by Stemedix | May 20, 2024 | Multiple Sclerosis, Age Management, Health Awareness, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
Some health conditions don’t yet have definite cures. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of them. While there is no known cure, several new treatments are emerging that show great potential in treating MS. Stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis can be life-changing. If you struggle with debilitating symptoms and everyday life is painful for you, regenerative medicine may be able to help. Here’s everything you need to know about using stem cell treatments to address MS symptoms.
Multiple Sclerosis: Causes and Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease that researchers are still studying. Knowing the potential causes and common symptoms can help you monitor your condition and recognize when to seek treatment.
How MS Develops and What Causes It
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease. Your immune system starts attacking your nervous system, causing damage over time. Specifically, your immune system degrades the protective coating on your nerves. This coating is called the myelin sheath, and it’s essential for proper nerve function.
The faulty immune response in patients with MS is triggered by certain environmental factors that turn on specific genes. In other words, you may be genetically predisposed to MS, and certain environments “switch on” the genes that activate the disease.
Scientists don’t yet know exactly what causes this activation, but it may be related to lifestyle factors. Smokers and people with inflammatory diets are at higher risk for developing this condition.
Common MS Symptoms
You may experience a combination of common MS symptoms. Certain symptoms may flare up and then go away for a while. During flare-ups, you’re more likely to experience pain and discomfort.
The most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:
- Numbness and tingling
- Vertigo
- Skin conditions
- Balance problems
- Difficulty with coordination
- Problems swallowing
- Trouble speaking
- Vision disturbances
- Eye pain
- Seizures
- Hearing problems or loss
- Intense nerve pain
Since MS affects your nervous system, it makes sense for it to impair your balance, coordination, and senses. This disease may eventually affect your optic nerve, or the nerves involved in hearing and auditory processing.
How MS Can Progress Without Treatment
You aren’t doomed to a life of pain and suffering if you’ve been diagnosed with MS. However, it can be a progressive neurodegenerative disease if left untreated.
Some patients experience a steady progression in sensory and motor problems because of MS. Others will have periodic flare-ups that go away and come back randomly. You may notice that stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition trigger flare-ups for you.
If left completely untreated, the protective coatings on your nerves will start to degrade, and the affected nerves will stop working properly. This is what leads to trouble swallowing, walking, speaking, seeing, and hearing.
Innovative treatments like stem cell therapy may improve your prognosis with MS. Regenerative medicine may help repair some of the nerve damage caused by your immune responses, addressing the root cause of your symptoms.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy for MS?
Stem cells are known for their ability to regenerate and repair tissues in the body. In lab environments, stem cells can be “programmed” to develop into the necessary cells needed for wound healing, tissue regeneration, and reducing inflammation.
These restorative cells can also renew themselves, keeping injured and diseased areas supplied with plenty of stem cells to continue healing and repairing themselves. That’s why stem cell therapy is so potent — once the stem cell repair process starts, it can continue on its own.
Multiple sclerosis leads to nerve and tissue damage over time, and stem cells may be able to reverse some of that damage. By modulating your immune responses, combating inflammation, and replacing damaged tissues, stem cells can significantly improve your MS symptoms.
The Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
You have several options when it comes to MS treatments. There are medications and alternative therapies designed to combat MS symptoms and nerve damage. However, stem cell therapy offers unique advantages you should consider before selecting your treatment(s).
Drug-Free Therapy
Stem cells are not pharmaceutical compounds. They are natural cells every human body produces and keeps around for wound healing and tissue repair. Since this therapy is drug-free, there are fewer risks involved — like medication side effects and allergies.
Some patients choose to take MS medication in conjunction with stem cell therapy. Only you can decide what treatment routes are best for you. However, if you want to go drug-free, stem cell therapy is a potent option for you.
Get Behind the Symptoms
Regenerative medicine does more than just mask your symptoms or cover up pain. It gets to the root causes of your MS challenges, including nerve damage and inflammation. By using stem cells to target areas of damage and discomfort, you may be able to improve your future with this disease.
