Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

Estimates report there are at this time 45 million Americans suffering from painful or crippling arthritis. Many others are suffering from arthritis type symptoms, bursitis, fibromyalgia and gout.
Currently, the general perception from both the medical establishment and the public is that arthritis is a stress disease treated with anti-inflammatories and cortisone. The disease is regarded as progressive and has no known cure. Is that really the case?

A serious problem with this perception is the absence of information explaining the origin of stress and as a result the potential opportunity to work to correct the source of the disease. Dr. Swilling who is the consultant to this project has spent 25 years in research to reveal the origin of illness and disease origin of illness and disease, presents breakthrough research explaining the origin of arthritis and describes how this has led many to experience effective healing, reversal of symptoms and return to good health.
The scientific literature offers a number of factors known to contribute to the stress including the following:

1. Poor Nutrition and Diet

2. Inadequate Digestion

3. Emotional, Relationships, Occupational

4. Environmental Pollution

5. Infection

6. Parasites

7. Poor Posture

8. Past Surgeries or Injuries

Dr. Swilling goes beyond the obvious to explain the impact of the above factors in the development of stress. He demonstrates examples of four important factors in the development of the disease.

1. That stress is a breakdown of a biochemical balance leading to a switch from an anabolic to a catabolic state. That this catabolic state creates inflammation that initiates the arthritis. A continuing imbalance perpetuates the catabolic damage that is the progressive degeneration of the disease. When this process is understood by the arthritic patient who is guided into a TCH Arthritis Support Program focused on restoring the biochemical balance, the catabolic process is reversed to initiate reduction of inflammation, healing and return to good health.

2. His breakthrough research reveals that the breakdown of electrolyte balance leads to an altered pH increasing acid levels further accelerating inflammation and damage.

3. Unnatural fast food, alcohol, sugar based food, coffee and soda drinks that become acid waste.

4. The accelerated damage resulting from free radical damage due to inadequate oxygen, water and the unnatural free radical activity generated by food cooked in microwave and deep-fried.

Other factors known to accelerate the damage caused by any of the four examples above are described as follows:

Nutrition and Diet

Our creator intended we be supplied all the essential nutrients from plants grown in rich nutrient topsoil, unpolluted water and oxygen from clean air. These nutrients are used by the body to produce energy and functions responsible for good health into youthful aging to ages 129-135. However, due to unnatural farming practice, plants are grown in depleted soil. Chemical fertilizers and herbicides are absorbed into the plants and thereafter into the food chain.

To add insult to injury, our staple foods are refined and processed, further depleting the essential health giving nutrients, polluted with chemical additives to extend shelf life, imitate natural taste and so on.

Our water and air is polluted. When nutrients are no longer sufficient to meet the required levels, deficiencies and imbalance lead to symptoms, illness and disease.
Dr. Swilling has revealed breakthrough research in the subject of Nutritional deficiencies particularly in regard to a mineral deficiency leading to depleted electrolyte chemistry and a corresponding shift in the critical pH balance responsible for the development of the disease (This subject is explained in a book by Dr. Swilling - Minerals Key to Vibrant Health and Life Force).

Medical opinion is that Arthritis has no connection with nutrition and diet. They do not have the training or the comprehension of biochemistry and that arthritis is in fact a manifestation of a serious depletion of resources unable to meet the demands of stress. An extensive number of studies have measured the severe demand on resources during stress especially related to protein, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and all other nutrients.

These studies explain how stress in all of its many forms trigger a biological and biochemical response to convert storage sites to make available resources necessary to meet the demands of stress. This response is familiar to all when a stress situation causes the heart to pump vigorously, pulse to accelerate and blood pressure to rise.

When these storage sites become depleted (such as glycogen in the liver) then hormones (such as pituitary, adrenal, thyroid) are released to become active in what is described as a catabolic chemistry (opposite to anabolic). Catabolic chemistry attacks cellular tissue to release resources not available from storage sites.

The more serious, prolonged or frequent this shortfall, the more damage. The other interesting evidence is that this catabolic chemistry targets weak sites. It is this target site that becomes the inflammatory site that develops into the arthritis. Depending on the site, the extent of the damage and collateral chemistry, so is the type of arthritis determined. In a systemic arthritis, the synovial fluid has become acid due to waste and chemicals.

In other studies, nutritional deficiencies and imbalances lead to altered states of cellular, neurological and bone structure, manifested as different forms of the disease.

Studies have revealed that most persons with arthritis have been under severe stress before the onset of the illness; that their diets are appallingly deficient in many respects; and that the level of vitamins in their blood, particularly vitamin C and pantothenic acid, is extremely low.

