Showing posts with label Arm Pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arm Pain. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia to Watch Out For!

7:49:00 PM
Although you may not be aware of it, most everyone knows someone who suffers with fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia generally don't go around shouting about their condition from the rooftops. It's not fashionable or fun, and it hurts like the devil! And there are approximately 5 million of them in America today... about 90% of them are women!
Unfortunately, if you don't have the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and you are very fortunate if you don't... it's really hard to relate to someone who has all the weird and seemingly disconnected conditions that come with the illness. And some of the weirdest symptoms can have the most devastating effect on a fibromyalgia sufferer's life... mostly because they go unrecognized as symptoms and are often not addressed or treated.
Fibromyalgia patients, who are under the care of a rheumatologist, are provided with medications to manage their symptoms. That's one way the common symptoms of fibromyalgia, like the pain, can be kept under control. However, it's not unusual for individuals with the illness to keep quiet about their condition or even lie to their family, friends, co-workers, and bosses ... to avoid appearing as "weak" or "a chronic complainer". As a fibromyalgia "victim" myself, I can tell you that I kept my mouth shut, especially at work, so that I wouldn't lose opportunities on my job. I just worked through the pain and misery.
People who understand the syndrome are aware of the fatigue and severe pain that are the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. These are usually theindicators used by doctors when diagnosing the illness. But, what is not commonly known, is that many fibromyalgia sufferers:
1) Have difficulty focusing, unexplained vision changes, and visual blind spots
2) Frequently have gastrointestinal issues including abdominal cramping, bloating, reflux, intestinal gas, frequent constipation and/or diarrhea, and even nausea and vomiting
3) Are hypersensitive to odors, bright lights, and loud noises; have alcohol intolerance; and sensitivities to various medications and foods
4) Have vivid or disturbing dreams and nightmares, sleep difficulties including inability to stay asleep; or even hypersomnia --- which is excessive sleeping
5) Appear to be clumsy --- walking and accidentally bumping into things, knocking things over; have trouble judging distances --- like when reaching for things or driving a car; have occasional balance difficulties, and may experience vertigo/dizziness
6) Have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves and remembering names or recognizing faces; have difficulty following directions, and frequently lose their train of thought; are easily distracted and may have long and/or short-term memory loss
Can you imagine waking up one morning and not being able to remember your boss' last name... or your best friend's phone number?... Or has this already happened to you?
These are examples of only a few of the weird and seemingly unrelated symptoms of fibromyalgia, and sufferers and their doctors will tell you... every case is different. Some individuals have severe gastrointestinal problems and trouble sleeping as their primary complaints along with the common symptoms of pain and fatigue, while others can't tolerate strong smells and may have vision problems and difficulty focusing. In all cases, fibromyalgia sufferers have multiple symptoms, some of which may never have been recognized as part of their fibromyalgia condition.
So... Is There Any Treatment That Can Help Me With All My Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The simple answer is "yes!" Improving your overall health is the key! Many of the symptoms accompanying fibromyalgia's pain and fatigue, like overall weakness, headaches and migraines, gastrointestinal distress, sleep issues, and even depression, can be reduced or eliminated by improving your diet! Begin with a heart-smart diet with low sugar, low fat... and add fruits, vegetables and whole grain. Avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid allergy-causing foods. And... include an adequate supply of lean, digestible protein to repair the body at the cellular level. It's widely accepted that a good diet complete with vitamins, minerals and amino acids --- protein's building blocks which support the muscles, nerves and brain, may help you to take control the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and your life.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wrist Pain - 2 Simple Exercises to Relieve Wrist Pain and Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

