Joint pains or muscles cramps are the usual suspects when it comes to leg pain. Joint pains are usually a symptom of arthritis, a common occurrence during old age. Leg muscles are mostly affected by muscle cramps. From an ayurvedic point of view, all pains are caused by the vata dosha.

What are doshas?
The doshas define the natural inclination of the body and they comprise the three main energies that affect your health and well-being. The three doshas are pitta, vata and kapha. Thus in ayurveda, pain is caused when the doshas are vitiated. In ayurveda, ama is the name given to the toxic materials in the body that are caused by improper indigestion. Therefore, pain occurs when there is too much ama build-up in your body.

Useful herbs for treating leg pain
1. Clove- it provides instant relief from pain, especially if they are due to muscle cramps. Apply clove oil in a poultice over the affected area.
2. Ginger- since ginger has great painkiller properties, it can be added to a regular diet to deal with chronic leg pain.
3. Liquorice- muscle aches can be treated with liquorice roots infused in water overnight.
4. Madhuca- applying madhuca oil over leg pains, especially if they are due to rheumatism, then it can give great results.
5. Pepper- pepper aids in proper blood circulation by helping dilating the superficial blood vessels.

Dietary regulations for leg pain
To help with chronic leg pain, leafy vegetables, green vegetables, vitamin c-rich foods, plantains that are rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium must be consumed. Coffee and chocolate must be avoided at all costs. The consumption of water cannot be stressed enough as one of the leading causes of leg pain is dehydration of insufficient fluids in the body. Water helps flush out the toxins in the body, thus getting rid of the vitiated doshas.

Ayurvedic treatment for leg pain
For external use, mahanarayana tailam is extremely effective. Warming the oil before application will give best results.
For internal use, simhanada guggulu, a mild laxative, laxmi vilas rasa and pratapa lankeshwara rasa are prescribed.

Top 5 Ayurvedic Remedies for Leg Pain - Effective Tips

There are many changes that take place in our face and body as we start ageing. While the face starts to show the signs of ageing earliest-in the form of wrinkles and fine lines as well as a sagging chin and neck, the effect of ageing on the body might be slightly late. The skin may sag or you may end up putting on weight in various parts of the body like upper arms, which may look unsightly and bring down your level of confidence as well. Signs of ageing can often make you shy away from living your life to the fullest. 

For the sagging upper arms, one can always get a procedure called an Arm lift. This is also called a Brachioplasty. This is a cosmetic procedure that can be conducted to tighten the skin of the arms from the elbow upwards. Let s see how this procedure works.

What does it do?

Excess fat tends to accumulate in both arms togather with weight gain. Person face laxity in this area after massive weight loss or with body ageing.
Arm Lift is a surgical procedure to tighten the skin in the arms through the removal of excess fat deposits as well as skin.
Who can opt for this surgery?

Any person who is medically fit having arm disfigurement can opt for this procedure. Patients who have signs of ageing or excessive weight gain are the best candidates for this kind of surgery. Also, it may be used by the patients who are suffering from sagging skin after losing a great deal of weight which may lead to an appearance of bat s wings on the sides.

How is this procedure conducted?

This surgical procedure is conducted by a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon. It s a day-care procedure. The doctor begins by marking the various areas of concern having excess fat and flabby skin. Thereafter, the doctor proceeds to remove the excess skin so that the arms are tightened getting more youthful look. This is done under anaesthesia to make patient pain-free. The skin that is removed is usually shaped like an ellipse. In many cases, there may be a need to conduct a liposuction if the patient has excess fat as well. Once the excess skin has been removed, skin edges are approximated with meticulous sutures with various Plastic Surgery techniques.

Recovery usually takes 5-7 days. Person can resume routine activities from very next day. Sometimes you might be advised a pressure garment for better outcome.

Upper Arm Lift - What It Can Do?

