Can Whole Body CryoTherapy Help Me Deal With Chronic Pain?

By Lance Winslow

The opioid crisis in the United States is getting out-of-control, it has reached epidemic proportions and in some parts of the country the problem is so bad that nearly everyone knows someone who has the problem or has died from it. Nearly, everyone has an opinion as to whose fault it is. Many blame the victims or the addicted. Others blame the doctors for prescribing addictive pain killer medicine. Some blame big pharma, and still others blame drug dealers who sell street drugs to those addicted to continue their desire to stay in that state of being.

It's hard for us to realize that this all starts from severe pain, and trying to deal with it. If there was no pain, it is doubtful many would seek out the pain medication or be prescribed it in the first place. Now then, might I offer a suggestion in this article? Go ahead, read what I have to say, as I've been studying this issue at our Think Tank as we try to make sense of a viable solution to this opioid crisis that plagues our nation.

Chronic Pain is no fun. Living with constant pain isn't living a fulfilled life. Yes, adversity builds character, but how much more character do you really need at this point in your life? Just a couple of sessions of Whole Body CryoTherapy per week will significantly reduce pain.

Sure, one can learn to tolerate pain and build up a high threshold, or take expensive and highly addictive pain medicine, but since empirical evidence and research shows Whole Body CryoTherapy works, isn't it time you switched back to a pain free you? Don't hesitate, be great.

How Does CryoTherapy Reduce Pain?

CryoTherapy reduces nerve conduction velocity (NCV), allowing the individual to maintain a higher pain threshold (PTH) and better paint tolerance (PTO). Since your brain doesn't receive the signals of pain at a high level, it sends less reinforcement to the area causing inflammation. Inflammation causes more tenderness and pain, and the cycle continues, so by breaking this cycle, your body can heal without the pain or over-abundance of inflammation during the process. Whole Body CryoTherapy tends to be a much better solution than pain medication;

(1) It is not addicting; and
(2) The nerve endings are only temporarily muted, long enough to prevent near term reoccurring inflammation.

Although, the theory behind each method is somewhat similar, it's always better to use natural ways to get your body to a better place than to use synthetic pharmaceuticals to unnaturally trick your body into reacting in a certain way, especially when there are additional side effects to deal with.

Here are two pieces of research I used in preparing this article:

(1) British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007 Jun; 41(6): 365-369.

(2) "Monitoring of whole body cryotherapy effects by thermal imaging" preliminary report Armand Cholewka, Zofia Drzazga, Meksander Sierofi. Published: Physica Medica Vol. XXII N. 2,. April-June 2006.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

5 Home Remedies To Beat Menstrual Pain

By Priyanka Maheshwari

Do you dread your approaching menstrual period? Does it make you irritable, give you cramps, make you weak and uncomfortable? Menstruating women deal with so many problems ranging from cravings to pain and body malaise. While you cannot entirely prevent these from occurring, there are home remedies that will help you tone down the extent of these menstrual problems and help you live through those five days like any other normal day. It's common to feel discomfort around your abdomen, lower back, and thighs when you're menstruating. During your period, the muscles of your womb contract and relax to help shed built-up lining. Sometimes you'll experience cramps, which are your muscles at work. Some women and girls may experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, or diarrhea as well.

* Hot water bottle

The dreaded effect of having your period is the cramps. No one wants to feel like someone is stabbing their abdomen multiple times for several hours. To get relief, apply a heat pack on your lower back and abdomen. The heat will help soothe some of the cramps. Applying Heat to your abdomen and lower back may relieve pain. A 2012 study focused on women 18 to 30 years old who had regular menstrual cycles found that a heat patch at 104�F (40�C) was as effective as ibuprofen.

* Get more Calcium

Cramps can be reduced by increasing the intake of calcium in the food. Remember to include dairy products or calcium supplements in your diet.

* Fish Oil

Fish oil is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. Taking a capsule of fish oil everyday helps keep menstrual cramps at bay.

* Chamomile Tea

Chamomile, an anti-depressant and nerve relaxant, is a life saver. Drinking a few cups of Chamomile tea helps in soothing your cramps and makes you relax during your periods. Massage therapy for about 20 minutes can help reduce menstrual pain. One study looked at women with period pain caused by endometriosis. The researchers found that massages significantly reduced pain immediately and afterward. Massage therapy for menstruation involves pressing specific points while the therapist's hands move around your abdomen, side, and back. Drinking chamomile tea increases urinary levels of glycine, which helps relieve muscle spasms. Glycine also acts as a nerve relaxant.

