDs and when you have osteonecrosis,you really don’t want to constantly be using steroids.

I avoid steroids at all costs.

Arthritis includes more than 100 different types of joint disease and related conditions. I have written previously about osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile arthritis.

In the most basic terms, arthritis is inflammation of the joints that causes swelling, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and pain that can become chronic. It can affect your knees,ankles and toes, back, hip, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, or neck.

Did you know that the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin can sometimes also be effected?

Arthritis can also affect your muscles, resulting in muscle weakness or fatigue.

The extra weight from obesity can strain your joints if you are not eating well and exercising regularly.

Your bones are like a bridge and like with any other bridge it has a weight limit before it starts to damage the bridge.

So we have to try to keep moving remove excess weight to keep out bridge aka our bones and joints strong and able to support us.

So many people often dismiss arthritis as a condition of older adulthood, but arthritis can strike any age, gender or race, and it is the leading cause of disability in the United States.

Chronic pain sufferers fear they could become casualties in the war on Ohio’s opioid overdose epidemic.

Because it seems like those who suffer in pain real chronic pain are the only ones paying the price.

img_7886

 

What they ( our elected officials ) don’t understand is responsible people are the ones suffering, not the drug addicts who use heroin and get many of their drugs illegally.

In August 2019 Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said that evidence recently made public makes clear that drugmakers were responsible for the deadly opioid crisis and that they had lied about the addictiveness of their painkillers.

I’m sorry but ya know I don’t buy that crap at all.

When will people actually learn to take responsibility for their own poor choices?

There has been people using and abusing drugs for decades, longer….

lThey are looking to get high, that’s a big difference than someone needing a pain pill now and then to function and have joint mobility and the pain managed.

I get so frustrated at our government always telling patients whats good for them.

And telling doctors how to do their job.

I don’t want my car mechanic telling my dentist how to clean my teeth.

And I don’t want my elected officials telling my doctor what to do.

Why not ban alcohol ?

Why not ban cigarettes

That kills a lot more people and well we know how many abuse that.

Probably because they get a tax on that , so that’s ok.

Just like marijuana, years ago you went to prison , now because the state can make a buck its ok as long as its medical.

According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, in 2013, more than half of the US adult population drank alcohol in the past 30 days. About 17% of the adult population reported binge drinking, and 6% reported heavy drinking.

According to the ARDI application, during 2006–2010, excessive alcohol use was responsible for an annual average of  88,000 deaths, including 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20 to 64 years, and 2.5 million years of potential life lost.  More than half of these deaths and three-quarters of the years of potential life lost were due to binge drinking.  https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/data-stats.htm

 

The Republican Governor of Ohio urged the companies to move quickly to settle pending lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for the epidemic in light of troves of new documents made public because of those suits. And who gets the money from these lawsuits? Certainly not the people that were or are addicted , or their families……no it’s the state.

 

Get stricter on drunk driving laws https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/states-data-tables.html

 

But for gosh sakes stop punishing people responsible people who just are trying to live dealing with their chronic pain. To function, to get to work, to grocery shop to live.

Please get involved write or call your elected officials : tell them help those living with chronic pain not make them suffer.

They are not drug addicts they are people like you and me and your neighbor and like your grandparent, mother, uncle son or daughter suffering with chronic pain.

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

 

 

The most 5 common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a third of adults who have arthritis report it limits their leisure and work activities. 25% of them state it also causes severe pain (7+ on the 0 to 10 point pain scale).

Children and teens get a type of arthritis called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). “Juvenile” means young (16 yrs of age or younger) and “idiopathic” means the cause is not known. JIA is also sometimes called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Many people confuse osteoporosis and different types of arthritis.

  • Arthritis: A general term for conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues. Joints are places in the body where bones come together, such as the knees, wrists, fingers, toes, and hips. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Osteoporosis: A condition in which the bones become less dense and more likely to fracture. In osteoporosis, there is a loss of bone tissue that leaves bones less dense and more likely to fracture. It can result in a loss of height, severe back pain, and change in posture. Osteoporosis can impair a person’s ability to walk and can cause prolonged or permanent disability – Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Types of Arthritis

