Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is the development of pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion in the shoulder. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and movement of the shoulder becomes difficult and extremely painful.

The cause of frozen shoulder is not fully known and there are instances where the cause of a case of frozen shoulder is not identifiable. However, there are some identifiable causes of frozen shoulder.  It can develop when a person stops using the joint normally due to an injury, pain, or a chronic health condition such as arthritis or diabetes. If there is an extended period where a person is not maintaining full range of motion of the shoulder, frozen shoulder can develop. There are also a number of theories to why frozen shoulder develops. It has been noted to occur more often in women at the same time as menopause. As well, there have been a number of studies that have revealed a genetic component for developing a frozen shoulder as it has been noted that the condition can occur within a family.

There are a number of identifiable risk factors that can increase the risk of frozen shoulder that can include: after injury or surgery (immobility of recovery may cause the shoulder capsule to stiffen), people between the ages of forty to seventy years old (70% of people with frozen shoulder are women), and people with chronic diseases. Also, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop frozen shoulder. Other risk factors include: after suffering a stroke, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular disease (heart disease).

With frozen shoulder, there is a theory that the body develops a rejection reaction as a defense mechanism to the injured shoulder tendons causing the immobility of the shoulder. There have also been studies that have revealed that long-standing round-shouldered posture causes a shortening in one of the shoulder ligaments and this shortening of the ligaments is closely linked to frozen shoulder. When it comes to diagnosis, a symptom is what a patient feels and reports and a sign is something a health professional observes. Signs and symptoms of frozen shoulder include:  the shoulder stiffens and then becomes extremely painful with movement so range of motion becomes very limited. Pain typically worsens at night. The shoulder will then become even stiffer which severely limits range of motion to the point it no longer moves.

Doctors will diagnose frozen shoulder based on signs and symptoms and a physical exam. The severity of frozen can be determined by the doctor when he or she presses and moves certain parts of the shoulder and the arm. Structural problems can be determined with such diagnostic tests as an x-ray or MRI. An arthrogram can also be done which is an X-ray image of the joint taken after a contrast material is injected into it. Signs and symptoms of frozen shoulder develop gradually and can last a couple of years without treatment. Fortunately, there are specialists in the treatment of frozen shoulder.

If you are looking for frozen shoulder treatment in Toronto, be sure to check out this video and visit www.FrozenShoulder.ca and learn more about the revolutionary Oolo-Austin Trigenics® Frozen Shoulder Recovery Procedure (OAT)

When having trouble with your eyes, it is advisable to go get an eye exam in order to determine its root cause and what you should do about it. Many people seek to find out how these exams work before taking one in order to have an understanding of what they should expect.

The optometrist takes you through preliminary questions that focus on your health; predominately questions concerning vision before they can proceed to carry the actual eye test. Some of these questions might include potential changes in diet, vision, or life changing events. There are also traumatic experiences which might affect your vision and the doctor will also question this topic as well. Before going to see the examiner, it is advisable to note down any questions or concerns you have in order to have them answered at the end of the session. This is the only way to determine factors that trigger any eye problems that you might have.

During the eye exam, the test that is typically administered is the Visual Acuity Test. However, if you are doing this test for the first time, the test administer might start with a peripheral vision exam. Different doctors carry this out differently and while this is the case, the role of the test is to confirm that your vision is OK. You might be required to stand some 20 to 40 feet from a sign and the doctor makes a conclusion depending on how well you read the sign

Another type of test is the Colour Vision Test, which is comprised of colorful dots known as pseudoisochromatic plates. These contain a hidden number or line, and depending on whether you spot them or not, the doctor is able to determine if you are colour blind. Note that different circles or patterns are used to determine whether one is colour blind or not.

There are other tests which might also be carried out in accordance to the doctor performing the exam. Some of these include: near point convergence, motility tests and pupillary response among others. The examiner is responsible for determining the implications of the results in each and every test. Eye exams are important for the purpose of determining whether you have an eye problem and should not be overlooked because your eyesight is arguably the most valuable asset you have.

When looking for a Toronto eye exam, be sure to find a clinic that you feel comfortable with and is in your neighbourhood. Ask family and friends, or ask your family doctor to get a referral or simply search online.

Most people know what a food allergy is.  Picture a kid allergic to peanuts covered in hives, having difficulty breathing and getting very itchy.  It’s caused by the immune system producing IgE antibodies (molecules that attach inappropriately to the allergen) and cause an immune reaction.  But what is a “food sensitivity”?  The term is thrown around in the media a lot, but what are the symptoms?  Bloating? Fatigue? …Nausea?

