Pain Management After Knee Surgery

Post surgical pain can be intolerable, especially after an orthopedic procedure. The good news is that modern pain management treatment can alleviate a significant degree of pain and discomfort. There are healthcare centers in New York where physicians offer treatments that provide great relief to patients who have recently undergone a knee surgery.

Pain Management Specialists

These specialists comprise a team of medical practitioners such as psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, neurologists and orthopedists. They assess the condition of the patient and take into account the extensiveness of the surgery. This helps them formulate a customized multi-disciplinary treatment plan by combining pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic procedures.

Effective Pain Relieving Techniques

Symptoms of pain are addressed at the physical and psychological level by adopting certain techniques. These are effective if performed under the care and guidance of experienced doctors.

Rest and relaxation - It is the most essential part of the treatment plan, especially after a major knee surgery such as a knee replacement. Muscle relaxation and exercises - Therapists would assist patients in both the techniques to ease stress related pain and improve joint motion. Heat or cold compressions - These help to reduce the intensity of pain and swelling. NSAIDS and narcotic medication - Physicians prescribe pain relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs if needed. Pain relieving modalities - TENS Unit (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) may be used to decrease pain perception. Knee elevation - Patients who have had a knee replacement surgery would need to elevate their legs higher than their hip. This positioning can be adopted when the patient is in bed, recliner or chair as this would reduce the sensation of pain.

Live a Life Free from Pain

Patients don't have to worry about suffering excruciating pain after a knee surgery. Pain management centers are there to help you live a comfortable life. It is best to learn about what you can expect after a surgical procedure and be prepared. Talk to specialists and know how quickly they can get you back on your feet with their specialized care.

Getting Posture Corrective Braces

If you do suffer from posture related issues, then it is not a medical condition. There is a good chance that it developed over time from a lifelong of habits. Chances are that these habits could have started at childhood and if you are now in your thirties then you've got a huge task at hand in dealing with the condition. Poor posture isn't only when you are standing, but also when sitting. Slouching is another common word for poor posture.

Bad posture causes those muscles that you would normally use for a good posture to become weak and slack. Other muscles take over leading to the person becoming comfortable in that position. This happens over a long period.

A lot of people are quite concerned about their poor or bad posture mainly because of the way they look when standing or seated. People with bad posture will normally complain about pain in the lower back and getting tired easily.

A posture corrective brace in one such thing that can help pull your shoulders back and enable the straightening of your back muscles. Braces are also useful for those who suffer from osteoporosis.

How Do Posture Corrective Braces work?

The common question that most people with bad posture would ask is, how do these braces work?

In order to get the full benefits of a good posture, you ought to get posture corrective braces. Note that for you to achieve the quickest benefits of these braces one has to also undertake a couple of recommended exercises. These exercises are so as to strengthen the back muscles and lead to a firmer upright back. One of the amazing things about these braces is that they constantly remind your brain of how good it is to have a good posture.

Getting good braces that will work despite your body shape is best. These braces won't also deter under your clothing. Braces use certain straps that move over your shoulders so as to keep your posture in good order. As your posture improves you will find it easy to support yourself and any pressure applied.

Note that some cheaper models of braces will dig into your shoulder skin and under arms, whilst good braces will come inclusive of a liner cloth so as to keep you dry and cool.

Taking care of your braces is a fairly easy thing to do. All you do is wash them using soapy water and they are good to go. Some even come machine washable, but it is best that you check the label so as to be sure. After drying you may notice that they may look distorted and this is nothing to worry about as they will return to their original shape after a little stretching.

When shopping for braces you should take your time and make sure that you get ones that suit your style and size. Most shops will offer some form of assistance in helping you choose the best corrective braces for yourself.

Foot Drop Due to a Stroke (CVA) - AFOs And The WalkAide - Medical Supplies to Help With Walking

Have you, or someone you know, suffered from a stroke (CVA)?

Nobody wants to be held back due to a stroke, so this article can be really helpful for these people if they suffer from a foot drop.

What is Foot Drop?

Foot drop can result after a stroke and cause people to drag their toes when they walk. This results in the body's loss of muscle control either due to weakness or paralysis. As a result, people may exhibit what is known as a "high steppage" gait to compensate for this condition. A "steppage" gait happens when someone tries to lift their knee higher than normal, so they can clear their foot more easily when they take a stride.

Is There Treatment For A Foot Drop Due to a Stroke?

Yes. People do not necessarily have to live with a gait deviation and do nothing about it. You do have options. Two conservative treatment options can work very well for people that suffer from foot drop, due to a stroke. Traditional AFOs and the WalkAide are two devices that medical professionals use to help people walk better again after a stroke.

A.) AFOs (ankle foot orthoses)

What is an AFO? - An AFO is a brace that is made by a specialist in orthotics, known as an orthotist. These individuals can fabricate a brace for you that will help lift your foot when you walk. These braces can also help to provide support to your ankle in the coronal plane (side to side stability), while also providing indirect support to the knee, if you need it.

