Showing posts with label May. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May. Show all posts

Friday, 9 June 2017

Some Options Of Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents May Benefit From


By Amy Jackson


Back pain has many causes. Inter-vertebral disc prolapse contributes to a significant number of complaints that are seen in clinics. It is a leading cause of absenteeism from work and school and generally, reduced productivity. Spinal decompression is the intervention that is used to solve this problem. There are a number of important facts on spinal decompression Conroe clients need to have as they seek treatment for back pain.

One of the most widely used non-surgical options is known as traction. This treatment is based on a simple principle of applying a gentle pulling force on the spine so as to relieve any pressure that may exist on nerve tissues. In case there is a herniating inter-vertebral disc, the pulling force creates space between adjacent vertebrae such that the disc can slip back to its former position.

The procedure is usually conducted in just under one hour. Since you do not need to prepare, the procedure may be conducted on the same day that it is prescribed by your doctor. Typically, you are fitted with a piece of equipment (a hammock) around your waist and on the lower limbs. The hammock serves the purpose of transmitting the forces to the spine. One session lasts less than one hour and the average person would require about twenty sessions.

Be informed that there are a number of situations in which the traction procedure is either contraindicated or highly discouraged. Persons who have preexisting lower limb fractures may have these injuries aggravated if they are subject to the pulling force. Similar problems may be encountered among persons who have metallic implants in their thigh or leg bones. Other conditions that require caution to be taken include severely weakened bones due to tumor or osteoporosis and the presence of abdominal tumors and pregnancy.

Apart from traction, there are a number of other non-conservative options that exist. Physical therapy has been tried for a number of patients with varying success. The therapy is broadly divided into active and passive exercises. Alternative medicine options such as chiropractic and acupressure may also be beneficial on their own or when conducted alongside other interventions.

Surgery is often considered when all the available conservative options have proved futile. The aim of surgery is to remove the source of compression either by making positional adjustments or by surgical excision. This may involve removal of an entire vertebral body or just a small component. When the whole vertebral body is removed, this surgery will be referred to as corpectomy. The other types of surgeries will also be named depending on the type of component that is removed.

Surgery is associated with a number of risks that may be encountered either in the short term or in the long term. The short term complications that one may suffer from include excessive blood loss during the operation, injury to vital structures (including the spinal cord) and infections. If one or several vertebral bodies are removed spinal instability is a possible long term complication.

Before undergoing the operation, you need to be evaluated to establish that indeed you will benefit from this intervention. Part of this evaluation may include being subjected to imaging studies, undergoing several blood tests and so on. You will be asked to stop taking blood thinners a few weeks before the procedure so as to minimize the risk of complications.




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Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Approaches To Sciatica Pain Treatment Conroe Patients May Consider


By Marci Glover


Sciatica originates in the lower back or buttocks and travels along the sciatic nerve which runs through the leg. When this continues to flare up there are several options for sciatica pain treatment Conroe patients can consider that will bring them relief. Depending on the cause and severity of the disorder, these methods range from simple, at-home remedies, to surgery.

Compressed nerve roots are essentially the source of sciatic discomfort, for some patients a combination of specific exercises and other simple treatments can bring about substantial improvement. The application of heat and ice to the affected leg is often helpful is easing the pain. Whichever of the two one prefers can be applied for about 20 minutes, then the other can be used. The process can be repeated every two hours.

Patients may also need to take analgesics, in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, or oral steroids to reduce inflammation, these medications can provide temporary relief from sciatica so the patient can go about his or her normal activity and carry out any therapeutic exercises that have been recommended for recovery. In more severe cases, they may be given an epidural steroid injection.

Chiropractic care is a holistic healthcare approach which can provide relief from sciatica for some patients. The objective is to isolate the source of the problem and correct it, usually by applying a technique known as "adjustment" which involve delivering a direct force to the affected vertebra to restore alignment and relieve nerve compression.

Other types of alternative healing techniques which may help are massage therapy and acupuncture. The former works by easing muscle tension, improving circulation, and stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural analgesics. The latter uses fine needles which are inserted into key energy pathways in the body to restore balance and alleviate suffering.

In some cases, a sciatica patient will experience a full recovery within six to twelve weeks time, and this will happen faster if they undergo physical therapy that involves certain sets of strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercises intended to promote healing and prevent a recurrence of the pain. Inactivity will actually slow down the patient's recovery, which is why exercise is encouraged.

If the patient's condition has shown little improvement after twelve weeks, surgery may be considered. The two procedures which are most commonly used to correct sciatic pain are the microdiscectomy and the lumbar laminectomy. The former is applied when a herniated disc is causing the problem, and it involves removing the offending part of the disc. The latter is also known as "open decompression" and it consists of excising the segment of the bone or disc causing nerve compression.

Surgery to treat sciatic pain is normally done on an elective basis, which means that it is the patient's decision to have it. The doctor will generally consent to refer the patient for surgery if he or she is experiencing notable limitations from persistent discomfort and has not achieved significant relief from non-surgical measures, they must also be in generally good health to be eligible for surgery.




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Sunday, 9 April 2017

Important Information On Gastric Banding Surgery Nj Residents May Need To Have


By Olive Pate


There are several options that can be considered for weight loss in Englewood, nj. Some are fairly simple and rely primarily on the effort of the affected individual while others are more complex requiring the assistance of a specialist. The commonly used methods all over the world are physical exercise and dietary modifications. Surgical procedures are usually considered when these conservative modalities fail to yield results. There are a number of important things on gastric banding surgery nj residents should know if they intend to undergo this procedure.

The procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that is aimed at reducing the capacity of the stomach. With a reduction in this size, less food is required to fill it hence persons that have been operated on achieve satiety earlier than previously. Most of the food that is consumed is channelled by the body towards energy provision and very little is stored as adipose tissue. Over time, there is net weight loss.

The ideal candidate for this operation is a person whose body mass index is more than 40 or weighs 45 kg more than their ideal weight. A lower BMI of between 35 and 40 is accepted if there is a medical condition contributing to the excessive weight. This often happens in the case of hypertension or diabetes. The candidate must be over 18 years of age and should have attempted the conventional methods of weight loss.

The preparation process varies slightly as you move from one centre to another. Commonly, one is required to adjust to new dietary habits in line with the expected change in lifestyle. Diet modification may include, among other things, increasing the frequency of meals but reducing the amounts. The intake of high calorie foods which often lead to an increase in weight should be reduced. If suffering from any medical condition, one needs to be treated early.

General anaesthesia is typically used in the operation. This may be a downside if you intend to witness the surgery as it goes on. Arranging a video recording may be a good idea in this case. Three holes to serve as entry points for the instruments are made on the abdominal wall. A laparoscope is inserted into one of these entry points and an image of the internal organs of interest projected onto a monitor.

There is no actual cutting that takes place during the operation. Reduction of the stomach size is achieved by placing a silicon band around the upper part of the stomach. Effectively, a small pouch is created and serves as the food reservoir from then on. The band can be adjusted as is desired. The pouch holds less food than was the case before.

Some side effects should be anticipated by persons undergoing the procedure. In the immediate period after the operation, patients may complain of nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Some of these symptoms are the result of ulceration caused by the band. Other complaints include constipation, weight regain and vitamin deficiencies.

In general, few complications are encountered. Death rates stand at 1 in 2000 cases. It should be understood that the skill of the surgeon plays a big part in determining the results. At the same time, dietary modification and engaging in physical exercise need to continue.




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