Drug-Free Remission of Rheumatoid Arthritis is Possible, New Study Says
If taken early enough, abatacept (Orencia) could help RA patients go into remission drug-free.
Managing Chronic Neck Pain through Improved Fitness
People with chronic neck pain could better manage their condition by improving their overall physical fitness, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. The authors of this study also recommended that physicians assess their patients’ levels of anxiety and depression, in addition to physical fitness, when working out how best to manage chronic neck pain. Read more
Laminectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy accounts for the majority of cases of spinal cord dysfunction in older adults. This common cause of neck pain results from degenerative changes in the cervical spine, including age-related damage to the joints, discs, ligaments, and connective tissue in the neck, that results in spinal cord compression. The treatment for this condition will depend on the extent of the degeneration and symptoms but typically involves laminectomy and spinal fusion. Read more
Thunder God Vine with Methotrexate Better than Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Alone
A Chinese herb sometimes referred to as ‘take 7 steps and die’ has been found to be as good as methotrexate for treating active rheumatoid arthritis, a potential trigger for neck pain. Also known as thunder god vine and lei gong teng, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f (or TwHF for short), has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to ease the symptoms of joint pain and inflammation. However, home-brewed concoctions of this herb can prove deadly, leading British medical authorities to issue a safety warning over its use in recent years. Read more
Counselling Can Help Whiplash Pain as Much as Physical Therapy
A new study suggests that neck pain from whiplash may be relieved just as well by counselling on how to manage the condition as by physical therapy. The counselling was given in addition to a list of optional exercises and compared to an intensive physical therapy programme in the research carried out in Sydney, Australia. Read more
Chilli Pepper for Neck Pain – Does it work?
We all know that you can get quite the endorphin rush from eating hot chili peppers but is it true that capsaicinoids, the spicy compounds in chilis, can help relieve pain? Should you throw out those NSAIDs and start using chilis as band aids for neck pain? Read more
Neck Pain Creams and Gels – The Top 4 That Really Work?
Are you trying to relieve your neck pain with expensive creams and gels that amount to nothing more than snake oil? Are there actually any natural pain relief gels available to help with chronic and acute neck pain?
Save yourself from buying ineffective homeopathic placebo products (like Nyloxin), or products that contain so little of the potentially helpful ingredients that they’re probably more placebo than remedy (like MAXX Relief). Read more
Treating Neck Pain in Seniors
Conservative therapies are almost always indicated in seniors who have had neck pain for less than six months and who do not appear to have an immediate risk of spinal cord injury, severe nerve trauma, spinal instability or other serious issue. Read more
Fibromyalgia Relief with Resistance Training and Aerobic Exercise
Examples of resistance training exercises.