* Banana Flower

If you suffer from heavy bleeding, then include a lot of banana flower in your diet since it is rich in progesterone which can control help normalize hormones and stop heavy bleeding.

Knees and Your Health

By Jenetta Haim

Knees been playing up lately? Is it just a sign of getting older or can it point to other issues? When your knees hurt it makes moving about awkward. Getting up and down stairs, kneeling, gardening, dancing, and exercise. All these and much more becomes affected. There are many common causes of knee pain. You may have had an injury or just overuse so that means it's temporary. However there are other more serious causes like arthritis. Some causes are less obvious however.

One of the first things to question if you have not overused your knees in some way is to look at your weight. Are you overweight and are your knees feeling the pressure? Did you know that the knees can feel the pressure of up to five times of your body weight? So if you are overweight apart from attending to your diet and some exercise you need to do some muscle strengthening exercises specifically for that area of your body.

Or is it that you are exercising too hard or too often? This can cause major strain on all your joints and exercise done incorrectly can affect the cartilage and add to knee degeneration. So it is important to warm up and stretch before any exercise and do a cool down to avoid injury.

Of course we can't discount the fact that you are getting older. Age puts stress on all parts of your body. Your muscle mass decreases and so does your body strength so it is natural that there should be a few aches and pains if you are not taking care of yourself. The way to combat this is to have a balanced diet, a balance in your exercise routine, a balance of sleep, relaxation, work and take the right supplements for your age.

Surprisingly also people who are depressed tend to get more aches and pains than people who are happy with their lifestyle. This is because when you are depressed you tend to neglect your diet, exercise and social connections. You also tend to brood and worry more. All this makes for a more sedentary lifestyle and your muscles are not getting a proper workout. There is a psychological effect by the depression which causes a physiological effect in that you don't move about as much and it becomes a cycle of one symptom adding to another. So if you are anxious and depressed make sure you see a natural therapist who can give you a tool kit of how to handle your depression and some natural supplements to make you feel better.

There are illnesses however that will affect your knees as well as other parts of your body. Do you have gout? Gout can be controlled by right diet and supplements. It is due to perhaps eating a lot of red meat or drinking too much alcohol. Also Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two diseases of the digestive system that can cause pains in joints. There are other diseases that do this also. So always look at your diet first when you are not feeling well in any area of your body. Again this can be remedied by seeing a naturopath or nutritionist who will give you a proper diet to control your symptoms.

How to Relieve Your Pain With Yoga

By Ann Clinton

Who would have thought a few simple poses would alleviate headaches, back pain and other pains that many people suffer through? I was totally blown away when I learned that practicing yoga would get rid of my headaches. Had I known this many years ago, I never would have suffered body-dropping headaches as a teen. Here are a few simple moves to rid your pain for the New Year.

Headaches, Stress, and Anxiety
Are headaches, stress, and anxiety menaces to your daily activities? Try coming into a kneeling position, sitting on your legs, on the floor. Inhale deeply and exhale, leaning forward to rest your forehead on the floor for five or ten breaths. Your arms are resting limply at your sides. Continue to breathe deeply, imagining that you are exhaling your breath directly into the troubled area. When you are ready to come out of this pose, inhale deeply and slowly raise your head from the floor.

Back Pain?
Try lying on your back, on the floor. Inhale deeply and as you exhale, hug your knees to your chest. Hold this position for five to ten breaths as you rock from side to side to massage your lower back against the floor. To come out of the pose, on an exhale, release your legs to the floor and lie flat on your back, breathing smoothly for another five to ten breaths before turning to your right side to rise slowly to a comfortable sitting position. Try this as many times as you need to throughout the day.

Another excellent pose for back pain is lying prostrate on the floor (at full length). Begin inhaling and exhaling deeply. On an inhale, raise your arms and legs to your own degree and hold for a breath or two. Then release and let them down on an exhale. Try this as many times as you like. To come out, inhale to your hands and knees.

Hip Pain?
Feeling stiffness in your hip-joint whenever you rise from sitting to walk? Try this easy pose and feel the pain disappear. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed (crisscross applesauce). Sit tall, inhaling deeply and then exhale as you walk your hands out in front of you (to your own degree). Continue to breathe deeply for five to ten breaths. When you're ready to come out of this pose, inhale as you walk your hands back into your body and rise slowly from the floor.

