Shingles: The Pain and the Misery

Shingles is currently on the rise especially among those aged 60 and over, it is in essence a "reawakening" of the chickenpox virus. Never fully discharged from the body, this virus lies inactive for years and reactivates when immunity is weakened, traveling through the nerve pathways to your skin and producing shingles. The first symptoms appear usually on either the left or right side of the torso, starting with a burning pain, tingling and then erupting in a red rash in the painful area At first, the rash appears similar to hives but the patches then develop into fluid-filled blisters…
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Plantar Fasciitis: How to Deal with It

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment ranges from simple stretches to shock-wave therapy Connie Glen isn’t sure what she did exactly, but in February she started getting unexplained pain in her left heel — and seven months, several practitioners and about $2,000 later, it’s still not entirely healed, though she’s finally seeing some improvement. Glen has plantar fasciitis, a common foot injury that can make walking even short distances an ouch-inducing exercise and one that has derailed many a planned marathon among running enthusiasts. The condition occurs when the plantar fascia — a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel bone to…
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Sciatica: Hitting the right nerves 

Sciatica symptoms explain conditions around the sciatic nerve A lot of people have their lives badly affected by sciatica. Like most other conditions, you can deal with sciatica effectively with a well planned and structured exercises program. But before we go into details of specific sciatica exercises, it is first important to explain what sciatica is, as it is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain). Sciatica is a general term used to explain a set of symptoms around the sciatic nerve. Technically,…
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Injuries from Exercise – 6 Tips to Prevent It

  Injuries from exercise usually resulted from poor form, over-training, or for us klutzes out there common mishaps. These injuries from exercise can at the very least temporarily halt our fitness goals. More serious injuries can put us on the couch for a month or longer. Sometimes the fear surrounding the idea of injury can be more debilitating than the injury itself. That fear can keep you from taking up something you never knew was possible. To help prevent these kinds of injuries it’s best to be like the boy scouts and “be prepared.”   Try these tips to help…
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Chronic Nerve Pain Linked to Anxiety & Depression

Study links brain inflammation triggered by chronic paint to anxiety and depression. Brain inflammation caused by chronic nerve pain alters activity in regions that regulate mood and motivation, suggesting for the first time that a direct biophysical link exists between long-term pain and the depression, anxiety and substance abuse seen in more than half of these patients, UC Irvine and UCLA researchers report. This breakthrough finding also points to new approaches for treating chronic pain, which is second only to bipolar disorder among illness-related causes of suicide. About a quarter of Americans suffer from chronic pain, making it the most common form of enduring…
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Vitamin B6 Boosts Your Mood and Your Nerves

Among vitamins, Vitamin B6 is one of the most essential vitamins for nerve health and is important for anyone suffering from painful nerve related health problems such as Neuropathy. What Are The Benefits of Vitamin B6? Vitamin B6 performs a variety of functions that are essential for your health.  According to Dee Sandquist, MS, RD, CD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, “It is important for cardiovascular, digestive, immune, muscular, and nervous system function.” Of these many benefits, the most relevant for Neuropathy patients is vitamin B6’s positive affect on nerve health.  Vitamin B6 boosts the health of nerves and is…
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5 Natural Neuropathy Treatments

5 Natural Neuropathy Treatments

For those dealing with the painful effects of nerve damage, finding alternative or natural treatments can open new doors in the search for relief. While prescription medications simply mask the pain, natural neuropathy treatments often treat the underlying causes. In many cases, this can result in more lasting relief for the sufferer. Many people have experienced beneficial results by following complementary or alternative medicine. When done as a part of a multi-pronged treatment approach, natural methods have shown great promise. We’ve pulled together a list of 5 natural treatments for treating neuropathy that we’ve seen provide relief for others. Lets take a…
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Massage Therapy Benefits

Massage Therapy is one of the oldest healing arts; it has been practiced for thousands of years to promote relaxation and well-being. The benefits of massage are far-reaching, having proven beneficial for many chronic conditions including: low back pain, arthritis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and more. According to a 2007 American Massage Therapy Association survey, almost a quarter of all adult Americans had at least one massage in the previous year. More and more people recognize the health benefits of massage. They choose from among many massage styles to get relief from symptoms or to heal injuries, to help…
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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition affecting the limbs, hands, and feet, after an injury or limb trauma. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is believed to be caused by malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Individuals have characterized CRPS as prolonged severe pain, changes to the skin, and/or swelling in the affected area. There are two common forms, CRPS-I and CRPS-II. CRPS-I patients do not have confirmed nerve injury. Patients with CRPS-II have confirmed nerve injuries. Symptoms vary in length and severity. In most cases the disease is mild and individuals recover…
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What is Peripheral Neuropathy

Think of peripheral neuropathy like static on a telephone line, both interrupt the sending of information. Peripheral neuropathy is a result of nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system. This damage causing a disruption of information from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. It can occur following traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, and exposure to toxins. Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include muscle weakness, numbness, tingling sensations (paresthesia), loss of sensation. As well as pain sensations in the feet, hands, and other parts of the body. Neuropathy can…
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