B.) WalkAide

This is a more new, FDA approved medical device, that can assist with foot drop as well. When people have suffered form a stroke and some other debilitating conditions the WalkAide is an alternative device that can be used for the benefit of a patient. What happens is that this device provides electrical stimulation and in turn, the foot can be raised when a person walks. This can eliminate the need for an AFO for patients and help people get on with their lives again. It can work well for many people, but not everyone is a candidate for this type of device.

Note: This is health information. Not medical advice. For medical advice about bracing or the Walkaide, it is best to consult a licensed orthotist in your area. These individuals are credentialed medical professionals that work with both AFOs and the WalkAide.

Herbal Remedies: Hot and Cold Packs

Herbal remedies are preferred by a lot of people because of many reasons. These are simple, have no chemicals, do not show any side effects, do not include man-made impurities and are economical as compared to allopathic medicines. Herbs, spices, oils, essences, fruits, seeds and vegetables used in herbal remedies are naturally occurring and are rich in life-supporting and re-vitalizing elements and ingredients.

Just like modern medicine is available for almost every illness, in the same manner different herbal remedies are also available for curing most of illnesses known to mankind. One of the most common applications of herbal remedies is through hot and cold packs. All of us complain of aches, sprains and cramps on a regular basis. Our body is strained each day because of our hectic routines, posture problems, sports related aches and daily chaos. Popping pills for relieving pain everyday is not an ideal solution as it means pumping a continuous source of artificial chemicals into our system in the form of pain killers and relievers. These chemicals numb the pain for some time but pose as only a temporary cure. The ideal solution in this case is to seek help and comfort in herbal remedies. Hot and cold packs are suggested by even practitioners of allopathic medicine for relieving pain, sores and as a treatment for a variety of injuries.

Different types of hot and cold packs are available in the market. Packs with herb fillings, herbal gel, and chemical gel are all widely available and equally effective in relieving pain and soreness. Also, these are available in different sizes, with or without straps, in the shape of packs, small pillows, cushions and even as body wraps to provide you with added comfort. Hot and cold packs can be used to relieve pain in wrists, hands, arms, feet, ankle, legs, thighs, shoulders, hips, backs, spines and necks. You can choose the size and type of your choice depending on your personal preferences.

A hot and cold pack has many uses. These are reusable and you can use them as many times as you want without any fear of wearing them out. The pack is made of soft materials which would not cause discomfort to skin. Some packs also have a protective covering and do not need to be wrapped in a cloth or towel when applying them to the affected area. These can be easily used by heating in a microwave or cooling in a freezer. They come in different size and shapes. You can even have your pack customized by having one, two or combination's of herbs (scented, non-scented) added to your pack.

The heat from hot packs relaxes the muscles and tissues. This causes increased blood circulation to the area of application and an added supply of oxygen which relieves pain, soreness and creates a soothing effect. Cold packs numb the joints, throbbing muscles and reduce swelling. It should be remembered that hot and cold packs should be wrapped in a cloth or towel when applying to skin for added safety. It is advisable to use them for about twenty minutes to avoid excessive exposure to heat and cold.

Muscle Pains

Polymalagia rheumatica is quite common and is a well-defined syndrome. While it can affect many groups of muscles in different areas of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, back or the pelvis muscles, it does not cause atrophy of the muscles involved. The causative factor of polymalgia rheumatica is not known. It usually affects those 50 years and over, and will affect more woman than men, in a ratio of 4:1.

The constant stiffness and achiness can be extremely debilitating to the individual. Getting out of bed in the morning can be a daunting task. Daily chores cannot be performed with any semblance of normalcy. The individual may experience fever at times, as well as loss of appetite with weight loss, and a feeling of apathy. They can feel extremely tired at all times. Very often the individual with polymyalgia rheumatica may experience pains in the temperal region of the head. This can be due to another condition called "Polyarteritis" that often accompanies polymyalgia rheumatica. In polyarteritis, the medium-sized muscular arteries are inflamed, causing a reduction of the blood to the surrounding tissues. Although polymyalgia rheumatica is not a life threatening disease, polyarteritis can be, and should not be taken lightly. The individual may suffer from severe headaches and irreversible blindness can occur.

Should an individual find himself or herself in a situation that manifests itself as above, they should of course seek advice from their healthcare professional. The longer they wait places them in jeopardy. Their healthcare professional will do the necessary testing that will eventually lead to a definitive diagnosis. Having this definitive diagnosis is a must in knowing how to proceed with treating these conditions.

Health Hints***

Your healthcare provider will do several blood tests. The one that will prove to be definitive in polymalgia is the sedimentation rate. The sedrate as it is known, is invariably high in this condition. If pains are present in the temporal region, it is also advisable to see an ophthalmologist as well. The condition of temporal arteritis causes headache and can rapidly affect the arteries to the eyes, and cause blindness if left untreated. A blood test called ESR will be high. An arterial biopsy may also be necessary in order to have a definitive diagnosis. The condition often affects those 40 to 50 years of age, but can affect other age groups as well. It will also affect men more than women on a 3:1 ratio.