2. Poor Nutrition and Diet

Poor diet and nutrition means the following:

a. Processed food such as white rice noodles, especially when combined with sugar based food, spicy and salty food.

b. Too much carbohydrate and sugar changes the pH of the digestion, depletes pantothenic acid and essential digestive enzymes.

3. Inadequate Food

Does not meet the nutritional needs of daily requirements.

In particular, long gaps between meals. Those who skip breakfast or who have a skimpy breakfast of coffee or tea and toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and a long gap before dinner.
There are thousands of studies reporting the severe distress following processed food intakes and how they cause the blood sugar to peak followed by a severe dive. These severe swings between peaks and dives use energy from storage sites leading to hormonal responses and increased risk of catabolic damage.

4. Inadequate Nutrition

Satisfying the demands of stress is the most challenging objective for an arthritis patient. Thousands of arthritics have been shocked to learn that their skimpy breakfast and main meal at the end of the day was so inadequate as to be the cause of their disease. The degree of inadequateness can be explained as follows:

a. The skimpy breakfast may be adequate for a person who does not have the frustrations of work, the discipline and demands on conduct and performance, stressful relationships and so on.

The fact is the skimpy breakfast and average dinner does not meet the stress demand of a modern lifestyle. When the day begins with a good breakfast, follows with a nutritious lunch and dinner, the odds improve substantially. Arthritics improve more dramatically when they can manage 6 nutritious food and snack intakes daily.

b. Research reveals a meal cooked in a microwave oven has had most of its food value destroyed. In addition many other side effects that accelerate free radical activity and catabolic damage.

c. A meal fried in deep oil as is provided by well-known chicken fryers accelerate catabolic damage (due to free radicals from heated oil). Many venders recycle oil several times to save money.

5. Inadequate Assimilation

Studies demonstrate how poor diet, long gaps between meals and frequent stress leads to changes in the pH of the digestive tract that depletes pantothenic acid, HCL and enzymes essential to achieve efficient digestion of protein and assimilation of nutrition needed to meet the demands of stress.

6. Chemical Poisoning

Chemicals absorbed from body contact such as cosmetics, nail varnish and antiperspirants. Add to this household cleaners, soaps and so on.

7. Environmental Pollution

Many arthritics have traced their condition to pollution such as chemical exposure from occupation: examples include insecticide spraying, painters, printers, and those working in factories using chemicals. Farmers using chemical fertilizers and gardeners using chemical sprays are also susceptible.

8. Parasites, Bacteria, Fungus and Viruses

Parasites, bacteria and viruses penetrate damaged cells due to catabolic and acid waste damage. This is particularly so for viruses that are harmless when outside the cell. When these invaders penetrate cells they multiply thereby further increasing acid and inflammation.

9. Mental and Emotional Stress

In another category, studies revealed that those who worsened even when they adhered to a good diet, stress could be traced to frustration resulting from work and personal relationships. Patients trained to become aware of this kind of stress and guided as to the action necessary to remedy this, healed dramatically.

Arthritis can develop early in childhood as in Stills Disease or over decades depending on the source of stress. The evidence is that many arthritics are unable to release the emotional stress associated with suppressed desires, the strict disciplines imposed by a strict parent, the loss of a loved one, the pent-up frustration of an unhappy relationship or the loneliness of a solitary life cycle. In all of these the individual perpetuates the stress as though the circumstances cannot be altered. When this fact is recognized, or brought to the individual's attention leading to a conscious effort to confront the source, a seemingly miraculous cure is a recorded experience with many involved. Others will consult a counselor and have a similar experience.

Successful healing has also been achieved when sufferers have commenced a new hobby or interest such as learning a new musical instrument, painting, indoor gardening or service to the church. When stress relates to an unhappy or frustrating work situation, a new training certification conducted after hours has led to a better position or a change in occupation.

10. Medication and Drugs

Cortisone

The hormonal connection to the disease Arthritis remained a mystery until it was shown that remarkable results were obtained when cortisone was given. However, the side effects are more often worse that the disease. Such results indicated that persons with arthritis were in the exhaustion stage of the stress reaction and that their pituitary and/or adrenal glands could no longer function normally.
Since this knowledge became available, arthritic individuals have often improved remarkably after following a diet designed to restore exhausted glands to stimulate natural cortisone production and to meet the increased nutritional needs of stress.

Minimizing Side Effects of Cortisone

The Aside effects@ of cortisone therapy such as ulcers, pancreatitis, de-mineralized bones, and diabetic-like symptoms are far less severe when pantothenic acid is generously supplied; if ACTH is given without simultaneously increasing pantothenic acid, the adrenal glands can be severely damaged.
Since 10,000 milligrams (10 grams) of pantothenic acid have been given daily with only good results, there need be no fear of taking too much. After an adequate diet has stimulated the natural hormone production, medication is rarely needed.