Innovative Treatments
Regenerative medicine is at the forefront of medical science. Researchers are learning new information about MS and stem cells every year, and you can be a part of this experience. By choosing stem cell therapy, you get to benefit from the latest advancements in natural healing and recovery.
Slower Disease Progression
Since MS can be progressive, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Stem cell therapy may prevent your symptoms from getting worse and debilitating you, as well as improve your future health outcomes with Multiple Sclerosis. Whether you suffer from periodic flare-ups or progressive degeneration, regenerative medicine can help.
Navigating Your Future With MS
It can be devastating to receive a diagnosis like multiple sclerosis. However, it’s important not to lose hope. As medical science progresses forward, there are new and innovative treatments around every corner.
Regenerative medicine gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the latest advancements in this area of science and research. You can use it in conjunction with other interventions as specified by your physician.
No matter what treatments you choose to battle your MS symptoms, know that you’re never alone. Your condition does not define you.
by Stemedix | May 6, 2024 | Age Management, Health Awareness, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease affects your fine and gross motor skills. It might seem counterintuitive to try to exercise after your diagnosis, but physical activity is crucial. For seniors with Parkinson’s disease, exercise can boost mood, improve physical health, and improve motor skills.
Not sure where to start? Even just a few minutes of gentle exercise each day can help. Here’s what you need to know about exercising as a senior with Parkinson’s.
How Parkinson’s Disease Affects Your Nervous System
Parkinson’s affects sensory and motor skills in your body due to its effects on your nervous system. Your nerves are responsible for coordinating movements and sending signals to your muscles. When this system is flawed, motor problems arise.
Low Dopamine Levels
Patients with Parkinson’s disease have lower-than-normal levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Dopamine is very important in voluntary movement. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition, which means it can progress over time as dopamine levels can steadily decline.
Problems With Executive Functioning and Cognition
Thinking, speech, and executive functioning are all impacted by Parkinson’s disease. Seniors with Parkinson’s may have difficulty feeling mentally clear, planning things, speaking, and remembering.
It makes sense that a neurodegenerative condition like Parkinson’s would impact a person’s cognition. After all, these changes originate in the brain. Luckily, exercise may have a protective effect for seniors with Parkinson’s-related cognitive problems.
Motor Problems
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include many different motor control problems. Often, tremors or problems balancing are among the first symptoms for seniors with Parkinson’s.
Movement and muscle-related symptoms include:
- Muscle stiffness
- Balance and coordination problems
- Changes in gait (walk)
- Tremors and involuntary shakes
- Handwriting changes
- Difficulty standing and walking
- Muscle contractions
These symptoms can interfere with your daily life, especially as your condition progresses. Exercise has therapeutic effects for seniors diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. If you’re struggling with your symptoms, it’s worth a try.
How Exercise Benefits Seniors with Parkinson’s
Exercise is healthy for everyone, but it can be especially beneficial for Parkinson’s patients. Physical activity, including aerobic exercise and strength training, may have protective effects on the brain. This is key when it comes to preventing further progression of your Parkinson’s symptoms.
Balance and Coordination and Skills
Most types of exercise involve muscle coordination and balance. Even on a small scale, these exercises give your brain and body practice in strengthening your coordination and balance skills.
In seniors with Parkinson’s, balance and motor coordination are usually the first two abilities to weaken. Performing low-intensity strength training exercises, yoga, or dance exercises can strengthen these abilities and prevent further decline.
Muscle Tone and Strength
Seniors with Parkinson’s may develop low muscle tone and reduced strength. This happens when Parkinson’s limits your ability to control your muscles and engage in intentional movements.
Exercise can improve your muscle tone and strength through repetition and low-intensity training. Lifting light weights, like dumbbells or kettlebells, can train your muscles to move with intention and improve their function.
