Archive for January, 2006
Symptoms of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow symptom recognition
Notes on the symptoms of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow pain:
- is felt at or around the outer boney prominence at the elbow
- this boney bump is called the lateral epicondylitis
- lateral epicondylitis is another name for tennis elbow
- sometimes spreads down the back of the forearm towards the wrist
Tennis Elbow Symptoms also include:
- pins and needles around the back of the elbow (although be careful since this can sometimes indicate that the pain is related to a neck problem rather than to tennis elbow)
- numbness or burning ache in the webspace between the thumb and index finger – this is due to irritation of a nerve at the elbow near to the tennis elbow area
Tennis Elbow Symptoms are made worse by
- lifting or carrying heavy objects – particularly if lifted with the back of the hand uppermost
- gripping strongly
- racket sports
Tennis elbow symptoms are eased by;
- massage and local anti-inflammatory creams
- the use of a tennis elbow clasp or brace
- physiotherapy
- injections
Read more about tennis elbow treatment
January 17th, 2006
Scabies treatment
Cure scabies
How to treat scabies
Scabies is caused by a small mite that burrows under the skin. The skin burrows often become infected because they are open to the external skin. The end result is that scabies causes intense and often intolerable itching.
Scabies starts when the scabies mite gets under the skin. It is usually passed by close physical contact – most commonly in children at school, and then to their wider family.
A pregnant female scabies mite will dig down into the skin and lay eggs. These eggs hatch between three and ten days later and the scabies larvae move around in the skin – making the scabies itch worse.
The larvae spread around the skin and mature into adult scabies mites. These adult mites live for three or four weeks before they die, but by then the egg laying process has started all over again. It’s this that causes the terrible itch that scabies is well known for.
The scabies mites themselves – and the scratching caused by the scablies itch – often results in the skin becoming infected.
The webs and sides of the fingers, around the wrists and elbows, the armpits, the waist, genitalia, nipples, breasts and lower buttock are the areas of skin most affected by the scabies mite. In children the infestation can involve the skin of the whole body.
Scabies Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose scabies by spotting the tell tale marks of the burrows on the skin – or by scraping the skin and looking for the mite under a microscope.
Scabies Treatment
If you think you have scabies then you should see your doctor.
Your doctor will prescribe a skin cream or lotion for you and all your family to use. It’s important to treat everyone you live with at the same time.
You need to apply the cream all over your skin from the neck down to the feet. Don’t miss an inch!
In children you also need to treat the scalp.
Repeat the treatment after seven days. The first treatment kills the live mites. The second treatment kills any scabies mites that have hatched from eggs in the time since the first treatment
Don’t panic if you’re still itchy after the second treatment – this can last for three or four weeks – even if the treatment has been effective.
Clean your clothes and the house after treatment
Changes into clean clothing after applying the treatment.
Wash your old clothes and your bed linen in a normal washing machine on the hot cycle.
Hoover the house. Formal fumigation or disinfection is not required.
Read more about scabies treatment options here
January 13th, 2006
Treatment for Athletes Foot
What is Athletes Foot?
Fungal infection on the foot – most often between the toes is known as athletes foot.
The condition can occur in anyone at any age – it is not restricted to athletes or sportsmen. Other conditions can cause dermatitis on the foot – including allergic reactions to the materials in the socks or shoes. Skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema can also be seen on the foot. If you are in doubt about the diagnosis of your foot rash then please consult your doctor.
Fungal infections thrive in warm and moist areas of the body – sweating, socks and training shoes create this ideal environment for fungal growth – leading to the athletes foot infection that many of us experience from time to time.
Itch is the main symptom of athletes foot. The skin around the athletes foot area often becomes dry, red, cracked or peeling.
Athlete’s foot can spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails.
Some sufferers also develop fungal rashes in the groins or under the arms.
Prevention of Athletes Foot
-
take care in swimming areas and communal dressing rooms
-
wear “flip-flops” or sports sandals
-
reduce sweat by using talc
-
change socks every day and try to leave the feet open to the air for a part of every day
-
wash your feet every day and dry well between the toes
Treatment of Athletes Foot
- over the counter powders and creams may help but are often not fully effective
- your doctor may prescribe creams or ointments containing a mixture of an antifungal drug and a mild steroid to lessen the itch and promote skin healing
- sometimes antifungal tablets are needed in severe cases
- sometimes both bacterial and fungal infections can occur at the same time in the feet – you might need a combination of an antibiotic and antifungal treatment to get your athletes foot to clear up
Related Articles
Medline Plus on Athletes Foot
Ringworm Treatment
January 12th, 2006
Insomnia
Insomnia Treatment
Insomnia Cure
Treatment of insomnia is one thing but there are other priorities before starting an insomnia remedy or treatment
Education about the cause of insomnia, behaviour changes to promote good quality sleep and simple cognitive therapy options can all make a huge difference and can improve the quality of sleep. People get into bad sleep habits over many years and it’s really important to tackle that if a cure for insomnia is to be found.
