How to pay less for back therapy

By Paul Goddard

I get a large number of people asking me which mouse will help relieve the pain of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) when using a computer. If only it was that straightforward to get an instant cure.

RSI or Repetitive Strain Injury is a general term that covers a multitude of conditions in the same way that a "sports injury" is used to describe a bump on the head or a twisted ankle.

When you think about it most ailments will get the default advice of "take 2 paracetemol and stay in bed" regardless of what might be wrong. It seems to be a method for finding out if your own defence systems will deal with the problem if given a couple of days to get on with it and if you don't get better presumably you will come back. It is not uncommon to hear some doctors recommending that the best way to cure Repetitive Strain Injury is to stop repeating the activity that is causing the strain, which results in the injury.

However for the majority of us, this would involve a complete change of career that doesn't involve the use of a computer. As this is impractical for most people, you are left with two practical options; avoid getting the injury in the first place, or develop a method of managing it so can continue using computers.

Avoidance is a really good plan. Anyone who has suffered an RSI can tell you how miserable it can be and how shockingly serious its impact is on your working life.

Whether you are already suffering from RSI or want to ensure you take the right steps to prevent the injury, the following tips can help you work on a computer without suffering.

1. Adjust your whole workstation and environment to suit you.

2. If your equipment is not in the right place and not adjustable it is not ergonomic and you will suffer as a result

3. Start with your posture and invest in a good adjustable chair. It might seem expensive but is less costly than back treatment and much less painful

4. Adjust your desk to the most suitable height for your own comfort. This is not the same thing as what your chair will allow. You can do this by placing wooden blocks under the feet or cutting it down if its too high. Height adjustable desks are probably an easier option.

5. Get a fully adjustable keyboard like the Goldtouch. In fact get a Goldtouch, nothing else comes close. You can read up on why on the internet, just google "Goldtouch keyboard"

6. Get several different mice and keep the one you have. Keep alternating between them to minimise repetition. A trackball might seem strange to use at first but you will soon get used to it. Vertical mice also help to reduce twisting or pronation in the wrist

7. Get a document holder that can sit over and behind your keyboard. There are lots to choose from, the Microdesk will fit over the Goldtouch and gives lots of space for papers. The key feature is that you want to keep all your work in a straight line head up position

8. Place your monitor at eyelevel and at a reasonable distance. Monitor arms are excellent for this and also free up space on your desk. If you use a laptop screen make sure you position it the right height and always use an external keyboard and mouse.

9. Use RSI Guard Software - ALWAYS. RSI Guard is simple software that will help you build awareness of how your behaviour is hurting you and enable you to consciously prevent RSI.

10. Act Now! Your body will tolerate maltreatment for a long time but once it gives up - you are in big trouble, and the road to recovery is painful and slow. - 30425

About the Author:

Paul Goddard is an Education Officer at Keytools and a well known Repetitive Strain Injury expert. He claims that RSI problems are easily preventable and his company, Keytools provides assistive technology for people with Repetitive Strain Injury including the RSIGuide software for prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury

Learning About Inflammatory Arthritis

By Kim Archer

Inflammatory arthritis includes a variety of illnesses that attack the joints because of immune system problems. These conditions include rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune disorders happen when the immune system attacks its own tissue, causing pain and inflammation. Other varieties, such as reactive arthritis, are the body's response to a bacterial infection. Psoriatic arthritis is related to a medical condition known as psoriasis, a skin disease.

Arthritis technically refers to any painful inflammation of the joints, and arthritis conditions can range from being so mild that they are hardly noticeable to so severe that they are practically debilitating. Arthritis can be overwhelming and the associated pain is often severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

Inflammatory arthritis can be caused by a variety of things. Unhealthy habits like excessive drinking or smoking are thought to be linked to the development of this disease so these habits should be discontinued to minimize the risk. Genetics can also play a role. And people with certain blood types can also be more likely to get inflammatory arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis is often mistaken for another condition because symptoms can mimic the symptoms of the common cold or a case of the flu. An active condition can produce fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, and muscular aches and pains.

Inflammation is a commonly experienced symptom of the disease. Joints can become painfully stiff and swollen for no apparent reason.

Chronic inflammation can cause serious damage to the body's tissues and cartilage, so if you are ever experiencing any of these symptoms you want to report them to your doctor as soon as possible. On a positive note, diagnosing inflammatory arthritis is very easy. Once diagnosed, you can begin treatment. Thanks to advances in treatment, there are many options out there.