A diet low in salt and unusually high in protein together with all the B vitamins greatly decreases the toxic effects of cortisone.

A side effect of Cortisone is increased sodium causing water retention and a potassium deficiency.
Adrenal Stress and Sodium

When investigation clearly indicates adrenal exhaustion, salt (sodium) which is lost from the body when the adrenals are exhausted, salty food or salted nuts may be recommended for the recovery period.
The Impact when Medication is Given

No nutrient interferes in any way with cortisone, ACTH, or aspirin therapy. However each of these medications increases the need for vitamin C, especially aspirin which destroys huge quantities of this vitamin.

11. Infection and Antibiotics

Infection such as staphylococcus is a major challenge to the immune system and a severe stress to the support systems. Staphylococcus is known to enter bone leading to inflammation and destruction.

12. Posture

Chiropractic adjustment better described as postural integration is essential to ensure that postural stress is removed to allow for maximum healing. Very often incorrect posture leads to stress sites that become inflamed. When posture is corrected at the same time as lifestyle and nutrition, dramatic results can be seen within a few weeks.

Altered pH acid and alkaline balance

Dr. Swilling uses the above examples to demonstrate that whereas health functions in an alkaline environment, an acid environment manifests illness and disease.

He maintains that the unnatural factors described above, alters the alkaline synovial fluid which acts as lubrication for more than 68 joints from alkaline to acid. It is this acid fluid that is the cause of inflammation, pain and damage of the synovial membrane, as well as the cartilage protecting the head of the long bones. Poor nutrition, particularly a deficiency of protein (amino acids) and calcium weaken the cartilage to become more vulnerable to the acid damage.

Debris from catabolic and free radical damage, acid waste from unnatural food, side effects of medication, chemicals, toxic waste from parasites, fungus, bacteria and viruses results in a cumulative toxic acid load. He explains, that factors such as electrolytes, oxygen, water, and nutrients are the balancing forces used to prevent build-up of acid wastes. However these balancing forces have become depleted due to unnatural lifestyle, depleted nutrient farm produce, processed food, polluted environment, inadequate water and the stress of mental and emotional life experience.
In his book Minerals Key To Vibrant Health and Life Force, he explains how the initial shift to acid is due to depleted minerals. When organic minerals are well supplied, the electro-charged anions are effective in maintaining an alkaline pH. He uses a special brand of electrolytes, detoxification, organic food, methods of food preparation and other therapies to reverse the acid pH.
Avoid Delay

Chronic aches and pain, particularly in the joints should be evaluated without delay, not as a medical condition requiring a painkiller, but as a stress induced biochemical imbalance.
Emphasis should be directed to an investigation to determine the source of the stress and the implementation of a program of lifestyle change, detoxification and a good well balanced nutrition to restore healing, restore the balance leading to restoration of the anti-stress chemistry, the immune system and a smart approach designed to confront sources of tension, mental and emotional stress.
TCH Self-Help Arthritis Support Program

Supervised by Dr. Swilling, TCH offers a support program initiated with a BioMedical Health and Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire conducted on-line. See http://www.takechargeofyourhealth.biz
A response report to completed questionnaire includes a recommended individualized program including daily protocol for nutrition, diet and supplements as well as detoxification.

The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis results in damage due to wear and tear on the cartilage of your bones. Healthy cartilage is smooth which allows your joints to move freely and tough, to act as a shock absorber between your bones. But in osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down in slow stages:

1. It becomes soft, frayed, and less elastic.

2. Large sections wear away completely, letting the ends of bones rub together.

3. As a result, your bone ends thicken, and the joints may change shape, grow spurs (bony growths), and develop fluid-filled cysts.

No one knows for sure what causes osteoarthritis or even if it is actually age-related, but heredity, obesity, injury, and overuse all appear to play roles in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it is mostly found in the knees, spine, fingers, big toes, and hips. Men are especially likely to suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip.

Here are the helpful tips to lower your risk of developing osteoarthritis:

1. Exercise

It can be your best tool against osteoarthritis because exercise strengthens your muscles and works to keep your joints flexible. Exercise can also help you to maintain a healthy weight (or lose weight if necessary). Obesity is often considered a factor in some types of arthritis. However, be sensible: Don't overdo high-impact aerobics such as running. And if a particular joint (for example, those in your knees, ankles, and feet) starts to suffer from overuse, change your exercise regimen. Try low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming and stretching exercises to loosen your joints, increase your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and more important, relieve arthritis pain.