Cognitive Functioning
Physical activity of any kind boosts your neurological health. It helps your brain form new neural pathways and enforces new connections. This can be incredibly beneficial in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Exercise may lead to better memory, cognition, and reasoning skills. It can also boost your speech and emotional regulation abilities as the disease progresses.
Working out will also keep your body in good shape, which is always helpful for slowing the aging process. Whether you have a disease or not, exercise can keep you youthful and healthy.
Quality of Life and Mobility
Your health is the most precious thing you have, and exercise improves your health over time. If you’re a senior with Parkinson’s, it’s important not to lose hope. Studies show that you can reverse some of the neurodegeneration that occurs as Parkinson’s progresses through high-intensity exercise.
Along with improving your quality of life, mood, and motor control, exercise helps you stay mobile and flexible. Doing activities like yoga, stretching, and tai chi will help preserve your mobility in the face of Parkinson’s disease.
Best Exercises for Managing Parkinson’s Symptoms
Now that you know the medical benefits of exercising regularly as a senior with Parkinson’s, where should you start?
It might feel intimidating to jump into a new exercise routine, but even mild activities can be helpful. Here are some of the most beneficial Parkinson’s management exercises.
Walking Outdoors
Getting out in nature boosts your mood, brain health, and physical abilities more than you might think. Just taking a 10- to 20-minute walk outside can help you better manage your symptoms.
Walking helps you refine your gait and avoid the “Parkinson’s shuffle” that many seniors fall victim to. By using your leg muscles and coordination to walk often, you’re making it easier for your body to carry this movement out properly over time.
Aerobic Exercises
Cardio does wonders for the brain and body. Aerobic exercise includes anything that gets your heart rate up, including jogging, swimming, and jumping rope. When it comes to Parkinson’s disease, aerobic exercise can boost your brain activity and health to help reduce cognitive decline.
Cardio also releases endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that boost your mood and improve your mental health!
If you’re new to cardio exercises, start slow. Walking is considered to be a form of cardio, and when you’re ready to increase the intensity of your workouts, you can do so steadily.
Flexibility Training: Yoga and More
It’s important to gently stretch your soft tissues to keep them elastic and prevent stiffness. As you live with Parkinson’s disease, flexibility is more important than ever. The more flexibility and mobility you maintain, the fewer complications you’ll have with movement in your daily life.
Consider signing up for an outdoor yoga class or group tai chi session to motivate you. These classes are usually designed to accommodate all fitness and ability levels, making them the perfect choice for seniors with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s and Exercise: Improve Your Quality of Life
You don’t have to sit back and let Parkinson’s disease take the reins of your life. Exercise has seemingly endless benefits for your physical, mental, and neurological health. Make exercise a priority so you can enjoy an improved quality of life as you navigate the world after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
by Stemedix | Apr 29, 2024 | Cardiovascular Disease, Health Awareness, Heart Failure, Kidney Disease, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy
You might think of kidney health problems as separate issues from your blood pressure. However, renal hypertension, a form of high blood pressure, can be just as serious as cardiovascular health conditions.
It’s important to understand the link between kidney function and blood pressure. Once your kidneys become compromised, the damage isn’t reversible. Know the signs, symptoms, and treatment options related to renal hypertension so you can maintain your kidney health as long as possible.
How Renal Hypertension Develops
Your kidneys work with the rest of your body to maintain your blood pressure, fluid and sodium balance, pH levels, and more. When either your kidneys or the rest of your body is thrown out of balance, the other can suffer.
Narrowed Kidney Arteries
Renal hypertension has the same cause as standard high blood pressure — the narrowing of arteries. With this disease, the arteries that are most compromised are the ones that lead into your kidneys. This can be very dangerous if left untreated.
Many different factors can cause narrowed kidney arteries, including atherosclerosis (plaque buildup), scarring due to general hypertension, and others. When this happens, you’re at an increased risk of developing renal hypertension.