  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Achondroplasia
  • Acromegalic arthropathy
  • Adhesive capsulitis
  • Adult onset Still’s disease
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Anserine bursitis
  • Avascular necrosis
  • Behcet’s syndrome
  • Bicipital tendinitis
  • Blount’s disease
  • Brucellar spondylitis
  • Bursitis
  • Calcaneal bursitis
  • Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD)
  • Crystal deposition disease
  • Caplan’s syndrome
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Chondrocalcinosis
  • Chondromalacia patellae
  • Chronic synovitis
  • Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis
  • Churg-Strauss syndrome
  • Cogan’s syndrome
  • Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis
  • Costosternal syndrome
  • CREST syndrome
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Diabetic finger sclerosis
  • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)
  • Discitis
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus
  • Drug-induced lupus
  • Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
  • Dupuytren’s contracture
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Enteropathic arthritis
  • Epicondylitis
  • Erosive inflammatory osteoarthritis
  • Exercise-induced compartment syndrome
  • Fabry’s disease
  • Familial Mediterranean fever
  • Farber’s lipogranulomatosis
  • Felty’s syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fifth’s disease
  • Flat feet
  • Foreign body synovitis
  • Freiberg’s disease
  • Fungal arthritis
  • Gaucher’s disease
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Gonococcal arthritis
  • Goodpasture’s syndrome
  • Gout Granulomatous arteritis
  • Hemarthrosis
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Henoch-Schonlein purpura
  • Hepatitis B surface antigen disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Hurler syndrome
  • Hypermobility syndrome
  • Hypersensitivity vasculitis
  • Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
  • Immune complex disease
  • Impingement syndrome
  • Jaccoud’s arthropathy
  • Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis
  • Juvenile dermatomyositis
  • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Kienbock’s disease
  • Legg Calvé Perthes Disease
  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
  • Linear scleroderma
  • Lipoid dermatoarthritis
  • Lofgren’s syndrome
  • Lyme disease
  • Malignant synovioma
  • Marfan’s syndrome
  • Medial plica syndrome
  • Metastatic carcinomatous arthritis
  • Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
  • Mixed cryoglobulinemia
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis
  • Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis
  • Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
  • Mycoplasmal arthritis
  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Neonatal lupus
  • Neuropathic arthropathy
  • Nodular panniculitis
  • Ochronosis
  • Olecranon bursitis
  • Osgood-Schlatter’s disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteochondromatosis
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta
  • Osteomalacia
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Overlap syndrome
  • Pachydermoperiostosis Paget’s disease of bone
  • Palindromic rheumatism
  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome
  • Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome
  • Pigmented villonodular synovitis
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Polyarteritis nodos
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Polymyositis
  • Popliteal cysts
  • Posterior tibial tendinitis
  • Pott’s disease
  • Prepatellar bursitis
  • Prosthetic joint infection
  • Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • Reactive arthritis/Reiter’s syndrome
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
  • Relapsing polychondritis
  • Retrocalcaneal bursitis
  • Rheumatic fever
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid vasculitis
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis
  • Sacroiliitis
  • Salmonella osteomyelitis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Saturnine gout
  • Scheuermann’s osteochondritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Septic arthritis
  • Seronegative arthritis
  • Shigella arthritis
  • Shoulder-hand syndrome
  • Sickle cell arthropathy
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolysis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Staphylococcus arthritis
  • Stickler syndrome
  • Subacute cutaneous lupus
  • Sweet’s syndrome
  • Sydenham’s chorea
  • Syphilitic arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Takayasu’s arteritis
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Tennis elbow
  • Tietse’s syndrome
  • Transient osteoporosis
  • Traumatic Arthritis
  • Trochanteric bursitis
  • Tuberculosis arthritis
  • Arthritis of Ulcerative colitis
  • Undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome (UCTS)
  • Urticarial vasculitis
  • Viral arthritis
  • Wegener’s granulomatosis
  • Whipple’s disease
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Yersinial arthritis

img_6820

References

Arthritis Foundation

AF types of arthritis

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, Chronic Pain, osteoarthritis

What your eating maybe worsening your Osteoarthritis

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Your eating what?

Before you take one more bite of that fast food lunch or dinner consider how it affects your osteoarthritis.

Did you know that research shows that diets high in saturated fat – found in red meat, butter, cheese, lard and processed foods – can weaken knee cartilage, making it more prone to damage.

Yep so start eating more plants

There was a study in 2017 published in Arthritis Care & Research, researchers followed more than 2,000 patients with OA for up to four years, checking disease progression  and diet at yearly intervals. Participants who ate the most fat, especially the saturated kind, showed increasing joint damage, whereas those who ate healthy fats like olive oil and avocados had little disease progression.

Another recent animal study showed that it even may harm the underlying bone, according to Yin Xiao, PhD, a professor at Queensland University of Technology in Australia and lead author of a 2017 study that looked at the effect of diet on OA.

“Our findings suggest that it’s not wear and tear but diet that has a lot to do with the onset of osteoarthritis,” he says.

Blame It On Inflammation

Fat’s not the only culprit, though. Sugar, refined carbs, red meat, processed food and corn and soybean oils can spark inflammation, too. Barry Sears, PhD, a long-time researcher in inflammatory nutrition, says eating them is “like throwing a match into a vat of gasoline.”

These foods also tend to pack on pounds, putting extra pressure on stressed joints. To make matters worse, body fat, especially the kind that collects around your belly, makes its own inflammatory proteins, perpetuating the cycle of inflammation even after you’ve sworn off junk food forever.

Fighting Back

The solution is to change the way you eat. Switching to an anti-inflammatory or Mediterranean-style diet can help you lose weight and significantly improve your joint, heart and  brain health without sacrificing good taste.

An anti-inflammatory diet is heavy on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy fats like olive oil, avocados and nuts. Poultry’s allowed  now and then and you can have one glass of red wine or beer a day. Off the menu, as you might expect, are sugar, red meat, and processed foods.

What sets this way of eating apart is that it actively fights inflammation, experts say.

“There are a variety of foods in the Mediterranean diet that are high in fiber, beta carotene, magnesium and omega 3s, all of which have been found to reduce inflammatory markers in human studies,” explains Michelle Babb, MS, RD, a Seattle-based nutrition educator.

“I’ve had [arthritis] patients who have been able to discontinue the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a result of transitioning to a Mediterranean diet. Some even report a noticeable difference in pain in the first week.”

Even so, changing the way you eat can be daunting.

“Don’t expect your diet to change overnight,” advises Sotiria Everett, EdD, RD, an assistant professor at Stonybrook University Medical Center in New York. “Start by looking at what you’re eating now (a food diary is a great way to do this) and identifying areas where you can improve.”

But Babb doesn’t see a problem. Her patients “really enjoy this food plan and don’t feel it’s a hardship to follow it,” she says.

She admits it takes more work and advance planning than the drive-through and recommends prepping some food for the week in advance.

I personally can agree with this as when I stopped eating so much red meat and cut out sugar and most processed junk I felt much better .

And when I eat things that are not as healthy as they should be I feel more pain.

So try a plant based diet or as they suggest Mediterranean

You will be so glad you did.

This taken from article Arthritis Foundation Blog

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness

May – Arthritis Awareness Month

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

I have had OA in knees over 14 years.

