Posts Tagged ‘therapy’

Spa Therapy Relieves Arthritis Pain

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

With limited options for arthritis pain relief, many people are turning to nondrug alternatives. But how well do they work? A study out of Italy shows that a spa therapy combination of mud packs and mineral water baths might do the trick.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, leading to pain and disability that can interfere with everyday life. Drug therapies aimed to relieve arthritis symptoms like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin) and COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib) don’t come without a price: NSAIDs can cause serious gastrointestinal side effects and COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Analgesics like acetaminophen can also be used for mild to moderate arthritis pain, but taking higher amounts long-term can cause liver damage.

Muddy therapy

Spa therapies have been used for hundreds of years to treat various chronic diseases, including osteoarthritis, but few studies have documented their effectiveness. The new study, published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, compared a spa therapy program with usual care (exercise and pain-relieving medications) in 80 people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Half of the participants were treated daily at a spa center in Italy for two weeks. The therapy consisted of a combination of hot mud packs applied to both knees for 20 minutes and a hot mineral bath for 15 minutes. At the beginning of the study and again after two weeks, and three, six, and nine months, the people reported on the severity of their pain, quality of life, pain reliever intake, joint stiffness, physical function, and assessment of the treatment.

People in the spa therapy group reported significant improvements on all measures of pain and functionality which lasted throughout the entire study period, whereas no significant differences were seen in the usual care group. Pain reliever intake was significantly reduced until the sixth month after treatment in the spa group only. Almost 90% of the people rated the spa treatment as “good to excellent,” and only a few experienced minor, short-lived side effects. “Spa therapy can represent a useful backup to pharmacologic treatment of knee osteoarthritis or a valid alternative for patients who do not tolerate pharmacologic treatments,” concluded the study’s authors.

Why it works

The short-term effects of this combination therapy could be explained by the hot temperatures at which the therapies are carried out, reducing muscle spasm around the painful joint and increasing the pain threshold in the area. Mud baths can also raise the levels of natural pain-killers, providing temporary relief. Minerals present in the mud and baths may also be absorbed through the skin, allowing them to circulate throughout the body and exert more long-lasting effects. Future research may show whether mud packs and other mineral therapies available in stores also provide benefit.

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy

About Cold Laser Therapy and Chronic Pain

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Since Einstein’s discoveries in the early 1900’s, the LASER or Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation has been used and studied in a variety of fields. While it has been in use in the veterinary field for the past decade or so, it is only recently finding popularity in the field of chronic pain and chiropractics.

Cold Laser Therapy, or Low-Level Therapy, uses a monochromatic wavelength to penetrate 2-5 cm below the skin’s surface, and interact with light-sensitive elements on the cellular level. This stimulates a natural reaction in the body to increase the healing process, and provide temporary pain relief.

Uses:

Many studies have shown a significant reduction in chronic neck, shoulder and lower back pain with low-level therapy. There are also studies showing possible effects on bone growth, and an increased rate of healing with wounds, specifically burns and scars.

The Treatment:

The device itself is handheld, about the size of a small flashlight. Each treatment lasts less than 20 minutes, as the light is only emitted for a few minutes. The treatment can be repeated as often as necessary, and there are no serious negative side effects. Treatment prices range from $30 to $60 per session, and approved medical devices are approximately $4000, but not available for the public.

Results:

Patients have reported a temporary pain relief that they have not experienced with other procedures such as invasive surgery, chiropractic therapy, and pain medications. The reduced pain and increased functionality allows them to resume regular life activities that they were otherwise denied.

Alternative Benefits:

With other pain management solutions, there can be various issues and side effects. Surgeries are invasive and require ample recovery time, as well as exposure to infection and anesthesia. The medications required for surgery can have severe side effects, and pain medications can become addictive. If low doses of pain medications are being used as a solution, the effects on the patient’s motor skills can be very severe, which has the potential to significantly inhibit their lifestyle. Simple cold laser device treatments increase functionality and reduce pain without any detrimental side effects to daily life.

