The Frozen Shoulder
Oh the joys of a frozen shoulder. Most people have heard of such a thing but what exactly are they? As a Physical Therapist for two decades I have seen my fair share of this irritating and painful condition that continues to fox the medical fraternity in many ways.
This painful, debilitating condition is characterized by loss of movement and pain at the shoulder, the degree of which can vary considerably. It affects both men and women, more so in middle age and often has no obvious causative factor. On closer analysis however it regularly transpires that there have been minor incidences of seemingly innocuous trauma to the shoulder.
The medical profession has been treating this condition for years with, I have to say, limited success. The reason I say this is because despite intervention a frozen shoulder will often last for many months. Early intervention seems to be a great help in their resolution but again is not guaranteed to yield results. Initial treatment consists of physical therapy to reduce pain and regain movement. If unsuccessful, injections into the joint of hydro-cortisone and local anaesthetic, with or without manipulation under anaesthetic, are commonly performed.
After treating many cases of capsulitis and experiencing treatments with many different approaches the sum of this experience is as follows:
1. They eventually get better on their own (if their is no other underlying cause)
2.Night pain is often markedly worse.
3. Patients who exercise seem to do better that those who do not but progress can be painfully (yes and I do mean painfully) slow.
4. Diabetic patients should get help sooner rather than later as their symptoms can be more severe.
5. There are no wonder cures.
The best approach after many years of experience treating this problem is:
1. Get early intervention. (re Pain relief, advice and movement.) Get adequate pain relief. Acupuncture; TENS and local heat can be beneficial. In my experience oral analgesia and anti-inflammatory medication is somewhat beneficial in the early acute stages if movement is extremely painful or if patients have difficulty sleeping and resting with the shoulder pain.
*Sleeping is often much more comfortable in a propped up position supported by pillows, under the arm too.
* Take analgesia if necessary thirty to forty minutes before going to bed.
* If the shoulder is in the very painful early stage, rest is fine but it needs to be balanced with some normal activities, even if they are just very light daily tasks.
Adhesive capsulitis will have ‘its fling’ and as there is often not a great deal we can do to stop this process, fighting it tooth and nail is not in my experience successful. It just leads to a very irritated shoulder and patient.
In the early stage rehabilitation exercise should be performed two to three times daily to prevent furthur stiffness and maintain as much normal movement as possible.
There is a great deal of difference in both symptoms and approach to rehabilitation in the early, painful stage and the later stiffness stage. In this latter stage the angry inflammation has subsided. The focus now is on movement and functional return. This is, however, easier said than done. Patients who do quality, regular exercise rogrammes tend to do much better than those who just wait for normal movement to return. Either way progress can seem very much like two steps forward and one back because of the gross resistance to stretching of the muscles around the shoulder.
Research has shown that in adhesive capsulitis the muscles around the shoulder become thickened and shortened. There are however some very simple exercises that I have found to be the most effective in rehabilitating normal movement to the joint, which if done regularly will aid a speedier return to normality.
So resolving and dealing with this condition can very much be a self help situation. With the correct advice and the knowledge that eventually it will resolve you can successfully cope and treat this painful condition. The only other information you need is a successful programme of rehabilitation exercises to perform at the relevant stages.
So,l wherever you are with this blight of a condition good luck and remember – it will eventually resolve!
Copyright 2006 Robert Ryles
Rob is a successful International Chartered Physical Therapist. He has been a lecturer, researcher and therapist for over two decades. His rich experience of International and Premiership Football underpins his specialist knowledge of sports medicine. There is a wealth of insight and experience of all such matters on his website at the-rehabilitation-room.com the-rehabilitation-room.com
Clean Your Contacts With A Thermal Cleaner
Using a contact lens thermal cleaner is a good choice for those who wear soft contact lenses. A contact lens thermal cleaner will be able to remove dirt and protein particles. When you use a contact lens thermal cleaner the heat will kill the germs that can cause eye infections.
A contact lens thermal cleaner will also protect your eyes from irritation. When you don’t use a contact lens thermal cleaner you are more likely to have problems with this.
The first thing to do before using a contact lens thermal cleaner is to read the instructions that come with the contact lens thermal cleaner. The contact lens thermal cleaner instructions will tell you how to use the unit.
Before you use the contact lens thermal cleaner, wash your hands and then remove your contact lenses. Handle the contacts carefully because the contact lens thermal cleaner can clean the lenses but it can’t repair a torn lens.
Keep track of which lens is for your right eye and which one is for your left. Again, the contact lens thermal cleaner is good but does not keep track of which lens is which!
After you have removed the lens you will clean it using daily cleaner before you use the contact lens thermal cleaner. Rinse your lenses and you are almost ready for the contact lens thermal cleaner.
Now it is time to disinfect. This needs to be done right before placing the lens in the case so you can use the contact lens thermal cleaner. After you put the disinfectant in each lens case and screw the lids on, you are ready for the contact lens thermal cleaner.
Plug in the contact lens thermal cleaner and turn it on. The contact lens thermal cleaner will take from 30 to 45 minutes to disinfect your lenses. You may want to rinse your lenses after they come out of the contact lens thermal cleaner. Use a sterile saline rinsing solution that your doctor has given you. Be sure to rinse the case thoroughly with tap water after you have used the contact lens thermal cleaner.
It’s easy to use the contact lens thermal cleaner and it is good for your contacts, too!