2. Protect your knees against injury during sports, starting in your teens

Wear protective gear such as knee and elbow pads when playing contact sports or other, riskier sports such as in-line skating.

3. Sit straight and don't slump

Your mother was right! Good posture, whether sitting or standing, can help reduce the pressure on the joints, especially those in your spine.

4. Learn to perform your job without stressing your joints

If your job requires repetitive movement (such as typing) or movement that stresses your joints, be sure to vary your activities and working position as much as possible.

5. Safety First

Some safety concerns that may help to prevent osteoarthritis in your daily life, for example, wear a seat belt to prevent injury to your knees (and other body parts) in case of a car accident.

So you have arthritis knee pain? You are not alone. Unfortunately it is a reality for many of us over the age of 50. We suffer from arthritis pain in some form.

I know for many of us, we have been so consumed with our careers and family life that we have neglected to take care of ourselves to our own detriment.

All of a sudden we are faced with aches and pain in our knees and other joints that we never intended to have at this point in our lives.

Arthritis knee pain affects our mobility and freedom to do the activities we enjoy like walking, golfing, biking and fishing. So what can we do about it? Well we can sit back and do nothing or we can learn ways to alleviate arthritis pain.

Here are 3 great tips to decrease arthritis knee pain.

1) Exercise - Exercise is one of the most effective thing we can do to decrease arthritis pain. Simple exercises like walking 30 minutes a day has so many benefits. Exercising causes us to release endorphins which are our natural pain killers. The result is decrease pain and improve joint mobility.

2) Epsom Salts - 2 cups of Epsom salts in a tub of warm water do wonders for arthritis knee pain. Not only is it relaxing but Epsom salts when absorbed in the body causes us to release toxins and excess mineral deposits. Excess mineral deposits in the joints has been linked to one of the causes of arthritis.

3) Omega 3 Oil - Eating fish such as salmon and mackerel has great benefits also. These fish are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids which is known to decrease arthritis inflammation.

These tips can work wonders for your arthritis pain if they are implemented. Remember - Arthritis knee pain did not happen over night so implementing these tips now will help prevent further knee damage later on.

As simple as it may seem, to simply knock down the pins by throwing a ball at them, bowling is not all that easy. Different people meet with different kinds of problems, while bowling. Crossing foul line, losing balance, incoherent throw of ball are some of the common problems that bowlers face. In this article, we will learn how to avoid these common problems by applying simple solutions to them.

A Common Mistake

'Fast feet' is the mother of all problems in bowling. This is a condition, when the feet of the bowler fall before he sways the ball. This one action is so fast that it gives rise to a complete series of wrong actions. Individually correcting those mistakes will automatically rid the bowler of this problem also.

Positioning The Ball

It is very important to discharge the ball properly. If it is not placed properly, it usually leads to fast feet. Always lean sufficiently low to launch the ball and never throw it from the height of your waist. The best way to do it is by discharging it between that time during your last step, when your heel touches the ground and before your toes touch the ground.

The Position Of Shoulders

The most common mistake that novices do while bowling is bringing their shoulders excessively frontward. This leads the waist to bend much more than the knees, thus causing imbalance. This results in a throw, which lacks power. To avoid this, you should keep your shoulders in a straight position and bend your knees a little. As you bend down to deliver the ball, bring yourself slightly forward, simultaneously bending your waist and knees a little more.

Take Small Steps

When heading towards the bowling lane, to throw the ball, take small and uniform steps. Large steps tend to take away the leverage from your swing and thus the ball. Your steps should just be just as big as your walking step. The first step may be slightly smaller than the second one, but the rest will follow the league and you will see that the ball will fall in place. Walking on toes can also cause similar problems. Always put your heel first on the ground and follow with toes.

Relax Your Muscles

When getting ready for a move, we all tend to stiffen our muscles. This results in a throw, which is loose and aimless. On the contrary, a ball thrown with relaxed muscles or minimum muscle contraction is the best ball. It hits the aim with full force, rather than your grip taking away the most of its force. Tense muscles can also cause injuries to your arm or shoulder.

Now you must have understood the reason, why you could never get your ball right. Correcting these simple errors will improve your game a great deal and you will enjoy it all the more.

A Knee Brace For Cheerleaders

How are your knees doing? - Do they ever bother you?

Introduction: Cheerleading is a great activity. Many people can participate and it is a great way to stay active with your school's team. Unfortunately, sometimes knee pain can set in, and although we hate to say it, cheering can become a bit of a chore because of the discomfort you are having. This free information will discuss how to determine if you need a brace, and if you want to go with a support, it will tell you how to choose the best one for your needs.

