Using Acupuncture To Treat Arthritis
The human body has many joints or areas where two different bones meet. Arthritis is a disease that affects these joints and causes pain and inflammation.
There are professional medical practitioners apart from acupuncture specialists, who believe that arthritis patients do not need to rely on pain killers and steroids to relieve the pain. It is believed that relief from pain can be sought through acupuncture, an alternative traditional Chinese medicine that brings pain relief.
People seeking a better understanding of acupuncture for arthritis need to understand that arthritis is not considered a single disease in the medical world. It is the term given to over one hundred different medical conditions with osteoarthritis being the most common form of arthritis found to affect the elderly. There are other forms of arthritis that may affect people at any age.
According to Chinese doctors that existed around the sixteenth century, arthritis was believed to be the result of energy imbalances in the body. Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the major meridian points in the body to help correct imbalances and resist illness. Acupuncture works to release endorphins or chemicals in the body that block pain messages from being transmitted to the brain.
Before we go any further, it is important that people understand that acupuncture cannot be considered some kind of magic cure that will treat all kinds of illnesses. It is useful in treating pain and acupuncture for arthritis has been shown to be quite effective treatment for many individuals. Apart from arthritis, acupuncture has been known to treat headaches, cramps, back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, facial pain, obesity, drug addiction and colitis conditions among other problems.
Acupuncture also helps to improve the way the immune system in the human body functions, making it more active in defending the body against illness.
The primary benefit in using acupuncture to treat arthritis lies in the fact that acupuncture provides a way to minimize pain without the patient having to rely on drugs to do so. Drugs as we know often have negative side effects or lose their efficacy and the dosage needs to be increased. With acupuncture, there are no side effects and the treatment can easily be adjusted to match the patient’s response to the treatment.
In the U.S., there are approximately 6,500 licensed acupuncturists and about 3,000 medical doctors who perform acupuncture treatments. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a variety of illnesses that can be treated with acupuncture including chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the needles used in acupuncture treatment by categorizing them as medical devices.
It’s been shown in scientific studies that acupuncture is an effective treatment for arthritis helping to provide pain relief to patients suffering the excruciating pain associated with arthritis. However, it is essential to note that acupuncture when combined with the right diet and a healthy lifestyle provides greater and more effective relief from the pain.
Another essential that needs to be understood is that there is no across the board cure for chronic pain brought about by arthritis. A treatment plan based on individual requirements is necessary for effective treatment. For example, a treatment plan may involve combined drug therapy and non-drug therapy.
In closing, please note that acupuncture has proven to be especially effective in helping to relieve pain associated with arthritis such as osteoarthritis of the knees as well as rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Infrared Heat Therapy for Arthritis Pain
Infrared heat lamp therapy is something we all experience in the form of sunlight. While we can all see the visible light, the heat that you feel when you are out in the sun and your skin is warmed comes from the infrared light rays. This far infrared heat coming from the sun is not dangerous to your skin as the ultraviolet light rays are. Infrared light has been shown to be beneficial to health which is why many people are interested in infrared heat lamp therapy.
With infrared heat therapy, an infrared heat therapy lamp emits infrared radiant heat which is absorbed directly into the body. The infrared heat activates and ionizes water molecules in the body and helps to increase blood circulation, stimulates the production of collagen, and rid the body of toxins as well as many other health and beauty benefits. With traditional heat therapy, such as moxibustion, the heat stays near the surface of the skin, unable to penetrate deeply.
Because heat therapy penetrates deep into muscle tissue it is often used for pain relief. Arthritis sufferers can greatly benefit from infrared heat therapy for arthritis pain as it decreases the stiffness in the joints. Athletes can also benefit by using it on sore muscles, inflammations, and to reduce muscle spasms. In addition to relieving pain, it also increases muscle and joint flexibility.
Infrared Heat Therapy Lamps
There are many different sources when it comes to infrared heat therapy. You have the options of using a heat therapy lamp, which come in many different sizes and shapes. Some stand alone and others can be used in hand. An infrared floor lamp is ideal as you can adjust the lamp setting and relax as the heat is absorbed by your body without having to hold the lamp to direct the heat. The model pictured here, available on Amazon has a perfect 5 star customer satisfaction rating. There are also heat therapy body wraps particularly for the back and shoulders, which wrap around the body as well as wrist pads that wrap around the wrist for deep heating treatment.
Infrared heat therapy has been in use for a long time and is commonly recommended by physicians in many countries. Just a half hour or less of your time can help you enjoy many different health benefits. It is a perfect form of therapy for all types of people, whether they have disabilities or are able bodied. Pain relief, beauty benefits, flexibility, and weight loss control are just a few of the many health benefits to be had from using infrared heat therapy.
Treating Pain With A Tens Unit
If you suffer from arthritis then you will know just how difficult the pain can be to treat. In the last several years there have been developments in the treatment of arthritis pain. Tens units have been shown to be effective treatments to help relieve chronic pain.
Tens machines or Tens units are widely available now online. Using a tens unit has proven very effective way for many in treating arthritis pain without having to rely on pain relief drugs.
How Does a Tens Unit Treat Arthritis Pain?