How to improve “sleep hygeine”
-
limit naps to less than 30 minutes each day
-
avoid sedatives
-
avoid stimulants like caffeine or vitamin C near bed time
-
limit liquids for three hours before bed
-
take moderate exercise every afternoon
-
use a light therapy box for a period every morning
Get a good sleep routine going and your insomnia will be sure to improve.
Do this:
- use your bed only for sleeping in
- only go to bed when you feel tired
- be strict – get up at the same time every day
- if you cant sleep after twenty minutes then get up
- only go back to bed when you feel sleepy
- don’t look at the clock ( in fact – don’t have a clock in your bed room if you can avoid it)
Some experts also suggest using relaxation techniques or tapes for insomnia – sometimes along with a special biofeedback machine
Over the counter insomnia treatment
Options for self purchased insomnia treatments include:
- valerian
- antihistamines
- melatonin
- and – of course – alcohol
You should take great care with these since they can all actually act to make insomnia worse. Alcohol is particularly bad for this. It produces sleepiness initially but then acts to decrease sleep quality and duration.
Medication for insomnia
Take great care with benzodiazepine sleeping tablets or liquids. The risk of becoming dependent on them is high and there is often a build up effect in the system. This “hangover effect” can result in day time drowsiness or other problems including falls or accidents in the elderly.
The effects of long acting sleeping pills can build up and eventually mimic a form of dementia.
Newer sleeping tablets may be safer but again – are best kept for short term use. These include drugs such as zolpiden, zalepon and eszoplicone
Please remember – the best way to ensure good quality sleep is to follow the advice given in the first half of this article. Try to avoid medication – it really should be the last resort
January 11th, 2006
Ringworm treatment
What is Ringworm?
How to treat Ringworm
Ringworm is caused by fungal infection. The worm part of the name is misleading. There is no worm involved in the infection – the problem is due to a simple (usually harmless) fungal infection under the skin. Fungal infections grow outwards from a central point – producing an active redish edge as they grow. This red edge forms a ring shape and gives the condition its name. The same pattern can be seen in the grass of a lawn when fungal infection develops. When we were children we called these “fairy rings”
Fungal infections are increasingly common and can affect the scalp, the body, the feet or the nails. Feet infection by fungal organisms is usually called athletes foot.
Fungal infections are contracted from direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or pet or by indirect contact with an object or surface that an infected person or pet has touched. Swimming pools and communal shower areas in sports facilities are common sources of the problem
Ringworm is best treated by simple topical anti-fungal creams. Many of these are available over the counter in a pharmacy but some of the more powerful ones may need a prescription from your doctor. Often the cream contains a small amount of mild steroid in addition to the antifungal preparation. Ringworm is often very itch and the steroid in the cream helps make you more comfortable.
Rarely – in more severe cases – tablet treatment with an antifungal medication may be needed. Most ringworm cases don’t need this.
For more information check out these other sites
Ringworm information and advice
Ringworm diagnosis and assessment
What is ringworm and how should it be treated
January 11th, 2006
Treatment for Poison IvyPoison Ivy AllergyPoison Ivy ItchPoison Ivy, Poison Oak and Sumac cause problems every year for many people.
Sufferers experience a very itchy rash – often with blisters forming. This is due to a chemical called urishiol that is found in the sap of the plants. If this sap comes into contact with your skin it triggers an immune reaction – and this means that the next time you touch one of these plants you will experience a skin sensitivity allergic reaction – sometimes very severe.
Usually, people develop a sensitivity to poison ivy, oak or sumac only after several encounters with the plants, sometimes over many years. However, sensitivity may occur after only one exposure.
How to prevent poison ivy reactions
- avoid direct contact with the plants – this should reduce the risk but doesn’t guarantee against a reaction.
the chemical in the sap of the plants can stick to almost anything it comes in contact with.
- If it isn’t washed off then touching the object or animal might trigger an attack
- remember that sap on objects can stay active for years – particularly in a dry environment
The skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet is a bit less sensitive to a poison ivy reaction – the skin is thicker and harder for the urushiol to penetrate. Affected skin produces a rash in a line along the affected area.