Your Kidneys’ Response
When your kidneys aren’t getting enough blood flow — which is a common issue when your arteries narrow — they release certain hormones. These hormones cause your blood pressure to rise in an attempt to get more blood flowing to your kidneys.
The Vicious Cycle of Renal Hypertension
Renal hypertension is a real problem, particularly if it progresses for a long time. Once your kidney blood flow is compromised, your kidneys stop working as efficiently.
One of the primary functions of your kidneys is to balance sodium and water levels in your body. Compromised kidneys won’t filter sodium out of your system as effectively. When there’s too much sodium circulating, you experience high blood pressure, and the hypertension cycle continues.
Chronic hypertension can contribute to the development of kidney disease, which has no cure. Many experts consider kidney disease to be the root cause of renal hypertension, but general hypertension plays a large role as well.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Renal Hypertension
You might be wondering if this problem will affect you, especially if you’ve already been diagnosed with general hypertension. There are key signs and symptoms to look out for. You should also consult closely with a physician who can monitor your blood and kidney health consistently.
Headaches
In some cases, high blood pressure will cause headaches or migraines. Scientists believe this happens because of changes in the blood-brain barrier. Pressure can build in this region during high blood pressure episodes, leading to discomfort, pain, and migraine headache symptoms.
Vision Changes
Extremely high blood pressure levels can damage the arteries and blood vessels in your eyes. This leads to double vision, blurriness, and general difficulty seeing. If you experience sudden changes in your vision, renal hypertension may be the culprit.
Confusion
Your brain can’t function properly when your blood pressure is too high. This symptom is usually a sign that you’re in a hypertensive crisis and need immediate medical attention. If you start feeling confused, dazed, or mentally foggy, consider renal hypertension as the root cause.
Nausea and Vomiting
Hypertensive crises usually induce nausea and, in some cases, bouts of vomiting. This is another critical symptom to watch for, as it means you need emergency medical treatment.
An Important Note
Renal hypertension, much like general hypertension, usually shows no symptoms. This is why it’s so dangerous, as patients may not know they have this condition until it’s too late. It’s essential to work with a specialist who can keep an eye on your blood pressure and kidney health if you have concerns.
It’s also important to note that kidney problems are mostly irreversible. While there are some promising treatments, like stem cell therapy for kidney disease, there is no known cure yet. Prevention is the key to managing your kidney health.
Potential Treatments for Better Kidney Health
Lifestyle changes and innovative treatments, namely regenerative medicine, may improve your kidney health over time. If your doctor has stated that you don’t need surgery to treat your renal hypertension, stem cell therapy may be right for you.
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Blood Pressure
Eating a diet low in sodium and free from added table salt can do wonders for your blood pressure levels. Your doctor may recommend that you make other lifestyle changes, like exercising daily and quitting smoking. These changes take time to get used to, but they can save your kidneys a lot of damage in the long run.
Blood Pressure Medication
This intervention is tricky because a key sign of renal hypertension is rising blood pressure that won’t respond to medication. However, in some cases, your doctor may be able to control your hypertension with a stronger blood pressure drug. This is usually the first line of treatment if you’re unable to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
Surgery
There are both minimally invasive and open surgical procedures for treating renal hypertension. Surgical interventions involve installing a balloon into the affected artery or using healthy tissue from a different artery to repair the damaged one. Either way, these interventions require a surgeon who specializes in these procedures.
Stem Cell Therapy
Regenerative medicine involves using stem cells to treat and protect damaged tissues in the body. Mesenchymal stem cells have shown some promise in treating ischemic kidney disease and restoring health to damaged blood vessels.
Stem cells can be programmed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces tissue damage throughout your body. When the affected area — in this case, your kidneys — receives stem cell therapy, damaged vessels and arteries might slowly heal and regenerate.
Regenerative medicine is drug-free and uses the natural healing properties of “blank” stem cells to assist in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Stem cell treatments may be a good option for treating your renal hypertension if you want to avoid surgery, medication, and other invasive interventions.
