Lower back pain is a disorder involving the nerves, muscles, and bones of the back. It is a common problem that everyone suffers from at some point in their life. As the pain affects the lower end area of the spinal cord – the lumbar region, the condition is also called as lumbago. The lumbar region is a complex structure of joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves all of which perform together to give support to the upper body. Muscles in the L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 regions of the vertebrae are responsible for flexibility and rotation of the hips. The nerves in this area support the muscles in the limbs. If any muscles or bones are strained in this area, it can impact a person’s routine tasks. The pain symptoms can be in the form of a dull ache to a sudden stabbing sensation that can affect the body’s mobility. Daily activities like standing up straight, bending or moving around may become painful and strenuous. The condition may occur in an acute form as a repercussion of an injury or a health condition. Over time the swelling in the muscles or the nerves heal, and the pain subsides. However, if the pain extends over a few weeks, then the condition becomes chronic, and effective measures need to be taken to assuage the discomfort. Measures to ease back pain If you are suffering from pain in the lower back, here are a few ways to help reduce the distress: Rest In most instances, lower back pain can be improved by putting a break on any strenuous activity – physical or mental. Resting for a few days will take off the pressure from the lower back and allow the muscles relax. Cold and hot therapy A hot application aids in improving circulation in the afflicted area.

Overactive bladder is a condition in which you experience involuntary contractions of the muscles in the bladder wall. It is a syndrome where the convulsions make you feel a urgent need to urinate, which is overwhelming and difficult to suppress, even when the bladder may contain only a small amount of urine. This condition is also known as urinary urgency. In a few cases, an overactive bladder leads to urinary leakage where you are unable to quash the impulse to pee, medically referred as to urgency urinary incontinence. A common type of urinary incontinence found is stress incontinence. Sometimes the pelvic floor muscles, which are essential in supporting the bladder surrounding the urethra, are weak and lead to urinary leakage when there’s stress/pressure on the abdomen or pelvic region. Symptoms of an overactive bladder With an overactive bladder, you: feel a sudden urge to pee that won’t go away have involuntary loss of urine following an urgent need to urinate have urine leakage during physical activity like coughing, sneezing, and lifting have to urinate frequently, usually eight or more times a day experience nocturia where you wake up 2-3 times in the night to make a trip to the bathroom Causes of an overactive bladder Involuntary contractions in the muscles of the urinary bladder may occur due to a dysfunction of the nervous system where the brain may send impulses to the urethra muscles, even though the volume of fluid in your bladder is low. Common reasons for this neural system abnormality are: Injury to the spinal cord Back problems Brain strokes Parkinson’s disease Multiple sclerosis Dementia Neuropathy caused by diabetes Other causes of overactive bladder syndrome include: Infections in the urinary tract Stones in the bladder Prostate enlargement (BPH) Bladder tumors Excess consumption of caffeine or alcohol Declining cognitive function due to aging Treatments for overactive bladder An overactive bladder may have adverse effects on your life, mostly relating to your social commitments and mental health.

Peyronie’s disease is a penis related disease that occurs when a scar tissue shapes up inside the penis. This tissue is called plaque and is formed as a result of any injury inside the penis, that may cause internal bleeding. Some of the causes include Vitamin E deficiency, increase in serotonin levels and even due to the intake of beta B medications. In certain cases, the genetic disorder could also be a factor. The penis of a man may either bend upwards or even to either of the sides. Men suffering from Peyronie’s have trouble while having sex, like feelings of uneasiness and anxiety. Peyronie’s generally occurs in middle-aged men, and it’s a rare disease that occurs in around 1% to 8% men. Symptoms Of Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease include: Pain while getting erection Pain while having sex Bending of penis Soft erections Shortening of penis Incapability of having intercourse Stress Reducing The Risk Of Peyronie’s Disease There are certain lifestyle changes that need to be adopted, to keep away Peyronie’s Disease. They include: Give up smoking Exercise or Yoga Minimizing alcohol intake Stop the intake of any non-prescribed drugs Peyronie’s Disease Treatment Treatment for Peyronie’s disease may vary from person to person, depending on the magnitude of the problem they are experiencing. Sometimes if the pain is not severe, and erectile functioning is not much of a problem, doctors suggest doing nothing, but wait. Sometimes, this problem fades away with time. In case you don’t get any relief, other options can be tried. Penis Injections for Peyronie’s Disease Treatment Collagenase : This the only medicine that is FDA approved, for treating Peyronie’s disease. It is also known as Xiaflex and it can be prescribed to men with moderate, or severe bending of the penis. Though the effectiveness of this drug requires additional research, this type of injection helps in breaking down of collagen concentration, that causes the penis to bend.

