Author: Jack Miletic

As we age, arthritis pain can develop to an excruciating level, and movement in general tends to become increasingly difficult and limited. While many patients consider exercising with arthritis to be difficult, it is actually one of the best ways to relieve the aches and pains caused by the condition.

With benefits such as improving joint function, strengthening muscles, boosting mood, relieving pain, and an overall better quality of life, Jack Miletic explains that the following six exercises are proven to help those with arthritic pain, regardless of severity.

Water-Based Exercises

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, patients who participate in hydrotherapy (i.e., warm water exercise) show improved health gains in comparison to those partaking in other activities. Specifically, it’s reported to relieve pain and tenderness within the joints.

While not every arthritis patient has access to a swimming pool or fitness club, participating in water aerobics and swimming whenever possible can greatly reduce discomfort and improve mobility in the afflicted joints.

Tai Chi

Unlike other martial arts, tai chi is a very slow, gentle activity. This ancient Chinese practice is often dubbed “moving meditation” as it focuses on the body and mind, improving overall well-being.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should consider performing tai chi, as it enhances muscular function, reduces stiffness, and decreases pain.

On top of that, studies (particularly Psychosocial benefits of tai chi in adults with rheumatoid arthritis) have shown that the practice boosts self-esteem, motivation, and self-efficacy for these individuals.

Walking

Walking might seem too basic, but it’s one of the best exercises for people with arthritis. It releases the joints, relieves discomfort, and raises the heart rate.

With the increased popularity of health and fitness, many researchers have studied the positive effects of walking. Most have concluded that even just 30 minutes of walking each day can improve moods and general joint mobility.

For many patients with arthritis, the cold air can increase tension and soreness in their joints. However, the weather shouldn’t stop them from walking. Doctors suggest investing in a treadmill or heading to an indoor track or mall if a stroll around the local park isn’t an option.

Yoga

Yoga combines breathing exercises with relaxed poses, helping those living with arthritis to reduce pain levels and stress.

A 2015 study by Johns Hopkins University reported that rheumatoid arthritis patients noticed decreased joint swelling and pain after participating in yoga sessions.

Cycling

Depending on the type of arthritis they have, patients are more at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, elevating heart rate is crucial in minimize the chances of developing cardiovascular complications.

Cycling is a fantastic way to achieve that, as it’s a low-impact workout that ensures as little weight is placed on the joints as possible.

Alongside raising the heart rate, cycling improves leg strength and reduces the morning stiffness often experienced by those with arthritis.

Strength Training

Weakened muscles are an all-too-common side effect of arthritis. Unfortunately, weaker muscles can increase joint discomfort.

Luckily, arthritic patients can strengthen their bodies with weightlifting. By getting stronger, daily tasks become easier and pains are lessened as a result.

With all that in mind, patients with athritic complications should note that they must speak to their physician before beginning a new workout program.

Heart attacks and cardiac arrests are severe medical dangers impacting the heart. However, contrary to popular belief, they are not the same. Jack Miletic reports that understanding the differences between the two is vital in order to seek effective, quick treatment. After all, that’s the only way to increase the chances of a positive result.

The Characteristics of a Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops functioning and pumping blood around the body. It’s an unexpected scenario that can happen to anyone, including those who are typically fit and healthy. To boost the likelihood of survival, it requires near-immediate medical assistance.

Causes

Various circumstances can cause this heart issue. Most notably, nervous problems in the heart, like tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. However, external forces like electrical shocks and water submersion can also lead to cardiac arrest.

Symptoms

Lack of pulse, immediate unconsciousness, and lack of breathing are typical signs of cardiac arrest.

Treatment

If someone is having an episode of cardiac arrest, those around them should get in touch with a physician or a paramedic immediately. Provided they know what they’re doing, they should also begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Hands-only CPR is conducted by:

1. Kneeling beside the person and placing the heel of a hand on the breastbone in the chest’s center.
2. Putting the palm of the other hand on top of the hand on the chest, interlocking the fingers.
3. Ensuring shoulders are directly above the hands.
4. Using body weight to press straight down by 2 to 2.5 inches on the patient’s chest.
5. Releasing the compression and allowing the chest to return to the original position.
6. Repeating compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times per minute until the ambulance arrives.

Paramedics and other health professionals use defibrillators to deliver electricity to the heart to regain normal pulses.

The Characteristics of a Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a certain portion of the heart is obstructed, causing cardiac tissue injury.

Causes

Normally, heart attacks are caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which rupture, leading to clots. High cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, and high blood pressure are the primary risk factors for heart attacks.

Symptoms

Unlike cardiac arrests, heart attacks cause a variety of symptoms like:

• Chest discomfort or aches
• Vomiting or nausea
• Limb, back, neck, or jaw soreness

They often come with early warning signs, which aren’t necessarily immediately fatal like cardiac arrests.

Treatment

Even though heart attacks aren’t instantly fatal, time is of the essence. Emergency medical help should be sought immediately to reduce the risk of cardiac damage. Treatments can include morphine, beta-blockers, statins, ACE inhibitors, clot busters, and other blood-thinning medications.

The Bottom Line

Essentially, the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest is that cardiac arrest is an instant loss of heart function, while a heart attack is caused by blood flow blockages or other underlying conditions. Though varying in severity, both require prompt medical attention and lifestyle changes.