Renal Hypertension Prevention, Treatment, and Healing
You have options when it comes to preventing and treating your renal hypertension. Prevention is always the best way to avoid long-term complications. However, don’t be discouraged if the damage is already done. With the right information, you can make an informed decision on caring for your kidneys.
by Stemedix | Apr 22, 2024 | Age Management, Bone Marrow, Health Awareness, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
As the human body ages, most people assume that “wear and tear” will take over and deplete their health. This isn’t always true, and it’s important to separate fact from fiction when discussing joint health problems.
Osteoarthritis is a painful, inflammatory joint condition that can make it difficult to function. Some folks refer to it as “just” arthritis, but this minimizes the incredible discomfort and damage it causes. Living with this condition can feel impossible at times.
You don’t have to sit back and let joint health problems take over your life as you age. Learn more about osteoarthritis so you can make the best decisions for your health and pain management.
Developing Osteoarthritis: What’s Happening to Your Joints?
Before you can appropriately manage this condition, you must learn what’s happening in your joints. Developing osteoarthritis is not inevitable, but unfortunately, it is common, especially in aging adults.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that occurs when the cartilage that supports and connects your bones wears away. As a result, your bones grind together, and the spaces around your joints become inflamed and tender.
Is This Condition Inevitable?
No. Osteoarthritis is not just a “normal” part of aging, nor is it inevitable. As science and research advance, it’s becoming more obvious that osteoarthritis is the result of many risk factors interacting with each other.
Certain risk factors make it more likely that you’ll develop osteoarthritis. Many of them are preventable through lifestyle changes and a proactive approach to protecting your joints.
Who Gets Osteoarthritis?
Age is a big risk factor for osteoarthritis, but again, this condition is not inevitable. Here are some of the risk factors for developing osteoarthritis.
Stress, Strain, and Injury
Any type of strain or stress on your joints can lead to osteoarthritis later in life. Even if your joints feel fine when you’re younger, you’re still at risk if you’ve experienced harsh impacts or prolonged joint strain.
Sports injuries, obesity or being overweight, and physically demanding jobs all put you at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. All these risk factors slowly degrade the cartilage between your bones. These tissues can only support lots of impact, weight, or use for so long.
Genetics and Sex
Your genetics play a role in whether you develop joint health problems. Having a family history of osteoarthritis raises your chances of dealing with the same condition.
An estimated 60% of osteoarthritis patients are women. This means that if you were assigned female at birth, you’re at a slightly increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. However, through a healthy lifestyle, you may be able to prevent it.
The Silent Pain of Living with Arthritis
To the outside world, you might appear healthy and fully capable of living your daily life as normal. However, arthritis pain can stop you in your tracks. It can be intense or even disabling.
If your condition gets bad enough, you might find yourself unable to walk around, twist, or pick things up. Osteoarthritis pain is not something to ignore or minimize.
Swelling and Inflammation
The inflammation doesn’t just happen inside your body. Sometimes, your joints may become swollen, tender, and visibly inflamed. When this happens, chances are you can’t move the affected joints much. Any impact, no matter how slight, may throw you into a pain flare.
Crepitus
Some osteoarthritis patients experience a crunching or grinding sensation (crepitus) when moving the affected joints. This can be terrifying and uncomfortable, leading to increased mental stress and physical pain.
Weakness and Limited Mobility
Osteoarthritis causes muscle weakness, fatigue, and limited mobility. You might not be able to move your body in ways that feel good to you or allow you to keep up with others anymore. These limitations not only affect you physically, but they also come with a mental price tag as well.
Stigma and Shame Around Aging
Some people might feel like their osteoarthritis symptoms mean they’re “getting old.” While there should be no shame in aging, social stigmas suggest otherwise. Experiencing these symptoms might make you feel embarrassed about your age.
If you struggle with joint pain, others might not see what you go through. You might feel pressured to “just get over it” or take pain medication to keep up with everyone else. This can also create feelings of shame and contribute to a poor stigma around joint health problems.
