Chronic “Back” Pain Missed in Elderly – the Costo-Iliac Impingment Syndrome

With the loss of height from osteoporosis in the elderly, the lowermost side ribs can rub on the side wing of the hip crest, resulting in was patients describe as back pain. To make things worse, this rubbing restricts walking, making doctors think it is spinal stenosis. The patient then remains in pain and untreated.

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Posted in Back Pain, Mechanical aids | 6 Comments

Snapping Sound in Neck

I had a patient with rather audible and palpable snap with neck rotation. She was concerned she had loose joints in neck. It turned out to be coming from a snapping Splenius cervicis muscle. Continue reading

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Painless Keloid Injections

OK, I’ll bite – how’s that done? Continue reading

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Successful Treatment of Fresh Post Amputation Phantom Pains – And Maybe Should Be Used in Any Post Surgery Pain Situation?

After a below knee amputation, pain was successfully remitted with combination of duloxetine and pregabalin. Continue reading

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Cancer Intermittent Bowel Obstruction – Octreotide Injections May Work Well

Intermittent bowel obstruction during end of life is terrible with pain and vomiting. Regular self administered Octreotide injections given at first hint of trouble, controlled this problem. Continue reading

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Neuropathic Foot Pain That Nothing Else Works – New Foot Cream Mix

Recent article found relief of resistent neuropathic foot pain with a combination of 3% lidocaine, 0.075% capsiacin, and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) 0.4% in cream format Continue reading

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Celiac Disease Could Mean Pain and What About Iron For Restless Legs?

Celiac Disease is associated with multiple problems – migraines, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and now prevalent subclinical sacroliitis. Low iron is implicated in RLS but results on iron supplementation is mixed. Continue reading

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What Is the Fibromyalgia (FM) & Depression Connection?

Most Fibromyaglia Victims are Not Depressed, yet study after study has shown it to be higher than in comparable populations. Why is that? I suggest it is:

  • the uncertainly that goes with the diagnosis (do I have something more serious?)
  • the need for continued search for primary and secondary pain generators
  • the stigmatization that comes from having an invisible disease
  • the poverty and struggle one has when dealing with insurers

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Posted in Depression, Fibromyalgia | 1 Comment

So How Does One Really Test For Carpal Tunnel?

One speaker I heard made very big about how eliciting a Tinel’s sign at the wrist was worthless for diagnosing carpal tunnel – so how does one do that? Given that sensitivities of Nerve Conduction sutdies can be from 49% – 84%, they aren’t necessarily great either… Continue reading

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Pregabalin (Lyrica) For Post Nerve Damage Pain

Nerve injury pain can be bad – What results can you expect for Pregabalin? Recent study concludes it helps some. Continue reading

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Doctors Embracing Biopsychosocial Model For Chronic Pain Still Missing Boat?

Recent British study found doctors using Biopsychosocial Model For Chronic Pain were actually concentrating on psychological approaches even when it was inappropriate

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Self Questionnaire For Inflammatory Arthritis

Group is in process of putting together a self administered inflammatory arthritis questionnaire – this is what they have come up with so far… Continue reading

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Chronic Pain, Depressed, and Desperate? Consider Medical Supervised Fasting

Article in press summaries findings that medically supervised modified fasting (200–500 kcal nutritional intake/day) with periods from 7 to 20 days “is associated with mood enhancement and substantial pain relief.” Continue reading

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Hypnotherapy and Biofeedback For Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – and for Functional Abdominal Pains in Kids

Both Hypnosis and heart rate variability biofeedback are useful in irritable bowel and, in children and adolescents, functional bowel disease Continue reading

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Chronic Severe Pain – For Gd’s Sake Don’t Forget Peripheral Pain Generators

I have spent my adult life treating peripheral pain generators in conditions where it is impossible to get the central generators treated (failed backs for example). It dismays me to see people told there is nothing to be done because they have such and such a condition. I am devising a term for them. Nihilists refers to belief in nothing; I’m coining “onehilst”  as referring to those who only believe in one thing happening at a time. A onehilist will tell you because you have Fibromyalgia or Peripheral Neuropathy that nothing can be done for you (and in some cases because you have a chronic disease you must be nuts anyway so go away). Below are two cases of nerve entrapment in people with severe pain that received significant benefit from treatment. Continue reading

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Shoulder Joint Arthrtis – Don’t Forget Lubricants

Recent Review of Hyaluronate in Shoulder joint arthritis found it effectve for control Continue reading

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Neck Pain Not Synonymous With Anxiety

Examination of a chronic neck pain group found no association of pain and anxiety – So don’t call them nuts! Continue reading

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Newer Treatment For Ingrown Toenails – Once Spicule Out and Healed, Metal Brace It Straight = Orthonyxia

Spicule removal and later, metal bracing nail straight, has been shown equivalent to partial matrix excision

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Latest in Skin Piercings

Not to Miss in the Trend For Body Piercing, I Offer This Technique of Nail Piercing Continue reading

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Determining If Veretbral Compression Fracture

Various new approaches help define vertebral compression fracture so can be earlier diagnosed. Continue reading

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Anterior Shoulder Dislocation – Putting It in Yourself

Recent article describes how to relocate your own shoulder dislocation using modified Milch technique

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Shingles Vaccine Finally Available in Regina

Zostavax vaccine has to be held frozen at -15 degrees C and only set in batches of 5. Now, Lakeshore Drugs (584-0717) has gotten in a Fridge specially set and so it is available there. Catch is, it cannot be held at room temperature for more than 30 minutes so have to keep cool when taken to doctor Continue reading

Posted in post herpetic neuralgia | 1 Comment

Article: A sterile, simple, effective & pain free method of removal of adhesive dressings

OK – I’ll bite – how does one do that?… Continue reading

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Renal Colic? – Try Desmopressin Nasal Spray Plus NSAID Suppository

Combination Desmopressin Nasal Spray (DDAVP nasal) and diclofenac Suppository brought prompt relief renal colic in 62.7% cases vs 30.7% in the group with suppository alone Continue reading

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Intra-Bladder Lidocaine Freezing to Diagnose Bladder Pain Syndromes and Lidocaine Treatments for Bladder Pain

20 mls of 2% Lidocaine Intravesically (into bladder) wil cause over a 50% relief of pain in patients with bladder pain syndromes – distinguishing it from other pelvic pain diseases. Continue reading

Posted in Interstial Cystitis/Gynecologic | 1 Comment