Medical Problems

Posts Tagged ‘Treatments’

One of the vital parts of an aerobic conditioning program is a weight loss management program. Aerobic conditioning for arthritis sufferers is some of the best exercise for this ailment because it has small to no impact on the joints as clarified here in this free video with tips from an experienced medical professional. Expert: Dr. Robin Terranella Bio: Dr. Robin Terranella has a medical degree from Bastyr University and has trained at Wu Hsing Tao Acupuncture School. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Non-weight bearing arthritis exercises can help take some of the load and some of the stress off the weight bearing joints in individuals with arthritis. Learn new and effective exercise routines for arthritis sufferers that involves small to no weight and strain on joints with tips from an experienced medical professional in this freevideo. Expert: Dr. Robin Terranella Bio: Dr. Robin Terranella has a medical degree from Bastyr University and has trained at Wu Hsing Tao Acupuncture School. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Low back pain is a common healthcare and social problem associated with disability and absence from work. One 2005 medical study of chronic spinal pain stated that the lifetime prevalence of spinal pain has been reported as 54% to 80%, with as many as 60% of patients continuing to have chronic pain five years or longer after the initial episode. The long-term and disabling conditions of chronic and recurrent low-back problems are of major concern, from both costs and morbidity aspects.

Chiropractic care has been shown to compare favorably to medical care with respect to long-term pain and disability outcomes in many cases, but the chiropractor should carefully consider the optimum treatment plot for each patient on an individual basis. For most cases of chronic low-back pain, I recommend a three-step program of spinal adjustments, postural stabilization, and rehabilitative exercise. Combining these three elements can make the difference between a successful care program and a lingering, recurring low back condition.

Most people who have had low back pain have been told to do knee to chest exercises first thing in the morning. Guess what? Knee to chest exercises in the morning are terrible for your back. I attended this conference with a room full of physiotherapists and chiropractors, and they were all surprised to hear this, but once Dr. McGill clarified himself, they all seemed to be in agreement. When you bring your knees to your chest, your back rounds slightly. In this rounded (or flexed) position, your discs change shape slightly in response to the position of the vertebrae.While you sleep, your back hydrates so that by the time you wake up your discs are filled with liquid. Reckon about your discs as water balloons.

The history is very vital, i.e., when did the pain first appear? Is it something which occurs frequently, or is this the first time? What is the nature of the pain: Sharp, dull, intermittent or constant? Does it “radiate” somewhere or does it remain in one area? What were the activities prior to the pain? Maybe you were moving railroad ties around your garden, or continuously leaning back to paint a ceiling. Maybe you’ve been sleeping on a roll-away bed while guests are visiting and it has a six inch mattress with a metal bar halfway across it. Do you have fever or blood in your urine (kidney stone)? By this process, your doctor tries to “sift out” the exact nature and specific history of your back pain.

Causes

Three categories of lower back pain

Your lower back pain will fall into one of three categories, which your doctor bases on your description of the pain.

1. Axial lower back pain – mechanical or simple back pain

2. Radicular lower back pain – sciatica

3. Lower back pain with referred pain

The second step is to look at the back. Starting with the skin, is there an isolated rash that might be shingles? Is there an infected cyst or an area of skin infection, such as one surrounding a tick bite? Now look at the posture. Is the back too straight, as from muscle spasm? Does it curve to the left or right (scoliosis), and is this a permanent finding or is it due to muscle spasm? Does the back curve too far toward the front (lordosis), maybe due to a prominent “pot belly?” As part of this process your doctor might make other observations. Do walking and standing make the pain worse, and is it primarily movement of one leg that seems to cause the problem? When one sits in a chair, does he slouch with poor posture, or sit too straight from muscle spasm?

Degenerative disc problems are similar to rupture problems, but without a rupture occurring. Instead, the discs of the spinal system have been eroded, usually by time. This condition is not particularly well understood, as all individuals experience the degeneration of their discs in their lives. Some feel chronic pain, while others do not. Therapies and/or surgery are again the most effective ways to treat this type of pain, so far.

Treatments

Back pain is certainly not an simple problem to deal with and to some it can seem like an impossible task to get rid of it. In this article I’ll be going through some of the things you can do to help your back pain without having to take medication that may potentially cause side effects. I’ve also avoided including surgery in this list as that can be even more daunting than taking pills for most people.

· The simplest way to start trying to get rid of pain is to avoid doing things that could harm your back furniture. For example, if you spend all day lifting heavy objects then it’s vital you use the right method. I’m sure you’ve all seen how to lift in training videos but haven’t taken much notice – don’t let your back pain get worse than it has too because you’re lifting incorrect.

Home treatments for back pain are honestly simple and straight forward. Apply heat if there is only pain, in twenty minute intervals. If there is also swelling, interchange heat and ice every twenty minutes. Lie on your back, on a hard surface, with your knees and hips slightly elevated to take all strain off of the back muscles. After two or three days, make sure that you walk for a few minutes every couple of hours. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications as well.

Learn about herbal treatments for male menopause symptoms with expert medical advice from a trained doctor and scientist in this free online health care video clip. Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a trained doctor and scientist in clinical research medicine, as well as a stem cell scientist in oncology and AIDS/HIV. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Benefits of strengthening around the hip and knee joints are to increase shock absorption capability of those muscles and, thus, taking the stress off of the joints. Learn new and effective exercise routines for knee and hip arthritis sufferers with tips from an experienced medical professional in this freevideo. Expert: Dr. Robin Terranella Bio: Dr. Robin Terranella has a medical degree from Bastyr University and has trained at Wu Hsing Tao Acupuncture School. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Finding macular degeneration treatment s. Vision problems due to the onset of macular degeneration are quite prevalent, especially in the elderly. Macular degeneration occurs when the macula, located in the central part of the retina in the eye, becomes weakened or hurt. The result is a loss of central vision. Central vision is used to read and drive, so it is crucial to save as much of a patient’s vision as possible as soon as possible. Although this medical condition has no cure at this time, there are some promising new macular degeneration treatments that have shown to alleviate and slow down some of the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration.

There is a range of vision loss that can occur depending on the severity and type of age-related macular degeneration a patient has. Because it affects the macula located in the center of the retina, a patient’s peripheral vision is usually not adversely affected by the condition. With the onset of the condition, a patient’s vision might still be quite excellent, but the situation can worsen over time. There are two different types of age-related macular degeneration that often result in the greatest loss of central vision, and they are called wet and dry. The dry form of advanced macular degeneration is caused by the reduction of the rods and cones located in the retina, while wet advanced macular degeneration occurs due to leakage of excessive blood vessels and the resulting scarring under the macula.

One thing that retinal specialists might tell their patients with macular degeneration is to take certain vitamins as part of a spectrum of macular degeneration treatment s. Patients in the initial onset stages of this condition sometimes benefit from taking vitamins C, E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and eating foods that are high in beta-carotenes, such as dark green leafy vegetables, corn and peas.

Another macular degeneration treatment can be found in cholesterol reducing drugs. People in the early stages of this medical condition often develop drusen, or yellow deposits, in the macula. The development and increase in the number of drusen seems to be related to the patient’s cholesterol level, with drusen more prevalent in those with higher cholesterol. Medications, such as statins, which reduce cholesterol, and aspirin, which reduces inflammation, may have a significant impact on reducing the size and number of drusen in the macula and thus lessen the chances of someone developing age-related macular degeneration.

A couple of wet advanced macular degeneration treatments, Macugen and Lucentis, have been approved by the FDA. Macugen is useful because it helps to reduce the number of excessive blood vessels that can grow under the retina. These can become inflamed and eventually burst, causing vision problems. Lucentis also reduces the growth of too many blood vessels. Lucentis is administered as an injection under the eye, and offers a fantastic new treatment option for some patients with these kinds of vision problems.

The future is looking brighter with these emerging new macular degeneration treatments.

A common condition that is found in persons of all ages and in all countries around the world, low back pain, for so many reasons, seems to come out of nowhere to reek havoc on our daily lives. The degree of pain experienced among low back pain sufferers runs the gamut from mild to increasingly severe levels.

Over time many experiments have been conducted to find out which treatments really work best at providing pain relief. Below I have listed a few ways that can be beneficial in finally finding relief.

Heat Wrap Therapy For Your Back Pain

One of the most well loved low back pain treatments is exercise therapy. The problem with this type of therapy is that most who undergo this treatment experience pain. Some will complain of pain during the exercise, while others will feel some form of discomfort afterwards. To alleviate this problem and to help you get the most out of your exercise, the use of heat wrap therapy has been made to help make your activity comfortable for to benefit from. Using a heat therapy wrap will significantly lessen your pain during exercise.

The McKenzie Method

The McKenzie method is one latest low back pain treatments being used today. More than just a series of exercises, the McKenzie method is a combination of physical therapy and exercises used to lengthen the spine. The method is based on algorithms that are used to clarify the spinal problem so that adequate treatment can be obtained. Many pain centers today are utilizing this form of therapy in their treatment programs. Although doctors do recognize this as valuable form of treatment, further consultations must be made before starting this type of program.

Prolotherapy: A Non-Surgical Alternative

A medical techniques used for treating low back pain, Prolotherapy is a technique that helps to stimulate the bodies natural healing process. The treatment involves a series of injections that produces inflammation in the troubled area. Meant to provide permanent relief, if you are facing spinal surgery, this may be an alternative solution for your back pain. Prolotherapy would also be highly effective in combination with other types of pain management programs.

Electrotherapy Stimulation

Of all the low back pain treatments available today, electrotherapy is perhaps the most controversial. Not limited to it s on the back alone, electrotherapy stimulation produces significant results in other types of pain. How it works is endorphins, the natural pain killer of the body, are released through a series of electrical currents being passed on to the skin to block the nerve signals which transmit the pain. Controversial as it may be, many have found fantastic relief through electrotherapy.

Finding alternative back pain treatments may be the key to finally finding relief from your troubling pain. Remember to always seek the advice of a doctor before starting any kind of pain management therapy.

Arthritis can be a debilitating, degenerative, crippling disease that only gets worse over time. Although there is no “cure”, it is essential to improve your bodies overall nutrition and health. Because of the processed foods we eat, and the sedentary lifestyle we live, most people lack the proper amounts of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins our bodies need to be completely healthy. If a person engages in the right amounts of exercise, combined with a consistent, well balanced diet, the body is able to fend off medical problems of all sorts. Inflammation is often a result of a weak immune system, and cartilage and bone will stay stronger, longer with the right nutritional diet. A strong immune system also helps fight all types of infections, from viruses to bacteria. If a virus or bacteria is able to break past the immune system and infect the body, it can magnify the effects of a disorder like arthritis. Most people who are currently living a healthy, nutritious life have already heard this but…so what about the people who currently have arthritis?

Well, living a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise can be even more vital for those diagnosed with arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is particularly debilitating, and approx. 6 out of 10 people diagnosed with it become disabled in 10 years or less. This is a very real problem, but this disability can be slowed down for many if they adopt a healthy lifestyle! So lets take a closer look at the two most basic changes that can be made for real arthritis relief.

Arthritis and Nutrition: helping eliminate the pain

There are many rumors in the medical world that ties a change in diet to improved arthritis symptoms. So, to try to find proof between the diet/arthritis connection, a collaborative report was conducted on 15 separate studies of diet and arthritis, and the results were:

For those with gout, there is a specific link between diet and an acute gout attack. But, for those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, the connection is less certain. Diet doesn’t seem to change the range of motion or flexibility for people with rheumatoid arthritis, but avoiding certain foods CAN help reduce the pain that someone with rheumatoid arthritis experiences. But, more studies are being conducted, and the link between diet and arthritis has not been fully explored.

The more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis can be affected indirectly by food, in the form of weight gain. Besides losing weight, there are other foods to consider if you have osteoarthritis. Some of them are:

caffeine, sugar, dairy products, red meat, salt, nightshade veggies (red peppers, tomatoes, etc), chocolate, and most processed foods with additives and preservatives.

Arthritis and Exercise: fight the symptoms, and increase your quality of life

Exercise is even more vital to reducing arthritis symptoms than diet. It was previously thought that exercise and arthritis don’t mix. We now know that exercise is able to stave off arthritis development, increase range of motion, flexibility, and decrease pain. There are 3 primary forms of exercise that someone with arthritis should engage in:

Flexibility exercises: Stretching, yoga, tai chi, etc

cardio exercises: jogging, swimming, cycling, elliptical machines, etc.

strengthening exercises: resistance weights, isometric and isotonic excercises, etc.

Incorporating all 3 forms into an exercise routine can increase quality of life with arthritis.