11:56:00 AM
When you get wrist pain, it can feel sad and frustrating. You start to worry about carpal tunnel syndrome. Will you need to wear a brace, or worse, get surgery? Luckily, there are some simple wrist exercises that can relieve your pain and your worries.
Muscle, bone and fascial restrictions.
Carpal tunnel symptoms develop from repetitive wrist movement, and keeping your hands in awkward positions. Over time, your forearm muscles become overworked. The bones in your hands and wrists shift positions. Your connective tissue, or fascia, becomes tight and restricted.
As these tissues change, they restrict blood-flow and nerve conduction. Your arms and wrists can get feelings of:
o muscle tension,
o sharp or shooting pains,
o dull aches or nagging soreness,
o numbness and tingling, and
o muscle weakness.
Movement and therapeutic exercises.
One common movement that causes these problems is wrist extension. Your arms are pointed down (toward a keyboard or desk, e.g.), while your hands stay lifted up. The angle of your wrist is compromised.
Holding your wrist in extension for long periods of time, like continuous workday hours without breaks, will quickly give you problems.
But if wrist extension is the root of your pain, then you can prevent these problems and give yourself immediate relief with a few exercises. These exercises will flex the wrists, giving your muscles the opposite workload and maintaining a balance.
Isometric resistance means you do not need weights, tubing, or any fitness equipment. Practice them throughout your day, as often as you need them.
1st Wrist Flexion exercise- Sit at a desk, stand by a countertop, or position yourself next to a flat surface. With your palm-side up and your wrist flat, press your fingertips against the under-side of the flat surface. Keep your fingers straight and flat so the focus is on the wrist. Press firmly against the surface. Hold for 10-20 seconds.
2nd Wrist Flexion exercise- Similar to the 1st exercise, find a flat surface where you can press on its under-side, like your desk, a countertop or a table. Instead of pressing your fingertips, you will press with the heels of your hands. Initiate the pressing from your palms, keeping your wrists straight or slightly-flexed. Again, hold for 10-20 seconds. You should feel this in your forearms more than the 1st exercise.
Feeling it.
You should feel these exercises in your forearm muscles and wrists. Check that your wrists and fingers are straight and flat. The intention of these exercises is wrist- and arm-strengthening, but not finger strength.
If you feel any sharp pains, reposition your arms and wrists so they are straight or slightly flexed. Avoid wrist extension, as described earlier in this article. If you still get pain while maintaining the proper position, try to use less force as you press up. Start gently and increase force as you practice.
If your wrist pain comes from work, then print this article and keep it handy during your workday so you can easily and properly follow these exercises for faster relief.
By

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia to Watch Out For!

7:59:00 PM
Although you may not be aware of it, most everyone knows someone who suffers with fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia generally don't go around shouting about their condition from the rooftops. It's not fashionable or fun, and it hurts like the devil! And there are approximately 5 million of them in America today... about 90% of them are women!
Unfortunately, if you don't have the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and you are very fortunate if you don't... it's really hard to relate to someone who has all the weird and seemingly disconnected conditions that come with the illness. And some of the weirdest symptoms can have the most devastating effect on a fibromyalgia sufferer's life... mostly because they go unrecognized as symptoms and are often not addressed or treated.
Fibromyalgia patients, who are under the care of a rheumatologist, are provided with medications to manage their symptoms. That's one way the common symptoms of fibromyalgia, like the pain, can be kept under control. However, it's not unusual for individuals with the illness to keep quiet about their condition or even lie to their family, friends, co-workers, and bosses ... to avoid appearing as "weak" or "a chronic complainer". As a fibromyalgia "victim" myself, I can tell you that I kept my mouth shut, especially at work, so that I wouldn't lose opportunities on my job. I just worked through the pain and misery.
People who understand the syndrome are aware of the fatigue and severe pain that are the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. These are usually theindicators used by doctors when diagnosing the illness. But, what is not commonly known, is that many fibromyalgia sufferers:
1) Have difficulty focusing, unexplained vision changes, and visual blind spots
2) Frequently have gastrointestinal issues including abdominal cramping, bloating, reflux, intestinal gas, frequent constipation and/or diarrhea, and even nausea and vomiting
3) Are hypersensitive to odors, bright lights, and loud noises; have alcohol intolerance; and sensitivities to various medications and foods
4) Have vivid or disturbing dreams and nightmares, sleep difficulties including inability to stay asleep; or even hypersomnia --- which is excessive sleeping
5) Appear to be clumsy --- walking and accidentally bumping into things, knocking things over; have trouble judging distances --- like when reaching for things or driving a car; have occasional balance difficulties, and may experience vertigo/dizziness
6) Have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves and remembering names or recognizing faces; have difficulty following directions, and frequently lose their train of thought; are easily distracted and may have long and/or short-term memory loss
Can you imagine waking up one morning and not being able to remember your boss' last name... or your best friend's phone number?... Or has this already happened to you?
These are examples of only a few of the weird and seemingly unrelated symptoms of fibromyalgia, and sufferers and their doctors will tell you... every case is different. Some individuals have severe gastrointestinal problems and trouble sleeping as their primary complaints along with the common symptoms of pain and fatigue, while others can't tolerate strong smells and may have vision problems and difficulty focusing. In all cases, fibromyalgia sufferers have multiple symptoms, some of which may never have been recognized as part of their fibromyalgia condition.
So... Is There Any Treatment That Can Help Me With All My Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The simple answer is "yes!" Improving your overall health is the key! Many of the symptoms accompanying fibromyalgia's pain and fatigue, like overall weakness, headaches and migraines, gastrointestinal distress, sleep issues, and even depression, can be reduced or eliminated by improving your diet! Begin with a heart-smart diet with low sugar, low fat... and add fruits, vegetables and whole grain. Avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid allergy-causing foods. And... include an adequate supply of lean, digestible protein to repair the body at the cellular level. It's widely accepted that a good diet complete with vitamins, minerals and amino acids --- protein's building blocks which support the muscles, nerves and brain, may help you to take control the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and your life.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Wrist Pain - 2 Simple Exercises to Relieve Wrist Pain and Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

