Floral Park Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is very taxing on the joints, and many patients tend to minimize their movements, hoping to relieve some of the pain. And while that is understandable, it is not an effective way to control joint pain. Despite being initially uncomfortable, physical activity has been proven to be one of the best pain relievers for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The proven benefits range from increase in range of motion and flexibility, enhanced joint function, and improved moods. Notably, before attempting any exercise programs, it is essential to consult your doctor for the go-ahead, and afterwards, work with a credible physical therapist to develop a program that suits your condition. Best Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain There is a wide range of exercises that your therapist can recommend based on the severity of your condition and health status. However, the most effective exercise for relieving rheumatoid arthritis pain are: 1. Stretching Stretching is ...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health condition that can be diagnosed easily using a combination of physical exam, medical history analysis, and x-ray. However, predicting the progression of this medical problem has always been very difficult to do. Nevertheless, recent scientific studies have revealed that there is one particular indicator that can be very useful when it comes to determining the progression of this condition. Medical research has shown that Osteoarthritis patients who have high levels of uric acid are likely to experience a faster progression of OA. In order to fully understand the correlation between high uric acid and osteoarthritis, it might be beneficial to analyze this compound in depth. So what is Uric Acid? Uric acid is a chemical substance that is created when the body breaks down compounds known as purines, which are found naturally in human cells as well as in specific types of foods. Some of the foods that contain high amounts of uric acid i...

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that often comes with severe joint pain and tenderness. It is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body, which then settles in the joints in the form of crystals. Normally, uric acid, which is produced during the breakdown of purines (found in foods such as peas, anchovies, and beer) is supposed to be excreted with the other body wastes. However, in instances where the uptake of high-purine foods is unchecked, the body is not able to excrete all the purine on time, which easily causes gout. As such, knowing what foods to avoid for gout and which ones to eat can help you control gout flares, or prevent gout if you don't have it. Below are some important things you should know in regards to dieting and controlling gout. What Foods Trigger Gout Attacks? As mentioned above, foods that contain purines are a big factor in the development, or reoccurring of gout. These foods include all types of red meat, dried beans, all types of alc...

Despite all the advances in modern medicine, there is still no cure for diseases such as arthritis. While it may not be as fatal as cancer, or as contagious as HIV, arthritis is a very painful condition that can significantly reduce the quality of life of most patients. One of the much-touted ways of lessening arthritis pain is controlled weight loss. This is even more important, considering that up to two-thirds of all adults with arthritis are obese, or overweight. When we talk about weight loss, you probably think about going to the gym 4-5 days a week. However, research shows that dieting - an oft-forgotten but crucial component of weight loss programs - will help you reduce weight faster on its own compared to exercising. That being said, you can achieve even better results by combining healthy nutrition and regular physical activity. Here's how a lower body weight will help with your arthritis: Reduces Pressure on Joints Studies show that for obese adults suffer...

Cold weather and joint pain are almost synonymous. Most people who have conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis often experience the worst bouts of pain, stiffness, and aches during cold seasons.  So why does cold weather cause joint pain? Scientists and researchers are yet to find out the reason why cold weather causes pain and stiffness in your joints. However, various hypotheses suggest that dropping temperatures leads to a drop in barometric pressure.  As the pressure drops, your muscles, tendons and joints are likely to expand, thus causing pain and discomfort. This is mainly because your body cannot accommodate the expanding parts adequately.  Who are more vulnerable to joint pain during cold seasons? Anyone can feel the effects of dropping temperatures regardless of your physique or overall health. However, people with conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis are more susceptible to the effects of cold ...

Fastening your seat belt is one of the essential rules of road safety. In the same breath, buckling up can turn out to be your worst nightmare, as far as managing arthritis pain is concerned. It is therefore not surprising that most people with arthritis prefer not to fasten their seat belts when traveling due to the persistent pain. Here are some tips that can make fastening seat belts a breeze. Test it out Seat belts come in different shapes, sizes and designs. These distinct features can affect the ease by which you buckle your seat belt. Considering this, you are advised to test your seat belt in advance before you embark on your journey. Practicing early will help you establish how to buckle the belt without harming your painful joints. Spare small joints Arthritis normally affects nearly all the joints, including your finger joints. With this in mind, you should opt to push the seat belt release button using your palm or a household item such as a wooden spoon, to...

Most adults suffer from back pain at some point in their life. Although the pain may occur anywhere around the back, the most common area affected is the lower back. This is mainly because it carries most of the body weight. Notably, lower back pain can occur while standing or sitting for a prolonged period. You may also feel pain when there is an active spinal movement, especially when bending. So what are the causes of lower back pain? Increased Activity of the Trunk Muscles When the truck muscles are over-activated, you may experience sudden back pains. This mainly occurs when: Climbing up the stairs Standing up or sitting down  Bending forward to pick or drop and Object  The pain may be triggered by abnormal movement of muscles, in an effort to protect the spine. As a result, some muscles may be activated more than others, hence causing pain while performing specific tasks. Tumours or Cancer in the Sacrum In rare circumstances, tumours in the sacrum...

