Osteoarthritis Expert Grant Cooper shares Osteoarthritis management news and commentary at MyOsteoarthritisCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101 http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101 http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/43983/financial Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:44:00 -0000 Grant Cooper Is it my imagination, or does my neck hurt more when stocks are falling?   We have discussed this before in my previous blogs. However, with the economy on shaky ground to say the least, it seems as relevant as ever. I hear more and more of my patients asking if it is possible that their pain increased in the last couple of weeks with falling stock prices and increased stresses. The first step to reducing the impact that stress has on... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/43983/financial http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34048/meditation Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:11:00 -0000 Grant Cooper What is meditation, and how could it be helpful for osteoarthritis?   Meditation is a state-of-mind in which you are completely relaxed and hyperaware of your surroundings all at the same time. Excuse me? How can you be completely relaxed and hyperaware simultaneously? That is the beauty of meditation - I'll explain. Contrary to the image of meditation as an almost "sleep-like state," as it is sometimes described, meditation requires... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34048/meditation http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34043/shoulder Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:29:00 -0000 Grant Cooper My shoulder hurts...is it osteoarthritis?   Osteoarthritis is a very common problem. Most people know someone who is dealing with arthritis of at least one joint. Spine, hips, knees, and hands are the most common places for osteoarthritis to cause symptoms. However, any joint can be affected and a common question I hear when a patient presents with shoulder pain is: Do I have arthritis? First, a bit of anatomy -- the shoulder is... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34043/shoulder http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/42728/stretches Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:13:00 -0000 Grant Cooper Knee osteoarthritis is a very common problem. As I have reviewed in previous blogs, and as I detail in my book, The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis, treating osteoarthritis should include several basic steps, including an appropriate anti-inflammatory diet, exercises, and often supplements. Exercising should ideally include three parts: (1) stretching (2) strengthening (3) aerobic... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/42728/stretches http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/41838/shoulder Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:44:00 -0000 Grant Cooper Does John McCain have shoulder osteoarthritis? Is that why he has trouble elevating his arms above his head?   Whatever your political views may be, hopefully we can all agree that we owe a profound debt of gratitude to Sen. John McCain for his honorable service during the Vietnam War. I do not provide medical care for Sen. McCain and I do not know his personal medical history, but a patient with shoulder pain asked me "What's wrong with... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/41838/shoulder http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/36469/prevention Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:34:00 -0000 Grant Cooper When I do my strengthening exercises, should I be training for large, bulky muscles, or smaller muscles for endurance?   Safely strengthening the muscles around painful joints is one of the best ways to alleviate joint pain and keep the pain from returning. In fact, keeping muscles strong and flexible is one of the best ways to keep joint pain from occurring in the first place. The question posed at the top of this blog belies an... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/36469/prevention http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/40228/safe Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:23:00 -0000 Grant Cooper Are antioxidants safe to take for osteoarthritis?   I recently wrote a blog about a new prescription medication on the market called Limbrel (flavocoxid). The medication is called a prescription "medical food" that contains high potency antioxidants that are typically found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. In addition to being full of antioxidants, Limbrel acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by blocking enzymes that promote... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/40228/safe http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34051/morning Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:48:00 -0000 Grant Cooper "My knee feels stiff when I sit for a long time and it hurts to get up. But, after I walk for a few minutes, the pain eases up." "My hands are stiff in the morning or after I take a nap during the day. After I have been awake for about twenty minutes, the pain is completely gone." "My lower back is very tight in the morning and it hurts to get out of the bed. I do a few exercises and my back seems to loosen up."   The above are... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34051/morning http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/38118/arthritis Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:52:00 -0000 Grant Cooper There is a new prescription medication on the market that excites me. The name of the medication is Limbrel (Flavocoxid). Flavocoxid is a blend of flavonoids, which are antioxidants commonly found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Flavonoids are part of another group of compounds called polyphenols. Large amounts of polyphenols are found in fruit skins and are believed to be a primary reason for the health benefits of many fruits and... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/38118/arthritis http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34053/replacement Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:41:00 -0000 Grant Cooper If I'm going for a knee replacement for osteoarthritis, should I do physical therapy before the operation?   If you are going for a total knee replacement for knee osteoarthritis, then presumably the pain in your knee negatively impacts your daily quality of life and is keeping you from doing the things you like to do. Also presumably, you have not adequately responded to aggressive conservative care, including a combination of... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/23101/34053/replacement