Natural solutions are becoming more and more popular in daily life; so cold laser therapy solutions might be the next big thing in pain management.

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy

Dealing With Chronic Pain

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Chronic pain is pain that does not go away. It can be the result of disease, injury, or chronic conditions of the body or mind. Chronic pain can also result from a combination of causes. In some cases, doctors may not be able to determine the exact cause of your chronic pain although they will be able to prescribe medications and therapies that may relieve the pain.

Chronic pain can lead to more than just long-term discomfort; it can lead to feelings of anger, depression, and low self-esteem. It often interferes with daily activities and can even cause frequent loss of work time that may cause a person to lose his/her job.

Common treatment for chronic pain is a combination of medications and therapy.

Medicines:

Long-acting medications are typically used for chronic pain because the pain is constant. These medicines vary by doctor and can include a combination of pain relievers, antidepressants, and also anticonvulsants. Your doctor will tailor your medications to your own individual needs. Just as there are different people, there are different types of pain. Different pains need different pain treatment.

There are several types of therapy that may be prescribed for your pain relief.

Therapy:

Several different types of therapy can ease pain. Your doctor may refer you to physical therapy. Physical therapy can help ease pain by stretching your muscles and exercises which helps to strengthen them. You may also be instructed on the use of low -impact exercises such as biking, swimming, or walking,

You will be encouraged to exercise daily in an effort to reduce your pain level. Exercise can actually reduce the amount of pain you are feeling and how often it is occurring.

How to be pain management partners with your doctor:

There are things you can do to help your doctor, to help you. You need to be able to communicate with your doctor concerning how much pain you are in and when you experience pain. Your doctor also needs to know the location of the pain and how often the pain occurs. It is also important to let your doctor know what makes your pain better or worse.

Other health issues that your doctor may review at this time are:

Do you have the presence of arthritis, any breathing problems or do you have any known heart conditions?

Understanding the answers to these questions helps the doctor to fully understand how the pain hinders coping ability. Understanding the answers to the stated questions gives the doctor a clear picture of your pain and clues as to what may be causing it.

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy

Pain Treatment

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

There are a number of ways to treat acute pain and chronic pain. A physician may recommend lifestyle improvements such as exercise, quitting smoking, stress management, reduced intake of alcohol, weight loss or diet. Other categories of interventions in pain management:

* Medication. The many classes of drugs used to address pain include:

- Analgesics (painkillers), including non-narcotics such as acetaminophen and opioids such as morphine

- Anti-inflammatory drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and COX-2 inhibitors) and corticosteroids

- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), to reduce joint damage caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

- Antidepressants, sometimes prescribed for certain types of chronic pain

- Anesthetics and interventional injections, which includes nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections and facet joint injections

* Therapy. Several health professions offer interventions to help deal with pain, including:

- Physical therapy, to increase strength, range of motion, coordination and balance

- Occupational therapy, to maximize function in daily activities such as dressing and cooking

- Manipulation therapy (e.g., chiropractic, massage therapy), to improve bodily movements

- Cognitive behavioral therapy, to help patients replace negative thought patterns with positive ones

* Modalities (physical agents). Examples of modalities that can relieve pain and increase function include:

- Thermotherapy (heat), such as ultrasound therapy
- Cryotherapy (cold)
- Hydrotherapy (water)
- Electrical therapy, such as TENS

* Complementary and alternative methods. It is best to consult a physician before trying treatments such as:

- Acupuncture, a Chinese practice inserting needles into trigger points
- Acupressure, a needle-free variation on acupuncture
- Biofeedback, which trains the mind to control bodily functions
- Glucosamine and chondroitin, supplements that might help some cases of arthritic pain

* Surgery.
If noninvasive measures are inappropriate (such as with appendicitis) or do not succeed, an operation may be necessary. Types include:

- Arthroscopy, involving small incisions
- Arthroplasty, such as a joint replacement
- Carpal tunnel release
- Spine surgery, such as laminectomy, fusion, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy

Using TENS To Relieve Pain

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

TENS is a contemporary, non-pharmaceutical pain relief treatment. The word “TENS” is actually an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator.

