A low-grade fever that humbled this physician
The clues are usually there, even in the hardest of cases. They just aren’t presented to you on a silver platter.
Gwen Stephenson had an ill-defined polyarthritis and had been on methotrexate for some time. Her rheumatologist, Norm Fahler, had tapered her off the medication while keeping an eye on her inflammatory markers and they had leveled off at just above the normal range.
Seven or eight years ago, Gwen had suffered a bad bout of sciatica, and a few weeks ago, she had told me her sciatica was bothering her a little again. “Not enough to have those injections yet, mind you,” she had said with a grimace and a gest...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 16, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: A Country Doctor, MD Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
A physician puts his welfare in the hands of others
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
– Blanche DuBois, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams
It was near the end of 2008 that I developed symptoms that I recognized as sciatica. The Internet is a wonderful source of information (and some misinformation). I decided to educate myself. In my reading, I encountered one study that indicated that patients who underwent surgery were better at one year, but about the same as those who opted for conservative measures at 4 and 10 years. This, as well as the fact that some patients improve on their own, gave me some comfort. I dete...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 20, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Samuel M. Chen, MD Tags: Physician Neurology Orthopedics Source Type: blogs
Middle Age Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
By STEVE FINDLAY
Despite the many flaws in our healthcare system, we could always point to data showing that over the last few decades we were living longer and healthier lives—even if not quite as long and healthy as our contemporaries in many European and some Asian countries.
It now appears that’s no longer true for one segment of the U.S. population.
I’m talking, of course, about the surprising findings released last week that the death rate among non-Hispanic white men and women ages 45 to 54 increased from 1999 to 2013 after decreasing steadily for 20 years, as it did for other age cohorts and ethnic groups.
...
Source: The Health Care Blog - November 12, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Simon Nath Tags: THCB Steven Findlay Source Type: blogs
Pain Management And Why It ’ s So Personal
Most of my patients think about pain medicines in terms of the symptoms they treat. “This is my headache medicine, and this is my arthritis medicine,” they often say. Healthcare providers are more likely to categorize pain medicines by the way they work: some are anti-inflammatory, some affect nerve endings, and others influence how the brain perceives pain. But the truth is that no matter how you classify pain medicines, there is no way to know if they’ll help until you try them for yourself.
Most people don’t realize that pain management is personal. Research is beginning to help us understand why people ...
Source: Better Health - October 20, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Tips Opinion Acetaminophen How To Treat Pain Ibuprofen OTC OTC Pain Medicines Personalized Medicine Side Effects Which Pain Medicine Is Best Source Type: blogs
Pain Management And Why It’s So Personal
Most of my patients think about pain medicines in terms of the symptoms they treat. “This is my headache medicine, and this is my arthritis medicine,” they often say. Healthcare providers are more likely to categorize pain medicines by the way they work: some are anti-inflammatory, some affect nerve endings, and others influence how the brain perceives pain. But the truth is that no matter how you classify pain medicines, there is no way to know if they’ll help until you try them for yourself.
Most people don’t realize that pain management is personal. Research is beginning to help us understand why people ...
Source: Better Health - October 20, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Tips Opinion Acetaminophen How To Treat Pain Ibuprofen OTC OTC Pain Medicines Personalized Medicine Side Effects Which Pain Medicine Is Best Source Type: blogs
An update from Kristen and Marvin, wheat-free newlyweds
Remember Kristen and her husband Marvin? I shared their story last year after Kristen lost a substantial amount of weight and enjoyed a wheat- and grain-free wedding celebration. Kristen and Marvin are back with an update:
“We’d never thought that we would be writing you in this capacity but today, August 3rd, is our 3-year Wheat Belly Anniversary. We are simply gratified with all that we have gone through, to not only have done it, but maintain it. Together, we have lost a total of 110 pounds. I have lost 85 pounds and my husband, 25. Just a month ago, my doctor named me her top patient in cholesterol out of 1...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 3, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories cooking food gluten grains Weight Loss Source Type: blogs
On The Pulse - 22nd May 2015
Little benefit from oral steroids in sciatica (Source: OnMedica Blogs)
Source: OnMedica Blogs - May 22, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: blogs
Back pain during pregnancy: Advice from a neurosurgeon
For many women, pregnancy is a wonderful experience. There are, however, many changes and challenges the mom-to-be can expect, and back pain is one of them. The good news for pregnant women is that the development of severe or debilitating low back pain is very rare.
The incidence of symptomatic low back pain that is severe is about 1 to 2 percent. This may be associated with a condition known as sciatica that is usually caused by a herniated or bulging disc in the lower part of the spine.
Continue reading ...
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find ou...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 12, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Matt Ammerman, MD Tags: Conditions OB/GYN Orthopedics Source Type: blogs
When the back pain red flags aren’t enough
$28 million was awarded to a patient for a late diagnosis of a pelvic tumor, an osteosarcoma. This rare cancer presented as a case of low back pain and sciatica. The patient claimed that if the osteosarcoma had been caught earlier that the subsequent surgery would have been avoided.
