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Understanding Herniated Discs – Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Your back bones are formed by a stack of vertebrae separated by cushion-like, soft discs. These discs apart from providing stability and flexibility to your spine, also act as shock-absorbers. When a disc is damaged due to wear and tear, injury, disease or age, it may break open or bulge. This condition is called a herniated disc.

When a damaged disc presses against a nerve, it can lead to pain, numbness or tingling in your leg or arms. Some people with herniated discs may not experience any pain at all. While some people require herniated disk treatments Houston, TX, the damaged disc may also heal on its own without medical intervention.

Who gets a herniated disc?

Though herniated discs are more common among middle-aged people, individuals of all ages can develop a herniation. People who sit or drive for prolonged periods are more susceptible to develop a herniated disc.

What are the symptoms?

Depending on which disc is damaged, the location of symptoms will vary. Some of the common signs and symptoms include:

Pain in arms and legs

Numbness

Tingling sensation

A feeling of weakness in arms or legs

Tendency to drop items

Tendency to stumble

When are herniated discs an emergency?

Seek immediate medical attention if:

You lose bladder or bowel control or experience incontinence You experience pain along with weakness, numbness or tingling in your buttocks, legs or foot. How to prevent herniated discs?

To help prevent the occurrence of a herniated disc, you may:

Maintain a healthy weight: Excessive body weight puts additional pressure on the spine and its discs, making them more prone to herniation.

Maintaining good posture: Maintaining a good posture takes off any unnecessary pressure away from your spine and discs. While you are sitting for long, continuous periods, make sure that you sit with your back aligned and straight. Exercise caution while lifting heavy objects, as improper lifting action may put pressure on your back instead of the legs.

Exercise: Performing muscle – strengthening exercises on a regular basis helps strengthen, support and stabilize your spine. Before resuming any high-impact activities such as tennis or jogging, check with your doctor to understand the associated risks, if any.

What are the available herniated disk treatments Houston, TX?

There are many options available for the treatment of herniated discs and your doctor after evaluating your health conditions, will discuss the best methods of treatment.

Conservative, non surgical herniated disk treatments Houston, TX include sufficient bedrest with right ambulation and medication to help reduce inflammation and pain.

Physical therapy may also be included as a part of your treatment plan. The regimen will include thermotherapy, exercise, massage or the use of special equipment such as back belts, corsets and braces to support your back.

Herniated disc surgery Houston, TX procedures are used to treat severe cases of herniated discs. Doctors recommend surgery only for those who show zero improvement with other non-surgical and conservative treatments over a course of time. Microdiscectomy and disectomy are herniated disc surgery Houston, TX surgical procedures that involve the removal of a part or the entire damaged disc. In microdiscectomy, a microscope is used to magnify the surgical field during the process.

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A Guide To Orthopedic Implants

Orthopedic implants prove to be a blessing in the world of medicine today, as it can provide mobility, cure bone dislocations, provide replacements etc.

Orthopedic implants are commonly used to restore joint mobility in patients who are affected by diseases such as osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) and orthopedic injuries that require a replacement of one or more joint or bone structures. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints that affects the cartilage. Healthy cartilages absorb shock generated by movements and allow the bones to glide over one another. When the cartilage wears off, it may lead to painful bone to bone contact that can lead to swelling and loss of motion in the joints. Cartilage can break down due to obesity or lack of movement in joints. If all other non-surgical treatments fail, orthopedic surgeons suggest implants as a treatment option.

Implants costs

Most major joint procedures involve the placement of a surgical implant. The nature and cost of these implants vary depending on the duration they are required to be placed in the body and the purpose they are needed for.

More expensive implants generally last longer than the less expensive ones though the implants may not exhibit much difference in their functionality and effectiveness during the initial years. Cheaper implants may last around five or six years and they may need to be replaced. Implants that are considerably high in price may last for as long as 30 years.

Because hip replacement implant surgeries can be performed only for a limited number times on a person, it is generally advised that younger children have long lasting and expensive implants. Older people may opt for cheaper implants if durability is not a matter of concern.

Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss with you, and offer guidance as to which type of implant is appropriate for your age, condition and life style. It is important to note that while cheaper implants place less stress on the budget, they may lead to more expensive procedures or complexities in the future. Sometimes, certain conditions cannot be corrected even through repetitive surgery.

Advantages and disadvantages of orthopedic implants

Orthopedic implants can greatly enhance an individual,s mobility, reduce pain and improve the overall quality of life. Different manufacturers design implants in different ways. They can also be customized for specific applications based on specifications provided by the orthopedic surgeon.

Like any other medical invasive procedure, the process of orthopedic implantation is subject to complications like infection, inflammation and pain. However, these conditions can be prevented or corrected with proper medical intervention.