Most of the arthritic conditions don t have any cures. Ankylosing Spondylitis is also a type of arthritis that does not have a cure. It is a kind of arthritis of the spine; it affects the vertebrae. It primarily affects the spine, but it may also affect other areas such as shoulders, hills, hips, ribs, small joints of the feet and hands etc. In very advanced stages, it may also affect eyes, lungs and heart. 

However, what really makes it scary is Ankylosis. When Ankylosis takes place, there is formation of new bony structures in the spine. These structures cause some sections of the spine to fuse and make the spine immobile. 

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis 

  Pain and Stiffness 

One may feel a constant pain coupled with stiffness in areas like buttocks, lower back, hips etc. These symptoms may go on for months. It often starts at the sacroiliac joint. 

  Bony Fusion 

The formation of bony structures in the spine in advanced stages may affect movement of the back, neck, hips etc., and may also impair the ability to perform daily activities. The formation of bony structures may go to the extent of fusing the ribs in the rib cage to the breastbone or spine. This may limit the ability to expand the chest while taking deep breaths. 

  Pain in Ligaments and Tendons 

Ankylosing Spondylitis may also affect the tendons and ligaments that attach the muscles to the bones. This may precipitate pain and stiffness beneath or behind the heels. 

Cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis 

The cause of this disorder is not yet known, yet a genetic link cannot be ruled out. It has been observed that most of the people affected with Ankylosing Spondylitis carry a specific gene in them. People carrying this gene are susceptible to spondylitis. However, there are about 10% people who carry this gene, but don t have any sign of Ankylosing Spondylitis. So, a sure determinant of cause of this disease is not completely known. 

Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis 

To diagnosis Ankylosing Spondylitis, the physician has to look at several factors. 

These include: 

  Symptoms exhibited by the patient 

  Physical Findings 

  X-Rays of pelvis and back regions 

  Taking chest measurements while taking deep breaths 

  Laboratory tests Based upon the complete diagnosis, physician can positively determine if the condition is indeed Ankylosing Spondylitis. 

Treatment 

While a cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis is still not on the horizon, there are some treatments which can reduce pain and discomfort and thereby improve daily activities. Goals of treatment Since the disease can t be cured, the goal is to reduce pain and stiffness, prevent deformity, maintain a good posture, and help perform daily activities. In fact, if treatment is proper, the patient may lead to a semblance of a normal life. However, it calls for a team approach. The team must include a physical therapist and an occupational therapist, apart from a rheumatologist. If the patient is suffering from bony growth, the doctor may go for an osteotomy.

Ankylosing Spondylitis - How To Handle It?

Sciatica nerve is the longest nerve of our body, which starts from the spinal cord, passes through the lower back and into the lower leg. Sciatica is a symptom of pain in the sciatic nerve which occurs if it is being compressed by any mass, irritated or overgrowth along its course.

Symptoms
Patients with sciatica experience severe pain along their back as well as may suffer from additional symptoms including numbness and weakness, a feeling of tingling and pins and needles on the foot or toes. In severe cases, some people may also suffer from loss of bladder and bowel control.

Causes
One of the most common reasons is the pinching of the nerve due to a slipped disc in the lower back. Other conditions which cause sciatica are trauma to the spine, spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors and lumbar vertebral canal stenosis.

Prevention
One of the easiest ways to prevent sciatica is by protecting your lower spine. You can follow these easy tips that can be really helpful in maintaining your health and remaining pain free.

    Exercising regularly: By exercising regularly, patients can strengthen their back and abdominal muscles and prevent damage to their vertebral column.
    Good posture: By maintaining a good posture while sitting and working in an ergonomically designed chair that properly supports your hips and back and does not compress the back of your thighs and knees while sitting is essential to maintain a healthy back.

Treatment
Homeopathy offers natural medicines that can cure and reduce sciatica pain. One of the biggest advantages that homoeopathy offers for treating sciatica is that it can treat the disease effectively, by rectifying the compression or irritation on the sciatic nerve.

Homeopathy practitioners use Colocynth for treatment caused in right sided sciatica pain. Homeopathic medicine Gnaphlium is used to treat numbness associated with the paint, while Rhus tox is usually helpful in treating all sciatica symptoms and is the most preferred medicine by homeopathic practitioners.