The clicking popping sounds , the feeling of stiffness like the tin man on the wizard of oz is normal especially when it’s rainy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a form of degenerative joint pain caused by wear and tear on your joints. As you age, the cartilage that cushions your joints starts to wear down, causing the bones to rub together. The bone-on-bone action leads to inflammation of the joints.

Almost 300,000 babies and children have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects an estimated 54 million Americans.

Number of people expected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2040: more than 78 million.

People in the early stages of osteoarthritis may notice that moving the affected areas of their bodies is not as easy as it once was. Joint stiffness and pain can contribute to loss of flexibility, also called loss of range of motion.

Range of motion is the extent to which you can move your joints in their normal patterns. For example, fully bending and extending your knee is its range of motion.

If you have arthritis, you might not be able to bend your knee as far. Loss of flexibility is usually a very gradual process.

There’s no cure for osteoarthritis (OA) yet, but there are several treatment options and lifestyle changes that can relieve your symptoms. A combination of treatments and lifestyle changes can help:

  • alleviate symptoms
  • improve quality of life
  • slow progression of the disease

The right types of exercise can help with OA. Exercise may improve pain and stiffness and even prevent further damage to your joints. The stronger the muscles around your knee are, the better they can absorb the shock placed on the knee when you move.

Exercise can also help you lose weight, put less stress on the knees, and ease pain. Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend specific exercises based on your needs.

These may include strengthening exercises for your muscles and stretching and range-of-motion exercises for stiffness. Aerobic activity is recommended for those who need to lose weight.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) can help alleviate some of the pain and inflammation. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger medications.

Use caution, even when taking OTC medications. They can interact with other medications you’re taking. Always speak to your doctor before taking new medications.

Topical medications are also available. These creams and gels contain active ingredients that include: 

  • salicylate
  • menthol
  • capsaicin

Using these products may relieve the pain and inflammation associated with OA because of their heating and cooling effects on the skin.

Heat Over Ice

Many swear by ice ….. not me

I prefer heat… I also have osteonecrosis in Rt knee and I love love love thermacare heat wraps.

I personally found Heat helps my pain and mobility where as cold seems to make me hurt more.

Viscosupplementation works differently. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is injected into the knee joint. HA is a naturally present part of joint fluid. It lubricates the joints and helps them move freely. Most people with OA don’t have enough HA in their joint fluid.

By injecting HA into the joint, the knee benefits from extra lubrication. It decreases friction in the joint and improves the joint’s ability to absorb shock. This means less pain when you move.

Viscosupplementation has been found to provide relief to approximately 50 percent of people with OA of the knee. However, the newest guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) doesn’t recommend this for OA of the knee.

I personally hate cortisone injections. They cause me more pain and I get a reaction that makes me hurt worse.

Pulse it can lead to faster break down of cartilage and Osteonecrosis.

In the end we have to do and try what we feel may help.

Just know there are options

Prp Injections Platelet Rich Plasma

PRP

aaos treatment of osteoarthritis

I am not a paid endorser for any product mentioned.
Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, Bone and Joint Health, Bone Health, Grateful, Inflammation, Knee, Weather, Weather and Joint Pain

Bombogenesis and Joint Pain

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

I’ve heard a lot about Bombogenesis, it’s a popular term used by meteorologists, occurs when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours. A millibar measures atmospheric pressure.

Remember your great-aunt used to to say she “feels” a storm coming on, she was probably predicting the weather with some accuracy. You probably laughed.

But now you know exactly what she meant.

Barometric pressure is the weight of the atmosphere that surrounds us. Barometric pressure often drops before bad weather.

Lower air pressure pushes less against the body, allowing tissues to expand. Expanded tissues can put pressure on joints and cause pain.

Arthritis and joint pain affects everything within the joint, including the lining and ligaments.

All of those tissues have nerve endings that can feel changes in the weather, which may result in tightness, stiffness, and some discomfort.

So if you plan to be active in cold weather or high altitude, warm up first with stretching exercises and wear appropriate clothing

The Arthritis Foundation published a study from Tufts University in 2007 that found that every 10-degree drop in temperature corresponded with an incremental increase in arthritis pain. In addition, low temperatures, low barometric pressure and precipitation can increase pain. Researchers are not sure why weather changes cause pain, but suspect that certain atmospheric conditions increase swelling in the joint.

As for weather-related pain, it hurts, but it’s only temporary. Your joints should return to normal as soon as the barometric pressure increases and the temperature goes up. Your great aunt may be able to predict calm weather, too, as she feels less joint pain.

Song of The Day : California Dreaming Mamas And Papas

Resource Link

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/tools-resources/weather/

Posted in Arthritis, Bone Health, osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Facts About Arthritis

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Arthritis is all around us, yet its impact on individuals, their families, employers and the country are far greater than most people realize.

View or download the Arthritis Foundation’s “Arthritis by the Numbers” book

Arthritis Disability

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults in the U.S.

Arthritis Prevalence

  • By conservative estimates, about 54 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
  • Almost 300,000 babies and children have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.
  • The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects an estimated 31 million Americans.
  • Number of people expected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2040: more than 78 million.

Who Gets Arthritis

Doctor-diagnosed arthritis is more common in women (26 percent) than in men (18 percent). In some types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, women far outnumber men.

Economic Cost of Arthritis

Almost two-thirds of adults in the U.S. with arthritis are of working age (18-64 years).

Arthritis and other non-traumatic joint disorders are among the five most costly conditions among adults 18 and older.

Co-morbidities

Arthritis is much more common among people who have other chronic conditions.

  • 49 percent of adults with heart disease have arthritis.
  • 47 percent of adults with diabetes have arthritis.
  • 31 percent of adults who are obese have arthritis

arthritis

I am a proud New Patient Leader and representative for the Arthritis Foundation.

