Parsteiner Blog

Archive for April, 2009

There certainly are a lot of different things that can go wrong with our backs. One of the worst problems that we can have, however, is if we have a herniated disc, especially if it is irritating the sciatic nerve. A herniated disc occurs whenever the padding that exists between the individual vertebrae begins to break down and eventually ruptures or protrudes. This can cause enough pain on its own but there are times whenever the bulging material will press against the sciatic nerve, either pinching it or irritating it in some way or another. This can cause a lot of suffering for the individual that has these kinds of problems.

You might be interested to know that there is some controversy over exactly what is going wrong in this particular case. Some doctors will refer to it as a ruptured disc while others may refer to it as a torn disc or perhaps even disc disease. Regardless of what they are calling it, however, you are probably interested in what can be done in order to alleviate some of the symptoms that you are experiencing. Although this will have a lot to do with the different diagnosis that you get, there are some things that can be done in order to take some of the pressure off of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve that exists in the body. Starting in the lower back, it runs through the area of the buttox and then down into the legs. Since it is such a large nerve and covers a lot of ground inside of your body, there are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong with it. Typically, the pain will occur because of problems that are experienced in the lower back. If this nerve is pinched or irritated in some way, perhaps through a herniated disc, the pain may be localized or it may even travel down into your legs. In order for you to get rid of the pain that you are experiencing, you need to remove the pressure from the sciatic nerve.

One thing that you may be told to do is to use hot and cold treatments on this area of your back. This is a very common thing whenever it comes to herniated discs and they can actually help to ease some of the pain by reducing swelling. In the case of sciatica pain and a herniated disc, however, more may be needed in order for you to totally overcome the problem.

There are several types of physical therapy that you may have to go through in order to overcome the pain. Typically, this is accomplished through stretching and at times strengthening exercises that are done in the presence of a qualified physical therapist. There are also some specific exercises that you may be able to do at home in order to help speed along your recovery process.

Sciatica pain is something you won’t want to live with for an extended length of time. Effective treatment is available now that will ease your sciatica pain sooner than you might think.

Use condoms for safe sex, this is the buzz we hear every now and then but do we really know whether the condom we use is safe or not. Small amounts of Potent Carcinogen (a cancerous substance) are released whenever condoms are used. We have little or no idea if this may be serious moreover; it is not a healthy practice to expose the reproductive organs to such cancer causing substances regularly. Itching sensation in the organs, skin infection, blotches, pain in the genital (due to dryness of condom) is some of the frequent complaint people have during its usage. There are quite a large numbers of people who are allergic to condom latex. If you are fortunate enough, the mild allergic reactions can be treated at home while in some cases it may be severe and life-threatening.

Risk factor with condoms
The quality control assurance i.e. the condom is likely to break or leak does not primarily ensure that the condom is free from harmful substances and chemicals. As a matter of fact, no one knows what risks one may face due to prolong use of condoms. It has only been in the last few years, the condom use has increased due to the fear of sexually transmitted diseases. Talc is a substance used in the manufacture of latex goods which acts as a lubricant as well as release the product from the mold used at the time of manufacturing. However, talc as a lubricating substance is harmful for the body tissues. The regular use of such condom with talc as a lubricating agent blocks the fallopian tube in turn. Although some condom manufacturers still use talc as a dry lubricant, others use dry lubricants such as silicone and cornstarch.

Dermatitis (skin allergy) in both men and women is increasingly growing problem due to use of latex condom. Nonetheless, in case of men dermatitis is rather easy to detect and diagnose but somehow in women the treatment can be more difficult. Some of the side effects of latex condoms in women are increased vaginal discharge, a burning sensation in the vagina, and itching in the vulva. Also the symptom is not easily detectable by any laboratory investigations.

Other harmful side effects of Condoms

• A few men lose their erection after putting on a condom.
• There is no direct contact between the penis and the vagina.
• The woman may miss the delight of warm fluid entering her body (important to some women, not to others).
• Friction caused due to condom may reduce clitoral stimulation and loss of lubrication during intercourse may lessen the pleasure and makes it uncomfortable.
• Intercourse may be less pleasing since the man must withdraw his penis immediately after ejaculation.

Prevention
Condoms are available in different sizes, variety of textures and are generally supplied with a lubricant coating to facilitate better penetration and also provide better stimulation to the partner. Apart from harmful latex there are other material used to make condom like natural rubber, polyurethane, and lambskin. Polyurethane condoms are odorless and are preferred by those who are allergic to latex and those who have a special inclination for oral sex. There are a few non rubber and non latex condoms available in the market.

