Joint Elbow Pain

age-related-disease

Joint Elbow Pain

Take care of your body and live life!

The world population is getting older and chances are you are part of the demographic consider baby boomers and reaching your geriatric years. As the graying of America continues to escalate, age related diseases are becoming more prevalent for most of us.

Aches and pains are common the next day after working in the yard or playing touch football and just getting out of bed can become a chore.

As we get older, one of the most common things we begin to notice going first is our failing eyesight. What we used to be able to see and read is now difficult. Suddenly the small text on the back of food labels and magazine articles are fuzzy and out of focus and illegible without the $3.00 reading glasses.

How to treat elbow pain from tennis

Joint aches and pain are common for many adults, especially older men and women over 40 years of age. One common ailment that affects people in this category is tennis elbow. Even though tennis elbow is a common joint pain, it is not usually associated with playing tennis, but any activity associated with using the arm and wrist in a repetitive motion like hammering nails.

The pain felt on the outside of the elbow indicates stress and strain of the tendons attached to the bone around the elbow. Pain may be felt above and below the elbow and can be felt when lifting objects with your hand, shaking hands or even when trying to straighten your wrist or arm.

In order to accurately diagnose tennis elbow, a physician should be consulted. An MRI or other diagnostic tests may be needed to confirm the extent of the damage and course of treatment.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment may consist of the following:

1.   Applying ice to the site every 3-4 hours to reduce swelling
2.   Wearing an elbow strap or brace to support and protect the area around the elbow.    (Magnetic therapy products may be another option)
3.   Medications like ibuprofen or aspirin may help I reducing pain and swelling
4.   Physical Therapy, flexing and stretching the arm with certain exercises

In summary, tennis elbow is due to inflammation around the outside of the elbow which can be the result of overuse and repetitive motion stressing the tendons. Usually, the methods and treatments listed above can help provide pain relief but more aggressive treatments may be needed. Consulting a physician is always recommended for proper diagnosis and management.

How to find Back Relief from Pain

Back and neck pain can be detrimental to a normal life. Chronic issues with the back can incapacitate even the most macho man or athletic woman. Typically, back pain is associated with muscle strain and tightness, especially in the lower parts of the core.

If you suffer from occasional back pain due to twisting or improper lifting technique, you know that having back issues can put you down and out for days. Most likely, if you have pulled your back a visit to the chiropractor and some Ibuprofen may just do the trick.

If back pain is a constant part of your daily life here are 3 things that might help:

1. Exercise – Proper exercise using low impact methods like Yoga or Pilates can provide the flexibility and strength you need in the various areas that are problematic. Yoga can be especially well suited of you are under a great deal of stress from work or other issues. Yoga focus on mind, body and spirit with relaxation and meditation techniques as part of the discipline.

2. Inversion Tables – These devices have been known to help stretch out the back as you invert the body from the normal vertical position. With a few minutes a day, your back can feel more relaxed and aligned as you continue to utilize the device.

3. Stability Ball Chair – An unusual looking device developed to promote proper posture and spinal alignment while sitting. Using a large exercise ball, the operator is automatically balanced and properly positioned to naturally sustain a center that helps the back stay straight.

In summary, back pain can make it difficult to manage day to day tasks and with the proper tools and exercises, you may find the relief you need naturally.

3 Steps to long term Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is not a quick walk around the track after a stop at your local burger joint. It is a long term plan and strategy that you define and execute consistently. Sensible eating and moderate exercise are the true combination to assist in losing weight and becoming more fit and healthy.

So, if now is the time to pick up a new lease in life, increase your stamina and decrease your level of fat and sugar intake, then by all means look to develop a plan around your goals and objectives.
Here are 3 steps to get started:

1.    Before starting any new program, get a physical and discuss your desire with your doctor. They will give you guidance and point you in the right direction based on the results of your physical and long term goals. Ask about recommendations around nutrition, and your current physical state to determine if the activities you might enjoy are feasible.

2.    Before you decide to change your eating habits, document all the foods you eat over a week or two. This will help you set a baseline of your current dietary habits and choices. Once you see what you have been consuming, determine the areas you might want to address first, like sugar or fat intake.

3.    Develop a plan around the type of food and exercise choices you are willing to make initially. Keep it simple and reasonable in the type of change you are willing to make in the beginning.

If you start to make small changes with gradual adjustments, you are more likely to stick with your program. If you try to make drastic changes all at once, your willingness to continue will be less successful because you will feel that it is too difficult and abandon your plan.