Practice these poses as often as you can and discover the new calm, and pain-free you for the New Year.

Article Source: How to Relieve Your Pain With Yoga

Total Knee Replacement - Benefits, Risks and Post Operative Care

Total Knee Replacement - Benefits, Risks and Post Operative Care

By Sejal Kakadiya

Total knee replacement surgery answers the debilitating conditions that threaten patients with movement restrictions and pain. Severely degenerated and damaged knees cause pain in the joints and make movement difficult. The condition grows worse progressively. This surgical procedure relives the pain and brings back flexibility and mobility.

Need for replacement surgery

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis and long term knee pain problems benefit from the replacement surgery. Patients with impaired movements due to knee related problems can consider this option.

What is total knee replacement?

Knee replacement is a surgical procedure. During the procedure Surgeons replace the damaged or diseased portion of the knee with plastic or metal prosthesis. In total replacement the entire knee is replaced.

Function of the knee and how replacement helps

The knee joint is crucial to lower limb flexibility and movement. It is the pivot that joins the thigh bone to the bones of the lower leg. Total replacement consists of removing the end of the thigh bone and replacing it with a pre designed shell and simultaneously removing the upper end of the lower leg bone. This is replaced with a plastic piece and metal stem. A button lie structure is placed behind the knee cap. This completes the entire prosthesis that replaces the normal knee. The ligaments that hold the lower leg in position are replaced with polyethylene.

Benefits of knee replacement

Relief from pain

Improved mobility

Improved lifestyle

Risks of replacement surgery

The greatest risk is of forming blood clots that can travel as far as the lungs.

Other risks include urinary tract infection, nausea, knee stiffness and pain.

Bleeding in the joint and damage to nerves can also occur.

Pre and post operative care

Patients are put on antibiotics before the surgery to minimize risks. Vital parameters are also monitored to prevent complications during after surgery. Routine blood tests and reviewing of medications taken are part of pre operative care.

Physiotherapy is an essential component of post operative care. At times a continuous passive motion machine is used to automatically move the knee in various ways while patients relax. This improves blood circulation and prevents knee stiffness. Physiotherapy helps patients to learn to use their knee joint. Exercises are shown to strengthen calf and thigh muscles.

Patients begin to walk with the assistance of walkers and crutches till they are able to walk on their own. It is important for patients to continue with the exercises. They also need to carefully monitor the wound for signs of infection.

Caring for replaced joints

Replaced joints need to be taken care of. Activities remain restricted to those that cause least damage to the new joint. Contact sports are avoided though leisure sports can be enjoyed.

Total knee replacement is a recommended procedure for patients who have severely restricted movement due to knee joint degeneration, damage, trauma and arthritis. With proper care a replaced knee joint can bring back agility and movement and lead to a more active lifestyle.

Kokilaben Hospital provides world class facilities, dedicated team to perform surgery, latest technology for total knee replacement treatment in mumbai.

Article Source: Total Knee Replacement - Benefits, Risks and Post Operative Care

Sports Injuries That Require Attention From a Shoulder Surgeon

Every now and then, we hear sportsmen suffering from injuries. While they tend to get hurt practically everywhere on their body, one of the most common spot that is susceptible to injury is the shoulder. The most common shoulder injuries seen on field include dislocations, Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries, rotator cuff tear, shoulder labrum tear thrower's shoulder, biceps injuries, bursitis and fractures. While dislocations and ACJ injuries are more common in contact sports, such as rugby and wrestling, rotator cuff tears and SLAP lesions are common in sports involving explosive heavy weight-lifting.

Usually, it is quite difficult to identify the severity of a shoulder injury. Which is why, people tend to ignore them further aggravating the injury. Thus, it is advised that early assessment from a skilled

Shoulder Surgeon or Therapist is the right way forward when experiencing discomfort in the shoulders.

There are number of injuries known to be common on field. The most prominent of which are listed below:

Shoulder Dislocations

Being the most mobile joint in the body also makes the shoulder potentially unstable. Therefore, it becomes a common joint for dislocations in the body. Minor traumas in the shoulder result in the shoulder to 'pop out' of the joint. To fix it, the doctor fixes it back into the joint following by rounds of physiotherapy.

