The over-medicalisation of illness in the NHS is down to patients acting like customers | Deborah Orr The most upsetting and haunting of the things I found when I was sorting through my late mother’s things was a handwritten list in a notebook by the chair where she always sat. Every day for a short while, before she was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with secondary renal cancer of the bone, she’d been jotting down the details of the painkillers she was taking and the time at which she was taking them, in a very shaky hand. These weren’t strong, addictive painkillers. They were paracetamol and ibuprofen. It was awful to imagine her sitting there, her face twisted with pain, watching the clock until it was time to get a smidgeon of relief from agony. I hadn’t understood quite how much pain she had been in, and I don’t think her doctor did, either. But still she retained her faith in medicine through all these decades of frustration and dissatisfaction with it. But, in truth, I didn’t push too hard on this stuff, because it made her furious. But my mum would not be alone.
Addison’s disease Case scenario A 34 year old woman presented with a 12 month history of increasing tiredness, anorexia, weight loss, and depression. During that period, she had tried two different antidepressant tablets without benefit. She saw her general practitioner’s locum, who thought she looked tanned. Addison’s disease (also known as primary adrenal insufficiency) is a chronic disorder of the adrenal cortex resulting in inadequate secretion of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid. How common is Addison’s disease?
Chen - This is #medical and #GROSS for some! DO NOT... Vertebral Body Fractures | Arizona Pain Specialists - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Tory McJunkin M.D, and Paul Lynch M.D Vertebral body fracture is a fracture of the vertebrae (bones of the spine) that eventually cause a collapse of the vertebral body. These fractures are most commonly located in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine) and are extremely common. This condition can cause pain and complications in 25% of all postmenopausal women. Vertebral Body Fracture Anatomy The bony spine is positioned so that individual vertebrae provide a flexible support structure while also protecting the spinal cord. Vertebral Body Fracture Pathology Healthy bones are able to withstand the normal amount of pressure exerted on them. The bones become thin and weak and are more prone to fractures. Vertebral Body Fracture Diagnosis All patients over the age of 50 who present with the acute onset of lower back pain should be evaluated for vertebral body fractures. Vertebral Body Fracture Treatment Journal Articles
untitled Are there disorders or conditions associated with spina bifida? Health issues are different for each person with spina bifida. Open spina bifida (myelomeningocele)—in which the spinal cord is exposed—tends to cause more severe problems.1 Hydrocephalus Many infants born with spina bifida get extra fluid in and around the brain, a condition called hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. The extra fluid can cause swelling of the head, which may lead to brain injury. Chiari II Malformation The brains of most children with open spina bifida are positioned abnormally. Tethered Spinal Cord Typically, the bottom of the spinal cord floats freely in the spinal canal, but for many people with spina bifida, the spinal cord is attached to the spinal canal. Paralysis, Mobility Limitations People with spina bifida high on the back (near the head, for instance) might not be able to move their legs. Lack of Bladder and Bowel Control People with spina bifida often cannot control their bladder and bowel movements. Latex Allergy Learning Disabilities Other Conditions
Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent Rejection of transplanted organs in hosts that were previously tolerant may not be permanent, report scientists from the University of Chicago. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation, they found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and that hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. This process depends on regulatory T-cells, a component of the immune system that acts as a "brake" for other immune cells. "Transplantation tolerance appears to be a resilient and persistent state, even though it can be transiently overcome," said Anita Chong, PhD, professor of transplantation surgery at the University of Chicago and co-senior author of the study. To prevent transplant rejection in patients with end-stage organ failure, a lifelong regimen of immune-suppressing drugs is almost always required. Video: Successful Stanford Organ Transplant Without Using Anti-Rejection Medication
Lateral ankle instability - OrthopaedicsOne Articles - OrthopaedicsOne Introduction An ankle sprain is the most common athletic injury — approximately 30,000 of these injuries occur each day in the US (1,2) — and the most common reason to see an orthopedist.(2-7) Ankle sprains are more prevalent in certain sports such as basketball, where in one study, they accounted for 13% of all injuries.(8) Historically, most physicians have recommended various forms of conservative management, with the adage, "All these injuries get better." Peroneal tear or dislocation Underlying cartilage defect Chronic ankle instability While the exact incidence of chronic ankle instability as a result of an initial ankle sprain remains unknown, many authors have reported that injury to the mechanoreceptors and attenuation of the lateral ligament complex are likely causes.(10, 12) Anatomy The lateral ligament complex of the ankle is comprised of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). Biomechanics