Common sources of shoulder pain and how to treat it

From summitdaily.com
By Lauren Glendenning

Shoulder pain can range from temporary to long-lasting, from motion-related to constant, but one of the most disruptive symptoms of any shoulder injury is its effect on sleep.
“When you don’t sleep, everything in life becomes harder,” said Dr. Aaron Black, a shoulder, knee and trauma specialist at Panorama Summit Orthopedics.

Some of the most common sources of shoulder pain include rotator cuff injuries and arthritis. In Summit County, it’s common to see patients who develop shoulder arthritis as a result of previous injuries to the shoulder, such as a shoulder dislocation earlier in life, Dr. Black said.

A specific diagnosis and treatment plan can result in years — or perhaps a lifetime — of pain relief and increased mobility in this important joint. It’s Dr. Black’s mission to make sure he’s helping patients not only eliminate shoulder pain and weakness, but also get back to consistently healthy and restful sleep.

Primary arthritis vs. rotator cuff arthropathy
The two broad categories of arthritis most commonly seen in Summit County are primary arthritis and rotator cuff arthropathy, or secondary arthritis. Primary arthritis has no specifically known cause and is usually related to age, sex and genes, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Rotator cuff arthropathy happens after a large, long-standing rotator cuff tendon tear that no longer holds the head of the humerus in the socket, causing it to move upward and damage the surface of the bones, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

“Shoulder arthritis is experienced as achy pain and stiffness around the shoulder that often feels worse in the morning,” Dr. Black said. “Rotator cuff arthropathy is usually associated with stiffness and weakness.”

Non-operative arthritis treatment
Non-operative shoulder arthritis treatment includes physical therapy and injection therapies.
“As with any arthritic joint, the more you use it, the less stiff it is and the less pain you have,” Dr. Black said.

PT can help improve range of motion in the shoulder, while icing the shoulder two or three times a day can reduce inflammation and ease pain.

Dr. Black’s injection therapy options include cortisone and biologic agents, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), all of which act primarily as anti-inflammatories.

No biologic injection therapies contain stem cells for tendons or cartilage, despite advertisements to the contrary, and thus do not regrow cartilage or tendons, he said.

Cortisone injections can offer pain relief for three to six months, while PRP tends to last a bit longer, Dr. Black said. The procedures are performed in the office under ultrasound guidance.

Shoulder joint replacement (arthroplasty)
If shoulder arthritis is severe, it’s less likely that the non-operative options will get the job done. The next option for these patients would be shoulder joint replacement surgery.

Dr. Black said there are two types of shoulder replacements: anatomic total shoulder replacement and reverse total shoulder replacement. There are roughly 53,000 of these surgeries performed each year in the United States, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Both procedures have differing benefits. Dr. Black said that anatomic replacements can be done on patients of any age, but those who have it at a younger age might require another surgery later in life. The procedure works well for getting patients back to their normal activities.

Reverse replacements are extremely reliable for reducing or eliminating pain, but less reliable for getting full range of motion back, he said.

“I do all of my shoulder replacements with custom 3D modelling and patient-specific guides made to ensure the components are in exact right position,” Dr. Black said.
Dr. Black stresses that all joint replacements are elective surgeries.
“I will never tell a patient they have to have a joint replacement,” he said. “This is symptom-based — when you say it’s time, it’s something I’ll say you should have. I want all of my patients to be informed about the options.”

Shoulder joint replacement recovery includes about six weeks in a sling, and in three to four months most patients are back to regular activity with continued improvement from there.

Rotator cuff injuries
Another common local shoulder affliction is to the rotator cuff, which is the combination of muscles and tendons that keep your arm bone centred in your shoulder socket to provide shoulder motion and stability. Dr. Black said these injuries can happen during a fall when the arm is thrown away from the body, but sometimes rotator cuff injuries are chronic and happen over time.
Some people even have large tears to the rotator cuff without ever feeling any symptoms.
The good news is that there are a lot of treatment options, from physical therapy and injections to repair or reconstruction surgery.