Poison Ivy Treatment – Act Quickly
- Clean the skin – with a rubbing alcohol if possible
- then wash the affected area again with water – no soap yet because soap will tend to spread the sap around the body
- now go indoors and shower properly with soap and water
- then wipe all shoes and clothes that were in contact the sap with alcohol wipes and water
Treatment for Poison Ivy Rash
- it takes between 12 and 48 hours for redness and swelling to appear. Blisters and itching will follow.
- try to keep the blisters intact and avoid scratching them – this can cause infection
- the blisters disappear but take up to three weeks to fully go away
Treatment for Poison Ivy Itch
The itch of a poison ivy rash can be almost intolerable. Try the following options
- cold cloth compresses
- antihistamine tablets or syrups
- over the counter corticosteroid creams are safe if used in moderation
- early use of stronger steroid creams can prevent blisters forming if applied soon after the exposure but wont help once the blisters appear. These strong steroid creams are only available with a prescription from your doctor
- severe cases sometimes need steroid tablets to be taken orally – and for a course of at least two weeks. Stopping too early will cause the rash to reappear in a severe form
You can try the following readilly available options to help soothe the blisters:
aluminum acetate (Burrows solution), baking soda, Aveeno (oatmeal bath), aluminum hydroxide gel, calamine or zinc oxide cream
Outdoors Information
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide-Light Tackle and Fly Fishing on Mosquito Lagoon for Big Redfish, seatrout and more. Just 30 minutes from Orlando, Florida
Clean Air Gardening
Features environmentally friendly lawn and garden equipment
Family Camping
Family Camping- Free resources, tutorial, buyer’s guides and more
January 11th, 2006
Itchy ear
Itchy ear treatment
Causes of an itchy ear
Inflammation or infection in the outer part of the ear can cause a maddening itch. An itchy ear can be the most awkward symptom in the world.
The condition is known formally as Otitis Externa but is also sometimes called swimmer’s ear or jungle ear.
The itchy ear of otitis externa is caused by inflammation in the skin of the ear canal. The ear canal is the tunnel you can just about get your finger into at the outer part of the ear.
Sometimes the problems arises due to a chronic dermatitis or inflammation reaction. This is most common in people who have a very dry or dandruff prone scalp.
The inflammation is caused by infection – sometimes fungal infection, sometimes bacterial infection and sometimes a bit of both
Our ears are open to water on a regular basis – swimming, showering and bathing. When water gets into your ear, it brings with it those bacteria or fungus particles. Usually the water runs back out; the ear dries out, and the bacteria and fungi disappear. But sometimes the water remains trapped in the ear canal, and the skin gets soggy. Then the bacteria and fungi grow, flourish and infect the ear.
When otitis externa starts, the ear at first feels blocked and an itchy ear develops. Thereafter the ear canal swells up – sometimes to the point of closing. A runny milk colored liquid may drain out and the ear becomes tender to touch and often very sore.
Treatment of Itchy Ears due to Otitis Externa
Try to dry your ears well after swimming or bathing
Use alcohol drops, or a mixture of vinegar and alcohol if you swim very regularly
Buy a soothing ear drop mixture from your local pharmacy
You may need your doctor to treat you with antibiotic or antifungal ear drops. The infection is sometimes so bad that oral medication is required. This is rare.
If the ear is full of debris from wax and previous infections then you might need an ear nose and throat surgeon to wash the ears clean under direct vision. This is known as ear toilet.
Take care with ear drops for itchy ears if you think you might already have an ear infection, or if you have a perforated, ruptured, or punctured eardrum, or if you have had ear surgery – get advice from your doctor in these circumstances.
Further reading on this topic
Swimmers Ear
January 10th, 2006
Night Terrors
Child Night Terrors
Night terrors are not the same as nightmares and the two need different approaches from the parent. The best way to handle a night terror is not the same as the way most of us would deal with a child having a nightmare.
We all have dreams and a nightmare is really just a dream with unpleasant or scary content. Children seem to dream more than adults and as result they seem to have more nightmares. Children may also be less able to understand the difference between the dream state and reality – causing them to become distressed by the experience of the nightmare.
Night terrors are more than simply a bad dream. A night terror is a form of altered sleep, sometimes called a parasomnia. It is very rare for adults to experience night terrors.
With a nightmare
- the child will nearly always wake up and be distressed
- you can comfort a child after a nightmare
- the child can often remember some of the content of the nightmare
- the nightmare usually happens later in the night
- the nightmare happens during the light stages sleep
- if your child has had a nightmare then they may be afraid of going back to sleep.