Treating Osteoarthritis: Enjoy a Better Quality of Life
Getting an osteoarthritis diagnosis doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to enjoy life and movement again. With the proper therapies, especially early treatment, you can improve your comfort and quality of life. Here are some of the best options for treating osteoarthritis pain and inflammation.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are at the forefront of regenerative medicine. These cells, also known as “blank” or “programmable” cells, can develop into specialized tissues, like cartilage. This makes them useful for regenerating and healing wounds, damaged tissues, and inflamed areas of your body.
One advantage of stem cell therapy is that it’s drug-free and comes with almost no risks to your health.
Stem cell therapy may also reduce your pain and increase your mobility. It gets to the root cause of your joint problems instead of covering up the symptoms.
Exercise and Physical Therapy
Getting more movement in your day may help reduce the severity of your osteoarthritis symptoms. Regular physical activity prevents the painful stiffness that osteoarthritis patients often experience.
Exercise also assists in weight management, which is key to reducing your joint pain. Every extra pound of body fat adds about four times the amount of pressure onto your joints.
Whether you (gently) exercise on your own or enlist the help of a physical therapist, your joints will thank you for it.
Get the Proper Support for Your Osteoarthritis
Living with osteoarthritis can be challenging, but you’re not alone. There are steps you can take to improve your quality of life with this condition. Evaluate your treatment options to find what works best for you. Visit our website to learn more about osteoarthritis pain.
by Stemedix | Apr 15, 2024 | Multiple Sclerosis, Health Awareness, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Skin Care, Studies
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that can affect all of your body systems. People suffering from MS often report neurological, muscular, and skin problems as the disease progresses. If you have MS, you may develop puzzling skin symptoms and conditions that need to be addressed.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it may need extra support if you have multiple sclerosis. Learn how MS symptoms and medications can affect your skin in your daily life.
Why MS Causes Skin Problems
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative condition that leads to increasing nerve damage over time. As a result, the ways your body experiences pain and physical sensations will change.
Nerve Degeneration
Some of this is purely neurological. As your nerves experience damage from this condition, they may misfire pain or sensitivity signals within your skin. You could have odd sensations, sensitivity to cold and light touch, and other skin problems.
Medication Side Effects
Additionally, Multiple sclerosis medications can lead to negative effects on your skin. Some of these prescriptions may irritate or inflame soft tissues in your body. As a result, you may experience infections, lesions, and rashes.
Common Neurological Skin Symptoms and Problems
When your nerves aren’t working properly, the way your body senses and responds to external stimuli (like touch) changes. These symptoms are what’s known as neurological skin problems. They don’t directly affect the appearance or texture of your skin, but these issues do impair your daily life.
Paresthesia
One of the earliest symptoms of Multiple sclerosis is paresthesia. This broad skin sensation can manifest in many different ways. Not everyone who experiences paresthesia has MS, but most MS patients deal with paresthesia at some point.
Some symptoms of paresthesia include:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Prickling sensations
- Burning
- “Pins and needles”
- Tickling sensations
- Feeling like your skin is “crawling”
These symptoms show up even when nothing is physically touching your skin. Paresthesia is most common in your extremities — fingers, toes, hands, feet, legs, and arms. However, you may experience paresthesia in different spots on your body over time.
Neuropathic Itch
This skin problem is slightly different from paresthesia. When you develop neuropathic itch, it may feel like nothing will relieve the deep burning itch. Many MS patients struggle with this, and it doesn’t always involve external touches or stimuli.
Another name for neuropathic itch is pruritus. Even if there’s nothing physical causing the itch, it’s still a real sensation. It can be frustrating when the itch won’t resolve, even if you’ve scratched your skin excessively.
Skin Sensitivity: Cold, Touch, and More
MS patients experience extreme sensitivity to heat, cold, and touch due to nerve damage. This means even the lightest touch or slightest change in temperature can trigger a strong reaction in your body.
