Rheumatoid arthritis: How chronic inflammation affects the brain

A recent study demonstrates how the chronic inflammation that characterizes rheumatoid arthritis affects the brain. The results of the study may explain the cognitive symptoms described as "brain fog." More than 1.3 million people in the United States live with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. In which the body's immune system does not recognize the synovial fluid in the joints. And then attacks the fluid in the joints, causing chronic inflammation. But can this chronic inflammation also affect the brain? And if so, how? This question prompted researchers — co-led by Andrew Schrepf and Chelsea Kaplan, from the University of…
Read More

Nerve Pain Fighting Research

Phantom limb pain is the perception of pain or feeling a missing limb after amputation, and it relatively common. Currently it is unknown byresearchers if the effect initiates from the nervous system or is psychological. But research on regenerative targeted muscle reinnervation techniques could soon change how phantom limb pain is treated. Regenerative targeted muscle reinnervation is a new technique being used to treat phantom limb pain. A study from the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State and the College of Medicine focuses on improving patient care by stopping phantom limb pain before it begins. Dr. Ian Valerio, who is…
Read More

Gate Control Theory of Chronic Pain

In gate control theory, experiencing pain can be caused by a complex interaction of the central and peripheral nervous system and how they process pain signals. Pain is more complex than was previously understood, gate control theory of pain was created in the 1960s by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall. Gate control theory of pain states that non-painful signals closes the "gates" to painful signals, preventing pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system. And it gives reason to believe there can be psychological factors that influence the experience of pain. Depending on the situation pain can be experienced differently…
Read More

World Arthritis Day 6 Best Ways to Manage Arthritis

Though you may already know that arthritis is a common condition, it may surprise you to know that arthritis impacts more than 50 million Americans, making it the number one cause of disability in the country, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Arthritis symptoms may come and go and can be mild, moderate or severe. Whether you’re newly diagnosed with arthritis or have been coping with the condition for years, here are a few tips to help you manage the pain of arthritis. Weight Management Maintaining a healthy weight is good for your general health and wellness and it also can improve your…
Read More

Stem Cells for Spine Surgery

Stem cell therapy is increasingly becoming a more common option in the medical field. Physicians suggesting it as an alternative treatment as well as an additional tool in surgeries for chronic problems like degenerative disc disease or spine injuries. In the below article originally from Chicago Health, a patient with a spinal injury was treated using a spinal fusion procedure which included an innovative use of stem cell therapy to promote new bone tissue growth. This procedure was part of a stem cell therapy study, where the physician thought the success rate of the innovative procedure would be similar to…
Read More

Low Vitamin D linked to Peripheral Neuropathy

Recent studies have reported that patients with Type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy showed lower Vitamin D levels than patients without T2 diabetes or peripheral neuropathy. Some studies also found including a vitamin D supplementation could help improve painful neuropathic symptoms, which suggests vitamin D could have a role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.  Low Vitamin D linked to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients with type 2 diabetes and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy had significantly lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared with healthy volunteers and patients with type 2 diabetes without neuropathy or with painless neuropathy, according to data published in Diabetic Medicine.…
Read More

Blood Therapy used by Pro Athletes for Injuries

Platelet Rich Plasma is a therapy treatment that uses the patient's own blood to heal itself. Blood is taken from the patient and spun down to separate the different components: red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma. The plasma, is rich with platelets that are natural occurring healing components in the body. The Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is then injected back into the body where the pain is located, helping to accelerate the healing time.The concentration of platelets is what accelerates the body's own healing process, utilizing the concentrated PRP. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure…
Read More

3D-printed Nerve Stem Cells

Spinal cord injuries can have an effect on other functional areas of the body. Researchers have designed a device which could combine treatment techniques that could restore function to uninjured areas of the body. Combining neuronal stem cells and 3d printing to create an implantable device that would be able to grow new nerve cells re-establishing connection between damaged cells on either side of the injury.  3D Printed Cell Research from University of Minnesota Spinal injuries can be like downed power lines – even if everything on either side of the injury is perfectly functional, the break can effectively shut…
Read More

Why Women Get More Migraines

Disproportionately women are affected by migraines, and it's long been thought due to hormone fluctuation during the menstrual cycle. Researchers believe the hormone oestrogen is could play a role in why more women experience migraines than men. Believing oestrogen effects the trigeminal nerve sensitising it to migraine triggers.   Hormones could be the Trigger cause of Migraines Women are disproportionately affected by migraines - and we may finally have an answer as to why that's the case. After conducting a thorough literature review, a team of researchers believes that oestrogen has a direct impact on migraine sensitivity in the brain.…
Read More

Stem Cell-Rich Prolotherapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Musculoskeletal Pain

Many people have heard the term “platelet-rich plasma” in news stories in connection with athletic injuries, however, not all may realize that when platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is injected into and around a joint, it is actually a type of prolotherapy. In fact, PRP has been used as a formula in prolotherapy since around 2005. The approach has been shown to be effective not only for older injuries but also for recent ones, making it ideal for athletic injuries. It has also successfully been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and helpful for cartilage repair. Not All Platelet-Rich Plasma Is…
Read More