1.) How To Determine If You Need A Knee Brace

Sometimes your doctor will flat out tell you that you need a knee brace. That would be an easy way to know that you need one. Otherwise, if your knee pain has not quite brought you to the doctor yet, you may think proactively about ways to help your knee. Rest, ice and elevation are at home remedies that have helped people in the past, but none are quite like a knee brace.

The great thing about knee supports is that you can use them in almost any physical activity that you do. You do not necessarily have to be limited to wearing it during cheerleading, if you felt like it helps. The bottom line is that if you are looking for pain reduction, improved stability and a some knee protection you should consider getting one of these supports for yourself.

2.) The Different Kinds Of Knee Supports

There are many brand names to choose from. Many companies can make a good knee brace. The point though is that you should look for a knee support that fits your needs. - For example, it is a good idea to think about your knee pain and instability, in each activity that you do. It is probably a good idea to focus on those moments when your knee pain or instability have reached their worst. Not that we want you to dwell on these moments but you will need to get the best knee brace for support when those same exact moments try and come back.

After you record your answers regarding the pain and instability questions we asked you above, you will be able to go to a website and see that this is one of the main ways that knee braces are offered. Usually, the site will say this brace is for mild, moderate or severe instability issues. At this point, the purchasing process will be easier for you...

One area that is overlooked when it comes to arthritis are drug-induced aches and pains. Here are four categories of medicines you might want to avoid.

Statins:

Statin drugs cause a number of muscle problems. First, they can cause simple muscle aches and pains. This condition usually gets better once the drug is discontinued. The second problem statins cause is mild muscle inflammation along with weakness. The blood muscle enzyme, CPK, is mildly elevated. While this problem also gets better once the drug is stopped, it may take several months to resolve. Finally, statins can cause extreme muscle inflammation, damage leading to profound weakness. The CPK, is markedly elevated. When the muscles get this damaged, they release a protein called myoglobin into the blood. Myoglobin in large quantities can lead to kidney failure.

The risk of muscle injury is increased when a statin is used with other drugs that also affect muscles. When statins are combined with drugs like niacin or fenofibrate, the incidence of muscle damage is greatly increased.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics:

Fluoroquinolone-induced tendon problems such as rupture, are described in the medical literature. The Achilles tendon is the commonly involved site, although other tendons can be affected. Usually, spontaneous tendon rupture happens during or shortly after a course of treatment, but symptoms can occur even months after taking these antibiotics. Whether fluoroquinolone antibiotics should be used in patients with a history of tendon problems or who have risk factors for the development of tendon ruptures basically depends on how serious the infection is and whether there are suitable alternatives.

People at the highest risk are those over the age of 60 years, people taking steroid drugs, and people who have had an organ transplant. Patients who exercise and already have tendon problems are also at risk.

Aromatase inhibitors:

A small number of women receiving estrogen-depleting treatment termed "aromatase inhibitors" will develop aches and pains. Symptoms are most prominent in the hands and can be so severe that patients ask to be taken off therapy. More than 25% of women can be affected by this syndrome which affects hands, knees, elbows, ankles, and a few other other areas.

Symptoms are usually transient and resolve when the aromatase inhibitor is discontinued.

There have been incidences reported in the literature of patients developing rheumatoid arthritis after treatment with these drugs. Therefore, assumptions regarding the cause of aches and pains with these drugs should not be made.

Symptomatic treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be helpful.

Bisphosphonates:

These drugs are used for osteoporosis treatment. Unfortunately they cause two types of pain syndromes. The first is the acute phase response which consists of fevers, chills, bone pain, muscle and joint pains that starts after initial administration of bisphosphonates. These symptoms tend to resolve within several days after discontinuation of the drug.

The second syndrome is experienced either within days of taking the bisphosphonate or it can occur after months, and even years of being on the drug. The pain is excruciating and incapacitating in many cases.
Some patients get better after stopping taking the bisphosphonate but there are others who do not.

A variety of safety gear is required to play the game of football. Players need to wear a helmet, shoulder pads, and other gear that will protect their body during the game. But is protecting the upper body enough? A player won't be enjoying the game if he has to watch it from the sidelines because of a knee injury. Get a knee brace for football practices and games and you'll keep your knees healthy throughout the season.

Knee Braces for Football Players Available

Which one is right for me?

No matter what level of football you play, injuries like an ACL tear, MCL tear, or a meniscus tear is always a possibility. Another player could hit your knee from either side, and you could be faced with rehabilitation or surgery. Even stopping suddenly or pivoting wrong could injure your knee.