How to choose the right orthopedic surgeon

If you are looking out for an orthopedic surgeon, you may initially have to identify the type of injury, disease or damage that you require treatment for. You can also consider factors like the surgeon’s area of specialization. Orthopedic implant procedures are complex surgical techniques and they demand a high level of professionalism and experience from the surgeon,s end.

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Facelift Surgery For a Younger Version of Yourself

A facelift surgery or a stem cell facelift is an easy and definite way to ensure younger, firmer looking skin. Before opting for this surgery one must make sure they realize the limitations of such procedures and have realistic expectations from it which mean understanding that this procedure will only aid in removing sagging skin and provide a firmer skin and not reverse one,s ageing. Having a clean jaw line and well defined bone structure is an added bonus for anyone who wishes to undergo this treatment. People who have medical conditions like asthma, hypertension, diabetes or any cardiovascular disease are cautioned against it. Once you make sure you fit the bill, there are a couple of preoperative instructions one is expected to follow. Quite smoking and stop taking blood thinning medications like aspirin. Smoking interferes with the healing process of this treatment and also causes a person to look old.

A facelift surgery is carried out as an outpatient procedure. After administering general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision behind the ear in downward direction. This incision will extend along the natural curve of one,s ear within the hairline so that the scars are not visible. The facial skin is then disconnected from the underlying tissue and the excess skin is removed. Then the facial skin is positioned in a way that it will give a firmer appearance and sutures are given. The wound is also dressed to protect it from getting infected. Liposuction is used only if any excessive fat has to be removed. The surgery may be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures like the eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty.

Recovering from a facelift takes around 2 weeks. Some swelling may appear around the area of incision but it subsides within a couple of days. The patient is advised to sleep with their head elevated to lessen the swelling and also take walks to boost blood circulation and avoid blood clots. Drainage tubes might be placed to remove excess blood. During the recovery period, one should not carry out strenuous tasks.

If this procedure seems too invasive for you, there are alternatives available like:

Chemical peels

LASER resurfacing

Microdermabrasion

Fillers/Facial implants

BOTOX injections

A better alternative to facelift is the stem cell facelift. This procedure gives you a more natural youthful look as compared to the stretched out one given by other treatments. A stem cell facelift works by using the patient,s own stem cell-enriched fats taken from other parts of their body, and injecting them in the face which later create new skin cells. Unlike the normal facelift, the stem cell facelift does not create any scars as it is a scalpel-free method and no anesthesia is needed during the treatment.

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What Must a Cancer Treatment Centre Provide?

A good cancer treatment centre should have a team of experienced doctors to provide all medical care for cancer under one roof.

At cancer treatment centres Philadelphia, along with the advanced technologies and treatments like surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy there is also provision for supportive therapies like nutrition therapy, naturopathy and oncology rehabilitation.

A personalized treatment plan should be developed for each individual and the doctors should be compassionate to provide a healing touch. It should be a centre for comprehensive cancer care including prevention, treatment, education and research in cancer.

A cancer treatment centre may have nutritionists to evaluate a patient,s dietary requirements and financial counselors to explain the medical care costs and the expected cost of treatment. Patients may be counseled to help reduce stress and to provide them emotional support. The patient,s family may also be counseled so as to help them to better understand the illness.

Cancer prevention and early detection should be a part of a cancer centre,s cancer care program. Patient education, screening tests and physical examinations form an important component of a cancer care program.

A rehabilitation program will help a patient to recover from the effects of cancer and its treatment. The effects may be the side effects associated with cancer treatments or an emotional void which can be filled up with occupational therapy which allows people to find a daily routine and helps them to bounce back to life.

An accredited cancer centre will provide high quality cancer diagnosis and treatment that complies with the established standards.

Cancer support groups

A cancer treatment centre may provide access to cancer support groups which provide a platform for cancer patients to share their experiences with other living with the disease. It helps them to get emotional support which makes the fight with the disease a lot easier. These groups are usually led by social workers, psychologists or doctors.

Follow up cancer care

Regular medical examinations should be conducted to review and monitor patient,s condition and progress after treatment. Lab investigations and imaging procedures may be required during follow up visits. Follow up care is important to check recurrence of cancer or spread of cancer to other sites.

Some of the best cancer treatment centres in America

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York

John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford , Palo Alto, California

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Cancer treatment centres Philadelphia

Cancer Treatment Centre of America, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Kimmel Cancer Centre designated by National Cancer Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Centre, Philadelphia Foxchase Cancer centre, Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia Joan Karnell cancer centre at Pennsylvania hospital University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centre in western Pennsylvania Best children cancer treatment centers Philadelphia

Children,s Hospital of Philadelphia Children,s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Before you choose any cancer treatment center, make sure that you are comfortable with the atmosphere of the hospital, the kind of treatments they provide, the level of compassion of the staff and the expertise of the doctors.