Well, a food sensitivity can actually be broken down into three different categories.  The first are foods that a person is intolerant to, such as lactose intolerance.  This means that you don’t have the enzymes needed to digest lactose.  Because of this, the lactose sugar molecules go through the body undigested, and when it hits the large intestine, your gut bacteria go wild.  It’s like the jackpot…so they start eating the lactose.  ….As they eat the lactose, they produce by-products, one of which is gas.  That’s why you get bloated.  As well, because there’s so much undigested lactose in the body, some remains undigested and this overwhelming amount of sugar (lactose) in the body attracts water in the intestines.  The result?  Diarrhea.

Another type of food sensitivity is when the food physically irritates the digestive tract.  Spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine can have a negative effect on the digestive system and change aspects of its physiology.

The most important food sensitivity, in my opinion, is immune-related.  Above, we talked about food allergies, which are caused by IgE antibodies.  Well, there are many types of antibodies, and with a food sensitivity, the IgG antibody is the culprit.  Food sensitivity symptoms are delayed, and milder in comparison to allergies.

For example, if you have a sensitivity to soy, when you eat it you won’t get itchy or difficulty breathing right away.  Instead, you well have a delayed reaction (hours to even days).  From there, the symptoms can range from headaches, fatigue, arthritic pain, digestive issues (diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc.), and even eczema!

The reason for this is that the food is creating inflammation in your digestive system.  This is causing a leaky gut which allows undigested or partially undigested protein to enter the blood stream.  From there your immune system is reacting to the proteins with the IgG antibodies, and depending on where it’s reacting will determine the location of symptoms.  (Immune reaction in the knees – arthritis, in the skin – eczema, etc.)

A simple way to determine your food sensitivities (all of them) is by doing the elimination diet.  This is detox supervised by a health professional like a Naturopathic Doctor where you eat foods that are hypoallergenic during a 2-3 week detox phase.  After that detox phase, you should feel more energized and your symptoms should have decreased.  Then, one by one, you introduce foods back into your diet and compare how you are feeling to how you were feeling in the detox phase – a bit like a science experiment.  If your symptoms re-appear or get worse you know that the food in question is one that your sensitive to.

By:  Dr. Rahim Kanji, N.D.

Guest Blogger Bio:

Dr. Kanji is a Naturopathic Doctor who uses evidence-based natural therapies to treat his patients.  Though he operates a general family practice in Yorkville, Dr. Kanji has a particular interest in weight management, heart disease, and diabetes.  As a Naturopathic Doctor his goal is to create a space where patients can feel heard, feel better, and live better.

Naturopathic medicine is a form of holistic medicine where the goal is to treat the cause of disease, rather than suppress symptoms.  Interventions include:

• Nutritional Counseling
• Botanical Medicine
• Orthomolecular Medicine (high dose vitamins, minerals, supplements)
• Acupuncture
• Lifestyle Counseling

At Yorkville Integrative Health Clinic, we look at all aspects of your health -physical, mental/emotional, environmental, etc. and make treatment plans specific to you.

For more information on Dr. Kanji, or to check out his blog, visit www.rahimkanjind.com.

For people who are looking to lose weight through greater appetite control, slim band surgery may be the answer. This surgery has been proven to be very effective, and it is also very different from gastric bypass surgery. When a patient undergoes gastric bypass surgery, a part of the intestine is bypassed, so the patient can no longer consume as much food. With slim band, however, a band is placed around part of the stomach, usually the top part, to help them decrease their appetites and feel satisfied faster. Although you will not lose a huge amount of weight really quickly with this surgery, it is possible to have really good results over time.

Rate of weight loss

It is normally recommended that people lose anywhere from one to two pounds per week through healthy eating and exercising. This may not sound like a lot, but it actually adds up to over a hundred pounds in a year, which is an amazing amount of weight to lose.

According to the World Health Organization, the average rate of weight loss for people who have slim band surgery is around one to two pounds per week. This is a healthy amount of weight to lose, but some people may lose even more depending upon how overweight they were before undergoing surgery and how they approach dieting and exercise.

In some cases, people may not be able to exercise right after having surgery, and this may affect their initial weight loss by slowing it down. However, they can still lose weight by eating right and through portion control. Once a person starts exercising, they may notice an increased amount of weight loss and may even lose more than two pounds per week.