Peripheral neuropathy is the aftereffect of the damage to the peripheral nerves. It results in a great amount of pain; moreover, you have to deal with numbness and weakness. The pain is felt usually in your feet and hands. It affects other body parts as well. If your doctor senses peripheral neuropathy, he/she will refer you to a neurologist who will assess the history of your symptoms in a detailed manner. Signs of impaired reflexes, numbness, and muscle weakness will be investigated. Sometimes, blood and urine tests are needed for checking the underlying disease that causes peripheral neuropathy. What are the best foot neuropathy treatment options available? Nerve condition velocity and electromyogram tests Nerve condition velocity and electromyogram tests are needed in the case of some patients for the treatment of foot neuropathy. These tests are conducted for analyzing muscle, nerve function, and to measure the electrical properties of your nerves. With the help of these procedures, neurologists can identify the problematic nerves and they decide which area of your structure is damaged. Other types of tests Other procedures involving the diagnosis and treatment of foot neuropathy are muscle and nerve and biopsies. They give a clear cut idea about the type and cause of the problem. For determining inflammation or infection, doctors also advise a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. If someone in your family was already diagnosed with neuropathy, the doctor may want to review medical records to explore the possibility of hereditary links. Treating the underlying reason in the key The prognosis and treatment of foot neuropathy have a lot to do with the underlying cause of the nerve damage. For instance, a neuropathy disorder can be an aftereffect of a vitamin deficiency. In this situation, this deficiency should be treated and reversed with the help of vitamin therapy and a healthy diet.

Postherpetic neuralgia is a painful skin condition caused by the herpes zoster (chickenpox) virus. Once the shingles start to crust and heal, neuralgia sets in, damaging the nerve endings in the skin. This causes a pain that burns and makes the skin sensitive to even the lightest touch. This condition can last from a few months to a year. People older than the age of 60 years are at a higher risk of developing this complication. Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment Options Postherpetic neuralgia has no proper medication or treatment. A combination treatment for Postherpetic neuralgia is required in most cases to ease the pain. Medication Although medicines cannot eliminate the pain entirely, still they can work towards reducing it and making it more manageable for you. Initially, your health practitioner may recommend using an over-the-counter painkiller such as paracetamol or combine it with codeine to see its effect. However, these standard pills have been known to be ineffective against treating the condition, and most of the time it is required to explore alternative options for p ostherpetic neuralgia. These postherpetic neuralgia treatment options have been discussed below: Anti-depressants: Medicines such as duloxetine(Cymbalta) and amitriptyline are used to treat depression. As they target chemical reactions in the brain that form the core of pain impulses, they can also be used for treating the shingles pain. These are started off in small doses to work slowly on your nervous system, dulling the senses and providing relief from the pain. Side effects include drowsiness, feeling light-headed, dry mouth, and weight gain. Anti-convulsants: Anti-seizure medicines help stabilize abnormal spikes in brain activity that are caused by damage to nerve ends. Originally intended to treat epilepsy, this type of medication lessens the pain by causing a dampening effect on your nervous system. Pregabalin and gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin) are effective medications that are known to curb the pain sensitivity.

Rotator cuff problems have afflicted us at one or the other point of time in our lives. These make basic activities such as brushing, getting dressed, and combing one’s hair difficult. Rotator cuff problems could afflict anyone, but athletes and sports persons are more vulnerable to this disease. Some Other Names Used to Refer to Rotator Cuff Problems Include: Swimmer’s shoulder Tennis shoulder Pitcher’s shoulder Shoulder impingement syndrome Muscles and tendons attached to bones present in the shoulder joint make the rotator cuff. These keep the shoulder stable and also allow a range of motion. The rotator cuff is made of four muscles and their tendons which help the shoulder to function. The humerus is attached to the scapula that sits right under the glenoid cavity. The ball and the socket help the regular function of the shoulder. Rotator Cuff Pain is Likely to Occur When: The arm stays in the same position for elongated periods of time. Like when one works on the computer for a long number of hours. If you then to sleep in a particular position over your shoulder, then you might experience an excruciating pain from the neck and shoulder. There won’t be any relief from the rotator cuff pain. One goes for outdoor sports which need one to move the arm overhead. Some such sports are tennis, pitching while playing baseball and swimming. Working in a way which requires the arm to stay overhead for a long time. People involved with painting and carpentry more vulnerable to rotator cuff problems. Bad posture could over time lead to problems of the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff issues could arise as an effect of aging. The rotator cuff pain will not relieve the patients if it’s not given timely treatment. Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injury Rotator cuff tears could sometimes lead to intense pain on occurrence.

Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition amongst adolescents which causes acne-like small bumps on the skin. This occurs when your body produces too much of a single type of protein on the skin which deposits on the pores and hair follicles. These bumps can either be white or red but are generally not accompanied by itching or pain. It is mostly a chronic condition which isn’t a severe issue and disappears by the age of 30 in most people. However, it is a highly common skin condition that affects about 50 to 80% of the adolescents and about 40% adults. These bumps can be annoying and avoid you from wearing clothes that show off your arms or thighs where this condition affects. But, there are simple treatments to get rid of these bumps which are mentioned further in this article. Exfoliate Your Skin Repeated exfoliation is one of the easiest ways to fight these bumps. Exfoliation removes dead cells on the surface of your skin and lets your skin breathe. This applies to the keratin deposit on the skin as well and can release the trapped hair underneath it. It can give results in just a few weeks but has to be done regularly to maintain the smoothness of the skin. It can either be done mechanically or chemically by peeling the outermost layer of the skin. Sometimes these chemicals can irritate the skin, and constant rubbing can cause dehydration and roughening. So, make sure that you exfoliate your skin in moderation and don’t overdo it. Scrubbing You can use a soft loofah or sponge whenever you take a bath to gently rub down on the extra keratin deposited on your skin. You can also alternatively use a washcloth. However, if you have a highly sensitive skin, use a konjac sponge which is extremely gentle on the skin.