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and vision-doctor.com/Discount-Contact-Lenses.html discount contact lens thermal cleaner information that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.
Can an Acne Facial Really Help Fight Acne?
Skin care is a growing concern for many people. With more and more of us getting older, it’s not surprise that we want to hold on to our youthful appearance as long as possible, before signs of aging start to show up. One of the common problems many people have to deal with is acne. In fact, this common skin problem affects people of every age all around the world. There are several acne fighting solutions available to help you get rid of acne and skin care companies are developing new, innovative solutions to stay one step ahead of this age-old problem.
One of the developments some skin care companies are developing is an acne facial. If you’ve been dealing with acne at all, then you know the importance of keeping your skin clean and free of bacteria and excess oil. That’s exactly what these types of facials help you do. In fact, they’re designed to work as a deep skin treatment to rehydrate your skin and act as a cleanser as well. They also help minimize blemishes and blotches which are often caused by acne outbreaks.
Your local health store probably stocks several types of these acne facial products. In addition, like most products these days, you can also find them online. In fact, the Internet can be a great tool for finding these types of products.
As with most acne solutions, the results might vary from one person to the next since we all have slightly different reactions. Therefore, when you buy your first acne facial solution, you should keep this in mind.
Typically, the facial treatment will involve three parts: a cleaning portion, a steam massage and applying a face mask. The facial will help remove the dead layer of skin that’s right on the surface and also helps wash away bacteria and other “gunk” that accumulates on your skin.
The steam massage will help increase blood flow through your skin which helps get rid of toxins. This also relaxes the facial muscles. The addition of steam to the process works to soften blackheads and whiteheads so they can be more easily removed.
Finally, the face mask is the last major step and this helps tone and moisturize the skin.
Acne facials can be a great addition (or alternative) to your existing acne fighting regimen. Another secondary benefit is that the procedure can actually be quite relaxing for you as well, so you might enjoy using an acne facial for more reasons that just the fact that it helps you get rid of acne. Anything that might give act as a stress reliever is usually a welcome addition to our hectic lives, so this might be something to consider also.
FACT: Acne affects 90% of people worldwide. Why are some people able to
Social Phobia – Social Anxiety – Living In Isolation
Growing up I’d never heard of Social Phobia or Social Anxiety. I was described as quiet, shy or reserved. Although the labels don’t sound like anything too dreadful, I think most people would have been surprised to learn that I lived in my own private hell. Going to school everyday was a nightmare and to this day I still find it hard to explain the agony I went through. I became an expert at blending in – taking extra care never to draw any attention to myself. The mere thought of a teacher calling on me to answer a question could make me physically sick. Unfortunately I couldn’t always avoid it and on occasion I would hear my name called from the front of the classroom. With burning cheeks and a tremble in my voice I would mutter my answer wishing somehow that I could disappear into thin air. I hated myself. I was a freak. I felt as though everyone was staring at me and secretly laughing. Why couldn’t I just be like everyone else? From the moment I arrived at school in the morning until I was back in the safety of my home, I feared ridicule. Through my high school years anxiety took it’s toll and I was plagued with stomachaches and digestive problems. I never talked to anyone about how I was feeling inside. I guess I thought they would think I was crazy and for all I knew, maybe they would be right.
Does this sound like someone you know?
Social Anxiety is the third largest mental health care problem in the world today affecting approximately 7% of the population. One of the least understood anxiety disorders, Social Phobia affects people from all over the world. Unlike specific phobias this traumatic disorder leaves the person nervous and uncomfortable in almost all social situations.
Socially anxious people are often misdiagnosed and subsequently prescribed medication that is inappropriate to their condition. Psychiatrists commonly misdiagnose people suffering with Social Anxiety with other disorders such as manic-depressive disorder, panic disorder, clinical depression, schizophrenia and personality disorder.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety:
The fear of being judged or criticized by others.
Embarrasses easily.
Difficulty making eye contact.
Difficulty meeting new people.
Fear of public speaking.
Fear of being the center of attention.
Other symptoms may include: intense fear or anxiety, dry mouth, heart racing, blushing, trembling, excessive sweating, muscle twitching and difficulty swallowing.
Is it Shyness?
Normal shyness is a slight nervousness that occurs when facing new situations. For example, your first day at a new school or at a new job, you may feel awkward and uncomfortable but it wouldn’t stop you from going. The socially anxious person will avoid any social situation to the point of disrupting their professional and personal life. This self-defeating cycle of avoidance and fear leads to low self-esteem and depression, further reducing their quality of life.
The socially anxious live in painful isolation, imprisoned by their anxiety and fears. Communicating only with those they are closest to and feel most comfortable with they often despair of ever leading full and enriching lives. Sometimes it is difficult for loved ones to understand the depth of the pain that they live with every day. If left untreated, Social Phobia can lead to other related issues such as Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. It is not unusual that many will self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
Treatment:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective treatment proving to produce long-lasting relief. It involves learning to identify distorted anxious thoughts and replace them with more realistic substitute ideas. There are also a number of medications such as antidepressants and antianxiety medications that have proved useful in reducing symptoms. If you or someone you know suffers from Social Anxiety, consult your doctor for specific medical advice and treatments.
Did you know that phobia’s affect over 10% of the population? If you or someone you know is suffering from Social Anxiety – Visit