Could doctors have done better in diagnosing more quickly?
These cases strike fear into all primary care doctors. Which patient has a sinister pathology when the majority of patients with similar symptoms of back pain are due to benign non-life threatening causes?
Continue reading ...
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 19, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Davis Liu, MD Tags: Conditions Cancer Orthopedics Source Type: blogs
Gym Workouts That Get the Green Light During Pregnancy
Worried about potential risks? Don’t be. There just aren’t any if you’ve been green-lighted by your practitioner, you choose the right pregnancy workouts, and you exercise smart. So lace up those sneakers, grab your water bottle (it’s important to stay hydrated when you’re working out for two!), and get moving, Mama!
Here are some safe-during-pregnancy exercises you can try (assuming your practitioner has given the okay):
Swimming: It’s fun, safe, low-impact, and you’ll feel lighter and more limber when you’re in the water! Like any cardiovascular exercise, swimming help...
Source: Cord Blood News - December 9, 2014 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: joyce at mazelabs.com Tags: babies brain development Cord Blood medical research parents pregnancy Uncategorized affordable cord blood banking breast feeding due dates exercise exercise and pregnancy healthy pregnancy kegel exercises new baby parenting Source Type: blogs
Back Pain Doctor Sarasota Fl
Failed back syndrome, or lumbar post-laminectomy syndrome, is the term given to patients who have had back surgery for back pain, but continue to have pain after surgery. Even worse, their back pain can be worse after the surgery. The main problem is the fact that low back pain is not an indication for back surgery – any more than neck pain is an indication for neck surgery (failed neck surgery: cervical post-laminectomy syndrome). Surgery done for the sole purpose of relieving neck or back pain is doomed to failure. Many spine surgeons make the false assumption that if a patient has back pain and there is a spine MR...
Source: Sarasota Neurology - August 7, 2014 Category: Neurologists Authors: Dan Kassicieh, D.O. Tags: Back Pain Platelet Rich Plasma Back Pain Doctors Back Pain Specialist joint pain Sarasota Neurology Surgery Source Type: blogs
What’s the deal with dilo oil?
Michelle asks (via Facebook)…I saw your recent Facebook post about a product containing “dilo oil” and loved your comment about it being a typo for something more…salacious (LMFAO BTW). But now I’m seriously curious. What is dilo oil and is it good for skin?
The Beauty Brains respond:
That’s what we get for letting Sarah Bellum manage our social media – somehow she manages to make EVERYTHING sound dirty! Actually, Dilo oil is quite innocent.
The dirt on Dilo oil
Dilo oil (aka Pinnay oil, Tamanu oil and calophyllum inophyllum) comes the sacred Dilo tree (also known as the “Tree of a...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - July 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Tags: Claims Natural Source Type: blogs
The problem of hip pain
Hip pain is a common problem, but not always a straightforward one. Pain that you feel in your hip can actually be caused by a problem in your back. Similarly, pain in the hip can sometimes be felt as pain in your groin or even in the middle of your thighs. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be sought to solve the underlying problem.
Causes of pain
• Arthritis – the most frequent cause of hip pain is arthritis although pain is often felt in the front part of your thigh or groin
• Burstitis – an extremely common problem where the bursa over the outside of the hip join...
Source: Mental Nurse - March 5, 2014 Category: Nurses Authors: Author104 Tags: Health gynaecological hip pain women Source Type: blogs
A brief list of fibromylagia symptoms
[Note I did not write this list. It was on Facebook shared by Creaky Joints. But I find it to be very true.]I have highlighted the ones that I experience regularly. So if you ever wonder how my day is going, just think about this list. PAIN- in the muscle: often described as aching, burning, throbbing, gnawing, shooting, tingling. Almost always exacerbated by exercise and may or may not be present at rest. Can be migratory and differing from day to day.FATIGUE- From feeling tired to exhausted and requiring rest periods during the day.SLEEP DISTURBANCE- not being able to fall asleep and or able to stay asleep. Unrefreshing ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - February 26, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: being a patient coping fibromyalgia Source Type: blogs
Pain In The Back? Exercise May Help You Learn Not To Feel It : Shots - Health News : NPR
More than 1 in 4 adult Americans say they've recently suffered a bout of low-back pain. It's one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor. And more and more people are being treated for it.
America spends more than $80 billion a year on back pain treatments. But many specialists say less treatment is usually more effective.
In fact, there's evidence that many standard treatments for back pain — surgery, spinal injections and painkillers — are often ineffective and can even worsen and prolong the problem.
Dr. Jerome Groopman agrees with that premise. He suffered back pain for almost 20 years. He...
Source: Psychology of Pain - January 15, 2014 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs
