Archive for the 'Muscle & Bone Disorders' Category

A popular advanced rheumatoid arthritis drug known as rituximab, but commonly referred to as MabThera could save thousands of people from the debilitating effects of Rheumatoid arthritis, RA, as well as disability if it was administered during the early stages of the disease instead of just in the end stage according to new trials of the popular drug.

Currently, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK where the trials were conducted states that MabThera should only be used if other TNF treatments have failed to produce results, but the study results prove different.

The trials included 775 patients who suffered from early stages of RA and showed that after a year of use of mabThera along with the normal course of treatment they not only experienced fewer symptoms but experienced less joint damage (almost none) compared to those who are treated with TNF drugs alone.

Among the test study group, 70% of those included did not develop any joint damage after the first twelve months of the treatment course was completed and after six months the damage almost had stopped completely.

There are many people that have to deal with constant muscle twitching, some as often as every ten to twenty seconds. It can range from a twitch in the eyelid, to all over the body.

Sometimes, the most frustrating thing is that doctors are unable to determine the cause of the twitching.

Medications are available, but many have significant side effects.

Some Causes of Muscle Twitching

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is one of the potential causes for constant muscle twitching.  Many soldiers returning from the Gulf have this particular symptom, and it seems like treatment programs are wide and varied.

Fibromyalgia is another cause of muscle twitching, coupled with constant aches and pains.  Multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS, and some brain injuries will also cause muscle twitching. Anxiety, Muscular Dystrophy, and some medications can cause this problem as well.

Unfortunately, there are so many different illnesses and injuries that can cause this problem; it’s often hard to narrow down the specific cause. While testing is available, it’s usually extensive.  Sometimes, at the end of the tests, there is still no answer.

If you suffer from the pain of osteoarthritis, you may be wondering if the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin will help relieve your pain and rebuild your cartilage.

Glucosamine is found in cartilage and connective tissue. It is a type of sugar produced by the body.

It is often paired in supplements with chondroitin sulfate, which helps cartilage retain water.

The supplements are typically manufactured using animal products, including lobster, crab, or shrimp shells, and shark cartilage.

While numerous studies have been conducted on these supplements, results have been mixed. The supplements seem to work well for some people, and not at all for others.

Study results have been hard to replicate and a variety of different formulations of glucosamine and chondroitin have been used in various studies.

Only two findings seem clear. First, preparations identified as glucosamine hydrochloride do not seem to have any benefit. Second, no studies found any harm from these supplements when taken in recommended amounts.

Since some people do report positive results from these supplements, this is an alternative worth trying if you wish to avoid regular use of NSAIDs, prescription anti-inflammatory medications or prescription pain medications for  arthritis treatment.

An Epigastric hernia is one of the most common hernia forms found in men.

These hernias are rarely life threatening. However, they can be very painful and disfiguring.

An Epigastric hernia can result from either a normal birth defect, or as the result of an injury.

They are more common in men than in women. This is mainly due to the fact that men perform strenuous labor tasks more than women. At the same time an epigastric hernia can occur in a woman that performs these difficult tasks.

Understanding what causes epigastric hernias, what treatment options are available, and how to prevent them is very important.

What Does Epigastric Mean?

There are many types of hernias. Each is classified by location. The word Epigastric is the location of the hernia within the body.

Epigastric is a term that translates to mean the upper abdomen, or gastric region. This is the area right below the middle of the rib cage down to the belly button or navel. In the case of an epigastric hernia, this is the location where it would form.

Approval has recently been given for a drug that will relieve the suffering in a variety of arthritic diseases including a particular aggressive condition known as ankylosing spondylitis, which effects the spine.

The company Johnston & Johnston received the endorsement of the Food and Drug Administration for Simponi, a medicine that is injected on usually monthly basis and is designed to work alongside other drugs in this field.

Simponi is following on from another drug called Remicade which is jointly marketed in Europe by another large company the Schering-Plough Corporation. It works by defusing the specific protein that leads to damage to tissue, bone and cartilage when it reaches over load.

This new drug is seen as setting the bar for tumor necrosis factor blocking and is set to make the two manufacturers many billion of dollars. In fact it is the main reason that Schering-Plough was recently bought out by Merck & Company for a reputed forty billion dollars.

Other companies, who are involved in this drug sector, may not be as happy with Simponi arrival on the market place.

Both Abbott laboratories, Wyeth and Amgen have medicine that requires a weekly dose as opposed to the new blockbuster which requires only twelve injections per year.

