June Awareness Dates for APS, Tourettes, Cataracts, Migraine and Headaches, and PTSD

Jun 4, 2020 | Awareness, Medical Issues and Genetics

Get out your calendars! June is Awareness Month for APS, Tourettes, Cataracts, Migraine and Headaches, and June 27th is PTSD day! This month, I’ll be covering these topics and more.

APS, or Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: occurs when your immune system mistakenly creates antibodies that make your blood much more likely to clot.

Tourettes: A nervous system disorder involving repetitive movements or unwanted sounds.

Cataracts: Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that can cause changes in vision. Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to glare. Cataracts are treated with surgery.

Migraine: A severe throbbing pain, generally experienced on one side of the head.

Headaches: There are over 150 types of headaches, but the most common types include: tension headaches, migraine, cluster, chronic daily headaches, sinus, exercise, and so many more.

PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder: A mental health condition that develops following a traumatic event.

These are the topics we’ll cover this month. If you have any questions or comments or would like to add your experiences please send me a comment through the contact me page.

Part 3 of May Awareness

May 20, 2020 | Awareness, Medical Issues and Genetics, Medical News

Welcome to Part 3 of May Awareness! Hi Guys and Gals!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

May is Better Sleep Month by the Better Sleep Council. Did you know 90 million Americans have their sleep disrupted by snoring? The Better Sleep Council has so much information on getting better sleep. They even have a quiz to help you determine what type of mattress would suit you best. Check it out here!

May is Correct Posture Month by the American Chiropractic Association.

According to the ACA, “Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities. Poor posture can lead to excessive strain on our postural muscles and may even cause them to relax when held in certain positions for long periods of time. For example, you can typically see this in people who bend forward at the waist for a prolonged time in the workplace. Their postural muscles are more prone to injury and back pain.

May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month.

A condition that leads to progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain.

Rare (Fewer than 200,000 cases per year in the US)

Treatments can help manage the condition, no known cure

Often requires lab test or imaging

Can last several years or be lifelong

Family history may increase the likelihood

Urgent medical attention recommended

Learn more about Huntington’s Disease through the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Learn more at the Lupus Disease Foundation.

A tick-borne disease caused by bacteria Borrelia Burgdorfer.

Very common (More than 3 million cases per year in the US)

Treatment from medical professional advised

Requires lab test or imaging

Can last several days or weeks

Transmitted through tick bites

Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around three to 30 days after being bitten. This is known as erythema migrans. The rash is often described as looking like a bulls-eye on a dartboard.

Some of the common symptoms are as follows:

Rashes
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Headache

Symptoms of late-stage Lyme disease:

Numbness in hands and legs
Arthritis
Short term memory loss

Finally, but not exclusively, May is the awareness month for Neurofibromatosis. The Children’s Tumor Foundation website has so much valuable information on this incurable genetic disorder (s). They have a superb resource library. NF can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. You can donate, volunteer, and advocate by visiting their website for more information.

What’s Good for Pain

Apr 15, 2020 | Disability, Medical Issues and Genetics, Resources

Hi Everyone,

Well, it’s Wednesday and I’m hurting.

Nothing like a change in the temperature to take my body from feeling like an 8 or 9 to a 0. My back hurts, the backs of my legs hurt, my head is throbbing. No, I don’t have the Corona. The culprits today seem to be my disc degenerative disease, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Each one of these runs into the other, so I can’t say for sure what parts of my body are crying out from exactly which one, I only know that I’m hurting and wishing there was something I could do about it.

Now, of course, the temperature probably has nothing scientifically to do about it, but that being so, I know when the weather changes for the worse, or there is some upcoming bad weather or colder temperatures, I hurt more.

My Conditions

◆ If you don’t know what (DDD) Disc Degenerative Disease is, Spine Health at spine-health.com has a good overview.
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/what-degenerative-disc-disease.

◆ For Fibromyalgia, a good website to check out is https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm as well as
the Mayo Clinic site at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780.

◆ Did you know that Arthritis is the number one disabling condition in the world? https://www.arthritis.org/. I can tell you that no person in my family has escaped its cruelty. It’s painful and irritating.

What’s happening due to COVID 19:

Because of COVID 19, my ablation surgery for my lower back had to be postponed, so each day that goes by the pain in my lower back continues to get worse. There is nothing I can do about that so I’m forced to do whatever I can use whatever I have to make things better. No amount of Ibuprofen seems to make much difference. While it soothes the pain in the short term, it doesn’t last that long. My prescription medications don’t last a full four hours either, and none of my medication choices completely remove the pain.

Which leads to:

I bring out the heating pad. This soothes. I bring out the ice. It numbs. Within minutes afterward, back comes ye ole pain. Ouch. But during the time it’s working it’s so nice. Other ways to ease body pain from these conditions are listed next. One thing I don’t have but want is a leg lift pillow. A Leg Lift Pillow Wedge gently lifts the knees to provide outstanding support and comfort for your lower back when lying down. The special wedge design eases stress on the spine, correcting posture and aligning the spine to help decrease arthritis back pain.