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Treatment Centers for Cancer in the US

Preventive Programs at Treatment Centers

Most cancer treatment centers have ongoing programs which emphasize the steps that need to be taken for cancer prevention. If any thick mass of tissue or a lump is felt in any part of the body, it needs to be urgently investigated further at the treatment center. Similarly, for significant changes in bladder or bowel routines, lack of appetite or digestion problems, pain while swallowing food, persistent cough or throat soreness, a doctor needs to be consulted. Even if there is little or no pain, tests might indicate initial stages of a cancer. Unless the person goes to a treatment center and goes through a detailed checkup, cancer may not be detected in time. After a certain age, say 40-45 years, a regular screening at a Cancer Treatment Centre is advisable for all.  

Early treatment

The success of cancer treatment is more often than not dependent on how early it is detected and treated. With advances in medicine, treatment centers have been successful in controlling and even curing many types of cancer. Suspicions about the presence of cancer might initially be noted by the family doctor or General Practitioner (GP). As part of counseling processes at the treatment centers, it would in most cases be the spouse, son or daughter is initially intimated of a suspicion. Whether to inform a patient that he or she has cancer is a difficult decision, but once there is a need to go in for a treatment, it would be obvious to the patient and they should be told. Consultants at the treatment center can help and guide the family in making these decisions.

Specialists at Treatment Centers

Every treatment center has specialist doctors who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They are called Oncologists. A Medical Oncologist is a specialist who is specialized in using medicines and chemotherapy for cancer treatment. A Surgical Oncologist takes care of surgical procedures. You may also need radiation therapy that a Radiation Oncologist is specialized in. One or all of these specialists are usually involved in determining the best treatment procedure. If you have any questions regarding the treatment, talk to the specialists at the treatment center.

Accredited Cancer Treatment Centers

Cancer treatment centers in the United States are accredited by authorized agencies that are recognized by the Federal or state authorities. Lists of such recognized treatment centers are available from various databases maintained by government and private agencies, offline and online.Choose a cancer treatment center located as close to home as possible because this will make it a lot easier for the GP to continue to provide support to the family.

Tastefully decorated and specially designed rooms and wards for children with cancer are now part of most cancer treatment centers. A host of activities and events are regularly organized with active participation of volunteers from nonprofit organizations to keep the child patients and their families entertained and upbeat. Trained staff members at these treatment centers actively participate in and coordinate these activities.

Support Networks for Cancer Patients

While specialists at the Cancer Treatment Center treat you medically, you also need emotional support. There are several cancer survivors networks that provide a great deal of psychological support to cancer patients and their families. Volunteers from these networks regularly visit treatment centers to share their experiences. Psychologists are also available at the treatment centers. This support helps cancer patients stay positive and provide the mental support that is necessary to beat this disease.

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What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer Treatment Risks and Side Effects

There are so many options available for breast cancer treatment today, that people often end up feeling overwhelmed when they have to make the final decision. It is therefore necessary to arm oneself with all the information which is available, especially about the risks and side-effects associated with breast cancer treatments.

The doctor will determine the cancer treatment best suited for a person, but the patient too can play an informed role. Here are a few common best cancer treatments and the side-effects of the same:

Surgery

Removal of the cancerous tissue by surgery is most commonly opted for. Lumpectomy (removes only the breast lump), quadrantectomy (removes more breast tissue than lumpectomy) and mastectomy (entire breast is removed) are the options available if one wishes to go for surgery.

The side-effects of this treatment are as follows:

The area where the incision is made may feel sore and ache.

If the entire breast is removed, the person may feel disproportion, lose physical balance and experience weight shift leading to an uncomfortable feeling in the neck, shoulders and back.

The surgery may result in injury to the nerves which may give rise to numbness and tingling sensation in the chest, underarm, shoulder and arm. This is may be temporary or permanent.

It may also give rise to a serious condition called lymphedema which may develop immediately after surgery or after a few weeks. This condition is caused due to restriction of flow of fluids in the lymphatic system causing collection of fluid which gives rise to swelling in the arm and hand.

Radiation

Radiation therapy, internal, esp., brachytherapy, or external is often used to treat breast cancer. Also known as radiotherapy, this treatment is known to have lesser side-effects than the other treatments and the internal therapy has comparatively even lesser risks than external therapy. The following are the side-effects of radiation therapy:

The more general side-effects of radiation therapy are weakness, queasiness and vomiting.

Skin may become dehydrated, itchy and there may also be redness caused by external radiation. These effects are temporary. But there’s a possibility of the skin changing colour which might be permanent.