With a night terror
- the child will not wake up – even if their eyes are open, they are not awake and cannot recognise you or communicate with you
- avoid trying to wake your child as they will become very confused and often frightened
- the night terror happens earlier in the night during deep sleep
- night terrors happen earlier in the night – usually in the first four hours of sleep
- the content of a night terror is usually completely forgotten.
- the altered state during a night terror is not unlike that seen during sleepwalking and the two conditions can co-exist
- night terrors that last longer than 30 minutes should be assessed by a doctor in case medication is required
- night terrors with associated jerking movements may indicate a form of epilepsy and should be assessed by a doctor
- night terrors are often more frequent when the child is overly tired – getting into a good and regular sleep routine can be very helpful
Children usually settle back into deep sleep quickly after a night terror – stay with them for ten minutes or so to make sure that they are safe in bed and comfortable.
Neither nightmares nor night terrors are harmful for the child and are simply a reflection of the childs active and developing mind.
January 10th, 2006
Heel Spur Pain relief
Treatment for heel pain
Heel pain is a common problem and can be very disabling or debilitating. The pain in the heel caused by a heel spur or by plantar fasciitis can be severe and may persist for weeks or months. Treatment at an early stage can make a big difference to quality of life and day to day function.
Treatment advice for heel pain is often confusing and can sometimes seem contradictory. Getting good quality treatment information from a heel pain expert is an important issue if you want to find relief from your painful heel or plantar fasciitis.
Local anti-inflammatory gels often help. Anti-inflammatory pain killers such as ibuprofen can be beneficial.
If these simple measures fail to relieve the foot pain then an injection of steroid and local anaesthetic often gives dramatic and lasting relief
Physical therapy
Stretch the calf and the achilles tendon
Friction massage across the inflamed area is often very helpful – useful tip – the sufferer can do this for himself or herself by trapping a golf ball between the heel and the floor in a stockinged foot and rolling it around the heel with pressure down towards the floor.
I once suffered personally from Heel Spur Pain and was lucky enough to be given an electronic foot massage unit to try by a friend. No miracle cure but boy did it make life easier for a few weeks.
Sort out the mechanics of the foot
Arch supports – best not used until the pain has settled a bit – but very important in preventing recurrence
Heel pads – these come in a variety of styles but are often helpful. A better option may be to invest in a really good pair of running shoes – seek out a specialist running shop (whatever age or size you are) and ask for help to choose a pair that feel right for you. Try on at least three or four different manufacturers shoes – You’ll know when you find the right ones – and the difference when you walk will be amazing.
If fashion or practicality dictates that you simply must keep wearing your own day to day shoes then purchase a pair of good quality heel cushions. Remember that time will eventually resolve most heel pain of this type but you need to find a way to keep functional in the meantime – don’t you!
January 10th, 2006
Heel Spur
Heel Spur Pain
Pain in the heel in the morning
Heel spur pain is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia – the gristle on the sole of the foot – where it anchors itself to the front of the heel bone. The medical name for the heel bone is the calcaneum and the spur can sometimes be referred to as a calcaneal spur.
Typically the pain of a heel spur is felt at the front of the heel and is often worse first thing in the morning on putting the painful foot to the ground.
Heel Spur pain of this sort is one of the most disabling pain conditions known. Those who have it experience a searing pain along the sole of the foot – and the pain seems to spread from the heel spur area towards the big toe.
Heel Spur pain or front of heel pain often arises after unaccustomed activity such as walking or running. Alternatively, the heel pain may be triggered by day to day walking in boots or shoes that do not properly support the arch of the foot . Wellington boots are a common heel spur culprit but other types of footwear can also be at fault.
It may also be linked to being overweigh or to having feet with a naturally flat arch or other unusual feet shape patterns
Rarely this heel pain condition can be part of a more widespread form of arthritis but this is unusual. In most sufferers the underlying trigger is a loss of the arch of the foot – so called flat feet!
The heel discomfort of a heel spur is worse when walking and usually eased by rest. It can be made worse by tightness in the muscles of the calf or in the achilles tendon and stretching these tissues can be helpful in relieving the discomfort in the heel.
A doctor, podiatrist or physical therapist who examines a patient with this type of heel pain will typically find a loss of the arch of the foot, tightness in the calf muscles and a very, very tender spot on the front of the heel bone. Sometimes they pick up other “biomechanical” or leg shape abnormalities too.
In some patients an X-ray may show a “heel spur.” This spur can look dramatic but in fact it’s a bit of a red herring. The Heel Spur arises as a result of the inflammation and is not the cause of it. Many patients who have severe heel pain do not have a heel spur seen on x-ray and many patients who do have a heel spur have no pain in the heel!
January 10th, 2006
Next Posts
Previous Posts