I will be raising awareness and setting up local meetings in my hometown so we can have a voice and spread awareness locally

Posted in Arthritis, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, osteoarthritis, Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Understanding The Mechanisms of Pain

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

It’s safe to say most of us are not really fans of pain. However it is one of the body’s most important ways for communication. Imagine, for instance, what would happen if you felt nothing when you put your hand in hot water, or burned your neck with a curling iron , or hit your thumb with a hammer and never felt that pain signal.

Pain is one way the body tells you something’s wrong and needs attention.

But pain whether it comes from a burn, a broken bone, surgery, joint replacement or a long-term illness is also an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience.

It has multiple causes, and people respond to it in multiple and individual ways. The pain that you push your way through might be incapacitating to someone else. Pain can make us mentally exhausted and sad if we experience it for to long.

Acute Pain and Chronic Pain

There are several ways to categorize pain. One is to separate it into acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain typically comes on suddenly and has a limited duration. It’s frequently caused by damage to tissue such as bone, skin, muscle, or organs, and the onset is often accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress.

Chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain and is generally somewhat resistant to medical treatment. It’s usually associated with a long-term illness, such as osteoarthritis. In some cases, such as with fibromyalgia, it’s one of the defining characteristic of the disease. Chronic pain can be the result of damaged tissue, but very often is attributable to nerve damage.

Just as there are different types of arthritis, there are also different types of pain. The pain you experience can come from various areas of the musculoskeletal system and involve different types of information processing. To learn more about the basics of the nervous system and pain.

Nociceptive Pain

What a odd word I never heard of this word until I was doing research on pain.

This is the normal mechanism that the body uses to process pain day to day. Nociceptive pain occurs when tiny nerves (nociceptors) that run on the surface of organs, muscles, joints and throughout the body are stimulated. These messages are carried by nerves to the brain. For example, when you bang your elbow, you feel nociceptive pain.

Mechanical Pain. Nociceptive pain that happens with stretch or pressure in and around joints is called mechanical pain. Osteoarthritis, low back disorders and tendinitis are common examples of mechanical pain.

Inflammatory Pain. Inflammation is an essential process that helps the body respond to and heal an injury. But it also activates nerves and causes pain. When joints are inflamed, damage to bone, muscles and cartilage (the slick surface between bones of the joints) can occur. Examples of inflammatory arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout and ankylosing spondylitis.

Neuropathic pain happens when there’s too much or persistent pressure on nerves or they are damaged. It’s often described as burning, tingling, shooting, stinging or as “pins and needles.” Some people may describe a stabbing, piercing, cutting or drilling pain. An example of this type of pain is sciatic pain due to irritation of the sciatic nerve by a disc or bone spur. The pain starts at an area of the spine in the lower back and can run across the hip and buttock and down the leg.

 

Centralized pain was first used to describe pain that happens when the central nervous system (brain, brainstem, spinal cord) is damaged. It now is used to describe any pain that happens when the central nervous system doesn’t work properly and amplifies or increases the volume of pain. Other terms used to describe this condition include “central sensitization,” “central amplification” and “central pain syndrome.” Several common conditions, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and temporomandibular joint disorder are examples. Arthritis joint pain can also become centralized in some people, especially if it is long-lasting.

Psychogenic pain is an older term for what happens when emotions cause pain in the body, make existing pain worse or make it last longer. As doctors learn more about how the central nervous system works, fewer types of pain are put in this category. For example, fibromyalgia was once considered psychogenic, but new discoveries have shown problems with pain processing in fibromyalgia. Headache, muscle pain and low back pain are commonly influenced by your emotions.

Wishing you a pain free day

Deb

Posted in Arthritis, Awareness, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, Pain

World Arthritis Day!

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Today October 12, is World Arthritis Day!

Throughout the day you will see facts and info on arthritis and pain. There are over 100 forms of arthritis.

World Arthritis Day is a special day that unifies people of all ages, races, and genders to raise awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Nearly 54 million persons in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children! More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Approximately 2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Awareness
Arthritis is the nation’s number one cause of disability, affecting 1 in 4 adults, impacting the economy and causing daily struggles for the many people affected with arthritis.

Economically, over 156 billion dollars annually are lost in wages as well as medical expenses. Surgeries like knee, hip, and other joint replacements generate more and more medical expenses. In 2011 alone, there were 757,000 knee replacements and 512,000 hip replacements!

Arthritis affects our troops and veterans significantly. It is the leading reason for medical discharge from service in the military, and one in three military service members are diagnosed with arthritis, compared to one in five civilians. Members of the military over 40 are twice as likely as civilians to have arthritis. They would be diagnosed two years after a blast injury, while a non-military service member would be diagnosed about ten years later.

The risk of arthritis is increased with the affliction of other chronic conditions. For example, 49 percent of adults with heart disease have arthritis, and one third of arthritic people have anxiety or depression. Other conditions like diabetes, high blood-pressure, and obesity raise the chance of arthritis.

Daily life is impacted as well. Many adults have significant physical limitations: one in 9 adults report trouble climbing stairs, and one in 22 have trouble grasping. People with arthritis are less likely to be physically active than those not affected, although physical activity is effective to relieve pain and can improve function for those with arthritis.

What You Can Do
Today, help us spread awareness about arthritis and the impact it has on families, friends and loved ones. On #WorldArthritisDay, celebrate those with arthritis for their strength and determination.

Share your stories on social media, tag us so we can see your post, and use the hashtag

#CureArthritis #Pain

#Arthritis 

See my posts also on my fb awareness page  Awareness for Avascular Necrosis & Other Conditions of The Bone and Joints

WAD

Posted in Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Bone Health, High Heel Shoes, Inflammation, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Pain

High Heels When You Have Bone Problems

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Not the best idea I had, but let’s be real I’m 5’3 and I needed to wear heels 👠 or my pants would be dragging all over the floor.

