Medical News

Here we will look at the different kinds of knee ligaments and the damages they can sustain.

Collateral Ligaments

The medial and the lateral collateral ligaments make up this group. The lateral strengthens the outer side of the knee and runs between your thigh bone and the top of your fibula. The medial ligament strengthens the knee joint on the inner side and runs between your femur and tibia. They both resist the side to side movement of the knee and prevent rotation. The lateral ligament is commonly damaged when your knee twists, or you are hit on the inner side of the knee. This is hard to occur on its own and usually happens due to outside forces.

The medial is a more common ligament to injure, and can also happen because of a direct hit to the outside of the knee or twisting of the knee.

Cruciate Ligaments

These basically cross each other and both join your tibia to your femur. The anterior cruciate ligament runs from the front of the tibia, to the base of your femur. It stops your shin bone from moving in front of your thigh bone. A tear in the ACL is quite a common injury amongst athletes, and it can happen when you change direction rapidly, decelerate when running, landing, or from receiving a hit to the knee. This is quite a serious injury as your stability is affected greatly. Surgery is often necessary to repair it.

The posterior cruciate ligament runs from the rear of your tibia to the base of your femur. It stops your shin bone moving backwards in relation to your thigh. It is stronger than the ACL. Tearing it is less common than other ligaments of the knee, and it can occur when your knee is hyper extended, or over flexed and the shin is forced backward. This will often heal with a rehab program and an injury to the PCL alone does not usually require surgery.

Different Grades Of Knee Ligament Damage

Although different ligaments are affected differently, they are graded the same. There are three grades of injuries that will help to classify what has actually occurred to the ligament that is injured. The symptoms and treatments vary according to the different ligament that you have damaged, however this system makes it easier to grade knee ligament damage.

Grade 1: This is a mild injury, and usually the ligaments have been stretched, but not torn at all. This is not a serious injury, and you may not have a lot of pain or swelling, but left untreated and you will be predisposed to a repeat of the injury.

Grade 2: In a grade 2 injury, the specific ligament will have a partial tear. It is common to experience both swelling and bruising, and using and moving the joint through a range of motion can be quite painful.

Grade 3: A grade 3 injury is the most severe, and the ligament will be completely torn. This will cause swelling and often bleeding under the skin. You will find that your joint is very unstable and weight bearing proves very painful.

We will look at and discuss the various treatments for the different knee ligament damages in a later post.

When looking at the potential risks of neck manipulation, the risk benefit analysis should include the following considerations: Risks of adjustments compared with other neck treatments versus benefits from the adjustments compared with other neck treatments.

The Risks Involved

Studies looking at incidence of stroke from neck manipulations show a risk to be 1 to 3 adverse events per million adjustments. Studies by Dvorak, Jaskoviak, and from Canada found significant variations in cerebrovascular incident complications. One study found no complications in 5 million neck manipulations, another a rate of one serious complication per 400,000 cervical manipulations, and the other found 55 CVA’s out of 50 million adjustments.

How often do people die from neck adjustments? Terrett et al found a mortality rate of 23% among the incidences reported in the literature. A conservative estimate death from stroke caused by a neck adjustment is therefore around one in 4 million.

What’s the Risk of a Neck Adjustment Compared to being Treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories?

The risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories show about 3200 deaths attributed each year in the US. This is a rate of 4/10,000 patients being treated and sustaining ulcers leading to a fatal complication.

The Effectiveness of Chiropractic Cervical Adjustments?

Evidence from multiple sources has shown that neck adjustments provide at least short term pain relief for patients with subacute or chronic neck pain. There also is some evidence in the literature supporting cervical spine manipulation for nonmigraine headaches.

A study by Koes et al compared manipulation treatment to traditional treatments (with NSAIDS). Chiropractic treatment turned out to be superior with the results persisting even at the 12 month follow up.

Summary:

Risk of stroke from cervical manipulation = somewhere around 1 in a million based on the existing research.

One-third resolve with mild or no issues.

One-fourth of these strokes are fatal, so overall about 40-50 manipulation caused strokes in the US per year, and about a dozen deaths.

Perspective:

One is almost 100 times more likely to die from an NSAID related issue.

Statistically you have a greater risk of being killed or seriously injured in a car accident on the way to a doctor’s office visit than having a serious complication from your chiropractic neck treatment.

In other words, the risks are very small but very real. Chiropractic treatment is very safe, however, risks exist just as they do every time one gets behind the wheel of an automobile.

For those suffering from one of the many types of arthritis, relieving arthritis pain has become a priority in one’s life. We get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget about ourselves and deal with unwanted pain and misery. Trying to maintain a pain-free life style can be disheartening to those who suffer greatly from osteoarthritis.

There are those typical topical creams and gels that are applied to the area of soreness. These types of arthritis applications may trigger heat or coldness when rubbed on. The aspirin type rubs like Aspercreme, or the chili pepper seed creams like Capsaicin all will provide temporary pain relief but what about long term.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications are another source for relieving arthritis pain, however non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs have many unwanted side effects which will affect your stomach and then cause stomach problems. They can cause problems with your liver as well.

Cortisone shots given in the immediate area of inflammation and pain may help arthritis sufferer. The drugs being used for the shot will differ from person to person depending on the physician, however as with any drug, serious side effects may occur so take that into consideration.

Changing you diet to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in animal products can help reduce acid levels in your system and reduce joint inflammation. Glucosamine sulfate and chrondroitin may reduce inflammation and prevent the progression of the disease. Medical test show positive results with these natural supplements in treating arthritis.

Water exercise has been suggested for arthritis pain sufferers. A water temperature of about 83 to 88 degrees is ideal for soothing achey joints. Water aerobics is usually offered at your local YMCA and at major fitness centers. Also establishing a daily walking routine will help keep joints from becoming stiff thus reducing pain.

Drinking water is also good for lubricating joints and preventing joint stiffness. The recommended amount is 6 to 8 glasses a day. You may even start your day out with a hot lemon water tea which is a natural detoxifier and helps to remove toxins from the joints.

Relieving arthritis pain long term can be a challenge but these suggestions can help you achieve your goal. A change in thinking, beliefs, and attitude along with reducing stress in your life may go a long way in treating this disease. Don’t beat yourself up if you have not taken good care of yourself in the past. Remember this is a new day and you can start to affect positive change now.

Sometimes yes, you will feel neck pain or have trouble moving your neck right after the accident, but most likely, it is going to take a little time for the pain to really build up. Believe it or not, some people can actually make it a couple of years without any problems and then suddenly, out of no where, they experience the problems from whiplash.

Now, what exactly happens to your neck during an auto accident? When there is a motion or a force that is abnormal and applied to your neck, your neck is pushed outside of its regular or normal range of motion. This can happen during sports activities, assaults, slip and falls and also during auto accidents, which is when this damage usually occurs. Also, even a slight accident where something loose in the car comes forward and hits you in the head can cause whiplash, even if the accident wasn’t great enough to toss your head around on its own.

Most people think that they have to be going at a high rate of speed to experience whiplash. This is hardly the case at all. Studies have shown that you could be going as slow as 5 miles per hour and still end up with whiplash. In fact, you could be at a stand still. If another vehicle is going fast or strikes you going ten or fifteen miles per hour, you can end up with whiplash. This just goes to show you that you are in no way in control of whether or not you are going to come home tomorrow with whiplash, even though there are some exercises out there that can help you avoid major whiplash.

Although the seat belts will protect you from going out the windshield, they will not protect you from whiplash. Another thing to remember is that after an auto accident, you are generally in shock and your adrenaline is running. You may not feel any pain at all. Even if you feel as though you are fine, it is still important to make sure that you are taken to the hospital. If you ever want or need to file a lawsuit, the fact that you skipped a hospital ride may in fact hurt your case. You do not want to miss out on the money you need for proper treatment of pain because you “thought” you were fine right after the accident. Always remember that most pain experienced after a car accident will come days, weeks or months after the accident.

What are the benefits of using a chiropractor and why would you choose a chiropractor over your GP? Primarily, chiropractors spend years learning about the spinal column, central nervous system and detailed analysis of the body’s bone structure.