Post-operative expectations

While some people may start to lose weight fairly soon after the surgery, others may not. Each person will respond differently to the surgery and some people may find that the band is uncomfortable at first. Factors that may affect your weight loss include:

* If there is discomfort from the band, doctors may have to adjust it until a more comfortable location is found. This may involve several additional visits to the doctor’s office.

* There is a port that is used to remove and inject a saline solution into band. If this port moves, doctors will need to put it back in its right place.

* After surgery, it is not possible to go right back to your normal way of life. Instead, you have to follow some very specific doctor’s orders, like going on a liquid diet. This may lead to quite a bit of weight loss due to the huge dietary changes, and some people even feel that they lose weight more rapidly right after the surgery, as opposed to when they are back on solid foods and dieting healthfully.

When people start eating normally and healthfully, they can expect to lose weight at a healthy rate of one or two pounds per week, and exercise will also be helpful. This may seem quite slow to some people, but the pounds really will add up over time. Anyone who has this surgery should set realistic weight loss goals that they should meet on a weekly and monthly basis. When realistic goals are set, you are more likely to achieve them and to feel motivated to continue with your diet. This means that you are more likely to hit your goal weight and to achieve the body that you have been hoping for. Once you do get the figure you’ve been after, you simply need to maintain it by continuing your healthy habits.

Stubborn weight can be discouraging when you have given the goal of losing unwanted pounds you absolute best. There is however, another possibility to consider for those who might be an appropriate candidate. Slim band surgery could prove to be the very thing you need to feel a sense of accomplishment. It is imperative to thoroughly research the claims with your medical team to validate how viable it can be to you.

A number of people are preoccupied with trying to figure out how long they will be out of commission. The short answer is; however long it takes for your body to heal naturally. There will be at least eight days will you will pretty much need to be pampered by those who want to help care for you. Both your pre and post examinations shall be the guiding light you need to be in compliance with your doctor’s orders. It is always best to allow those who want to be a part of the process to be privileged to the information delivered to you.

The recovery time will greatly depend upon how well you follow your doctor’s orders. Each person will respond differently to the procedure so one should expect to allow their body to communicate how well they’re doing. There are a number of signs in your medical history that will help guide your physician with what to expect from your body.

It is important to allow yourself to have a natural transition back into your daily ritual. Taking on too much too fast can create harmful side effects with your medical situation. Exercise and eating properly are two of the most important components; but will require your doctor’s release to do so before you begin. One should expect to get at least a couple of weeks worth of taking the easy before starting any physical regimen.

Getting things in order with your place of employment is a good starting point when you are preparing for surgery. Everything left undone will be up to your employer and colleagues to figure out in your absence – so let go. If you are not accustomed to asking for help this would be a crucial time to learn how to do so. Allowing others to help you through some of life’s most difficult challenges is a display of wisdom.

Getting back to your usual routine will require patience and humility on your part. While there will be some things that you feel can’t wait – they will have to. This is where you get an opportunity to challenge yourself to have realistic expectations. You are human not a machine and human beings require adequate downtown to experience a solid recovery. You will feel weakened and some level of pain can be expected; rest and enjoy doing it.

The trauma one experiences from surgery will greatly depend upon how well they care for their body prior to the procedure; and during the healing period. This is where your relationship with your physician really counts. Your doctor will provide you with a lot of information that you will need to be clear about. Be as committed as they are to the process and adhere to the treatment guidelines they provide you.

Your energy level will help you to gauge where you are at in the journey of wellness. It is important to let your body communicate to it as this will enable you to have the success you desire. There will be phases within the experience that will tell you exactly when you are ready for the next level; it is important to lean into the process.

One should not be in a hurry to get back to their employer or rigorous daily responsibilities. Things will not fall apart while you are taking time out to recover properly; but things can be challenging when you do not. There will be a loss of energy that must be met with the appropriate amount of rest. It is vital to remember that once your body has experienced a trauma down time is the only reasonable solution.

Having the slim band surgery could possibly be the resolve one needs to get past the frustration of losing weight. While there are a number of probable approaches to this issue it is only appropriate that all options are exhausted. Living healthy begins with allowing yourself to believe all things can work out in your favor; with the right degree of diligence.

A gap in teeth can be an embarrassing cosmetic feature to have. There are many different ways to close gap in teeth. The methods of correction depend upon the individual, his or her budget, other teeth and jaw problems, and the pain or embarrassment he or she is willing to undergo in order to correct the problem.