Conventional medical treatments will help to relieve the pain that is associated with your arthritis, but bear in mind that as of today there are no cures for this condition. Even though medical treatments cannot make the illness go away, they can help you live a healthy, active life. - 30425

About the Author:

Reactive arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can strike anybody, at any age. It's a serious condition that affects the joints, organs and more. As yet, there isn't a reactive arthritis cure, but there are ways to manage the condition. Visit the Arthritis Relief site to find out more.

Arthritis - Relieving the Pain

By Scarlett Gillman

According to medical specialists, when you've got arthritis, you're doubtless to suffer other diseases. People who have arthritis often feel joint pains as a result of it is amid inflammation. Arthralgia is the medical term for the joint pain. There are over 40 million arthritis sufferers in the United States and they're all continuously wanting for effective pain relief. The disease is considered debilitating as a result of sufferers will hardly stand the inflammation and pain.

Arthritis can affect different components of your body however in most cases, the pain and inflammation happens on the - tendinitis, fibromyalgia, sclerodermal, and joint varieties or articular. Tendinitis aims at the tendons; Sclerodermal refers back to the thickening of the connective tissue and skin; when the muscles become tender and sore especially when touched, it is known as fibromyalgia; and the articular refers to lupus or gout and it will be very painful.

You'll be able to tell when arthritis is going to hit you; whether or not you're young or previous, you'll suffer from arthritis. At present, a majority of arthritis sufferers have Osteo-Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Individuals who have these conditions feel persistent back and joint pains. The causes of Osteo-arthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are completely different, as well as the results and risk factors. If you'resuffering with arthritis symptoms, you can select among the different pain relief devices, medication, and products sold within the market.

Within the US, Osteo-arthritis affects a lot of than twenty one million people in numerous age ranges. If you've got this condition, it's natural to own swollen limbs. Your joint cartilage is affected and it also ends up in stiffness. The condition is often called OA and it can affect different body parts like the spine, hips, knees, and fingers. Alternative components like the ankles, shoulders, elbows, and wrists will additionally be affected however this seldom happens. Consistent with medical consultants, these parts are subject to OA if there's a history of unusual stress or injury. Physical trauma and repetitive injury throughout early age can conjointly cause OA.

The common OA symptoms are intermittent or steady joint pain, stiffness, tenderness or swelling of joint/joints, and crunchy feeling when you move around.

The only manner to determine if you have got OA is through an x-ray. If the symptoms are already gift, the doctor can request an x-ray. The x-ray results can reveal the cartilage deformation furthermore because the tissues around it. Joint Aspiration will additionally be performed by a qualified doctor. Fluid can be taken from your affected joints with the utilization of a small needle.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another dreaded condition because it's characterized by chronic and progressive pain of the joints. The synovial tissues tend to increase in size and this is referred to as hyperplasia. This condition provokes bone and cartilage destruction. Broken cells will eventually die and it conjointly promotes abnormal growth of the encompassing tissues.

Natural merchandise like cod liver, olive oil, and ginger act as pain relievers. These are renowned and affordable product which can relieve pain effectively. Try them out now and see the pain relievers can conjointly work for you. When you feel chronic and progressive joint pains, consult a doctor immediately as a result of you'll be plagued by arthritis already. It would be best to handle your condition at an early stage to prevent the onset of undesirable effects of the disease. - 30425

About the Author:

Want to find out more about Chiropractor Marietta, then visit Scarlett Gillman's site on how to choose the best Chiropractor Marietta for your needs.

Medicinal Mushroom Alcohol Extract vs. Hot Water Extract

By Dr. Markho Rafael

Medicinal mushrooms, hugely popular for thousands of years in the Orient, are coming in vogue today also in the West. On the coattails of their increasing popularity follow issues of quality and ethical representation between competing brands.

All species of medicinal mushrooms appear haunted by this issue. Particularly so, it seems, is red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), the oldest medicinal mushroom in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Please note, however, that the information in this article applies generally to all medicinal mushroom species.

An obvious caution is to stay away from cheap, mass-produced reishi. It may be merely dried and pulverized. In order to be medicinal, the mushroom cell-wall has to be broken down. Mass-produced reishi may be mostly inert and ineffective.

There are many real therapeutic brands on the market, though. But even among them, there are significant differences. They all claim to be the best, naturally, because they all want to sell their particular brand. So let's sift the data, get the facts straight, and clear up misleading information that is out there.