Where many GPs focus on prescribing medicines and searching for answers and a general one-size-fits-all approach, chiropractors apply a drug-free, hands-on technique to health care that features patient examination, analysis and treatment solution. Chiropractors have wide diagnostic techniques and are also schooled to advise therapeutic and rehabilitative techniques, as well as to offer nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling.

So let’s look at some of the most common symptoms which could benefit from the expertise of a chiropractor.

1. headaches: throbbing, dull or sharp pain, pain that persists, auras (sensations such as light or warmth that often precede migraines), restricted neck motion, light sensitivity

2. herniated disk: symptoms differ per the location of the affected disk but may include lower back pain, pain in one leg, numbness in the back, chest arm or leg, muscle spasms

3. joint pain: stiffness, sensation of warmth, swelling, tenderness

4. pinched nerve: sharp pain, numbness, tingling sensation, muscle weakness

5. sciatica: sharp pain that travels from your buttocks to your leg

6. fibromyalgia: widespread pain lasting longer than three months, fatigue in muscles and tendons, a number of tender spots on the body, morning stiffness, short-term memory loss, headache, insomnia

7. scoliosis: spine curves to one side, difference in height of shoulders or hip, head not centered over torso, teens and adults may have pain

8. carpal tunnel syndrome: tingling, burning sensation, pain or numbness in fingers, palm of the hand, wrist or forearm, finger stiffness in the morning, weak grasp

Untreated, some of these conditions can interfere with neurological communication between your brain, tissues and organs.

The benefits of using a chiropractor is that chiropractors will provide you with personalised and customised attention to get you back on track using an effective, painless and drug free treatment. The major objective of a chiropractor’s therapy is to bring back the natural function of your nervous system as well as your joints and muscles. This will give you more control, condition and strengthen your muscles. And in restoring the joint’s natural movement, inflammation and pain are reduced and your tissues begin to heal.

Let’s face it – our lives can be very stressful lives and if we can help ourselves by ensuring our bodies are in tune, then that can only be of benefit. And remember, its not just about the condition, it is also about leading a healthy, nutritional and active lifestyle.

And to ensure you get the right advice and service, take the time to find the right chiropractor for you – look for someone who has experience treating your specific condition / symptom; is Board certified; offers holistic, preventative care and counsel and of course, uses a range of tools to assess your condition (eg ultrasound, MRI, x-rays etc).

We hope that after reading this article that you will see that the benefits of using a chiropractor far outweigh putting up with your condition.

Joint pain is a feeling of uneasiness, stiffness, achiness, inflammation and soreness around the joints of the body. The pain is usually a sign of mild or serious diseases, conditions and disorders in your joints, which can result from trauma, autoimmune diseases, infections and other unusual diseases. This pain can sometimes be mild or moderate or severe and may last for short or longer period of time.

Joint pain may occur due to a benign circumstance like mild sprain. It can occur as a result of temperate condition, infection or disorder such as ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, a dislocation or a moderate ligament sprain. Also the pain can be as a result of severe circumstances that can actually threaten one’s life if not taken care of as fast as possible. Those circumstances may include bone cancer and leukemia. Joint pain sometimes occurs through a variety of traumatic situations like joint separations, ligament sprains, tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, sport injuries, dislocations, sprained ankle, autoimmune disorder, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis and rheumatic fever.

JOINT INJURY.

This is an injury to any part of the joint in your body causing pain. The injury can affect or hurt the bone, ligament and other tissues in your bone joints. The injury could be severe and persistent. Most of these injuries occur during sports. Those that requires urgent attention come with warnings, symptoms and signs. Acute sport injuries are always noticeable injuries that often creep up gradually and then progress to worse situations that can lead to chronic joint pain, particularly when not taken proper care of at the initial stage. But when such injuries are properly attended to at an early stage, serious damage or long term pain will be avoided. It is important to understand that sport injuries, no matter how mild they seem to appear at the initial stage, should be quickly attended to with the use of proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.

VIRAL INFECTIONS.