This makes everyday life difficult for obvious reasons. When you feel extreme pain and aversion to light touch or mild temperatures, it can be difficult to complete tasks and participate in society.
MS Medication and Skin Problems
Many MS patients have medications prescribed from their physician. However, the side effects aren’t always pleasant, particularly when it comes to your skin.
There are a wide variety of prescription drugs used to treat MS, so your specific symptoms will depend on what you’re taking. For example, monoclonal antibodies target certain immune cells to reduce the neurodegenerative and inflammatory effects of MS. However, this can irritate your skin and cause other unwanted side effects.
Here are some of the skin symptoms you may notice after taking MS medications.
Hives and Rashes
Patchy, itchy spots and raised hives can both stem from MS medications. This is because MS prescriptions deal with your immune system, inflammatory responses, and other bodily processes. These systems can and do interact with your skin, and sometimes, it responds by breaking out in hives or rashes.
Redness and Flushing
Some oral MS medications cause hot flashes, which make your skin look red and flushed. This is similar to the temporary skin sensations caused by exercise or anxiety. Most flushing sensations go away within 30 minutes of taking your medication, but they can still be a nuisance.
Skin Lesions
Some injections and infusions that treat MS can lead to skin lesions, which can affect your confidence and comfort. You may notice large or small skin lesions, with some being discolored or bruised.
Secondary Infections
When you have MS, your immune system constantly works overtime. This can weaken your defenses against secondary infections, like skin infections.
Scratching weakens your skin barrier, which can allow bacteria to enter your skin matrix and cause infections. If you’re dealing with neuropathic itch, you’re especially at risk.
Certain MS medications also make you more susceptible to skin infections. Injectable prescriptions carry the risk of exposing bacteria to different layers of your skin. Improper needle use and poor needle hygiene can both result in skin infections.
You’ll need antibiotic treatments for secondary skin infections, as these are bacterial and won’t go away on their own. Always consult your doctor for help with skin infections.
Care for Your Body to Reduce Your Skin’s Risk
Having MS is exhausting and can be debilitating. However, practicing physical and emotional self-care whenever possible can be beneficial. Caring for your overall health can reduce the impact MS has on your skin, making it less susceptible to infections and unpleasant symptoms.
Some forms of self-care for MS patients include:
- Getting plenty of rest
- Exercising regularly
- Journaling
- Meditating
- Eating a nutritious diet
- Doing yoga
- Spending time in MS support groups
- Talk therapy
These are all wonderful strategies for supporting your psychological and physical health when you have MS.
Be Prepared: Know the Most Common MS-Related Skin Symptoms
You can prepare yourself by learning about what you can expect after an MS diagnosis. MS has many detrimental effects on the body, but you can reduce some of these effects through stress relief and self-care. As you improve your overall well-being, you may notice skin improvements as well.
by Stemedix | Mar 11, 2024 | Musculoskeletal, Health Awareness, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
Your muscles contract and relax throughout the day. These natural muscle movements assist in musculoskeletal control, but what happens when there’s too much tension in your muscles? Extreme muscle contractions can lead to neck and shoulder pain, especially if you’re under a lot of stress. If you can feel a hard, inflamed spot in your shoulders, you may be dealing with a painful shoulder knot. Here’s what you can do to relieve that bothersome muscle tension.
Relieve Your Shoulder Knot with a Deep Tissue Massage
Massage therapists are trained in releasing tight muscle knots. If you’re dealing with a persistent shoulder knot, consider getting a deep tissue massage. It can be difficult to reach your shoulders by yourself at the depths you need, so going to a licensed massage therapist is best.
Deep tissue massages relax the deepest layers of your muscles. They may feel uncomfortable in the moment, but afterward, you’ll experience intense muscle relaxation.
Self-Massage Techniques
If you can’t get to a massage therapist, use a hard ball (like a baseball) to work the tension out of your shoulders. You can do this by placing the ball between your shoulders and a wall and pressing into the ball with your body weight.