Below are three common methods for extracting medicinal compounds from reishi. Each method results in different compounds. All groups have been shown to have therapeutic effects in scientific studies.

1. Water (Hot) Extraction (polysaccharides, etc.)

2. Alcohol/Ethanol Extraction (triterpenoids, etc.)

3. Fermented (arabinoxylanes, etc.)

Polysaccharides have been shown to possess powerful anti-tumor qualities through enhancing the immune system and by inhibiting blood profusion through tumors. They are also strong antioxidants. [1]

Triterpenoids include a large number of related medicinal compounds whose proven effects include stabilization of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood clotting. But most importantly, the triterpenoids are the anti-inflammatory compounds of reishi. [1] Inflammation is a serious component in asthma, allergies, arthritis and many more conditions.

And then there are the new and unique medicinal compounds that get created when reishi is fermented. These "secondary metabolites" have their own therapeutic properties, different from the first two groups, including anti-tumor, immune support and blood-sugar balance. [2]

This article is not meant to recommend any particular brand so none will be mentioned by name. But the author does know of two reishi companies (Japanese and American) that both claim only hot water extract of reishi is effective and that alcohol extracts are of no use.

Of course they do that to promote their own brand. In reality both hot water extract and alcohol extract contain unique medicinal compounds that are all very important.

To determine if a brand of reishi (or Ganoderma) contains all the important medicinal compounds from the mushroom, find out if it utilizes both alcohol and hot water extraction. An additional plus would be if it also includes fermented reishi.

An additional point to keep in mind is the form the reishi comes in. Reishi that dissolves completely in a water-based liquid such as coffee probably only contains reishi from hot water extraction. As a substitute for regular coffee, this would be a superb health-choice. However, it will not contain the water-insoluble triterpenoids so valued for their anti-inflammatory properties.

On the other hand, alcohol tinctures can actually contain both water soluble polysaccharides and alcohol soluble triterpenoids. The way you know is that the polysaccharides will fall out of solution because of the alcohol, and will make the tincture cloudy. That's alright though; you just need to shake before you take. Capsules and tablets may be one or the other or both. The only way to know is ask the manufacturer or read their information.

[1] Boh B, Berovic M, Zhang J, Zhi-Bin L. "Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds." Biotechnology Annual Review 2007;13:265-301.

[2] Tang YJ, Zhang W, Zhong JJ. "Performance analyses of a pH-shift and DOT-shift integrated fed-batch fermentation process for the production of ganoderic acid and Ganoderma polysaccharides by medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum." Bioresour Technol. 2009 Mar;100(5):1852-9. - 30425

About the Author:

Dr. Rafael has worked in the health field since the early 90's, recently specializing in medicinal mushrooms. He partners with Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC on red reishi extract and cordyceps extract plus the newly popular mesima and more.

Exercise For Fibromyalgia- Tips To Treat Fibromyalgia

By Shaun Marsh

Fibromyalgia, or popularly called FM, is that type of chronic illness that shows signs ranging from a mere body fatigue to a more painful and more constant body aches and pains. Today, this type of illness has made doctors difficult to diagnose because each case vary from the other and that, no proven cause has yet to be established of the problem.

But then, over the years, studies have shown that this type of chronic disorder is a type of problem in one's nervous system, specifically the sensory processing. Thus, signs such as stiffness, fatigue, or pain that patients often suffer made experts draw out a conclusion that having the right exercise for fibromyalgia can help the problem.

So how can proper exercise help fibromyalgia? People with fibromyalgia often set aside the thought of doing exercises because in the first place, the body is already in pain, so why make it worse? However, one should remember that the only way to keep the muscles healthy to avoid chronic pains and stiffness is to provide it with proper exercise. When the muscles are relaxed, the chance of experiencing painful stiffness is generally avoided.

When you start doing your exercise for fibromyalgia, keep in mind that the exercise is intended to improve your health and not for you to lose weight. You may start doing so by setting small goals and then gradually increasing those goals as you go on.

Swimming is a very effective exercise for fibromyalgia because you get to exercise your heart and your body at the same time. Additionally, the water provides you with a gentle support to protect your body.