What is gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that primarily attacks the joints and other body parts like the ears, wrists, knuckles, knee, ankles, and other small joints. It is often characterized by painful swelling, stiffness, and inflammation of these affected joints. The swelling and stiffness are mainly the results of excess levels of uric acid forming crystals in the joints. The pain is due to the inflammatory response to the crystals formed. The causes of gout may include lack of exercise, high levels of uric acid in the system, genetics, excessive consumption of meat, being overweight, menopause, excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, and excessive protein content in the body. It mainly affects the big toe, causing an increased swelling, inflammation, and redness in the affected area. The deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint causes inflammation and makes the movement of the joint agonizing. The elevated levels of uric acid in the system also causes the depositing of crystals in the kidney, which, in turn, leads to stone formation. Gout attacks An overweight or an obese person is more likely to suffer from frequent gout attacks. A gout attack generally results from years of having high levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. This condition is called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia might also lead to other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney failure, and heart failure. The most common sign of a gout attack is the night-time swelling of the big toe followed by redness, tenderness, redness, and gut-wrenching pain. This attack might continue for days or even weeks before the pain goes away completely. Swelling causes pain and pain induces swelling. Hence it is important to address both. Diagnosis of gout attacks After doing a thorough physical exam, the doctor may also take a sample of the fluid from the swelling of the joint to look for uric acid crystals.

The varicose veins are the blood vessels which carry the blood back from the legs to the heart. Many times you must have noticed the blue gnarled veins under the skin. This could probably be a varicose vein disorder. The National Institute of Health reveals that 60% of men and women suffer from the varicose vein problem. Varicose veins disorder starts with the development of spider veins. The spider veins are the soft red and blue tracing of veins that appear on the skin. They look similar to spider webs. Exposure to the sun breaks down the collagen level and worsens the problem caused by spider veins. The varicose vein disorder can be caused by several factors. Hormone disorders play a big part in the occurrence of varicose vein disorder. Birth control pills, puberty, menopause, pregnancy, and the consumption of estrogen and progesterone result in the weakening of vein valves. In pregnant women, blood circulation is increased to make sufficient blood available for the mother and fetus. This causes the veins to bulge. Sitting for longer time intervals on thighs obstructs the blood return to the heart. Generally, the varicose veins that arise during pregnancy subside after three months of delivery. Standing for long hours, aging, and excess weight gain are other causes of the varicose veins. There are many medications and treatments for varicose veins. Luckily, varicose vein treatment doesn’t involve bed rest and hospital stay. This is because varicose vein treatment involves less invasive procedures. Varicose vein treatment methods Sclerotherapy A solution that closes the varicose veins is injected into the varicose veins. The varicose veins fade in a couple of weeks. This varicose vein treatment isn’t painful and can be administered without anesthesia. Foam sclerotherapy A foam solution is injected into the larger veins to close the vein.

A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal brain activity. Seizures are also called epileptic seizures or fits. During a seizure, there is a burst of excessive or synchronous brain activity. This abnormal brain activity can manifest in many ways. A disorder in which a person has more than one unprovoked seizure is called epilepsy. An unprovoked seizure is one that is not triggered by a specific cause of low blood sugar, poisoning, infections, etc. Epilepsy is diagnosed by first ruling out other similar disorders like fainting or non-epileptic attacks and external causes such as a drug overdose, low oxygen saturation, alcohol, infections, etc. It is estimated that 1% of the global population is affected by epilepsy and 5-10% of the population will have a seizure by the time they’re 80. Epilepsy responds well to treatment in 70% of patients. In patients who have an inadequate response to treatment, seizures can be controlled by dietary changes, management of external stressors, surgery, or neurostimulation. In some cases, with adequate treatment, seizures can be reduced in frequency and severity over time. Types Of Seizures The majority of seizures are convulsive. Non-convulsive seizures are rarer and less likely to be detected since they last for a very short period of time. The difference between convulsive and nonconvulsive seizure is how much of the brain is involved in seizure generation. If both hemispheres are involved, then the seizure is said to be generalized . If the seizure originates from a particular region of the brain but does not include the entire brain, it is said to be a partial seizure. Generalized Seizure A generalized seizure is further classified into: Tonic-Clonic, Tonic, Clonic, Absence, Myoclonic, and Atonic. Absence seizures last for about 10-30 seconds and are characterized by a loss of attention and a decreased level of consciousness.