Changes in breast tissue are seen because of radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy

A systematic drug-based therapy, more commonly known as Chemotherapy is a widely used breast cancer treatment. It includes the use of drugs like Adriamycin, methotrexate, taxol and 5fluorouracil to kill the cancerous cells and may be incorporated at any stage of the cancer. The side-effects of Chemotherapy are:

Since chemotherapy targets not only the cancerous cells but all fast dividing body cells, the hair follicles and the gastrointestinal tract are very exposed to this treatment resulting in severe, albeit temporary hair loss from various boy parts like scalp and pubic area, tiredness and bruising.

It causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers and sores altering the person;s sense of smell and taste.

There are certain Chemotherapy drugs that may interfere with a woman;s menstrual cycle, cause premenopausal symptoms like hot flashes and make the woman unable to conceive during the treatment.

Hormonal therapy

Hormonal therapy which may be given after or during another breast cancer treatment kills the cancer cells by infusing the system with anti-oestrogen drugs that deprive the tumour cells of oestrogen which are needed for them to grow. This therapy, as the name suggests, is mainly used for those breast cancers which are classified as oestrogen receptor-positive. The following are side-effects of this treatment:

Tamoxifen, an anti-oestrogen which obstructs the activity of oestrogen hormone can cause blood clot and stroke. There may also be headache, nausea and vomiting.

The drug may also cause irregular periods, premenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal discharge become frequent. The vaginal area may become dry and itchy and there are increased chances of cancer of the uterus.

The person is also at a high risk of developing cataract.

Targeted therapy

Targeted (Biologic) therapy is a form of treatment which disrupts the sustained growth of the cancerous cells. It can be clearly noted that the side-effects experienced by a person depend upon a lot of factors like the type of cancer, extent to which the cancer is spread and its location. The type of treatment received also plays an important factor. The side-effects experienced by two individuals differ greatly, even if they have similar diagnosis and treatments.

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An Overview of Alternative Cancer Treatment Options

People with cancer often try out-of-the-normal treatments and procedures that may help them, including complementary and alternative medicine. Called CAM for short, these techniques help people who have lost control over their bodies, regain some feeling of control over their health.

Throughout the course of their treatment, people with cancer will have to make several choices. Many of them are turning towards alternative cancer treatments including yoga, meditation, ayurveda, homeopathy, chiropractic etc.

There are a number of alternative cancer treatments and many of them are unproved. Hence it is important that you discuss all terms with your doctor, before trying any CAM therapy.

CAM An overview

Complementary and Alternative medicine refers to a group of health care practices, products and medical systems that are generally not viewed as a part of the standard or conventional treatments. Complimentary medicine involves procedures that are used along with other standard treatments. Alternative medicine refers to procedures that are used in lieu of standard treatments.

Alternative cancer treatments do not cure cancer; however, they provide relief and help patients cope with the signs and symptoms that the disease and its associated treatments may cause. Not all alternative treatments are scientifically proven; hence it is important that you discuss your concerns with your doctor before considering any CAM therapy.

Why should you choose alternative cancer treatments?

In an attempt to cure or treat cancer.

Help yourselves cope better with the side effects such as fatigue, nausea, anxiety or pain caused by cancer and its treatments.

Comfort yourselves and ease worries caused by cancer, treatments and associated stress.

Different CAM approaches

There are a number of complementary and alternative medicines used for treating cancer. However, not all techniques work for everyone. There is also not much evidence to support how well CAM treatments work or how safe they are. It is important that you work closely with your doctor to determine the right balance between alternative and conventional treatments.

CAM approaches can be classified as follows:

Body-based practices: Chiropractic care, reflexology and massage.

Mind-body techniques: Meditation, biofeedback, yoga, music, dance, imagery techniques etc.

Complete medical systems: Homeopathy, ayurveda, naturopathy, acupuncture etc.

Biologic and pharmacologic practices: Herbal products, vitamins, dietary supplements, special diets, antioxidants, herbs, coenzyme Q10 etc.

Energy medicine: Tai chi, therapeutic touch and reiki.

Symptoms and CAM procedures

Pain: Hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback, aromatherapy, music therapy, meditation and massage may ease out symptoms of pain.

Sleeplessness: Yoga, exercise, relaxation techniques and tai chi improve sleep.

Nausea and vomiting: Aromatherapy, acupuncture, music therapy and hypnosis are effective in controlling nausea and vomiting.

Stress: Hypnosis, aromatherapy, yoga, tai chi, exercise, meditation and massage provide relief from stress.

Fatigue: Massage, relaxation techniques, exercise and yoga are known to reduce fatigue.

Anxiety: Massage, hypnosis, meditation and relaxation techniques are effective in treating anxiety.

A number of people who have tried alternative cancer treatments have found them to be very effective in treating certain signs and symptoms caused either by the disease or its treatments.