FrisArvz's Blog

Before anything else, let talk first the function of the low back.The low back, or lumbar area, serves a number of important functions for the human body. These functions include structural support, movement, and protection of certain body tissues.

When we stand, the lower back is functioning to hold most of the weight of the body. When we bend, extend or rotate at the waist, the lower back is involved in the movement. Therefore, injury to the lumbar structures important for weight bearing, such as the bony spine, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, often can be detected when the body is standing erect, or used in various movements.

Protecting the soft tissues of the nervous system and spinal cord as well as adjacent organs of the pelvis and abdomen is a critical function the lumbar spine and its adjacent muscles.

Now, what are common causes of low back pain? Common causes of low back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Each of these is reviewed below:

1. Lumbar Strain (Acute, Chronic) - A lumbar strain is a stretching injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. The stretching incident results in microscopic tears of varying degrees in these tissues. Lumbar strain is considered one of the most common causes of low back pain. The injury can occur because of overuse, improper use, or trauma. Soft tissue injury is commonly classified as "acute" if it has been present for days to weeks. If the strain lasts longer than 3 months, it is referred to as "chronic."

Lumbar strain most often occurs in persons in their forties, but can happen at any age. The condition is characterized by localized discomfort in the low back area with onset after an event that mechanically stressed the lumbar tissues. The severity of the injury ranges from mild to severe, depending on the degree of strain and resulting spasm of the muscles of the low back.

The diagnosis of lumbar strain is based on the history of injury, the location of the pain, and exclusion of nervous system injury. Usually, x-ray testing is only helpful to exclude bone abnormalities.

The treatment of lumbar strain consists of resting the back (to avoid re-injury), medications to relieve pain and muscle spasm, local heat applications, massage, and eventual (after the acute episode resolves) reconditioning exercises to strengthen the low back and abdominal muscles. Long periods of inactivity in bed are no longer promoted as this treatment may actually slow recovery. Spinal manipulation for periods of up to 1 month has been found helpful in some patients that do not have signs of nerve irritation. Future injury is avoided by using back protection techniques during activities and support devices as needed at home or work.

2. Nerve Irritation - The nerves of the lumbar spine can be irritated by mechanical impingement or disease any where along their paths--from their roots at the spinal cord to the skin surface. These conditions include lumbar disc disease (radiculopathy), bony encroachment, and inflammation of the nerves caused by a viral infection (shingles).

3. Lumbar Radiculopathy - Lumbar radiculopathy refers to nerve irritation which is caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Damage to the disc occurs because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, traumatic injury, or both. As a result, the central softer portion of the disc can rupture (herniate) through the outer ring of the disc and abut the spinal cord or its nerves as they exit the bony spinal column. This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain that shoots down the leg. Sciatica can be preceded by a history of localized low back aching or it can follow a "popping" sensation and be accompanied by numbness and tingling. The pain commonly increases with movements at the waist and can increase with coughing or sneezing. In more severe instances, sciatica can be accompanied by incontinence of the bladder and/or bowels.

Lumbar radiculopathy is suspected based on the above symptoms. Increased radiating pain when the lower extremity is lifted supports the diagnosis. Nerve testing (EMG/electromyogram and NCV/nerve conduction velocity) of the lower extremities can be used to detect nerve irritation. The actual disc herniation can be detected with radiology testing, such as CAT or MRI scanning.

Treatment of lumbar radiculopathy ranges from medical management to surgery. Medical management includes patient education, medications to relieve pain and muscles spasm, cortisone injection around the spinal cord (epidural injection), physical therapy (heat, massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation), and rest (not strict bed rest, but avoiding re-injury). With unrelenting pain, severe impairment of function, or incontinence (which can indicate spinal cord irritation), surgery may be necessary. The operation performed depends on the overall status of the spine, and the age and health of the patient. Procedures include removal of the herniated disc with laminotomy (a small hole in the bone of the lumbar spine surrounding the spinal cord), laminectomy (removal of the bony wall), by needle technique (percutaneous discectomy), disc-dissolving procedures (chemonucleolysis), and others.

4. Bony Encroachment - Any condition that results in movement or growth of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine can limit the space (encroachment) for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. Causes of bony encroachment of the spinal nerves include foraminal narrowing (narrowing of the portal through which the spinal nerve passes from the spinal column, out of the spinal canal to the body), spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra relative to another), and spinal stenosis (compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or other soft tissues in the spinal canal). Spinal nerve compression in these conditions can lead to sciatica pain which radiates down the lower extremities. Spinal stenosis can cause lower extremity pains which worsen with walking and are relieved by resting (mimicking poor circulation). Treatment of these afflictions varies, depending on their severity, from rest to surgical decompression by removing the bone that is compressing the nervous tissue.