Alternatively, you can use a vibrating massage tool to work the tension out of your shoulders. Ask a friend or partner for help if you can’t reach the knot with the instrument.
Alternate Hot and Cold to Reduce Inflammation
Tense shoulder knots are usually inflamed, which leads to redness and soreness in the area. To relieve inflammation, alternate between hot and cold exposure. Use a heating pad for 10 to 20 minutes, then replace it with an ice pack for the same amount of time.
Alternating between heat and cold reduces swelling in your body. When you apply heat, your muscles relax, and blood flows to the area. After you apply a cold compress, your blood vessels constrict, which helps relieve painful inflammation in your shoulders.
You may find that this releases the shoulder knot on its own. However, most people must try other therapies to fully get rid of tense muscle knots.
Reduce Stress and Clear Your Mind
It might sound counterproductive to focus on your mental health while you’re experiencing physical pain. However, shoulder knots often form because of stress. If you carry psychological stress in your neck and shoulders, your muscles are more likely to tense up and create knots.
Try different stress relief techniques to reduce tension and allow your muscles to fully relax. You can try a hot bath, journaling, meditation, and yoga.
Stretch Your Shoulders and Neck
As you’re doing yoga to try to relax, opt for some deep neck and shoulder stretches. Always pay attention to your comfort levels as you do this. Stretches shouldn’t hurt, although you may experience mild soreness from the shoulder knot.
Use a yoga block if you need extra support, relax your muscles, and allow the stretches to gently pull your shoulder muscles out of the painful knot.
Trigger Point Therapy
Your body has specific spots that carry muscle tension and tightness. These are called trigger points. Pressing on trigger points may relax the muscles that are creating your shoulder knot. You can visit an acupuncturist or press your trigger points yourself.
Everyone’s body is different, but there are some widely recognized trigger points along your back and neck. Pressing these may relax your shoulder muscles and get rid of the inflamed knot.
The back of your neck and several spots along your spine contain trigger points. Experiment with safe amounts of pressure to see which ones feel relaxing to your shoulder muscles. You may need a friend or partner to help you press these trigger points.
Another way to put pressure on trigger points is to use an acupressure mat. These mats contain small plastic spikes that press into your muscles and relieve tension over time. Laying on an acupressure mat can produce similar benefits to acupuncture and trigger point therapy.
Medication: Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
If you’ve tried everything and your shoulder knot is still causing you pain, you can try over-the-counter medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are affordable and work to reduce inflammation throughout your body. With less inflammation in your shoulders, you could experience blissful pain relief.
The downside to this method is that the pain relief is temporary. Once the over-the-counter medication wears off, you’ll have to take another dose to experience relief. Medication can help for short periods, but it’s best to address the underlying cause of your muscle knots to get rid of them for good.
Reduce Inflammation and Muscular Pain With Stem Cell Treatments
Sports injuries, orthopedic problems, and musculoskeletal conditions can all lead to muscle knots and pain. Stem cell therapy assists in reducing inflammation and relieving discomfort so you can experience a better quality of life.
Stem cells can form into almost any type of specialized body cell. This adaptability means they play a key role in regenerating damaged tissues, which can help people with sports injuries and other muscular problems.
If you experience chronic inflammation and pain, stem cell therapy offers a drug-free alternative for you to try. These treatments often use your own stem cells, so there’s minimal risk of adverse side effects. Alternatively, you may use donor stem cells.
Prevent and Treat Shoulder Knots and Muscle Tension
Your muscles can form knots for many different reasons. What’s important is addressing the root causes of your chronic inflammation and muscle pain.
No matter what path you choose, it’s important to reduce mental stress and keep your body healthy. Gentle physical activity can improve your mobility and reduce your chances of developing muscle knots in the future.
If at-home techniques and treatments aren’t working, you may need a more advanced solution, like regenerative medicine. Consider what works best for you and work toward a pain-free life.
St. Petersburg, Florida