A viral disease is any kind infection or illness coursed by a virus which is a species of microbe. The microbes are usually tiny organisms that cannot be seen except with the use of microscopes. Other similar problems include fungi, bacteria, and some kinds of parasites. Infection occurs as any of the above mentioned organisms enter into your body either through breathing air that is already infected, eating contaminated foods or having sexual contact with those that are infected. When such organisms finds their way to your joints it can cause a mild, moderate or severe joint pain. The most common kind of disease that results from viral disease is arthritis particularly reactive arthritis. This disease causes stiffness, swelling and joint pains. Other infections like the common cold, flu and bacterial infections can also cause aching joints.

Joint pain is usually caused by variety of conditions like body or bone injury which is most common with sports, infections, illness, joint strain as well as joint sprain. This pain might appear to be mild, moderate or severe at the initial stage, whichever case it may be; immediate attention needs to be given to it with a proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.

Years of stooping, kneeling and running around truly takes a toll on your knees, and women have it specifically bad: Studies show women are up to 6 times more likely than men to suffer from knee pain injuries like ACL tears. Got an achy, creaky, or weak knee? Discover the real cause of knee pain and check out great ways to fix bad arthritis of the knees for good.

Creaky Knees. Your knees pop, grind and ache while climbing stairs or after a prolonged sitting.

• The Cause. Though it is commonly called “runner’s knee”, patellofemoral syndrome afflicts even those who are couch potatoes. The creaking you feel is due to misaligned kneecap grating over the lower end of your thighbone. Women are especially susceptible to this syndrome due to their naturally wide pelvises that causes their knees to slant inward, creating a wider quadriceps or Q than men have. Experts also state that this Q angle places extra force on a woman’s knees.
• The Knee Pain Remedy: If you regularly do high-impact workouts such as running or playing tennis, cut back (but do not stop in general or the muscles that support your knees will weaken) and add gentler activities such as swimming and yoga to your routine. You can also purchase new workout shoes when your shoes’ soles are worn so that your aches and joints are passably cushioned.

Achy Knees – During physical activity, you feel a sharp pain between your kneecap and shinbone. The pain persists as a constant, dull ache.

• The Cause: Tendonitis, which happens when the tendons connecting your kneecap to the shinbone become inflamed because of repeated stress and overuse. Symptoms trigger when you increase the intensity of your workouts.
• The Knee Pain Relief: To alleviate knee pain and reduce swelling, take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, and ice, rest and elevate your throbbing knee, particularly following a workout. Also, consult your physician about patellar tendon straps, Velcro bands placed just under your kneecap, which alleviate knee pain by taking pressure off the tendon. If knee pain persists or worsens, immediately consult your doctor.

Stiff Knees – Your knee is swollen and puffy, and you have trouble straightening or bending it.

• The Cause: Osteoarthritis. The cartilage that cushions your joints breaks down due to use, age or excess weight, and makes your body produce more joint fluid in the knee so when the cartilage wears down completely, you are left with bone rubbing on bone and painfully swollen joints.
• The Remedy: Losing just 11 pounds can take pressure off your knees and reduce knee pain by 50 percent, according to one study. Additionally, taking NSAIDs, resting and using ice can remedy arthritis of the knee. If your knee becomes red or feels warm to the touch, consult your doctor, who may drain the excess joint fluid with a needle. About 25 percent of people with osteoarthritis need knee-replacement surgery.

Twisted Knee. You feel and sometimes hear a “pop,”, and then your knee buckles, causing terrific pain. Typically this knee injury happens while playing sports.

• The Cause: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and elastic band of tissue that stabilizes the knee, tears. Once again, women’s Q angle comes into play. According to expert, a woman’s kneecap pulls slightly to the side when she lands after a jump due to her wider pelvis. As a result, the quadriceps pulls harder on the knee. Experts also speculate that high levels of estrogen (in the latter part of the menstrual cycle) loosen ligaments and weaken their ability to protect joints.
• The Knee Pain Remedy: Consult your physician immediately. About a third of those whose injure their ACL regain strength and motion after 6-8 weeks of rest and physical therapy. So if the kneecap remains unstable, arthroscopic surgery may be needed. And if you play sports, doing exercises that strengthen your hip and butt muscles and practicing proper jumping and landing can decrease your risk of ACL injuries.

If arthritis pain and disease is turning the dynamic, beautiful, outgoing you into an isolated, depressed couch potato it is time to talk to your doctor about starting a daily walking program. Next, it will be time to add a doggy doc and daily mini-walks. You know that saying “Use it or lose it”. That goes for sex AND joints.

You see, arthritis pain thrives in inactivity. While arthritis is caused by the deterioration of cartilage lubrication between the bones due to age and normal wear and tear, it is accelerated by lack of movement. The less you move the less lubrication you need. Therefore, the less lubrication there will be when you want it. Make sense?

Nothing amps up a woman’s activity like the addition of an ever-ready walking buddy! O.A. Battista summed it when he said, “A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk.” Most days that is the only reason I get out for a walk!

Dogs are irresistible movers and shakers. Practically speaking, an un-walked dog is a liability, a house mess waiting to happen. There’s no avoiding it. Aside from bodily messes they also go mentally messy without a daily outing or two. By the way, so do you. If you’re unaware of this phenomenon there is a good reason. It’s called denial.

Romantically, it is impossible to find a better match or friend. No human being will ever be as available, loyal, loving and irrepressibly committed to getting a move on than a dog. They will drop anything and everything at the sight of a leash, a fanny pack and sneakers or the sound of a word like “park” or “walk.” Mine can string words together to make phrases like “dog beach,” “dog park” and “let’s go.” They also understand French. Voici! Promenade!

Joint lubrication and companionship aside, there is no better way to make new friends or assemble a bunch of friends into a walking club than with the inspiration of a pooch. You’ll also finally meet all those neighbors. My dogs, plus a friendly wave and smile, earned me the affectionate, I think, nickname of “the dog lady.” I think that sounds better in French too, La femme des chiens. Hmmmmm.

Up until just now I’ve been assuming you don’t have a pooch, hence your house potato syndrome. There are also cases of women living with disappointed dogs. These out-of-shape pooches range from dogs who have given up on ever seeing a leash in your hand again to dog-gone sick, elderly, lonely or depressed dogs.

Dogs should undergo the same protocol as humans. Same first step – make an appointment to see their doctor, I mean vet. Besides having a standard check-up which includes a heart worm test, be sure to check for Lyme disease; a hidden ailment that devastates joints. If your dog is over seven years old, ask about getting them started on joint supplements with Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

If your pup is spending lots of time home alone and acting down in the dumps, consider adding a companion. Yes, dogs get lonely too. The easiest addition is a mature dog (three years or older) or a senior-aged dog (seven years or more.) If you don’t have much time for your dog, you really won’t have time or patience for a puppy.

Finding the companion of your dreams and theirs is easy to do. First, go to PetFinder.com and click on “Locate Shelter” to find the closest animal shelter. Next, call and make an appointment for a “meet and greet.” This is just like it sounds; an opportunity for you and your dog to find that new best friend together.

FYI. I thought my senior Lab mix was happy as solo dog. We’d been part of a pack for years so I assumed she was enjoying her “space” and all of my attention. One day Albert, an abandoned Bichon Frise, wandered into our lives. He turned back her clock and made me realize how wrong I’d been. This motley pair was so easy for me to handle it inspired a couple foster pup experiences and a pack addition or two.

Back pain is a condition that many people have had to deal with at some stage in their lives. There are many different causes of back pain, but a common culprit is a bulging disc. It is one of the most frustrating spine injuries to heal and causes a lot of pain and discomfort. There are things that you can do to ease the pain of your bulging disc, which can help you avoid surgery. A bulging disc in the lumbar region, the lower back is most common, and this is what we will be discussing today.

What Is A Bulging Disc?