Chronic pain can be incredibly debilitating to those who suffer from it. Anything that lessens the pain is often sought out and attempted by any patient who suffers. Unfortunately, opioids for pain have created an enormous problem in America, with over 40 people succumbing to overdoses of opioid addiction on a daily basis. Advancements in modern technology are helping to reduce the dependence on opioid medications and treat pain without the need for addictive drugs.

Over the past few decades, engineers and scientists have been developing ways to manage chronic pain with technology assisted devices. Some methods include neuromodulation, radiofrequency ablation, and positive reinforcement.

Jack Miletic of Delray Beach explains that these technologies, as well as other modalities are constantly being developed. While they do not yet replace helpful, non-addictive prescriptions and other medical treatments, technology can be a great assistant with the management of chronic pain. So, how does this technology help?

Methods

The three methods of technology-assisted pain management mentioned above are very broad categories. The way that they are applied can vary greatly based on the patient, cause of pain, and area of pain in which the patient suffers.

Neuromodulation, or nerve stimulation, can be applied to several different areas of the body. As for the devices, they are either worn on a specific area of the body, or surgically implanted. While this wearable tech does not require a prescription, there are instances when it should not be used, and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

By stimulating specific nerves, neuromodulation devices and treatments can prevent or reduce the pain signals that reach the brain.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is similar to neuromodulation in that it directly affects a specific area of the body. Using a medical probe, doctors can use these radio frequencies to kill the cells in a small area on the body. This technology has various applications.

In the context of chronic pain, RFA can be used to remove the nerves that send pain signals to the brain. By doing so, patients will feel drastic relief from pain, with effects lasting as long as one year.

On the other hand, positive reinforcement technology does not directly affect the body but the mind. One example includes an experiment on the efficacy of sonification devices to reinforce physiotherapy.

These devices draw attention to a patient’s movements that are conducive to healing and pain management. By validating the movement, the patient is then encouraged by their own progress.

Developments in Technology for Pain

While these technologies have been around since the 1960s, there have been great advancements within the last decade, which are continually being built upon.

In the field of neuromodulation, new target areas and electrical stimulation methods have been discovered in the past 10 years. As doctors continue to understand how stimulating new areas can affect different types of chronic pain, more options for chronic pain sufferers have been brought to light.

Radiofrequency ablation is being developed and utilized more than ever in chronic pain cases. Doctors and scientists are discovering new ways that the technology can be used in different methods as well. The same goes for less direct approaches such as sonification.

Conclusion

Patients suffering from chronic pain often have a bleak outlook on their future. However, as medical technology becomes more advanced, chronic pain will become more manageable in various ways. With each passing year, technology advancements, clinical trials, and reduced dependency on prescription medications will create a wide space for technology as it will become greatly utilized in the field, no longer as alternative treatments, or assisted modalities, but as the number one treatment for pain.

Chronic pain is a chronic issue in the United States according to Jack Miletic.

About 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience some form of chronic pain, defined as any pain lasting at least three months. Globally it’s the top cause of disease burden and disability. Chronic pain can be the result of everything from cancer and scar tissue, to back and muscle strain.

The numbers are staggering. Around 15 million adults say they endure debilitating joint pain due to arthritis. Another 4 million experience migraines every day.

Various forms of pain medication are commonly prescribed or sold over the counter to help people cope with chronic pain. It’s often a double-edged sword. While many medications are effective each day for pain, many, especially opioids, carry a high risk of dependency. The United States is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic.

That has led many to seek alternative, drug-free forms of treatment for their pain.

Occupational and Physical Therapy

These common approaches to pain and mobility management are among the most effective. Occupational therapists work with individuals to craft new ways to perform daily activities that do not lead to one’s usual pain.

Physical therapists rely on sets of exercises tailored to individuals to improve mobility and strength, often for those recovering from a painful event, such as broken bones or falls.

Acupuncture

Used in pain treatment since around 100 B.C., this form of traditional Chinese medicine targets certain points on the body using needles, heat, electrical stimulation, or pressure. Modern research often backs up the claim that acupuncture may work as a pain reliever.

Studies have suggested acupuncture is particularly effective for pain related to sports injuries, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Some believe acupuncture techniques block the nerves sending pain signals or that it releases chemicals in the body that numb pain.

Comfort Therapy

A blanket technique that commonly uses techniques such as exercise, meditation, massage therapy, and companionship as collective approaches to ease pain. Art and music therapy are examples of comfort therapy. In a hospital, it may take the form of cold/hot therapy, extra pillows, and pet therapy.

Medical Marijuana

Once taboo, medical marijuana rose in popularity in the 1990s as a form of pain treatment and has become even more mainstream recently as more states legalize it. Research has consistently shown marijuana to have positive effects on nerve pain for those with HIV or multiple sclerosis.

Marijuana is often used by cancer patients to ease nausea and other forms of pain associated with chemotherapy. Medical marijuana also comes in prescription medication forms.

Yoga

A form of stress-reduction therapy, yoga has the potential to help chronic pain issues such as neck and back pain and fibromyalgia, or muscle pain that’s widespread. Yoga is also considered a form of relaxation therapy that aims to reduce tension in the body.

Relaxation therapy includes breathing and focus techniques. Forms of massage are also reportedly beneficial for those experiencing rheumatoid arthritis pain.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Patients in pain speak with psychologists who work together to set goals related to altering physical and emotional responses to stress and pain.