Polymyalgia rheumatica as well as temporal arteritis are generally treated with cortisone drugs. The patient with temporal arteritis will be started on cortisone (prednisone) immediately on a daily basis, and only will be reduced when the symptoms have subsided. For the patient without temporal arteritis, your healthcare professional may use other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These drugs are prescribed in an effort to control the inflammation and pain. The individual affected with polymyalgia rheumatica and possibly temporal arteritis, should not depend on the drugs to find relief from the pain. Having enough rest is important so as not to overtax the body and the involved muscle groups. Hot showers (not extremely hot) can be used twice daily to relax the muscles and ease the pain. The use of a heating pad to the most painful areas will also prove helpful. Using an analgesic gel such as Biofreeze applied to painful areas 3 to 4 times daily will help control the pain. The most important thing that the individual can-do, is recognize the seriousness of their symptoms and seek advice from their healthcare professional. Above all, do not neglect it and feel that it will go away eventually. It may not, and it can indeed prove to be serious in its ramifications.

Natural Pain Relief - The Important Role of Distraction and Detachment

There was a really interesting talk put out on the internet the other day by a guy named Dr Shealy who was being interviewed by Lisa Garr from the Aware Show. He is a leading neuroscientist who specialises in energy medicine and healing through natural energy and alternative methods.

TENs Pain Relief

He is the guy who introduced us to the TENs machine, amongst other things (which stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ) which is now being used by thousands of people in hospitals and homes around the world to help alleviate and control pain, from pains in pregnancy to acute back pain and more. This portable unit works by sending friendly low-level electrical signals through the skin to the brain to block any pain signals and ease any pain that you are feeling. Plus it can stimulate the release of feel good hormones at the same time, such as endorphin.

Dr Shealy is interested in where pain comes from and how it can be controlled or dissolved naturally by harnessing the body's energy fields and neuro-processes. He is a specialist in pain management therapy and promoting natural recovery through de-stressing, relaxation, distraction and detachment techniques and EFT tapping and massage stimulation of the body's energy meridian points.

Detachment Techniques

Dr Shealy argues that one of the most important ways to control pain is to practice the method of detachment, such as by focusing on something else intently for a while. In his example, focusing on the right thumbnail whilst breathing slowly and deeply until most of what is in your awareness is just that, the thumbnail, distracts the attention away from the pain. He claims that just doing something as simple as that can reduce your felt pain by as much as 50 per cent.

This seems to be borne out by a program that was on TV the other day, where the technique of 'pain management by distraction' was discussed. In the program, a burns patient was suffering a lot of pain every time he had his burn dressings changed, which happened every day. The anticipation of the pain and the association of his 'daily trial' with the room he was in and all its features added to the trauma of the experience.

However what happened next was that he was introduced to an interactive game about snowball fighting, which he was able to watch and interact with through headphones, goggles and a control panel. He interacted with the game during the whole time his dressings were being changed. The result of this distraction technique is that he experienced a 70 per cent lowering of pain levels by the power of his mind, which is pretty impressive.

Getting Through The Suffering

Life is not always easy - rather it is a roller coaster of ups and downs. We climb one figurative mountain just to sit and rest a while and then embark on another. Pain and suffering are thus an inevitable part of life. They cannot be avoided.

Without these former two aspects of life we would not grow in character become more spiritually awake and sound or emotionally fit. They refine us. This does not mean that it's pleasant to suffer, no but it is an in escapable part of life. This article aims at providing techniques that help one to cope in the dark, painful times of life and push on through to those which are more pleasant.

Firstly, maintain a positive attitude as much as possible - believe me I know this is difficult when it seems like your David facing Goliath, are in heavy debt, have lost a loved one or have pressing legal matters. What you put out into the world you get back, more often then not. One method I have found which helps an extremely negative person like me stay positive is to meditate on the word of the Lord, reciting phrases such as - "There is no condemnation for those in Christ", "Jesus is my advocate" or even - "God will protect me". If you are not Christian or religious just give yourself positive affirmations such as - "This to will pass" or - "I will survive".

Secondly, stay active - do not let your issue lead to deep depression if you can help it. Go to gym if that's your thing, write, read and even work (if you are able to). It helps.

Thirdly, if your problem is still overwhelming seek counselling - find a psychologist - speak to them let it all out, it is amazing what an objective point of view can do in such situations. They might refer you to a psychiatrist who will medicate you, but to me therapy is by far a more effective means to tackling grief and anguish then medication alone.

Fourthly, pray. Even if you are not religious pray. Jesus Christ has worked wonders in my life and with out him I would literally be in jail or dead via drugs, suicide attempts, and car crashes. I can not tell you to find Christ, but only suggest it as we all have freedom to our own religion.

Fithly, take some time to be one with nature. Observe the birds, listen to the ocean watch the sun set - remind yourself just how beautiful this cruel world actually can be.

Lastly - smile, don't lose the faith. You are not alone, there is always somebody worse off then you, and inside of you, you have all the mechanisms to deal with your problem. Face the problem don't run from it feel the grief and anguish. Sit with those feelings and before you know it, your tears and worries will turn to joy and hey your there - at the top of your own Mount Everest. Just don't give up.

Well, I hope that some of this hard learnt advice and you get to the top of your mountain. And remember for every portion of suffering there is a portion of joy.