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/common-sources-of-shoulder-pain-and-how-to-treat-it-sponsored/

Unpeeling the many layers of arthritis can be difficult

From aspentimes.com
By Judson Haims

If you’ve got arthritis, you’re all too aware how disabling can be. If you’ve heard about it or know people with it, but don’t really know much about it, here’s your chance to learn more.

Arthritis is an inflammation joint disease that affects people of all ages and sexes. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and there are many different causes and treatments.

Two of the most common types are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). RA often causes joints in the wrist, hands and feet to become inflamed, swollen and stiff as a result of the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking cells in the joint lining. It’s an autoimmune disease that effects women more often than men.

While OA is not an autoimmune disease, the exact cause is not known. OA is believed to occur because the body is unable to repair tissue within the joint as it breaks down from wear and tear, injury, obesity and weak muscles.

Genetics are believed to play a role in both RA and OA.

Symptoms of arthritis

Symptoms of RA and OA differ. RA symptoms typically begin slowly over time. Often, people start to notice stiffness, pain and tenderness in their joints Sometimes these symptoms present themselves for a while and then disappear. Unfortunately, once symptoms reappear, the frequency of recurrence often increases.

RA is an insidious disease that can affect the entire body. Visual symptom scan frequently be seen in inflammation and/or deformation of the joints within the hand and feet. However, because it is an autoimmune disease, skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels may be affected.

Often symptoms of RA include a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness and pain that are not specific to any one area. Tiredness, lack of energy and motivation, loss of appetite and mild fever also can be warning signs.

OA has long been thought to occur due to the wearing down of joints over time. Thus, weight-bearing joints such as the neck, fingers, hips, lower back, knees and feet are commonly affected.

Symptoms associated with OA are pain and swelling when using the joints, stiffness, numbness, cracking and popping of the joints, and bone spurs often found on the spine and neck.

Diagnosing RA and OA

Diagnosis of RA and OA differ. RA is often clinically diagnosed by performing a thorough medical history, defining the location of joint pain and learning about the duration of stiffness — particularly in the morning.

Frequently, when medical professionals believe that conditions present as RA, they will suggest running a complete blood count along with other laboratory tests that look at antibodies and biological markers.

OA on the other hand is not diagnosed with blood testing. While medical providers may choose to draw fluid from the joints, this is often done to rule out other medical conditions and forms of arthritis.

Typically, when medical providers believe OA is present, they can make a clinical diagnosis. For occasions of doubt they may choose to have X-rays taken. In some cases, they may choose to have an MRI perform.

Treatments

The first line of defence for both RA and OA are diets that help mitigate inflammation. Diets consisting of fruits, vegetables rich in antioxidants, fish, nuts, whole grains, beans and lentils have show to be helpful.

For RA, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as acetaminophen, Advil, Motrin and Aleve are helpful. Prescription NSAIDs like Humira, Celebrex, Mobic, Enbrel, Zorvolex and Voltaren are available, however, many people encounter stomach irritation, ulcers and kidney problems with prolonged use.

Unfortunately, some of theses medicines are quite expensive. In some cases, monoclonal antibodies are used to treat RA. These are laboratory produced substances that bind to target specific molecules/proteins that cause inflammation.

Because OA is characterized by wear and tear causing joint inflammation and joint degeneration, treatment differs from RA. In addition to acetaminophen and NSAIDs, physical and occupational therapies may be helpful. Such therapies may assist in strengthening muscles around the joints, increase flexibility and teach you different ways being gentler on your joints — think water therapy.

As with many health ailments, avoiding sugar-rich carbohydrates, salt, fried foods, white flour and processed foods will help with both RA and OA. There are many options for treating arthritis in general. Don’t wait too long before choosing to see a doctor — they can often guide you to a treatment that’s right for you.

https://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/judson-haims-unpeeling-the-many-layers-of-arthritis-can-be-difficult/

Woman walks pain-free after new procedure lets her body heal itself

From wbay.com

BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) An Allouez woman is up and walking, pain free, after undergoing a procedure still relatively new to the greater Green Bay area.