Tai chi and yoga are also ideal ways of exercising. Generally, there are lots of exercises you can consider that are ideal to lessen your fibromyalgia sufferings. Keep in mind that with proper exercise, you get to achieve a good night's sleep and at the same time, your stress levels are gradually reduced while boosting your energy levels. So if you are too tired with your fibromyalgia attacks, get moving and start exercising. - 30425

About the Author:

Learn more about fibromyalgia pain relief. Stop by at the site to find out aboutFibromyalgia Symptoms and much more.

Important Facts on Reactive Arthritis

By Kim Archer

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune disease that develops as a response to an infection in some other location of the body. Since its growth is activated by another infection, it is termed "reactive". Most frequently, reactive arthritis takes place due to of the occurrence of some kind of sickness like gastrointestinal, bacterial or genital infections. Even food poisoning has been thought to bring about reactive arthritis. It's often difficult to establish the real reason, since the original illness has normally been cured before the signs of reactive arthritis turn up.

Reactive arthritis is a condition that is inclined to assail individuals who are in their twenties and thirties. It appears that men are more affected by the disease than women. Moreover, white men are more likely to acquire reactive arthritis than black men, and the reason for this is that of distinctive types of tissue. And finally, HIV-positive individuals have a greater chance of being affected by reactive arthritis.

This illness can have an effect on the spine, urinary tract, colon, joints, eyes, heart and mouth. Many of the symptoms of this disorder are not unlike other kinds of arthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis.

When a person develops reactive arthritis they will normally observe three noticeable signs. Among these is swelling and irritation in the large joints, leading to stiffness and decreased range of motion. The second is inflamed eyes, or conjunctivitis, involving soreness and reddening of the eyes along with blurred vision. The third indicator is called urethritis, which causes difficulty urinating. The individual will encounter a burning feeling at the time of urination. Moreover, they also are apt to urinate more often. Further signs of the ailment include the development of a rash on the soles of the feet. The problems that arise will usually remain for around three weeks to a month.

The treatment of reactive arthritis must be done quite carefully. Prior to proceeding with any sort of treatment, the health care provider will conduct tests, both in the clinic together with in a laboratory. The doctor will take urine samples and stool cultures, and will test the blood of the patient. Performing an MRI is also a good idea.

Managing reactive arthritis needs to aim at finding and eradicating the situation in the regions that have been infected. Most effective line of attack to treat the infections is through antibiotics. To treat inflammation of the joints the health care provider may suggest utilizing steroids and analgesics. When the situation is unusually severe, making use of an immunosuppressant is advised. - 30425

About the Author:

Reactive arthritis symptoms are similar in many ways to those of other forms of arthritis. This disease affects your joints and organs, and can seriously impact your life. Fortunately, there is a way to minimize the pain and distress of this condition. Find out how at Arthritis Relief.

The Quest For The Treatment Of Fibromyalgia

By Shaun Marsh

Combining the alternative and conventional treatment is the most effective approach utilized on the treatment for fibromyalgia. The interplay of medications, stress reduction techniques and proper nutrition is a great way to reduce the symptoms produced by the condition.

There is no single treatment for this disease, which is why the solution may seem like it is complicated. It is needed that the solution would involve all possible method to address the complicated problem. This is the ideal method of approaching the condition because it attacks from various angles, which would lead to a much desired effect. Nonetheless, the discovery of the real causes and understanding of the course of disease are the only ways that the real solution would be achieved.

Fibromyalgia needs to be researched well so that this goal can be reached. Currently, there are many researches done to make this a reality. The treatment however is to be decided on the severity of the disease and how the individual is affected by it. Your doctor will recommend various treatment regimens, which are individually designed to suit your needs. Generally, it will be a trial and error but most of the treatments involved are effective on their own.

The focus of the treatment process is to alleviate the symptoms and relief from the pain inflicted by the disorder. Naturally, your physician will follow through the regimen that would enable you to have the best quality of life possible. Along with the treatment regimen, you also have to enhance the quality of your sleep. You need to rest adequately because it can make the whole situation worst if you do not rest.

There are many studies that claim there is a relationship between estrogen levels in the blood, menopause and this condition. However, this needs further evidence. Future studies should also focus on this aspect since we all know that women tend to be the ones affected more than men.

Exercise, relaxation techniques, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic procedures and medications are just some of the alternative entities that are merged in one. However, you have to remember that there is really no cure for this particular condition. - 30425

About the Author:

Looking to find the best information on the treatment for fibromyalgia , then visit site to all you need to know about fibromyalgia including fibromyalgia diagnosis for you.