Non rubber condoms such as Fourex Natural Lamb Skins (Schmidt, Sarasota, Florida) and Trojan Natural Lamb Skins are made of processed sheep intestine (caecum) are considered safe. However, they may contain a few lubricants that include perfume, preservative (Bronopol) and propylene glycol, which may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. These non rubber condoms can prevent transmission of sperm, but the FDA has ruled that they may be ineffective in preventing transmission of HIV.

It is usually advisable to consult a medical expert or a doctor before using any of the contraceptive methods available in the market.

It’s easy to understand why dental implants have become very popular these days. Implant dentistry is highly predictable, offers greater flexibility with regards to treatment possibilities, and can give patients fully functional teeth in as short as an hour with minimum discomfort and pain using a local anesthetic with or without sedation.

With today’s technology, dental implants can replace a single tooth or the entire upper or lower teeth. They also help support dentures, making them more secure and comfortable. This makes them an ideal option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

In the Philippines, oral implants were first popularized by Dr. Joseph D. Lim, a diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and former president of the Asian Oral Implant Academy. At his clinic at Suite 202 of the Jollibee Center Building along San Miguel Avenue in Pasig City, Manila, Lim explained that people with dental implants have many reasons to smile. First is because dental implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Lim said they stop the jawbone from shrinking and eliminate the need to modify healthy teeth.

Unlike traditional dentures and bridgework that rely on neighboring teeth for support, Lim said dental implants integrate with the bone and healthy teeth don’t have to be destroyed to accommodate them. This results in an improved appearance, a more natural smile, and greater self-confidence. Since they are anchored securely to your jawbone, Lim said dental implants also improve your appetite. They allow you to eat your favorite foods with comfort and confidence.

Just about anyone with missing teeth can get a dental implant provided he or she is in good health and has enough jawbone for the implant. But the latter shouldn’t be a problem nowadays since manufacturers have come up with new implant designs that match a person’s bone structure.

What Lim is more concerned about is the misuse of dental implants by some dentists who are pretending to be experts. Lim warned that not all dentists can perform implant surgery which has its own share of risks that’s why it’s important to check the person’s credentials. American Health magazine said that 90 percent of dentists who call themselves “implantologists” have attended only short weekend courses which are barely enough to make them experts. To protect yourself from these “pseudo-implantologists,” get to know the dentist’s background and training and don’t be ashamed to ask.

For toothless people who want to eat, speak, talk, and live normally, Lim said dental implants are the answer. As the technology grows and becomes more affordable, Lim is confident it’s only a matter of time before we see an end to the suffering caused by tooth decay.

“Oral implants are the future of dentistry. In fact, it is the only branch of dentistry that can replace missing teeth. As the human lifespan increases, so will the need for dental implants. Despite advances in oral health, tooth decay continues to be a major problem and the number of toothless people is expected to grow. With dental implants, these people can live normally and comfortably. They’re the next best thing to real teeth,” Lim concluded.

Missing or bad teeth can affect your appearance and make you look old and ugly. Having fine lines and wrinkles can make matters worse. If you don’t want to take chances with Botox because of its possible side effects, switch to the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. For more information, go to http://www.rejuvinol.com.

Massage is a very commonly associated treatment for those suffering with Low Back Pain or Sciatica. However, how much of a role does it play with regards to getting to the cause of the problem?

I have been a physiotherapist for over 11 years now, and although I started out using treatments such as electrotherapy, mobilisations & manipulation, my emphasis now is very hands off.

This is because the majority of low back pain and sciatica problems are caused by muscle imbalances along with how we carry out our day to day activities (which themselves can lead to muscle imbalances).

Therefore, the aim of treatment should not be about applying electrical devices simply to reduce inflammation or pain messages to the brain (that’s assuming these devices can achieve that anyway) or loosening up tight joints with mobilisations or manipulation, but rather addressing the cause of the problem which is resulting in the inflammation, pain and stiff joints in the first place. This is achieved by addressing any incorrect movement patterns which may have been adopted during day to day activities, along with an appropriate stretching and strengthening exercise programme.

What about massage?
If there are tight muscles or other soft tissues present, placing increased stresses across the low back and sciatic nerve, this will definitely be a potential cause of pain. Consequently, having a massage for those tight soft tissues will definitely help relieve the pain and tension present. However, if that is all that is done and the cause as to why these muscles and soft tissues are tight in the first place is not addressed, it is likely the pain will return sooner rather than later.
So am I suggesting that massage is not appropriate, as it does not address the cause of the problem?

Absolutely not. Massage, without doubt, can play an important role in the rehabilitation of low back pain & sciatica. It is probably the only ‘hands on’ treatment I use. The difference is, I use it in conjunction with an appropriate stretching and strengthening exercise programme, and not in isolation on its own as a treatment technique.