A veneer is a common solution, especially for those who cannot afford braces. Usually they are made out of porcelain and require little in terms of an installation process. The fit directly over the tooth and cap it. These can be used exactly the same way as regular teeth–they will not fall out or be able to be removed easily. You can chew with the perfectly fine.

The one major draw-back is that if the gap is extremely large, they would look funny. Because they cap your teeth, the veneers would have to be big enough to cover your whole tooth and cover the space in between your teeth. This can give people the appearance of having huge front teeth.

A better option for huge gaps would be to wear a manner of braces or orthodontic devices. Braces can be expensive and embarrassing for adults to wear. They are the most effective, though, and can sort out a great number of dental problems. They will slowly push your teeth together over a long-enough period to make the roots settle in those locations and stay there.

For adults who dislike the idea of pubescent looking braces, they can get clear ones that may take a little longer to close the gap. They will not be quite as noticeable. There are also ones available that connect to the back of your teeth instead of the front.

There are also plenty of retainers to use. Retainers are taken from molds of your teeth and are slightly adjusted to sit tightly on your teeth. The retainer will get more comfortable as your teeth shift. Many people just wear retainers at night and take them out in the morning. Retainers, because they are not fixed structures like braces, will have to be worn indefinitely.

There are also clear aligners that fit over teeth. They are essentially the same as retainers, only they deal less with your jaw and roof of your mouth and more directly with the teeth. You would leave them on all the time, since they are completely transparent and would not be noticed. After a while, when the teeth have shifted, you would get an updated one that would further tighten and shift things in your mouth.

One should not be overly hasty to close up gaps in teeth. This is especially true for children. Children’s teeth will shift drastically on their own as they grow. It may be a waste of money and a lot of unnecessary pain for the child if his or her teeth are going to close up anyway. You may also want to check with an orthodontist for further problems before you start trying to move things around.

Healing From The Procedure Will Take How Long?

For many people that continue to struggle with having a weight issue; they are going to have a difficult time losing the weight. After a person has tried all the available options to them like proper dieting and exercise they will eventually consider a weight loss surgery like the slim band surgery. Once they consider this they will have questions about the how the healing process from this procedure is going to be.

Healing From The Procedure Will Take How Long?

When a person thinks about the healting time from the slimband surgery they need to remember that this is a procedure that involves an invasive technique. However, each person is different in the way they respond to the procedure – everybody heals differently right? But typically people are out of commission for about four to eight days.

Some people can see that they will heal in a short amount of time, but others require a couple of weeks before they finally heal totally and feel back to normal. To really get an idea on how long it is going to take for your recovery try and remember how long it took to recover from other procedures that they have done in the past. This will act as a good guide to use on the amount of time that it will take for them to get better after having the slimband surgery.

Time Off Is Going To Be Important

For many people they could probably be back at work the next day, but they should do their best to try and avoid this for many reasons. Even if a person feels good they will notice that this is probably a bad idea since the incision needs to heal and the body needs time to recover and rest.

For many people, having any type of surgery let alone a weight loss surgery is going to be a trauma filled event. So a person needs to remember this when they are trying to recover from the procedure and just relax and let the body heal.

Something else that a person should figure out is their energy level. They will probably notice that it will drop drastically for the first couple of days since the they will be limited to clear liquids for a couple of days. So a person may find they are going to be to weak at first while the body is recovering.

One of the first signs that a person went back to work to soon is having pain. This pain is typically found at the incision site, but also can be just a general uneasy feeling as well as being really tired. After the procedure a person should ensure they start out an exercise program at some point in time. Doing this will allow them to take full advantage of the procedure, but a person needs to find out from the doctor how long they have to wait before starting this type of program and should also consult with a trainer to make sure they are doing exercises properly without risk of injuring themselves.

Advice For Faster Recovery from the Slim Band Surgery

These suggestions are going to help a person recover as quickly as possible after having the surgery:

* Follow exactly what the doctors and thearpists tell you to do. Doing this is going to ensure that a person avoids some of the complications they could be facing.

* Anytime that a complication is found you will want to consult with a doctor as sson as possible. These are rare, but they do happen at times and that could lead to problems for a person if they do not seek help immediately.

* Driving can put a strain on the body and cause more issues for a person. So a person should avoid driving for a couple of days.

While you may think that the slim band surgery is going to be an instant cure for you, it is not going to be that way if a person does not take care of themselves. However, by doing this and taking care of yourself a person will notice that they are going to have a longer and healthier life than what they used to and will be able to lose the weight and keep it off which is the ultimate goal by having the slim band surgery.