5. Bone & Joint Conditions - Bone and joint conditions that lead to low back pain include those existing from birth (congenital), those that result from wear and tear (degenerative) or injury, and those that are from inflammation of the joints (arthritis).

 

 

---

buy tramadol online | buy fioricet | buy soma online
cialis | buy prozac online | xenical | buy fluoxetine online | viagra

---

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American women and the disease that many women fear most. Although breast cancer is primarily a disease of women, almost 1% of breast cancers occur in men. In 2007, it is estimated that 2,030 men in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer. Death rates from breast cancer have been gradually declining and continue to decline. These decreases are likely due both to increased awareness and screening and improved treatment methods.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer may help save your life. When the disease is discovered early, you have more treatment options and a better chance for a cure.

Most breast lumps aren't cancerous. Yet the most common sign of breast cancer for both men and women is a lump or thickening in the breast. Often, the lump is painless. Other potential signs of breast cancer include:

1) A spontaneous clear or bloody discharge from your nipple, often associated with a breast lump
2) Retraction or indentation of your nipple
3) A change in the size or contours of your breast
4) Any flattening or indentation of the skin over your breast
5) Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

A number of conditions other than breast cancer can cause your breasts to change in size or feel. Breast tissue changes naturally during pregnancy and your menstrual cycle. Other possible causes of noncancerous (benign) breast changes include fibrocystic changes, cysts, fibroadenomas, infection or injury.

If you find a lump or other change in your breast — even if a recent mammogram was normal — see your doctor for evaluation. If you haven't yet gone through menopause, you may want to wait through one menstrual cycle before seeing your doctor. If the change hasn't gone away after a month, have it evaluated promptly.

 

 

---

buy tramadol online | buy fioricet online | buy soma online
cialis | buy prozac online | xenical | buy fluoxetine online | viagra

---

Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of factors ranging from sexual behaviour and attitudes and societal factors, to biological risk and genetic predisposition. Sexual health encompasses the problems of HIV and STIs/RTIs, unintended pregnancy and abortion, infertility and cancer resulting from STIs, and sexual dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence. Addressing sexual health at the individual, family, community or health system level requires integrated interventions by trained health providers and a functioning referral system.

 

Addressing sexual health also requires understanding and appreciation of sexuality, gender roles and power in designing and providing services. Understanding sexuality and its impact on practices, partners, reproduction and pleasure presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities for improving sexual and reproductive health care services and interventions. Validity of data collection, given researcher bias and difficulties in discussing such a private issue, also remains a problem in some settings that must be overcome if a greater understanding of sexuality in various settings is to be achieved.  To do this requires adding to the knowledge base gained from the field of STI/HIV prevention and care, gender studies, and family planning, among others.

While sexual health has been implicitly understood to be part of the reproductive health agenda, the emergence of HIV/AIDS, of sexual and gender-based violence and of the extent of sexual dysfunction (to name just some of the developments over the past two decades), have highlighted the need for the Department to now focus more explicitly on sexuality and the promotion of sexual health.

 

Learn more about sexual health care. Visit sexual health care article blog.

 

Most of us attribute stiffness and joint pain to aging, and feel we just have to accept it — and worse, believe that medication is our only hope for relief. But that’s not so! Except for progressive rheumatoid or osteoarthritis conditions, which require specific care with a specialist, there are many steps you can take to get joint pain relief naturally, without drugs.

Let’s start with the underlying causes of joint pain and muscle stiffness.

First off, years of wear and tear on our skeletal joints are certainly a factor. If we’re overweight, wear and tear are a bigger factor, especially in knee muscle pain, foot muscle pain, and ankle muscle pain. Past injuries to our joints may never have completely healed, leaving them more vulnerable to pain and stiffness.

An inflamed digestive tract is another culprit. Most of the women in the Personal Program who suffer severe or chronic stiffness or joint pain also report digestive problems. That’s because dysbiosis in our digestive system leads in time to systemic inflammation, including inflammation in the joints and the resulting aches and muscle pains.

So what can you do to find relief from chronic muscle pain? It’s key that you provide support for your body and balance in your life. Proper diet and nutritional supplements are the foundation. Progesterone can help offset estrogen dominance and support hormonal balance. Lifestyle changes, especially exercise and stress relief, work wonders over time.

 

Learn more about the causes of muscle pain and more. Visit muscle pain blog.