In our spine there are a lot of small bones known as vertebrae. Each of these vertebrae is separated by a disc. The discs are extremely important to the function of our back, and provide a lot of support. Each disc has many layers of connective tissue wrapped around its outer layer, called the anulus fibrosus. Inside this connective tissue is a substance that can be likened to jelly, which is actually called the nucleus pulposus. It can change shape and move around. When this soft jelly like substance pushes against the outer layer of connective tissue of the disc, and creates a bulge, this is when a bulging disc occurs. If the bulge pushes through and breaks the outer connective tissue, this is known as a herniated disc. Here is a picture illustrating a bulging disc and a herniated disc.

The pain that you feel from a bulging disc occurs because the disc is pressing on the nerves relating to the spinal cord. In regards to a bulging disc, sometimes you may not have any pain for a long time. If it’s not pressing against the nerve, you aren’t going to feel anything. Here is a better picture to explain what happens when a disc bulge hits the nerve.

Symptoms Of A Bulging Disc

As I mentioned earlier, you can have a disc bulge and for a very long time not even know it. As long as it is not compressing a root nerve, you will exhibit no symptoms. For those with pain, it is common to feel the symptoms in the lower back region. It could be located in the center, or on either sides of the spine. Remember, that a nerve can cause pain to radiate away from the actual damaged area. This is why you might be feeling pain radiating down the leg, the bum, the thighs, lower leg and even the foot. It is common to feel:

• Muscle Spasms
• Pins and needles
• Muscle Weakness

These symptoms and pain are usually worse during movements such as lifting, bending forwards and sitting. The common theme here is that the lower back is in flexion. Remember the pictures above, and you can see that the bulge actually occurs at the back of the spine. This means that when you go into flexion, or you bend forward for any reason, you are putting more pressure onto the back of disc, and consequently pushing the bulge even further out. This is why coughing and sneezing can aggravate the pain, because you automatically go into a mini forced flexion, doing exactly what you don’t need to do.

Bulging Disc Causes
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Now that you have a grasp on the anatomy, and where the actually bulge occurs and what pain you feel, you will better understand what actually causes a disc bulge. There are three things that commonly cause a disc bulge or a disc herniation.

• Bending forward
• Sitting down
• Lifting

If there is enough force, enough repetition, or the movement goes on long enough, then you are at risk. The fact is that the nature of our lives these days mean that we pretty much are in flexion a lot of the time. Add all these things together, one of those three movements plus force, repetition and time, you have a recipe for disaster. You are putting the disc under a lot of pressure, and there just has to be one wrong movement that will cause the injury.

Any body in motion will tend to stay in motion, and as such any body that stays at rest will tend to stay at rest. This is certainly the case when it comes to getting a frozen shoulder which can render your shoulder and arm so stiff that it is literally impossible to even button up your shirt. Of course, you may not even be able to do this given that the pain can be very intense and as such it will be important for you to consider certain frozen shoulder exercises to relieve yourself of said pain and bring some motion back into your shoulder and arm.

One of the best frozen shoulder exercises that you can do would be the pectoralis stretch. To do this you will simply need to stand in a doorway and put your arms against the wall slightly above your head. You should then leaned forward gently until you feel your pecs stretch and should hold this for roughly 30 seconds before releasing and repeating roughly 5 times.

There are also many frozen shoulder exercises that will involve the use of a stick. One of these will involve you are holding the stick in both hands in front of your body down at your waist. You then simply raise the stick so it is above your head, gently extending your shoulders while doing so. Again, hold the pose for roughly 10 seconds and then repeat 8 to 10 times.

You can also do the same thing with the stick behind your back. If you hold the stick behind your back with both hands down you should then slowly and gently push the stick away from your back and hold it in place for roughly 5 seconds again. Once again, repeat this process between eight and 10 times.

It is also possible to do frozen shoulder exercises without the use of a stick as well. These can be done at any time throughout the day, whether you are at work or at home. One of these is simply to shrug your shoulders up and down for about five seconds. Then pull your shoulder blades back and together for about five seconds, and then push your shoulder blades down for about five seconds. Repeat this roughly 8 to 10 times to loosen up the area.

In addition to this, some very gentle press ups will also allow the same effect. Simply lie on the ground with your hands shoulder with a part and push your body up very gently. Hold the pose at the top for about three seconds and then release.

Each of these exercises should help with your shoulder.