Its full name can be a little bit misleading, since many people associate “electrical” with shock and shock therapy. In reality, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator treatment, which is delivered through the use of a TENS unit, delivers a mild pulsing sensation, not shock.

TENS units are devices which deliver low levels of electrical currents topically (through the skin.)  The device creates a series of pulsing sensations.  The frequency and intensity of the pulses are controlled through knobs and/or buttons.  The electrical pulses are delivered from the device to the skin through the use of electrodes.  These electrodes are connected by wire to the TENS unit and applied to the skin, directly over the place where the pain relief is needed.

Depending on the nature of the injury or illness, doctors and therapists may start patients on a very low frequency and intensity of pulses.  They may gradually increase that level if the patient is comfortable and the condition warrants it.  Some units can actually be controlled by the patient, who can adjust the level him/herself to a level that is comfortable and provides the most benefit.

The length of the treatment itself often depends on the nature of the injury/illness.  A typical course of treatment for acute pain (i.e. post-op pain or accident injury) lasts for 6-8 weeks, with two to three sessions per week.  Individual sessions may last for ten to twenty minutes, and may be adjusted depending on the effectiveness of the treatment and the progress of healing.  TENS pain relief treatment for chronic pain (i.e. MS, arthritis) may be delivered on an ongoing and as-needed basis.

This therapy may be prescribed to alleviate pain from a range of illnesses or injuries.  TENS therapy may be prescribed for treatment of both chronic (pain that is recurrent, such as pain from osteoarthritis) and acute pain (pain that is the result of an injury that hasn’t healed completely.) It has been used to treat tissue and muscle damage (i.e. from a car accident or sports injury), pain resulting from surgery, strains (i.e. neck, back), tendonitis, arthritis and more.

There is conflicting information on the effectiveness of TENS pain relief treatment.  Research has only been conducted on a few specific types of pain, and in most of these cases has been shown to be moderately to highly effective.  Effectiveness usually depends upon the nature of the illness/injury, and the overall health and fitness of the individual patient.

TENS therapy has become a fairly routine form of treatment for pain and rehabilitation after an accident or operation.  A majority of patients who receive TENS therapy report at least a small level of pain relief.  Many find the treatment very effective, and most physical therapists agree that it may significantly shorten the duration of healing.  It is also an excellent alternative to drug treatments, especially when used on a regular basis during recovery.

TENS units are found in two basic types.  They may be found in the form of a home device, which patients can use in their own homes as needed (or prescribed) rather than requiring a doctor’s or therapist’s visit.  These units typically deliver lower levels of electricity and pre-programmed programs of treatment.

The other type of TENS unit is more complex.  It usually has the potential to deliver higher electricity levels than home units, and therefore must be administered under the supervision of a doctor or therapist and is usually only available through medical supplies dealers.

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy

5 Simple Solutions For Back Pain Relief

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Millions of individuals all around the world suffer from some sort of back pain or anther. Like you, they all do their best to find the solution for relieving their pain. Back pain can interrupt your daily life whether you suffer from the type of back pain that may come from improper lifting and strains to your back.

These types of pain can generally find relief by taking over the counter pain medication and deep tissue massage. However, when you suffer from chronic back pain the story can be much different. It can be challenging to find the solution for relieving this type of back pain, since everyone is different and various methods of pain relief works or does not work, according the individuals condition.

In order to relief your back pain, you will need to do a bit of research on your personal condition to find out about the various choices of treatment. Get into a regular exercise routine, while protecting you body, by paying attention to its pain signals. It is in your best interest not to continually concentrate on the pain you feel, while learning to change any pain habits you may have. Since changing these habits aid in uplifting your feelings about yourself and your pain.