There are more than 40 million people in the US and 350 million worldwide who suffer from arthritis. Notably, the condition tends to spread evenly across all ages, irrespective of gender. In the past, arthritis often affected the seniors as they age past 60 years. However, the new trend in children and youth is worrying. With more than a quarter-million children affected, the war against arthritis is being waged to stop the spread. Although the disease can be treated using medications, there are different exercise programs that can help relieve fatigue and pain, while preserving joint function and structure. So what are the benefits of exercise? A tailored exercise program that includes a balance of strengthening training, endurance and range-of-motion – can prevent inflammation and protect your muscles and joints from any further damage. Below are some of the benefits of these exercises: Increase muscle strength and flexibility Maintain the bone strength Reduce pressure on...

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that gradually causes some parts of the vertebrae to fuse. If left untreated, the disease can spread to the ribs and other parts of the spine, making them rigid. Consequently, the inflexibility of the spine causes a stooped posture, and the patient may have difficulty breathing. Notably, various statistics suggest that men are more vulnerable to developing the disease than women. The reason for this revolves around the physical nature of the jobs most men indulge in. Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis The signs of Ankylosing spondylitis normally begin to manifest themselves in early adulthood. The most common symptoms include back and neck pain, stiffness in the lower back or hips, and fatigue.  Moreover, most symptoms appear early in the morning, and after long periods of inactivity. These symptoms may either worsen or improve over time, depending on the severity of the disease.  In some cases, the symptoms may...

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that often leads to total, or major damage to various body organs. Some of the most affected organs include the brain, lungs, and skin, to the heart. So what is autoimmunity?  Autoimmunity is basically a situation where the body's immune system can't differentiate between the normal body cells and tissues from viruses, bacteria and germs. As a result, it generates and directs antibodies to fight everything, including healthy tissues, and hence the destruction of entire organs. What makes Lupus dangerous is that diagnosis is not as straightforward as with other diseases. This is because the symptoms of Lupus are very similar and commonly confused with those of other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Notably, Lupus is not contagious, and patients can live and interact freely with their friends and family. Unfortunately, though, Lupus is incurable, but the right treatments can help reduce the pain and ...

Do you struggle with OA and pain? You may have no idea that you are dealing with osteoarthritis until you are diagnosed. Getting your OA diagnosed through your medical history, physical exams, x-rays, and more is pretty simple. However, predicting the way that it will manifest in each individual can be tough. The progression and how much it will get worse for each person is difficult to pin down ahead of time. Researchers now might have found an indicator that may help them with predictions, however. Could it be in the form of uric acid levels in high amounts?  Frequently associated with having gout (a different arthritis form), uric acid in high levels but no gout may indicate that their OA progresses faster than other people's might. This was in a 2017 Arthritis & Rheumatology research article. Learning About Uric Acid What is uric acid ? This is a substance that forms in the body naturally when purines are broken down. These are found in ...

Could your back pain be gout? Back pain can be distracting and just painful. What's causing your lumbar to ache? It could be any number of things. Could your back pain be symptoms of gout ? Rheumatologists over the past decade have recorded more gout cases appearing in spines. This arthritis is a form of inflammation and it comes with back or neck pain, arm/leg tingling, or numbness, it could be not just pain-- it could be gout. Is Spinal Gout Common? Spinal gout is rare. A 2016 study in European Spine Journal documented just shy of 150 cases in medical journals describes. However, Theodore Fields (M.D.) suggests that spinal gout may be more common than expected. Early studies suggest there's more spine gout than previously thought. One explanation for low numbers is that doctors might not be looking for gout. He adds that patients with this type of gout typically have a history of having it in other locations. Gout will affect the jo...

What are the main signs of fibromyalgia? When it comes to fibromyalgia , the most common symptom that people experience is pain. The main side effect is believe to occur because of an increased sensitivity when it comes to pain stimuli. Pain can be caused as well by a variety of situations. These could be changes in the weather, various noises, and even stress. However, pain can also pop up totally unrelated to outside events too. With this condition, pain characteristically will show up in physical areas of the body that include the chest, arms, upper back, shoulders, neck, and buttocks. Localized areas,  called tender points, in the body might be tender when you touch them lightly as well. These are found in the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, breastbone sides, and back of your head. What are other symptoms that are associated with having fibromyalgia? Being tired, having malaise, being fatigued Having poor quality or disturbances in your sle...

When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, it can be tough. The normal stresses of everyday living, blue light and screen time at night, staying up too late, not getting quality sleep, waking up too early, and more can all contribute to making a decent night of sleep difficult to achieve. Add into the sleep equation some arthritis pain , and you might end up finding that you are situated on the sleep equation's short end more often than you would like. Pain-Sleep Connection You may not know it (or maybe you do), but sleep and pain are actually closely connected. When you experience pain throughout the daytime, it can affect the quality of sleep that you get at night for the worse. A bad night of sleep can also have a relationship with the pain and even increase it the following day. In order to go into sleep mode, the body and the mind must be able to gradually calm down. That can be tough to accomplish when you're actively feeling pai...