Military Veterans and Patriots

Tag: Health

  • Let me tell you a story….

    Let me tell you a story….

    Let Me Tell You a Story About an Epic Night-time Battle

    Once upon a time there was this great warrior named Gastrocnemius (Gastroc).  He was a force to be reckoned with, and when he was made angry, he would draw up and create much havoc.  Most of the time he was left alone, and only occasionally was he made so angry. It was often a matter of a moment to calm him down with a good stretch.

    As with any great warrior, there were others that wished to usurp him. One of these wannabes was Extensor Hallicus Longus (EHL). He decided it was time for himself to rise up and challenge the mighty Gastroc.  So with all of his might he drew himself as tight as he could. As you would expect, this did make Gastroc a bit angry, and the battle was on. 

    Gastroc pulled with all his might, as did EHL.  At first it was a lopsided battle, with Gastroc claiming the initial victory.  However EHL had a secret weapon. He had established an alliance with Anterior Tibialis (AT). The two of them joined forces, and the battle soon came to a draw.

    Meanwhile, it was the people’s home over which these warriors were fighting to control (known as the land of Foot, of which there were two distinct tribes: the Dorsums, and the Plantars), that ultimately suffered the most.

    You must understand that this was a risky move by AT to join forces with EHL.  The last time AT was drawn into a battle, he pissed off his finance minister (Peroneus Nervus), losing all of his funding and rendering himself useless on the battlefield.  His particular tribe, the Dorsums were left unemployed, and unemployable. This depression of the economy lasted for several weeks, rendering the whole of the Foot flopping about.

    In any event, AT did choose to join forces with EHL in this most recent battle.  The ultimate outcome was that there were no winners, and the biggest loser was their global overlord, Cerebrum, and most especially his top minister Somnum.

    The moral of the story is…
    Well there is no moral, just a tired and cranky Unicorn.

    But there was one lesson to be learned…..
    We all must drink lots of water in 90+ degree heat in order to avoid nocturnal leg cramps!

    Stay tuned for our next This Week in Health feature: Let’s Talk About our Aching Joints. To be published tomorrow…

  • This Week in Health: Low Back Pain

    This Week in Health: Low Back Pain

    Low Back Pain

    |

    With Multiple Potential Pain Generators

    The most common of these are muscle strain, disc degeneration/herniation, facet joint arthritis, and sacroiliac joint inflammation.

    Overview

    Low back pain is very common. More than 80% of people have at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime. Although back pain usually does not represent a serious medical problem and most often resolves on its own, it can be frustrating when pain interferes with daily life.

    Certain factors seem to increase a person’s risk of developing low back pain. These include smoking, obesity, older age, female sex, physically strenuous or sedentary work, job-related stress, job dissatisfaction, and mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.

    Low back pain is often categorized as “acute” (lasting four weeks or less), “subacute” (lasting 4 to 12 weeks), or “chronic” (lasting more than 12 weeks). While most episodes of acute pain resolve quickly, some people do go on to have longer-term pain.

    Diagnosis & Treatment

    Initial Diagnosis

    Diagnosing the source of pain can often be challenging, as the different pain generators can mimic each other.

    Often it is a clinical diagnosis, made via history and physical exam.

    X-rays are easy to obtain and can add to the picture.

    Advanced Diagnosis

    An MRI is the definitive diagnostic tool, but before that costly test is done, some basic conservative treatment should be employed, as the majority of cases will resolve with some simple methods as outlined below.

    An EMG/NCV is another useful test when one is presenting with “sciatica”, pain radiating down one or both legs.  It is used to determine if lumbar nerve roots are injured. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, this should NOT be a painful test.

    Initial Treatment

    Initial treatment for any episode of low back pain starts with the use of NSAID’s, muscle relaxers, and physical therapy.

    Physical therapy is the KEY component here…but with a caveat.

    You MUST be treated by a McKenzie Method certified physical therapist if you want to get the outcome desired

    Otherwise you are throwing away good time and money.

    About 80% of sufferers will respond to these basic treatments.

    Learn about the McKenzie Method. It is also a treatment that can be self directed by a motivated person, with resources available at this link: The McKenzie Institute

    Advanced Treatment

    Muscle Strain

    • Myofascial Release (in PT)
    • ESTIM device (like a TENS)
    • Trigger point injections

    Discogenic pain

    • Epidural steroid injections
    • Interdiscal injections
    • Surgical decompression
    • Spinal Cord Stimulation

    Facet Joint pain

    • Facet Joint injections
    • Diagnostic Medial Branch Blocks
    • Radiofrequency Ablation to the medial branches

    Sacroiliac Joint pain

    • Mobilization and stabilization (in PT)
    • SI Joint injections
    • Sacral Lateral Branch Blocks
    • Radiofrequency Ablation to the sacral lateral branches
    • Surgical Fusion (minimally invasive)

    So tell us YOUR story!

    Ask questions!

    Disclaimer: This is an informational post designed to foster discussion. It should not substitute for the advice of your doctor.