Doctors used regenerative medicine to take away the pain of her arthritic knee.

Regenerative medicine is an outpatient procedure, no surgery required, that allows a person's body to begin healing itself using its own stem cells and blood.

"I really wonder if we know what our body can really do, but this is a start," says Ruth Mettner.

Mettner has the smile, spunk and attitude most doctors probably wish all their patients have.

Why wouldn't she be so happy after a two-hour procedure in a doctor's office got her back on both feet again?

"I'm doing fine. God bless these little things! I hope they keep it up," says a laughing Mettner.

Last fall, her left knee was causing her extreme pain.

"I got up one morning at about two in the morning, and I fell flat on my face on the floor. My knee was just gone," she recalls. "Our family is very full of arthritis, and so that's the problem. It's hereditary, so it was just my turn."

Dr. Ryan Woods, BayCare Clinic regenerative medicine physician, explains how a centrifuge is during a regenerative medicine procedure.

Mettner assumed she'd have to have a knee replacement, like her siblings, until her physical therapist told her about a relatively new procedure being offered at BayCare Clinic in Green Bay.

Dr. Ryan Woods, a BayCare Clinic regenerative medicine and sports medicine physician, moved to the Green Bay area a little more than a year ago to offer patients with joint pain another option -- regenerative medicine.
"Regenerative medicine is a practice of medicine where we attempt to use the body's natural materials and mechanisms to initiate repair and improve pain and function," explains Dr. Woods.

In Mettner's case, that meant removing platelets and bone marrow from her pelvis.
Using an ultrasound to see precisely where it's going, the cells are then inserted back into her knee.
"There's a little pain, but it's nothing," says Mettner.

Dr. Woods describes the pain of the two-hour outpatient procedure like a bee sting.
Mettner was walking without a limp four days after seeing Dr. Woods.

"An arthritic joint is a very angry, catabolic environment where there's continued breakdown of the cartilage inside the joint," explains Dr. Woods. "These treatments can go in and modulate that to make the environment a little happier, more anabolic, kind of protective. I explain it to folks as kind of a seed and fertilizer analogy, where the cells are the seeds and the platelets act as a fertilizer."

It's still new enough most insurance doesn't cover it, and Dr. Woods says the medical community doesn't know yet if it actually prevents more arthritis, but it can be used on all kinds of joints for people of all ages, with benefits for many patients.
"We don't have to worry about dosing limits. It's your own self. It's safe," he explains.

Dr. Woods says high school and collegiate athletes can benefit, and so can others of varying ages, who have chronic injuries or pain.
It doesn't replace surgery, but it does give people like Mettner more options.

"I think it's a miracle, personally," says Mettner. "Oh! Worth it? Oh! I can't tell you. I would have paid more if I'd known what it was going to be like!"

https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Woman-walks-pain-free-after-new-procedure-lets-her-body-heal-itself-568147951.html

Ease Joint Pains Caused By Arthritis By Using This Spice Extract

From ibtimes.com

KEY POINTS

• Arthritis can wreak havoc to health and to daily activities
• There are ways on how to combat this pain and among them is by eating the right kind of food
• This spice has been known to help in alleviating symptoms

The word arthritis is a collective term for approximately 200 conditions characterized by swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints or tissues surrounding the joint. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

While such types of arthritis are distinct from each other, they can both upset your regular routine and daily life, making even the simplest tasks seem difficult. Sad to say, there is no cure for arthritis, but there is growing evidence that shows implementing some lifestyle changes helps in alleviating the painful symptoms. By easing the symptoms, the condition becomes more manageable.

                                              Turmeric to fight arthritis Photo: stevepb -Pixabay

A Traditional Spice That Helps
Studies reveal that a popular spice has shown much promise in alleviating pain caused by rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Long praised for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is becoming the focus of various studies on pain alleviation. The key ingredient of this popular Asian spice is curcumin, an active compound found in this flowering plant.