Also I can fudge my way through hemming pants but I’d do much better if I owned a sewing machine.

But I since I wore these darn shoes I jacked up my knees the good one and the not so good one.

I am ready to throw them out that’s how bad my knees hurt.

So I am a mess this week.

I mean I cannot believe the pain and discomfort I feel.

So I did some research and did you know high heels are terrible on on body , not just the feet !

The entire body.

High heel lovers it’s time to confirm what you may have long suspected: heels aren’t great for your health.

This revelation may not really be that surprising considering high heels essentially force you to teeter around on your tip-toes all day, but what may come as a shock is exactly how much damage they are capable of doing.

Put it this way, it’s not just your feet that suffer.

Feet

Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up. What do high heels do to your feet? Short answer: nothing good.

“There’s some good evidence that when ladies walk in a high heel shoe, there is increased pressure on the front part of the foot,” Associate Professor Lloyd Reed from the QUT School of Clinical Sciences in podiatry told The Huffington Post Australia. “Particularly under the big toe joint, the first metatarsal.

“A lot of weight gets shifted over to the front there, and there is less pressure out near the little toe.

“The types of problems that we see [as a result of this] is something like a bunion on the big toe joint, or hallux valgus.

“Other problems can include corns and calluses on the feet, especially under the ball of the foot and then on the tops of the toes.

The pain under the ball of the foot is called metatarsalgia.

There is also something called Plantar fasciitis which some people would refer to as ‘heel spur syndrome’ which is pain directly under the heel.”

So reconsider your high heel addiction, take into account what Reed refers to as Haglund’s Deformity (mmmm. Sexy).

“That’s a bump on the back of the heel which can be quite painful when ladies are wearing their dress heels or court shoes,” Reed said. “It may be associated with using high heels for prolonged period.”

Not that pain is going to stop women from wearing heels any time soon. As Reed points out, one American study found 42 percent of women wore high heels in spite of pain for aesthetic reasons.

“There’s even some evidence to suggest women more likely to have inappropriately fitting shoes than blokes, even into older age,” Reed said. “And of course, people who have the worst fit in shoes are more likely to have problems with calluses and bunions and so on.

“Some of that also has to do with the style of high heel. For instance I know the fit of the shoe often has a tapered toe and narrow upper section, and that in itself can be a problem for the feet.”

Knees

“What happens when you wear high heels is that your heel is raised off the ground, which in turn makes your body start to push forward,” Associate Professor Kevin Netto and Director of Research at the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at Curtin University told The Huffington Post Australia.

“So you set up what is known as sheer force in your knee. Basically, the front part of your body is trying to fall forward and you are trying to pull it backwards by keeping yourself upright. It’s a constant battle.

“That’s why most people who wear really high heels will find their knees hurt rather than their ankles. Basically because of the sheer force you set up in your knee.”

Knee osteoarthritis is much more common in females than males in all ages. In fact the prevalence is about 30 percent higher in females.

In terms of the actual damage caused to a regular high heel wearer, Netto has this to say:

“If you cut their knees open, it would be a pretty disgusting mess. Cartilage in your knee helps cushion forces, and if you are wearing heels every day you keep tearing on it and pulling on it and pulling on it. As such, it tends to become quite worn, and that’s not something you can regenerate. It’s not regenerative material.”

Adds Reed: “There is evidence that when person walks [in high heels] they do a couple of things, and one of these is to increase the bending of the knee in order to improve their walking and adjust to the fact their ankle is not going to move as much.

“The consequences of this is it produces much more pressure, or more load, in the inside edge of the knee, in the medial compartment of the knee joint.

“Now, the medial compartment of the knee joint is the most common place for knee arthritis, and it has been shown knee osteoarthritis is much more common in females than males in all ages. In fact the prevalence is about 30 percent higher in females.”

Lower back

“There is a common thinking that when it comes to the back, what’s called the lumbar lordosis or the curve at the lower back will increase with higher heeled shoes,” Reed told HuffPost Australia.

“Scientific research is not conclusive with that. It’s very common on the internet but the scientific research is mixed on that front.

“What there is lots of evidence for is the increase in muscle activity in the lower back. Also there’s some increase in the abdominal muscles and, for some people, there’s an increase in muscle activity in the thoracic region of the spine and the neck.

“So effectively the increase in muscle demand can go right up through the body, from foot to leg to the lower back, to the middle back, up to the neck.”

“I challenge anybody to say they walk normally in really high heels. You don’t need a PhD in bio-mechanics to explain that one. Just look at someone’s gait.

Injuries

Put simply, those who wear high heels are at risk of doing themselves an injury. (Yes, even if you’re super talented at walking in the highest of stilettos, this means you.)

“Wearing high heels effects your centre of mass, which is basically the balance point in the body,” Netto said.

“Everyone has a balance point in their body, and to maintain your balance, you have to keep this little balance point over your base of support, which is your feet, basically. If you lose your balance then your balance point moves outside where it’s supposed to be.

“When you wear heels, you bring the balance point in your body higher, so you become less stable and much more prone to falling etc.

“The higher the heel, the more you are going to raise your centre of mass, and the more unstable you are going to become, which means you have a higher potential of falling.”

For those who are reading this thinking, ‘yeah… but I’m great at walking in heels, so this doesn’t apply to me’, Netto has this to say:

“I challenge anybody to say they walk normally in really high heels. You don’t need a PhD in bio-mechanics to explain that one. Just look at someone’s gait.”

According to Reed, a study over a ten-year period (from 2002-2012) in the United States revealed the rate of injuries suffered by ladies wearing high heels doubled within the decade (though they’re not sure why).

The highest rate of those injured were within the age bracket of 20 – 29, followed closely by 30-39

“The most common injury was a sprain or a strain in the foot or the ankle,” Reed said.