The main issue with arthritis is that currently there is no proven effective cure. This means that treatment involves controlling the symptoms instead of curing them. For arthritis sufferers, pain is one of the main and most unpleasant symptoms. Because arthritis pain can be a constant in sufferer’s lives, many take strong medications to control the pain these however can have unfortunate side effects when taken long term that can make the patient feel even worse. Tens treatment for arthritis can be an effective tool for arthritis pain management.
Tens Unit for Arthritis Pain
Use of a Tens machine can provide a long term solution that comes without any side effects for patients to worry about. A tens unit will not treat arthritis, rather it is a pain management device that can be used to treat the chronic pain caused by arthritis. Studies have shown clearly that arthritis sufferers can benefit from tens units. Tens treatment for arthritis is also a convenient pain management method as it can be done at home or anywhere you happen to be.
A tens machine works on a very simple principle. Your body registers pain through electronic pulses that are transmitted to the brain by your nervous system. The tens machine emits a disruptive pulse of low electricity that is designed to disrupt these pain messages before they can get to the brain. This means when you place the tens pads from the tens machine close to the part of your body in pain you can dull this sensation and make it more manageable. A tens unit allows you to treat pain over a long period of time without any adverse effects. You can also combine tens unit therapy with other, more natural, pain relief treatments such as physiotherapy.
Take a look at Tens Units Available at Amazon for more information
Causes of Joint Pain
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 percent of all adults living in the United States have experienced some sort of joint pain. For most of those affected (about 18 percent), the problem joint was a knee. Shoulders, fingers and hips each affected 10 percent of respondents.
All reported experiencing pain, aching or stiffness—ailments that affect everything from mobility to ability to work to quality of sleep to being able to hold a steady job.
Joint pain is a chronic health concern in the United States, and as the nation’s population ages, it is a problem that only promises to grow in scope. As people age, their bodies become more susceptible to diseases that affect joints, every day activities are more likely to cause pain and exercise take a greater toll on the body—all of which result in increased medical costs, lost wages and a lot of pain and suffering.
And while some joint pain is unavoidable—especially that associated with aging or certain types of disease—is unavoidable. Other types can be avoided, especially if their causes are understood.
Here is a list of common joint pain causes and some tips to help you avoid the pain and discomfort that 100 million Americans live with every day.
Tendinitis Joint Pain
Tendinitis is perhaps one of the most common joint pain causes. It occurs when a tendon, which connects muscles to bones, in one of the joints rubs against another tendon or a bone during a repetitious body movement. This causes the tendon to become inflamed, resulting in soreness.
Tendinitis can occur in any joint, but it is most commonly found in the elbow, shoulder and knees—especially in athletes.
To prevent joint pain that occurs as a result of tendinitis, people should stretch extensively before, during and after exercising or participating in sports that include rigorous, repetitive joint movements, such as tennis, golf and throwing a baseball or softball.
Icing the affected joints and resting are effective treatments for this type of joint pain. In severe cases, tendinitis can cause the tendon to rupture and immediate medical treatment is needed.
Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains
Every day, thousands of Americans suffer muscle strains and ligament sprains. Most occur in ankles while playing sports such as basketball and football or running on uneven ground.
A strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far. A sprain occurs when a tendon is stretched too far. Both are common causes of joint pain, and both can be prevented in some cases by stretching properly and running on even, clear surfaces. Even so, landing on another basketball player’s foot after grabbing a rebound sometimes happens.
Strains and sprains can be treated with rest, ice, over-the-counter pain medication (for swelling) and rest. In severe cases, it may be necessary to have a medical professional immobilize the affected joint to give it time to heal.
Arthritis Joint Pain
According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 types of this disease/condition, and it affects millions of Americans. Put simply, arthritis is joint inflammation. It can cause pain in or immobilize hands, feet, knees, fingers, elbows, shoulders and hips.
In general, arthritis is caused by everyday wear-and-tear on the joints—walking up and down stairs, exercising, typing for long periods of time. Over time, the cartilage in joints deteriorates, causing bones to rub against one another. This results in pain ranging anywhere from debilitating to mild.
While some types of arthritis are not preventable—rheumatoid arthritis, for example, is hereditary—others can be kept at bay by living healthy. That means getting at least eight hours of sleep a night, eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight.
Treatment can include everything from taking daily over-the-counter pain medication to surgery.
Being Overweight
Many people experience knee and ankle pain for no other reason than they are overweight. Carrying too much weight puts excess pressure on joints, meaning tendons, muscles and bones grind together. This is one of the joint pain causes that results in aching. It can be treated and even prevented, of course, by losing weight.
Disease
The list of diseases that are common causes of joint pain is long. It includes everything from lupus (an autoimmune disease) to rheumatic fever (an inflammatory disease similar to arthritis) to colitis (an inflammatory disease that attacks the bowels).
Symptoms for diseases that cause joint pain are usually distinct and acute. They include chronic diarrhea in the case of colitis to extreme fatigue and headaches in the case of lupus. And when the joints start to burn and ache severely and shoot pain through the body, medical treatment should be sought immediately.
There are literally hundreds of causes of joint pain—from sleeping in positions that don’t agree with the body’s shoulders to very serious disease. People with concerns should consult their doctor.