Whether you have already injured your knee and are looking for superior protection, or you want protection to avoid injury all together, select a football knee brace from the list below and gain peace of mind as you safely play the sport you love.

* DonJoy Drytex Playmaker Sleeve - This is an intermediate level knee brace that will provide support for mild to moderate ACL and/or PCL, MCL, and LCL instabilities and will help support your knee during pivoting movements. Braces of this type are perfect for athletes who are returning to football after an injury.

* DonJoy Drytex Playmaker Wraparound - Also an intermediate level knee brace that is perfect if you have trouble applying a sleeve-style brace. It too will provide mild to moderate support for ACL and/or PCL, MCL, and LCL instabilities.

* DonJoy Armor Fource Point Protective Knee Brace - This is the chosen brace for offensive linemen on many collegiate teams. This brace is a joint stabilizer for slight to severe PCL, ACL, LCL, and MCL instabilities or tears. Donning this brace will help stabilize and prevent knee injuries during football practice and games.

* DonJoy Full Force Ligament Knee Brace - This brace is new to the market and uses revolutionary technology to provides ligament stability and reduces strain on the ACL, and minimizes knee joint extension. This combination of technology means less strain on the ACL, which reduces your chance for an injury. Use this brace if you are prone to hyperextension, have normal to severe ACL, PCL, or combined instabilities, or have had an ACL or PCL reconstruction.

* DonJoy Defiance III Custom Knee Brace - Worn by many professional football players, this custom knee brace is custom fitted to your body and provides durable support for moderate to severe PCL, ACL, LCL, and MCL instabilities. It has a low-profile design that will fit comfortably under a football uniform and is recommended for contact sports.

Protection Is Necessary
You wouldn't dream of heading out onto the field without your helmet, and the same consideration should be given to your knees. Wearing a knee brace for football players can lower the risk of injury and keep you off the sidelines. Select a brace to protect your knee and keep playing the sport you love for many years to come.

Many people experience the occasional twinge of pain in their knees or shoulders, but if you're among the 70 million people in the U.S. who have one type of arthritis or another, joint pain is probably a fact of life for you.

"Arthritis is really an umbrella term for different diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system in one way or another," says Jason Theodosakis, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine in Tucson and author of The Arthritis Cure. Regardless of the type, the common denominators are pain and often inflammation in the joints, as well as limited mobility.

20 million people in the U.S. have OA, and that figure is expected to reach 70 million by the year 2030.

Talk with your doctor about your diet and which medications and topical treatments can help you stem the pain. Also, try quick to apply pain-relieving measures such as the application of heat, ice or capsaicin cream to the joint, and even acupuncture is effective (particularly for OA of the knee).

A few topical ointment applications have proven effective for OA, particularly those with Calendula Oil as one of the pain relieving ingredients in their formula. Calendula Oil is a healing carrier oil containing the active ingredients of the marigold flower often referred to as Marigold Oil. The carotenes, phytosterols, polyphenols and EFAS present in the herb allow pain relieving penetration that can dramatically improve the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected OA area of the body.

In addition, the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin appear to be effective for some people with knee OA. What's more, supplements of a natural vegetable extract called avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) may reduce inflammation and stimulate cartilage production in people with OA, notes Dr. Throdosakis.

There is no need to bear the pain in silence because easy-to-do lifestyle changes and food supplements can offer relief from arthritic pain.

Osteoarthritis is one of the commonest causes for the wear and tear in your joints. With osteoarthritis you increase your chances of fracturing your bones as they become brittle. Other than OA, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can divest your joints of mobility. In RA body mistakenly identifies synovial joints-the cavities in bones containing synovial fluid to lubricate joints as foreign and attacks it. Joints inflame in response to body's attack mechanism, become gnarled and degenerate.

Besides age, which is beyond our control, how we treat our joints decide how long they will serve us. Under activity hurts your joints; so does over activity. If your job involves standing for long in one position it can stress your joints.

Why arthritis aggravates in winter

It's osteoarthritis that worsens in winters, because the cold weather makes the joints feel stiffer than usual. The wide changes in temperature can cause swelling around the inflamed joints, which causes more irritation to the surrounding nerves. Moreover, when the weather turns cold people prefer to stay at home and forego exercise, which can make joints stiffer. Ayurveda explains joint ache in terms of aggravation of vata dosha.

Preventive steps-

It's advisable to keep your joints warm by dressing in layers.
o When the weather turns chilly, stay at home, but go out for walks when the sun is shining.
o Avoid foods that produce gas like beans and dal.
o Keep your joints active by getting warm oil massage.
o For effective results it is advisable to alternate cold and hot packs for 10 minutes. Hot pack will relieve pain whereas cold pack will be helpful in reducing inflammation.
o Eat healthy during winter and refrain from gorging on calorie rich diet during winter.