Homeopathy also offers additional benefits as it not only helps in rectifying sciatica pain it also help in strengthening a patient s constitution so that the disease is cured from its roots and there are no further recurrences. Homeopathic medicine is very fast and effective and is totally natural, free from any side effects. It is one of the most widely accepted forms of medicine which causes no side effects and can be taken easily by both men and women. 

7 Homeopathic Remedies for Sciatic Nerve Compression Pain

Lower back pain can be one of the most physically debilitating things that can affect you and limit your mobility. Even if the pain isn t that acute, it could still signal something deteriorating in your lower back. While oral medications, topical creams or sprays can help in reducing pain, there are other effective remedies you can try on your own. These will be handy when you have no medications at hand. One of these is the hot and cold therapy.

Heat therapy for lower back pain

Heat works well with lower back pain as it can dilate blood vessels and improve circulation within the tissue. This will help in circulation and also result in lowering the pain. Heat therapy will also loosen up other muscles in the area and help soothe sore areas which have been taking the burden along with the lower back muscles. Some of the techniques that can be applied are:

1. All day heat wraps: These are specially manufactured belts or wraps which wrap around your abdomen and keep tightness and pressure on your lower back as well as supplying heat.

2. Electric heating pads: These are mechanized heating pads which generate heat with electricity. You can place them under you back and then either sit or sleep with it positioned behind you. However, ensure that you don t keep these for too long as they could burn your skin.

3. Hot Compress with towels or hot water bags: Use a clean towel and heat it over a conductive surface and apply it on your lower back. You can also use hot water bags for the same purpose.

Cold therapy for lower back pain

Cold therapy uses the principle of constriction of blood vessels as well as slowing circulation. This will help numb the area and thus help relieve the pain. Some of the ways these can be administered are mentioned below.

1. Ice towel: In this method, soak a towel in ice cold water, wring it to dry it and then apply on your lower back. This will numb the pain without transferring the sting of the cold or damaging your skin.

2. Ice packs: Put about half a kg of ice in a plastic Ziploc bag and pour water over the ice to just about cover it. Push out the air out of the bag and then lock it. Use this ice pack with a towel to ensure that you back doesn't get wet.

3. Ice gel packs: These are ready made packs, which can be bought from medical stores and kept frozen to be used whenever you need it in order to relieve lower back pain.

Treating Lower Back Pain Using Hot and Cold Therapy

Muscle strain or muscle pull is a condition, which is characterized by damage to the muscles or its adjoining tendons. Undue pressure can be exerted on the muscle when you are carrying out routine activities such as sudden lifting of heavy things or playing contact sports. The damage to the muscle is usually in the form of partial or complete tearing of the tendons and fibres attached to the muscles. The small blood vessels in the muscles can also be damaged by the tearing of the muscles, leading to local bleeding and bruising.

The symptoms of muscle pain are:
1. You will experience pain even while resting
2. There will be bruising, swelling and redness around the affected area
3. You will experience weakness of the muscles and tendons
4. The movement and mobility of the muscle will be impaired
5. You will experience pain when you use the affected muscles

The causes of a muscle strain are:
1. Playing contact sports can lead to injuries
2. Lifting heavy things
3. Exercising without a proper warm up routine
4. Lifting extremely heavy weights during exercise without proper acclimatization
5. Sleeping on one side only for a long period of time
6. Not stretching properly
7. Falling from a height

The treatments for muscle strains are:
1. Pain medications: You can opt for pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help combat the associated pain of a muscle strain.
2. Rice: Rice stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This treatment is usually the first step after suffering a strain, before opting for medications. This treatment prevents further aggravation of the problem.
3. Compress: You can alternate between hot and cold compress to reduce the swelling and pain.
4. Stretches: Once the affected area has healed, it is important for you stretch the muscles to improve their mobility and strength.

Not Stretching Properly? It May Cause You Muscle Strain

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