When the blood supply to a bone is stopped or partially blocked, the bone tissue dies and this is called avascular necrosis.

The most common part of the body to be affected is the femur or thigh bone, at the head, near the hip joint, and it causes hip pain.

Pain in or around the affected joint may be the first sign you have of the disease although many people have no symptoms at all.

As well as the hip, avascular necrosis can also occur in the wrist, knee, shoulder or foot. It is a progressive condition, meaning it worsens as time goes on, and management usually becomes a life-long process.

Avascular necrosis that is left untreated will allow the bone to continue to deteriorate; it will eventually become so weakened that it collapses, causing disability. Leaving your condition untreated may lead to increased pain and loss of mobility in two years or so.

But what caused the blood supply to be blocked to the bone in the first place? There are several possible causes, the most common being an injury, like a fracture or dislocation.

Exercise and movement is so important for people who are suffering with arthritis. [Arthritis Exercises]

The more movement you can keep in the joint, the better you will feel.

Exercise helps to keep the muscles strong and the increased movement and flexibility in the joint can help to slow the progress of the disease and keep you pain-free.

Excess weight puts extra strain on your knees, so adopting a healthy, nutritional diet to lose some weight will help with your arthritis knee pain.

If pain is preventing you from being active, look for some form of arthritis knee exercise that is non-weight bearing. Exercise in water allows you to move without the impact of land activities.

The water helps to support your body weight and you can get a greater range of movement in your knee joints than would be possible on land.

Just walk or jog up and down a pool; swim, using different strokes to get a wider range of movement; join a water aerobics class for a great workout. If you are into team sports, try water polo or water basketball.

So, you are going about your daily activities and your wrist starts hurting.

You start thinking to yourself, should I call the doctor? Should I have it looked at? Or is it nothing?

Wrist pain is something that a lot of people experience. Some wrist pain is serious, some isn’t [reduce wrist pain].

Here are some ways to tell whether or not you should go to the doctor.

1. Is your wrist swollen or do you have bruises on it? This is something that should be looked at, because you may have a serious wrist injury .

2. Do you feel as if you have a fever or like you are sick? Does it feel as if your hand is unusually warm or is it red? Go to the doctor – you may have an infection that is causing the pain in your wrist.

3. Are you having trouble doing things that are normally something that you can do easily? These tasks may include typing, carrying items, or writing.  If so, give your doctor a call.

Heel pain is the most common health concern for many adults and there are many different causes behind unbearable heel pain.

Once you have succeeded in identifying the main cause for heel pain, you can easily choose the right treatment for relief.

So, here are few main causes for heel pain.

• Plantar Fasciitis: This is the most common foot condition that results in heel pain. It is mainly caused due to infection or inflammation of tight tissue of arch of your foot. When you are suffering with plantar fasciitis, you can experience heel pain after prolonged standing or walking.
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome: Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome of hand, the large nerve present in the back of your foot becomes pinched and results in tarsal tunnel syndrome. When you have tarsal tunnel syndrome, you can experience tingling sensation, numbness and pain at the back of your foot and heels.
• Heel spur: If you have any previous episodes of plantar fasciitis, then you can possibly get heel spurs. More often middle aged adults are diagnosed with heel spurs. It is not thought to be the main cause for heel pain, rather it is mostly associated with plantar fasciitis and any unhealed inflammation in foot like plantar fasciitis can result in heel spurs.

Are you having arthritis? Do you know what kind of diet is appropriate for you?

Whether it is arthritis or diabetes, diet plays a major role in causing or preventing any kind of illness.

However, most of the arthritis sufferers are unaware of the importance of diet which could cause or prevent arthritis.

Here are some daily esculents that you should include or avoid during the period of arthritis treatment.

Foods to avoid

Some studies show that arthritis patients are at a very critical state of developing the most painful conditions with improper diet(diet for gout). So it is necessary for you to take utmost care of your regular diet routine.

Try to avoid animal protein beef, pork, meat and chicken. Even certain vegetables belonging to night shade family like peppers, white potatoes and egg plant should be eradicated.

Some arthritis sufferers had noticed improvement in arthritis treatment by reducing the intake of gluten sources like bailey and wheat.

You should also avoid consuming excessive amount of sugar, caffeine, salt and additives like flavonoids and spices.

Food to include

Vegetables rich in anti-inflammatory properties like broccoli, spinach and collards are essentially included in your diet of arthritis treatment.