Supplement shot
Clinical studies have given thumbs up to the supplements of Glucosamine and Chondroitin to repair aching joints. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are part of normal cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint. An insufficient supply of glucosamine restricts the efficiency of cartilage rebuilding and can delay repair of cartilage and other connective tissues.

It's been almost 2 years now since I started noticing the tightness, the twinge in my Achilles. I had just cranked out a personal best performance at the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational and was now lying on the ground in pure enjoyment, as well as exhaustion. As I stood up to begin my cool down, I felt a certain tightness in my left Achilles tendon, one that was also sharp to the touch. After a couple of minutes of jogging around I thought a better solution would be to see our trainer, rather than aggravate it further. Following a deep massage on my calves, I was feeling slightly better but still had to limp my way to the team bus. This was the beginning of the "the limp."

This limp would follow me around for the next two years. Waking up in the morning, the first few miles of my run, after sitting down for any period of time, and following workouts and races. I was 21 years old yet would hobble around campus like an 80 year old man, the one you help across the street. Men in canes would look at me wondering if I need assistance. Runners are supposed to have extended lives due to their fitness level but what about hips, knees, Achilles? Are you to enjoy your 90 year lifespan sitting down after 40 because you have abused your body so much?

Back to the injury.

After seeing our medical training staff and finally researching the injury on my own, we concluded that it was Achilles Tendonosis. This is when micro tears occur in the Achilles tendon due to overuse, weakening the area and constraining blood flow. It is a disastrous injury to runners because with most being extremely OCD or already having race commitments, they often feel that rest is not an option. Instead they uncomfortably push through it, day after day, race after race, until it gets to a point where stopping is the only option. Otherwise serious damage will occur, rupturing of the Achilles.

I was one of those OCD runners who insisted on running day after day. After all, it was painful but tolerable. I could struggle through the first couple of miles, limping around, and then it would loosen up and I would be able to finish the run with only a slight twinge. Later that night however, i would be left with an extremely tight Achilles, very sensitive to the touch, and limping dramatically when walking. I always had another season around the corner: cross country to indoor track to outdoor track to summer base training. I felt that if I were to miss anything my performance would be hindered dramatically.

Meanwhile, I was trying anything possible to rid the problem. Here are some of the things that I tried:

Ice would bring down the swelling on the back of the Achilles, however, it would constrict the blood flow and make the area very sore, tight, and even walking would be a challenge.

Heat would be used before running so that the area would be warmed up. This helped a little in pain management but did nothing to actually get rid of the actual injury.

Ultrasound that is something that I tried but personally had minimal success with.

Strengthening the tendon, everything around the tendon, and everywhere else: Eccentric calf raises are the most effective thing in battling this injury, however, it just didn't work for me most likely because I was doing them along with 100 miles per week of running. You need to strengthen the weakened area to solve the problem and when I was doing the eccentric exercises along with running, I was most likely tearing down the area at a higher rate than the eccentric calf raises could strengthen it. After 6 months of calf raises with running, I gave up on them because they irritated the area and increased the swelling (which I didn't want to ice because it made it worse). I also strengthened everything imaginable around the tendon and anywhere else (including hips, it band, calves, soleus, shins, etc). I would do rigorous exercises to make sure nothing was putting extra strain on the Achilles tendon.

Massaging and "Scraping" the Achilles was not a fun process. With my Achilles inflamed and extremely tender to the touch, I would allow our trainers to massage the area and scrape it to try and increase the blood flow to the area and break down any scar tissue. This was an extremely painful task which often resulted in me gripping the massage table and sweat pouring from my forehead as I tried to deal with it. I noticed little/no success with this as it would further irritate the area and was just generally unpleasant.

Loosing up calves, soleus, plantar fascia before runs/workouts/races: Loosening up these areas through massage and stretching was something that we tried. With weak/tight soleus and calves most likely being the problem in the first place, I wanted to make sure that we weren't putting any further strain on the Achilles. Just like with strengthening everything around it, I didn't want the Achilles working harder than it had to. This was pretty effective in that it made running/working out/racing tolerable and eased the pain in the Achilles following workouts and races. Again though, it does not deal with solving the problem, just allowing for easier pain management.

Sleeping in a night splint was something that I tried for 4 months. This was completely ineffective for me and if anything made the injury worse/less tolerable. I would wake up in the morning even tighter because my Achilles tendon had been held in the same position all night. It restricted blood flow and made getting out of bed worse even worse than before.

