Arthritis is a chronic and debilitating disease identified by symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased range of motion. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is estimated that over 4.6 million Canadians suffer from arthritis, and it is a leading cause of disability. A
Inflammation is often made out to be the bad guy, but it’s actually a crucial part of your body’s immune system response—one you couldn’t live without. We’ve all experienced inflammation at some point or another. It’s what causes the redness and swelling that appears around a mosquito bite, or the tender, soft skin that appears when
The majority of people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. The region of the back that starts below the ribcage and ends at the tailbone is called the lumbar region. Pain in the lumbar region is often intense, ranging from a constant, dull ache or a sharp, shooting sensation when you
Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle—it can help you to stay fit, keep cholesterol levels in check, and ward off health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain forms of cancer. Not to mention, exercise is a natural mood booster that can reduce stress and alleviate symptoms of mental illnesses including
Your doctor may suggest replacement surgery, if stiffness and pain in either your knee or your hip make it difficult for you to perform simple, everyday tasks. Hip and knee replacement surgeries are a last resort for people over 50 who suffer from severe osteoarthritis and are no longer having success with other treatments. Read
If you suffer from arthritis, you probably know that it can cause uncomfortable stiffness and pain in the joints. Symptoms of arthritis affect approximately one in six Canadians and include: inflammation tenderness irritation achy joints limited range of motion If you don’t have arthritis, in all likelihood you know someone who does. Arthritis can
If you find yourself consistently suffering from pain, it will start to take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. Pain can affect your ability to sleep at night, your relationship with your spouse, children, friends, and colleagues, your posture, and mobility, and when all is said and done, your ability to function. Pain can
The Canadian Pain Society reports that 20% of all Canadians—one in five—suffer from chronic pain. Up to half of those people suffer from osteoarthritis, a disease which affects more than three million Canadians. The staggering costs associated with lost productivity, related health conditions, and medical treatments amount to hundreds of billions of dollars
Pain is the body’s way of telling us that something isn’t right. It can be mild or intense. It can appear suddenly or gradually, over time. For some people, pain is intermittent. For others, it’s constant. Long-term pain is a difficult reality that disables thousands of people—more than heart disease or cancer—every single day. Lower
Get up, stand up. The more you move around, the less likely you are to suffer from stiffness and pain. If you spend your days sitting at a desk, take breaks to stretch or walk around. Ideally, you should be taking a five-minute break away from your workstation every hour. Set a timer