“There was also a similar study done in Victoria, conducted from 2006 – 2010, which looked at the number of injuries presenting to emergency departments which were directly attributed to a high heel shoe.

“All of the people injured were less than 55 years of age, and the most common injury was an ankle injury, which doesn’t really come as a surprise, as when ankle is flexed, it’s more prone to ankle sprains.”

Interestingly, most ladies presented with their injuries on Sunday mornings between 8am and 12pm.

“So perhaps due to a Saturday night injury,” Reed said. “We don’t know this for sure, but that’s what we may infer.”

More injuries were also reported in the summer months.

Recommendations

“Obviously we would recommend people don’t spend a lot of time in high heels,” Reed told HuffPost Australia. “And even if they have to wear a high heel, try and get the shape of the shoe to be slightly rounder or broader toe box to fit the foot. if possible.

“Sometimes we suggest that even if there’s a bit of heel height, a larger width of heel might be advantageous, particularly with the slip risk.”

Netto was more to the point.

“Don’t wear them. It’s pretty bloody simple,” he said. “It’s a bit like smoking, if you don’t want to get lung cancer, don’t smoke. If you don’t want a bad back and bad knees, don’t wear heels.

“Even if you feel you have to wear them, you don’t have to wear stilettos. They just aren’t called for. If you are going to have to wear something, wear something light and stay on your feet as little as possible.

“Look, in terms of recommendations, I’m not going to say very much. I don’t want to be an advocate for them.”

Reference

https://m.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/08/17/this-is-what-wearing-heels-all-day-does-to-your-body_a_21453115/

Posted in Ahlbacks Disease, Arthritis, AtomicBlonde, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Pain

Joint Pain

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

 Congratulations !  If you’re like me you are one of the 30 million adults in the United States who suffer with joint pain, you know the pain often is debilitating. It can keep you from staying active and limits your mobility and it even makes daily chores seem impossible. What you might not know is that many doctors can treat joint pain with more than just pills or surgery. Beware though some doctors will tell you about one procedure and then change it once they know your insurance example Medicare I felt one doctor thought less of me as a patient because I am disabled so he changed or tried to change the procedure. It pissed me off because I was all set to get the procedure we discussed and then he changed it.

Both procedures were covered under Medicare so I felt betrayed as if I wasn’t good enough for the other injection.

Newsflash people ….  on Medicare pay for the insurance hell I pay more than when I was working.

Make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

 

Depending on the severity of your pain, injections can be another option for easing your joint pain and help to get you moving again.

Doctors use these injections to try to reduce inflammation and pain in your joints some come with side effects and some risks.

The injections range from corticosteroids, which have been around for decades, to newer ortho-biologic injections like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) , Stem Cell and placental tissue matrix (PTM)

 

You and your physician will decide which one is best based on your individual needs. The issue is finding doctors qualified to do these.

Not every injection is right for every patient, in my case I hate steroid injections, not only did it make my pain worse it also comes with the risk of developing osteonecrosis. Something I already have. I have noticed that it seems like doctors are quick to prescribe and inject steroids. I stand my ground and refuse. But that’s me.

 

So here are some facts to help you know more about the options.

Corticosteroid injections

 

Use: This injection is the first line of defense against osteoarthritis symptoms and other joint pain in shoulders, knees and hips. Corticosteroids can offer relief for two to three months, and reduce inflammatory cell activity in the joint. In some people.

Side effects and Risks : As with all injections, there’s a small chance of infection about one in 1,000 as well as Joint infection.

Nerve damage.

Thinning of skin and soft tissue around the injection site.

Temporary flare of pain and inflammation in the joint.

Tendon weakening or rupture.

Thinning of nearby bone (osteoporosis)

Osteonecrosis lack of blood supply to the bone

Raised blood sugar level

Whitening or lightening of the skin around the injection site

Cost: Most insurance covers the $100 -$200 usd cost of these injections. Your insurance provider may require that you try at least one corticosteroid injection first to see whether it works. If not, you may move on to a different therapy.

 

Hyaluronic acid injections

Use: Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections often are used when corticosteroid injections don’t work. But they usually are approved only for use in the knee.

In some instances, doctors consider an HA injection first if you don’t have obvious signs of inflammation. HA also is a better option if you have diabetes, as corticosteroids can raise blood sugar levels.

Also known as gel injections, HA injections are chemically similar to your natural joint fluid.

When you have osteoarthritis which is different than osteonecrosis lucky me I have both, the joint fluid becomes watery.

So, this injection helps to restore the fluid’s natural properties and works as a lubricant and a shock absorber.

HA is a cushion or a buffer against inflammatory cells in the joint.  In some cases, it can stimulate the knee to start producing more natural HA.” Some physicians also believe that HA helps reduce pain by coating nerve endings within the joint.

One treatment, which may consist of between one and three injections, usually offers symptom relief for four to five months, but sometimes up to one years. However, pain and stiffness will return. Most insurance companies only approve one HA injection every six months.

In knees with osteoarthritis, the joint fluid (called synovial fluid) can break down and not provide the cushioning your knee needs

Durolane

Euflexxa

Hyalgan

Orthovisc

Monovisc

Supartz

Synvisc, Synvisc-One

Depending on which type your doctor uses, you may get a single shot. Or you’ll get three to five injections spaced a week apart.

 

Side effects: There’s a 1-in-100 chance of an inflammatory reaction, The most common short-term side effects are minor pain at the injection site and minor buildup of joint fluid. These get better within a few days.

 

Cost: HA injections cost more — about $300 to $850 per injection, but most insurance companies cover the cost for knee injections.

 

 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

Use: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can treat osteoarthritis joint pain, and are being thoroughly researched to understand their effects.