But, more than half of dislocations hold possibility of recurrence, especially among the youth indulging in sports. Repeated dislocations lead to more instability and stretching of the shoulder joint that require long periods of rest and decreased performance. Therefore, it is generally recommended that one should opt for shoulder dislocation surgery before the injury aggravates.

Rotator Cuff Tears

The rotator cuff is a crucial bunch of tendons that provide movement and stability for the shoulder. Therefore, in the event of damage, pain and weakness in the area can be significant. Those who choose to fix these tears early show faster recovery. That's because when left unattended, these tears get bigger and more difficult to repair later on. Rotator cuff repair can be done by keyhole surgery or open surgery.

SLAP Lesions

Superior Labral Antero-Posterior (SLAP) tears of the shoulder are common among those in sports requiring overhead throwing, heavy lifting and tackling. In most cases, the biceps anchor in the shoulder is forcibly peeled or pulled off its bone attachment by a large pulling or peeling force. This can occur during a heavy lift, hard throw, tackle or fall. As for symptoms, deep pain is experienced inside the shoulder owing to the heavy duty lifting action the patient is subjected to.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery (keyhole surgery), is the recommended courses of action to treat such cases.

Shoulder Labrum Tear

The labrum is a cushion like muscle surrounding the socket of the shoulder joint that is susceptible to tear. Common causes behind these tears are attributed to falls or direct blows to the shoulder, but may also occur with throwing or pulling injuries. Larger tears are generally associated with shoulder dislocations and are called Bankart tears.

Shoulder Fractures

Fractures around the shoulder have always been difficult to treat surgically. But with new fixation devices and safer surgical techniques, doctors are now capable of fixing difficult fractures early and allow swifter recoveries from injuries.


 By Martin Cook


Article Source: Sports Injuries That Require Attention From a Shoulder Surgeon

Prophylactic Knee Brace

This knee brace is designed to protect your knee from injury when you are playing contact sports and fits around your leg. This knee brace can incorporate bilateral or unilateral hinge designs. Bilateral means both sides and unilateral means only on one side. These braces are mainly comprised of straps with adhesives, bars, and hinges. When you have to wear a prophylactic knee brace will have to prevent or limit the severity of injuries to ligaments in your knee. Four of the main ligaments found in your knee include:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-this ligament is found in the middle of your knee joint and is connected to your tibia and femur
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL)-this ligament is found the outside of your knee joint that faces your other knee and keeps your knee joint from bending outward
• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)-this ligament is found on the outside of your knee and connects the femur to your fibula. It stops your knee from moving too much and gives it stability
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-this ligament works with your ACL to help prevent the tibia from moving out of alignment. It also prevents it from sliding backward under your femur.

Benefits of a prophylactic knee brace

• Absorbs impact forces that could cause damage
• Protects your ACL against damage from rotational forces during contact sports like football
• Decreases the force on your MCL

The length of the brace should be as long it can fit comfortably on your leg. The energy that affects your knee during a contact injury is dissipated differently when you are wearing either a bilateral or a unilateral brace. The dispersal of the force can prevent injury to one ligament but not on the others but it all depends on the motion that was involved. If you have had knee ligament injuries before you will always be at risk for another ligament injury. To help prevent this from happening you can wear such an equipment. The one drawback to wearing this brace when playing contact sports is that it can interfere with the athlete's performance. It is possible that when they wear a knee brace that they could develop a false sense of security, making an injury possible if they are not careful. It could also cause an injury to the other players if they make contact with the brace.

An example of who might wear a prophylactic knee brace are defensive and offensive lineman during a football game. The reason is that they are a higher risk for having a knee injury. Some say that when they wear this type of knee brace if they suffer another knee injury is it less severe.

Are you in need of high quality orthotics medical equipment like back braces or knee brace? If so then all your needs can be fulfilled by Century Orthotics & Medical Equipment LLC. The company is the leading medical equipment Houston and knee brace Houston supplier. To know more about their product range or for assistance with buy medical equipment call Century Orthotics & Medical Equipment LLC at (713) 597-0923.


 By Lora Davis


Article Source: Prophylactic Knee Brace

Getting Through It: Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief

Surgery was yesterday. The pain isn't too bad. It's tolerable, not as bad as I expected; yet, the pain still dictates my movement, actually, lack it. What can I do besides medication?

I found mindfulness meditation almost perfect. I use the word almost because any meditation takes practice. What I liked about this particular process was it was fast and easy.