10:55:00 PM
When you get wrist pain, it can feel sad and frustrating. You start to worry about carpal tunnel syndrome. Will you need to wear a brace, or worse, get surgery? Luckily, there are some simple wrist exercises that can relieve your pain and your worries.
Muscle, bone and fascial restrictions.
Carpal tunnel symptoms develop from repetitive wrist movement, and keeping your hands in awkward positions. Over time, your forearm muscles become overworked. The bones in your hands and wrists shift positions. Your connective tissue, or fascia, becomes tight and restricted.
As these tissues change, they restrict blood-flow and nerve conduction. Your arms and wrists can get feelings of:
o muscle tension,
o sharp or shooting pains,
o dull aches or nagging soreness,
o numbness and tingling, and
o muscle weakness.
Movement and therapeutic exercises.
One common movement that causes these problems is wrist extension. Your arms are pointed down (toward a keyboard or desk, e.g.), while your hands stay lifted up. The angle of your wrist is compromised.
Holding your wrist in extension for long periods of time, like continuous workday hours without breaks, will quickly give you problems.
But if wrist extension is the root of your pain, then you can prevent these problems and give yourself immediate relief with a few exercises. These exercises will flex the wrists, giving your muscles the opposite workload and maintaining a balance.
Isometric resistance means you do not need weights, tubing, or any fitness equipment. Practice them throughout your day, as often as you need them.
1st Wrist Flexion exercise- Sit at a desk, stand by a countertop, or position yourself next to a flat surface. With your palm-side up and your wrist flat, press your fingertips against the under-side of the flat surface. Keep your fingers straight and flat so the focus is on the wrist. Press firmly against the surface. Hold for 10-20 seconds.
2nd Wrist Flexion exercise- Similar to the 1st exercise, find a flat surface where you can press on its under-side, like your desk, a countertop or a table. Instead of pressing your fingertips, you will press with the heels of your hands. Initiate the pressing from your palms, keeping your wrists straight or slightly-flexed. Again, hold for 10-20 seconds. You should feel this in your forearms more than the 1st exercise.
Feeling it.
You should feel these exercises in your forearm muscles and wrists. Check that your wrists and fingers are straight and flat. The intention of these exercises is wrist- and arm-strengthening, but not finger strength.
If you feel any sharp pains, reposition your arms and wrists so they are straight or slightly flexed. Avoid wrist extension, as described earlier in this article. If you still get pain while maintaining the proper position, try to use less force as you press up. Start gently and increase force as you practice.
If your wrist pain comes from work, then print this article and keep it handy during your workday so you can easily and properly follow these exercises for faster relief.