These injections use your own blood and platelets to promote healing. Platelets contain growth factors and proteins that aid healing in soft tissues. Research shows PRP injections can alter the immune response to help reduce inflammation,

Side effects: Side effects include a very low risk of infection and pain at the injection site. You must stop oral anti-inflammatory medications for a short amount of time if you get a PRP injection.

Cost: Insurance companies don’t generally cover PRP injections and you will pay between $400 and $1,300 per injection out-of-pocket.

 

Stem Cell Injections

The world’s most advanced regenerative injection treatments for treating knee pain due to arthritis, meniscus tears, traumatic ligament injuries, overuse conditions and other degenerative conditions.

 

Side effects : mild discomfort associated with the procedure. There is a very small risk of infection whenever aspirations and injections are performed. Nerve damage, vessel damage, and injury to other important structures are exceedingly rare

 

 

Placental tissue matrix (PTM) injections

 

Use: Placental Tissue Matrix (PTM) injections can very profoundly decrease the pain related to osteoarthritis.

 

These are injections of placental tissue, which is obtained after a healthy baby is delivered from a healthy mother. Research has discovered that there is a large number of growth factors in placental tissue that promote healing, Dr. Genin says.

Side effects: Side effects include a  low risk of infection and pain at the injection site. The placental tissue is “immune privileged,” which means the body would not have an adverse reaction to it.

Cost: Insurance companies don’t generally cover PTM injections; you will pay around $1,800 -$2500 per injection out-of-pocket.

 

Many of these injections often are effective in reducing or stopping your joint pain, but it’s important to remember that they may not keep the pain from returning, Dr. Schaefer says. In fact, they’re most effective when used with other therapies.

 

As a patient who has Osteonecrosis, Osteoarthritis, and other stuff I consider surgical options as a last resort only if other treatment options have failed. Unfortunately some treatments I cannot even afford to try. I wish the FDA would get a move on and approve some things so insurance companies can have this as a form of treatment.

 

 

 

 

Stem Cells

 

BONE MARROW AND FAT CELLS

The stem cells used in this point of care clinic are Autologous Cells that we take from your own body.  These cells are taken from your own Bone Marrow or Fat Cells.  The cells are your own Stem Cells and will not be rejected by your body.

Taking the Bone Marrow or Fat Cells from your body is relatively painless as a mild local anesthetic is used prior to harvesting.  These cells are processed to receive the most stem cell gain and then injected into the area of your body where you need the growth factors to go to work the quickest.  Your blood is also drawn and your platelet rich plasma is added to the Stem Cells taken from your Bone Marrow or Fat Cells to increase the activity of the growth factors.

It is important that these cells are used the day they are extracted from your body in order to insure they remain alive and active.  Our clinic does not grow extra stem cells from your Bone Marrow or Fat Cells to ensure that they are alive and active.  It is an FDA requirement that you receive your cells the same day they are harvested.

You get only the stem cells we extract from your body and there is no other manipulation used except extraction and preparation of the samples taken from your own body.  The cells are taken in a procedure that creates only mild discomfort or none at all.  Ninety nine percent of our patients experience no pain obtaining bone marrow or fat cells.

 

CORD STEM CELLS:

 

Embryo and Placenta stem cells can create certain types of cancers.  The cord blood Stem Cells should only be used if they are obtained from a healthy relative and you are a good match.  Cord Stem Cells that are used outside of the country or shipped to this country are illegal.  The FDA has found diseases in these grown cells and states that most of them are dead.  Even though the physicians supplying these Cord Cells claim they are safe to use, you should use extreme caution before considering these procedures.

 

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR THESE STEM CELL PROCEDURES

 

REBUILDING JOINTS & SPINE: The Stem Cells that are obtained from your body are placed into all joints and spine to rebuild and regenerate new tissue growth as determined by the clinic physician.   There has been clinical evidence that new cartilage can be grown within your joint provided you are determined a candidate by the clinical physician.  Not all patients will be a candidate and may require joint replacement.

 

TORN TENDONS:  If the patients tendons are not completely torn this procedure will produce new tissue growth to regenerate torn tendons. Our clinic physician can only determine this with an initial visit and evaluation.

 

 

 

How Does PRP Therapy Work?

To prepare PRP, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins and through a multi-functional process separates the plasma from the blood producing the PRP. This increases the concentration of platelets and growth factors up to 500% also increasing hMSC (human stem cells) proliferation as a function of 8-day exposure to platelet released concentrations 10x. (x= increase above native levels)

 

When PRP is injected into the damaged area it stimulates the tendon or ligament causing mild inflammation that triggers the healing cascade. As a result new collagen begins to develop. As this collagen matures it begins to shrink causing the tightening and strengthening of the tendons and ligaments of the damaged area.

 

What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP include growth factors among the huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins increase stem cell production to initiate connective tissue healing, bone regeneration and repair, promote development of new blood vessels and stimulate the wound healing process.

 

PRP Regenerates Tendons & Ligaments

Tendons connect the muscle to the bone making it possible for you to do many everyday physical activities. Overuse or damage to the tendon over a long period of time causes the collagen fibers in the tendons to form small tears, a condition called tendonitis. Damage to tendons most often occurs in the knees, ankles, hips, spine, elbows, shoulders, and wrists.

 

Ligaments are composed of collagen fibers that hold one bone to another, stabilizing the joint and controlling the range of motion. When a ligament is damaged, it is no longer able to support the bones in the joint, which often leads to pain symptoms. The instability causing the pain in your joints does not always show up on high tech imaging equipment. Through a thorough neurological and orthopedic evaluation Dr. Baum can determine which ligaments and tendons are unstable due to injury, wear or tear.

 

Tendons and ligaments have a poor blood supply and they do not usually heal from damage. Combined with the stress of day-to-day activities tendons and ligaments become inefficient causing degeneration of the joint which leads to chronic pain and weakness. Patients who experience chronic pain may not even remember when the injury occurred.