Ibu Profin/Naproxin were drugs that I tried to deal with the issue. They would provide temporary relief as they would bring the swelling down slightly and make the pain slightly more tolerable. Over time their effectiveness wore off and I feel that my body began relying on them. I took naproxin consistently for over 6 months and ibu profin on and off for the 2 years that I had the problem.

Time off is something that would be the most obvious but again for an OCD runner this is not what I wanted to hear. However, at the end of each season, I would attempt to take 2-4 weeks off to finally deal with the issue. During this time the swelling would be reduced, the limping would subside, and walking was an enjoyable experience as opposed to a challenge. Yet, when I returned to running at the end of this absence nothing had changed. Within the first 400 meters of running the pain was back, just as bad as it had been before. My Achilles reacted as if it had no time off at all. The reason, to my understanding, is because the time off allows for the swelling to go down because you are not irritating it with one hundred mile weeks. This reduces "the limp" and allows you to walk easier. However, you still have the weakened Achilles to deal with. The Achilles is just as weak 4 weeks later as when you stopped running. The only difference is the swelling has been reduced and it is less irritated.

So what is the answer?

Surgery is an option that is available to runners with this problem. It is an evasive procedure in which the weakened tissue is removed and the stronger tissue is stitched together. However, if you never find the underlying cause of why you got this injury then you could weaken the area again and have the same problem.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections - An innovative treatment in which platelet enriched plasma is injected into the area (in this case the Achilles). It enhances blood flow to the area, as well as stimulates the healing of tissue. This is something I looked into at UF, however, because it is a new treatment, Shands was not insured for it and it was not offered. Also because it is a newer treatment there are not a great deal of studies done on it and its effectiveness.

Eccentric calf raises: a basic exercise that you can do on a door step or slant board. You raise yourself up onto both toes and then slowly lower yourself back down on one. With this, you focus on the eccentric part (the lowering) which strengthens the Achilles. This is supposed to be an extremely effective way to deal with tendonosis. I believe that with time completely off from running and 12 weeks given to an eccentric exercise program that most people can completely rid their Achilles Tendonosis. The key is to stay regimented with consistent daily exercises with increasing weights and not to resume running until completion of the program.

Finally after almost two years of dealing with this issue I am taking the necessary time off to deal with it. I am about 4 weeks into the eccentric calf raises and walking around is almost completely pain free. There are days where the Achilles is inflamed because of the exercises and sometimes a little tight but it passes. I do the exercises 3 sets of 15 reps, 3 times every day. Along with this I strengthen my shin muscles and other areas with Theraband exercises so that I do not over compensate one area. I am also looking into the PRP injections to see if this is a possibility to go along with my exercises.

Although I am almost pain free, I am going to complete the 12 weeks because I know that if I were to resume running now the injury would flare up. When I can finally run again, I am going to continue doing the exercises as part of my daily routine. I also want to look into the underlying cause of what caused the issue in the first place: shoes, bad mechanics, tight/weak soleus and calves, weak hips, tight hamstrings, tight plantar fascia, or anything else.

If you have just recently begun experiencing Achilles pain and believe it to be Achilles Tendonosis I urge you to stop running immediately. I am not a doctor and I despise doctors generic answer of "stop running", however, this is an injury that will not get better on its own. The worse thing about this injury is how tolerable you can make it. Over time it will simply get worse and worse though. So if it's a new injury, take a little time off, deal with it, and make sure it doesn't progress to something serious.

If you have been dealing with it for a while but insist on running through it then good luck. I am not going to tell you to stop because that would be hypocritical since I was in your situation and continued running through it. However, complete whatever training cycle you are on and then seriously look into dealing with it. Take the 12 weeks off necessary and knock it out once and for all. Just imagine how much more enjoyable running will be when you are not limping through runs, walking in agony around your house, and straining to get out of bed in the morning? Think how much faster you will be when you don't have to worry about a possible tear/rupture of your Achilles during workouts and races.

This is one of the most frustrating injuries for me because it allows you to run on it, it gives you hope. Instead of a stress fracture knocking you out of commission for 6-8 weeks, this allows you to run on it day after day but progressively gets worse. Eventually it reaches a point where running is not an option and you only hope that the recovery process that you have been putting off will cure it.

Almost two years after the Notre Dame invitational and many runs, workouts, race, and Personal bests later, I am finally taking the time off necessary for this injury. I am four weeks into the recovery and hope that I may run injury free in the future. Running over the past two years with this injury has been aggravating and unpleasant but I love the joy I have had from competition. Now, I just hope that I will be able to compete in the future. I hope that I didn't sacrifice the rest of my competitive career for something that could have been fixed in a matter of 12-14 weeks.