A review summary of various controlled tests found that a thousand milligrams per day of curcumin can reduce osteoarthritic inflammation and pain. Its efficacy is comparable to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs like ibuprofen and diclofenac.

In another study conducted in 2016, results show that curcumin may help prevent the breakdown of bones in people with rheumatoid arthritis. You must choose curcumin extract over the whole turmeric, according to the Arthritis Foundation, because the whole turmeric is usually contaminated with lead. The health organization suggests taking 500mg capsules two times daily for best results.

Foods That Help

Aside from dietary supplementation, making some dietary changes can also help ease the symptoms of arthritis. Particular foods have displayed this ability.
Fatty fish like sardines, mackerel, trout, and salmon, for instance, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids which have been proven to possess effective anti-inflammatory properties.

In one study, 33 volunteers were given lean meat, lean fish, or fatty fish four times every week. After eight weeks, the group that consumed fatty fish saw their levels of particular compounds associated with inflammation were reduced.

An analysis of 17 other studies further bolstered the findings of the researchers. Upon examination, they found that having omega-3 fatty acid supplements lowered the intensity of pain in their joints. It also reduced instances of morning stiffness as well as the number of joints experiencing pain. All of these allowed patients with rheumatoid arthritis to decrease their dosage of conventional pain relievers.

In another study, omega-3 fatty acids lowered numerous inflammatory markers associated with osteoarthritis. Fish is also a rich source of vitamin D, helping patients prevent having deficiency from the nutrient.

https://www.ibtimes.com/ease-joint-pains-caused-arthritis-using-spice-extract-2919773

Best supplements for arthritis: The sunshine vitamin that could help with pain

From express.co.uk

BEST supplements for arthritis: Arthritis means joint inflammation and it is sometimes extremely painful for a person especially in their joints. Supplements have been used for a myriad of health problems and taking this particular supplement could help a person's arthritis.

Joint stiffness and swelling are the common signs of the painful condition, arthritis. A person’s range of motion may decrease and one may experience redness of the skin around the joint. In the UK, more than 10 million people have arthritis, or similar conditions that affect the joints. The condition can affect people of all ages, including children. What supplement has been proven to help with symptoms of arthritis?

According to the latest research, 76 percent of people say that arthritis pain prevents them from living life to the fullest.

The figure was even higher for females living with arthritis with 81 percent of them saying their pain stops them from living the life they want.
When it comes to men, 68 percent said they cannot lead the life they would like to.

Fortunately, there is a supplement one can take that could help with their pain and give people the ability to live life to the fullest despite having the condition.

     Best supplements for arthritis: Taking this supplement could help ease the symptoms of arthritis                                                                         (Image: Getty Images)

Vitamin D helps the bones absorb calcium, which is vital to bone health.
It’s also crucial for muscle movement, communication between nerves and fighting inflammation.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people who take oral steroids have a vitamin D deficiency twice as often as people who don’t take them.

What causes arthritis?

Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in the joints.
It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them.
A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of arthritis. Normal wear and tear causes arthritis.
An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue.
Your risk of developing arthritis may be higher if you have a family history of the disease.

Best sources of vitamin D

It’s important to get enough calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones.
According to UpToDate, this is the first step to prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.
Calcium is essential to keeping the bones healthy, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium as well as protect bones. Food is the best source of these nutrients.
You can get calcium from low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.
Vitamin D is available in fatty fish like salmon and tuna.

                          Best supplements for arthritis: Taking vitamin D supplements helps                                                                     with bone health (Image: Getty Images)

You can also find fortified breakfast cereals, juices, and other foods that have calcium and vitamin D.
The nutrition label on these items will show you roughly how much of your daily value you are getting.
Theoretically, vitamin D should be helpful in preventing, slowing, or reducing arthritis inflammation.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1238442/best-supplements-arthritis-symptoms-joint-pain-vitamin-d-supplements