PreDisease.com Blog

The temperomandibular joint is not a joint that is commonly affected by arthritis, but when it is it can cause considerable pain and dysfunction. Talking, swallowing and chewing can become very painful activities, and because it is almost impossible to rest this joint, pain may be unrelenting.

The TMJ is the joint that joins the mandible (lower jaw) to the skull, so pain in this area can also cause pain in the ear. People who experience TMJ pain often believe that the source of their pain is their teeth. If someone is already known to have arthritis, the problem is generally easier to diagnose.

Pain can often be relieved with pain medication and heat, which may relax the joint. When these remedies fail, doctors may opt to perform arthrocentesis, flushing the joint with anesthetic and sterile fluids to rid the joint of any fluids that result from inflammation. They may instill steroids to counter any further inflammation. If this procedure is unsuccessful, surgeons may opt to perform arthroplasty, sometimes replacing the joint completely. Although arthroplasty is generally successful, it is not without risk, and less invasive measures should be attempted first.

TMJ pain can cause considerable pain and distress to the person who experiences it. Early diagnosis and treatment can result in improved function of the joint and relief of pain.

PreArthros is a twice-daily botanical formulation designed to ease arthritis pain naturally, with no side effects.

Source: TMJ Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine and absorption of nutrients from food. Also known as celiac sprue, the disease is really an intolerance to gluten, a component of wheat, rye and barley. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, it sets off an inflammatory response in their bowel, resulting in destruction of intestinal villi, the tiny finger-like projections of the bowel wall which allow nutrients from food to be absorbed into the body. Celiac disease is both a food intolerance and a malabsorption disease.

Celiac disease is a hereditary disease and can be triggered by numerous events, such as infection, stress, surgery or pregnancy. People with celiac disease may also be more prone to develop other disorders such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, liver disease, Sjogren’s syndrome and Addison’s disease. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 133 people have the disease. The disease can be mild or very severe, and the reason for its variability in expression is not fully understood.

Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person. Children are more likely to experience digestive complaints, such as:

• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Pale or fatty stools

Adults may experience more systemic symptoms:

• Anemia of iron deficiency
• Fatigue
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility
• Mouth sores
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Joint pain
• Infertility

Celiac disease can be diagnosed by a simple blood test or by a biopsy of the small bowel. Once a person has been diagnosed with celiac disease, the only treatment is the avoidance of foods containing gluten. Avoiding gluten will allow the intestine to heal. This may take several months in children and several years in some adults.