You should also consider seeking support, while creating your own pain management plan of tracking the progress of the methods you use, to find out which gives you the relief you seek. Most importantly, you should stay positive in your attitude, by thinking positively, keeping your sense of humor about you. You should be eating a well balanced diet and exercising daily and enjoying your daily activities when you are with others or alone.

There are natural body controls, such as intense concern for others and outside controls such as medications, physical therapy, heat and cold methods, exercise and relaxation as well as massage techniques that aid in controlling the signals of pain our body feels when dealing with back pain symptoms. When you suffer from back pain, there are several methods you can choose from to aid your relief, these include, limiting and moderating as little medication for pain as you can handle.

Increasing your social and physical activities and enjoying an active lifestyle, changing any habit of pain you have that may be interrupting your life, such as consuming alcohol or staying in bed all day for relief, as well as eagerly learning new methods of reducing your pain. Of course, you must understand that different methods work better for some individuals, than they do for others. You will be working to find and practice the right methods for reducing your own personal pain.

One solution for relieving you pain is to visit your family physician and talking with him or her concerning your condition, while being enthusiastic about working as a team to find the best pain relief for your particular condition. You can help your physician understand your pain by being able to explain the location, the frequency and severity of your symptoms as well as letting the physician know what make the pain feel worse or better. After doing so, your physician will be able to help you figure out the best solution for relieving you pain.

Some of things you may be counseled to do is:

1. Use heat and cold treatments for relief

Heat treatments may include soaking in warm water or using a hot water bottle or heat packs, using a heating pad for a limited amount of time, as well as using an electric blanket and flannel sheets for warmth as well as warming your clothing in a dryer before putting them on. Or try dipping you hand in a paraffin bath to relieve your pain symptoms. You may also find relief by alternating heat and cold water bath treatments. Cold treatments would include using ice packs or frozen vegetables on the area of your pain. However, you should always practice safety first when working with heat and cold treatments, for the best results.

2. Wisely using your joints and exercising

Wisely using your joints include, being aware of your body position, avoiding activities that cause you pain, while planning ahead to simplify your daily tasks, using most often your strongest and largest muscles and joints. You should always practice proper lifting techniques, not staying in one position for extended periods of time, learning to balance your times of activity and rest as well as having a healthy respect for your pain.

3. Relaxation

Relaxation techniques may include, guided imagery to help you focus on images that bring pleasure, prayer, hypnosis, which aids by focusing attention internally, rather than persisting with concentration on your other thoughts or anxieties. You may consider using biofeedback, which involves very sensitive electrical equipment that measures the reactions of your body, as well as the use of audio tapes for relaxation guidance.

4. Counseling, Support and Pain Clinics

Counseling and support involve working with others, such as your physician, nurse or even a physical or occupational therapist as well as a counselor, psychologist, social worker and your pharmacist, depending upon your condition and the type of support you need. Counseling, support groups and pain clinics, involves being unafraid to seek out help when you need someone to talk with about the pain and stress you encounter with back pain. You can always ask your physician for his recommendations of these types of pain relief options to find out where to find them.

5. Other techniques for pain management

These pain management techniques for pain relief may include such things as, using splints to reduce pain and swelling, getting a good restful nights sleep, which aids by restoring your spirits and energy daily. Or you may use of topical deep heating lotions and massage techniques. You may even consider transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS, which is a small electrical device that uses mild pulses of electricity to stimulate the nerves influenced in painful areas.

When you suffer from upper or lower back pain, with or without arthritis, you should know that you are not alone in your fight to be pain-free or to at least decrease the amount of pain you feel. There are others who are able to help you deal with and control your pain, as well as some really inspiring methods and techniques you can try when searching for just the right type of solution for your pain.

buy cheap tramadol pain relief no prescription drugs
FedEx overnight shipping no prescription drugs online pharmacy