Therefore, if you are suffering with low back pain or sciatica and considering having some massage as treatment, my advice would be go for it, as long as you do not use it in isolation. It is important you also aim to address any muscle imbalance which may be present. Unless you do this, it is likely any relief you get will only be temporary.

Finally, it is crucial I mention one last thing. I would never carry out massage on someone who was in the acute inflammatory stage of low back pain or sciatica, where even the slightest of movements hurt and the subsequent increase in pain hangs around for some time. (I often use the analogy here of if you were to hit your thumb with a hammer and how sensitive your thumb would be afterwards!) If you were to have someone massaging your back during this phase, the chances are the only thing which will be achieved is increased pain & inflammation.

Steroids are types of hormones which regulate a certain function of the body. There are steroids which can be found in pure form in nature, but the most used ones are the medically developed ones. Steroids are mostly used by body builders, athletes, and people with active occupations.

Some forms of steroids are used the health industry as surgery aids, pain relievers or to relieve swelling around a tumor. A lot of big name sports personalities have been linked to the use of steroids. Why they are banned from any professional sport is that misuse of steroids can lead to a load of side effects, which can cause rare diseases and even death.

The metabolism is composed of two parts: anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism is the process through which tissue is built, and catabolism is the process through which tissue is broken down, energy being released. Steroids force the body to anabolize more to improve tissue growth.

Every male secretes a hormone called testosterone which is responsible for the physical and sexual development during puberty and also determines a men’s libido (sexual desire) and aggressivity. Steroids enhance the androgenic effects (masculine characteristics) and cause them to develop faster. Because of this, a lot of men have used steroids to boost their penis size and erection.

Most steroids permanently damage the organs and other parts of the body. The penis is one of the most susceptible to the damage because anabolic-like hormones are also produced by the testicles. The use of steroids can cause temporary erection problems or permanent impotence.

On the other hand, statistical studies show that there is no direct linkage to penis shrinkage and steroids. Also, if an individual will turn to penis enlargement methods (yes, for once and for all, penis enlargement is possible) the steroids may cause the penis to stay shrunk. This is because, as I said before, steroids may effect erection, which is responsible for irrigating the penis with blood and, it’s during erection when the actual penis growth process happens, if this process has been stimulated previously.

In conclusion, steroids don’t shrink your penis, but it may prevent it from getting bigger. But wait, that’s not all. Steroids can shrink the sizes of the testes. This occurs because the body detects that there is a hormonal imbalance and tries to control this by decreasing the size of testes.

Also a common misconception – an urban myth basically – is that the penis is muscle. This is false. The penis is made out of three columns of spongy tissue; two corpora cavernosa lie next to each other on the dorsal side and one corpus spongiosum lies between them on the ventral side. Thus, the penis cannot be enlarged as you would expect to enlarge a muscle and can only be enlarged by applying pressure to the tissues described above. The enlargement occurs because the cavities of the spongy areas are stretched to allow more blood to flow through them.

If you are thinking about dental implants you need to be aware that, as with most cosmetic dentistry, there is a small risk of failure.

Dental implants can fail either very soon after the dental implant procedure has taken place or at a later stage. The only option for a failed implant, a dental implant that shows any kind of movement, is for it to be removed. If you then want to try again at a later stage, you would generally be looking at some element of bone reconstruction prior to implant.

Given the element of risk and for you to get the best out of your cosmetic dentistry you need to make sure that you select an expert in the field. When looking for a cosmetic dentist to perform your dental implant procedure make sure you check out the number of dental implants they have performed, what their success rate is and make sure you are completely happy with the level of information you have received. With dental implants quality is not always in direct correlation to price!

The success of dental (tooth) implants is highly dependent on the skill of the dentist performing the dental implant procedure. If for example insufficient force is used or too much force is used the implant could fail.

Other factors that could result in a failed dental implant are:

o contamination of the implant (pin),

o a loose screw (which can be as a result of the incorrect type of screw being used for the implant, should be a prosthetic screw)

o overheating of the bone during the dental implant procedure

o a problem with the quality of bone structure

o incorrect positioning of the dental implant pin into an area of bone that can’t hold the pin.

o fractured implants as a result of the incorrect positioning, type or size of pin.

This list is just a small example of the type of issues that can occur as a result of a dental implant procedure. Having said that, most dental implants are a complete success with the only ongoing maintenance, beyond day to day dental care, being the need to replace the crown (usually after about 10 years).

It is however worth bearing in mind what could go wrong and why it is so important to choose a cosmetic dentist who has years of experience and is a known expert in the field of cosmetic dentistry and more importantly dental implants.