 

How Does PRP Compare With Cortisone Shots?

Studies have shown that cortisone injections may actually weaken tissue. Cortisone shots may provide temporary relief and stop inflammation, but may not provide long term healing. PRP therapy is healing and strengthening these tendons and ligaments and in some cases thickening the tissue up to 40%.

 

Treatment Plan

PRP injections with guided ultrasound can be performed on tendons and ligaments all over the body. Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, arthritic joints shoulder pain, hip pain, and knee pain, even the smaller joints of the body can all be treated effectively with PRP. Dr. Baum will determine whether prolo solution, Platelet Rich Plasma or a combination of both will be the most effective form of treatment for you during his initial consult and evaluation.

 

Frequency Of Treatments

While responses to treatment vary, most people will require 3 to 6 sets of injections of PRP. Each set of treatments is spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.

 

Is PRP Right For Me?

If you have degenerative spine or joint disease, a tendon or ligament injury, laxity or tear and traditional methods have not provided relief then PRP therapy may be the solution. It will heal tissue with minimal or no scarring and alleviates further degeneration and builds new tissues. There will be an initial evaluation with Dr. Baum to see if PRP therapy is right for you.

 

What Can Be Treated?

Platelet Rich Plasma injections helps regenerate all areas of the body including the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles as well as tendons and ligaments all over the body.  Dr. Baum is one of the few physicians performing PRP procedures to all areas of the spine.  Our clinic treats patients with sports injuries, arthritic and degenerative joints and degenerative disc disease. More specific injuries including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, scoliosis, ACL tears, shin splints, rotator cuff tears, plantar faciitis and iliotibial band syndrome may all be effectively treated with PRP.

 

What Are The Potential Benefits?

Patients can see a significant improvement in symptoms as well as a remarkable return of function. This may eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments such as long-term medication or surgery.

 

Special Instructions

You are restricted from the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) one week prior to the procedure and throughout the course of treatments.

 

Initially the procedure may cause some localized soreness and discomfort. Most patients only require some extra-strength Tylenol to help with the pain. Ice and heat may be applied to the area as needed.

 

How Soon Can I Go Back Regular Activities?

PRP therapy helps regenerate tendons and ligaments but it is not a quick fix. This therapy is stimulating the growth of new tissue requiring time and rehabilitation. Under Dr. Baum’s supervision patients will begin an exercise program immediately following the first procedure. During the treatment program most people are able to resume normal activities and exercise.

 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Matrix Graft by David Crane, MD and Peter A.M. Everts PhD

 

PRP application techniques in musculoskeletal medicine utilize the concentrated healing components of a patient’s own blood—reintroduced into a specific site—to regenerate tissue and speed the healing process

 

PRP INJECTION APPLICATION SITES

Spine

Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar/Sacral

Shoulders & Elbows

Wrist & Hand

Hip/Pelvis

Knee & Lower Leg

Ankle & Foot

Fingers & Toes

Arthritic Joints

Osteoarthritis

Some Osteonecrosis

 

 

 

 

Information

http://www.prolotherapy.com/PPM_JanFeb2008_Crane_PRP.pdf

https://drjamesbaum.com/wp-content/uploads/stemcells2002-0109.pdf

 

 

Important Videos Everyone Should watch on Biologics

https://drjamesbaum.com/2013/07/the-science-of-mesenchymal-stem-cells-and-regenerative-medicine/

 

Scientific Papers on Research of Stem Cells

https://drjamesbaum.com/stem-cells/scientific-papers/

 

 

 

knnz

 

I will be posting this in my other blog section also

Posted in Arthritis, Bone Health, Stop Smoking

The best time to quit is now

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Being a former smoker and quitting almost 2 years ago,I know how awful it is to smoke and how hard it can be to quit.

I was a smoker for 35 years and it’s crazy to say but I hated it yet thought it would be to hard to quit.

My daughter bought me an e cig called a white cloud to get me off the Kool 100s. In 2010.

It helped.

Seeing my husband recover from a heart attack and stent surgery was my cure in 2016.

( he quit and I quit)

These things stink.

Now they have pens and vape cigs that look like a flash drive.

They continue more poisonous nicotine that a cigarette.

If you use any of these stop. Yes it may be hard for a bit. But the cravings disappear and soon you will also find the smell horrible.

Save your life now.

Stop smoking

Stop smoking cigarettes

Stop smoking Vapes

Stop smoking liquid Juls

Stop smoking cigars

Stop smoking weed

Stop smoking blunts

That shit damages you lungs.

Here’s a link below on Electronic vs Tobacco

Electronic Cigarettes vs. Tobacco

The main ingredient in electronic cigarettes is nicotine. Nicotine has been linked to causing your adrenal glands to work harder due to its stimulatory effect on cortisol and adrenaline. Both of these stress-related hormones upsurge your heart rate, drastically constrict your arteries, worsen your blood lipid levels, intensify insulin resistance, and boost your blood pressure. Nicotine has also been found to increase the risk of cancer, as it interferes with apoptosis and promotes the growth of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, a building block of tumors.

In addition to getting nicotine from electronic cigarettes, most studies have found that you will most likely end up using tobacco at the same time, as a matter of practical reality for most people.

Using electronic cigarettes could help reduce the number of cigarettes you use, which alone decreases the risk of cancer, heart conditions, and many other conditions. The use of them has also helped many people succeed in quitting smoking, more so than people who decided to quit by trying to go cold turkey, which is not recommended if you are already a long-term smoker and have AFS.

However, smoking electronic cigarettes is not in itself good for you. Having prolonged stress causes heart conditions of many kinds, and adding electronic cigarettes to your routine only speeds the development of those conditions.

Electronic not the best way to beat stress