The most it takes me is one or two minutes. I can even complete this at a stop light or in a grocery store line.

The purpose of this meditation, actually all meditation, is to focus on your breathing while keeping your mind open and clear. Different from the type of meditation I previously learned and found difficult to complete; where I needed a comfortable position, took more time and required me to learn to blank my mind. In this process you allow your mind to feel the pain or be open to whatever is playing in your thoughts. Just allow the flow.

The steps are easy.

Like any meditation practice, you want to relax any tension. Begin with one body section or one the muscle at a time. It doesn't matter which part and doesn't necessarily need to begin with the place of pain. Begin with your shoulders or maybe your back. You begin wherever emerges in your mind first. Feel the tension there and say in your mind, "go away now" and watch the tension release immediately.

After my foot surgery three months earlier, while I was at a stop light, I would briefly close my eyes, yes, briefly, picture my feet dangling off the side of my bed before touching the floor, began with wiggling a toe progressing up to my ankle -- methodologically. If the light changed I postponed to the next light and continued or start again. Eventually, as Tony Robbins, the motivational trainer, and a friend, also known as Anthony Robbins, taught me and millions of others, on how to create a "whoosh" feeling for this to dissipate within a split second -- one whoosh, the flash, and the immediate release. Yep, all gone in a second.

Accept any thoughts, feelings, and/or emotions that enter your mind. Don't push something up or back. Just allow and accept what is there. Sometimes when I'm driving I write them on a cloud while stopped if driving or more easily while riding and watch it drift away.

By now you may be thinking this may work just as well for anything painful going on in your life, not just physical pain and you would be right. It does. This works especially well when I write it on a cloud and allow the breeze take it away.

Like all meditation, breathing is important. You do want to notice how you are breathing, more so before you begin, but not necessarily during. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest or belly, not necessarily both. This doesn't take but another second or two.

Practicing mindfulness meditation and using it during a painful event can make a difference on your recovery as well. Even when I get a pedicure and she is digging into a hang nail I use this practice; however, I do recommend using the baby teething numbing medication to aid in the pain.



 By Catherine Franz


Article Source: Getting Through It: Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief

What to Do When Muscles Hurt

When it comes to pain we can barely handle it. Not just any pain but specifically muscle pain. Because our bodies are made up mainly of muscle we tend to search for the quickest way to relieve the sore area. Here is how to solve the problem.

Always rest the affected area. The more you move it the more damaged the muscle will get. Another layer has to be "grown" in order for you to heal. Permanent damage will occur and affect you at a later stage. This could also lead to weakness that will need training in order to be fixed.

Remember that there are two different kinds of muscle soreness. One is damage and the other is because of the muscle building during exercise. Damage is usually indicated by a torn muscle will be noticed as a person not being able to move at all.

Stretches are one of the ways to prevent tearing and a means to heal it. Experts often say that you should always do stretches before you exercise to warm up the muscle and make it more flexible. Stretching after you damage the muscle will help circulate the area and elongate the muscle allowing space for regrowth.

Keep the correct posture whilst exercising. The natural way your body is aligned will prevent the straining of upper and lower back. This would probably be the worst pain you experience as your back is what helps you move and turn.

Apply intense heat or intense cold. Many people will tell you to jump straight into a bath of ice. If you are not brave enough to try this out you can add heat to the affected area. Muscle tightness can be relieved with either option. Don't forget that muscle tightness also causes cramps so get rid of that feeling as soon as you can.

If you need additional relief you can always opt for muscle treatment ointments. These ointments have heating reactions that will allow the circulation to go directly where you have applied it. It is advisable to always have these ointments on site in case of an emergency. The best part about these ointments is that you can find them in any cash and carry wholesaler.

Always take precautions and consult a doctor when taking on intense activities and exercises. You might not worry about damage prior to working out but you definitely feel it later on in the day and possibly later on in life.

J&E Cash 'n Carry is one of South Africa's biggest wholesalers in the following categories of products: Cosmetics, Groceries, Sweets, Personal Care, Household, Health, Beauty, Baby, Hardware, Electric & Stationery. We supply traders only, and offer the highest standards of service, the cheapest deals, and the best buying experience.

Visit our website and call us on 012 327 5000 or email  info@jecc.co.za.



 By Shabir S Joosub


Article Source: What to Do When Muscles Hurt