So what else is helpful for these conditions? Here are seven which one can try:

Acupuncture

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This form of Chinese medicine involves inserting thin, small needles through the skin at specific acupoints on the body. It is designed to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, improve blood flow and activate the body’s natural painkillers. Research suggests that it can help relieve pain, and it is used for a wide range of other complaints.

Good for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome

Massage

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Gentle manipulation with moderate pressure has been shown to reduce joint pain and stiffness, and even improve range of motion. However, timing is important. Listen to your body. Massage may not be as helpful during a very active flare when joints are especially tender and sensitive.

Good for osteoarthritis, low back pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis

Tai Chi

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Tai chi is a Chinese practice that combines gentle flowing movements, deep breathing, and meditation. It has been shown to not only reduce joint pain but also improve range of motion and function, as well as feelings of well-being. The Arthritis Foundation offers a Tai Chi DVD specifically created for people with arthritis.

Good for fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis

Yoga

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Yoga is an Indian practice that uses deep breathing, meditation and body pose. It has been shown to decrease joint pain and stiffness, as well as improve relaxation and reduce stress. The Arthritis Foundation offers a Yoga DVD specifically created for people with arthritis.

Good for fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain

Weight Loss

Losing one pound removes four pounds of pressure on swollen, painful joints. Maintain a healthy weight by combining a balanced diet with regular physical activity. Make sure you choose food from the five important food groups (fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains). Try to do 30 minutes of low-impact exercise five days a week.

Good for osteoarthritis

Physical Therapy

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Physical therapists can provide various ways to reduce strain and pressure on painful and swollen joints. These include manual therapy and counseling on proper positioning and body movement. They can also recommend assistive devices such as braces and splints to support joints and shoe inserts to relieve stress on the lower extremities.

Good for all forms of joint pain (back, knee, shoulder, hand, wrist, ankle

Topical Gels

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These gels work by stimulating sensory nerve endings in the skin, and the body responds by reducing pain signals through the nervous system. Voltaren Gel and capsaicin cream are two options, but a trip down the drugstore aisle can offer even more options without a prescription. Some Hemp options may also work, just make sure you stay away from the THC.

Good for osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

What products or services have you found that are helpful for arthritic conditions or Fibromyalgia? Let me know in the comments.

April’s Awareness Months

Apr 12, 2020 | Disability, Medical Issues and Genetics, Medical News, Resources, Websites

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Since most of us are quarantined in our home due to COVID 19, on this Easter weekend, we could take some time to reflect on some of these awareness items for the month of April.

April is Autism Awareness Month. Limb Loss Awareness Month, Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and Stress Awareness Month. This post addresses briefly what these are and gives you resources for more information as well as how to volunteer your time, make a donation, or get involved in other ways.

Image by Andrea Don from Pixabay

• Autism
⁃ Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and
repetitive behavior.
⁃ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
⁃ https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-month-faq

You can volunteer, donate, or fundraise at Autism Speaks. Check here for the ways: https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=walk_volunteer&wmenu=sec_abt_walk

• Limb Loss
⁃ What causes limb loss?
⁃ Reasons for Amputation
⁃ The most common is poor circulation because of the damage or narrowing of the arteries, called peripheral arterial disease. … Other causes for amputation may include Severe injury (from a vehicle accident or serious burn, for example) a Cancerous tumor in the bone or muscle of the limb. Feb 5, 2020, WebMD

And of course, some people are born missing limbs.

You may read more at:
⁃ https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/definition-amputation#
⁃ https://www.amputee-coalition.org/about-us/history/

You can volunteer with the Amputee Coalition here: https://www.amputee-coalition.org/work-with-us/

• Parkinson’s Disease
⁃ Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Parkinson’s symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking.
Read more at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease.

And, volunteer here: https://www.parkinson.org/ways-to-give/more-ways-to-give/volunteer

• Stress
– Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. May 5, 2018
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm
• https://foh.psc.gov/calendar/stress.

If you are experiencing high volumes of stress, sometimes giving, volunteering is the way to go. Psych Central has a wonderful article. Read it here: https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-volunteering-can-help-your-mental-physical-health/

A weighted blanket or duvet would be a perfect addition to your stress relief arsenal, a nice gift for someone living with autism, Parkinson’s, and even for someone living with limb loss. Try something from Weighted Evolution. They have three different options to choose from. and come in several colors. They’re premium bamboo weighted blanket that’ll improve sleep, lower anxiety and increase well-being. Check them out.

Another great idea for stress relief is a good mattress. Take a look at this Layla mattress offer. Who doesn’t love a sale?
Spring Sale a $300 DEAL – $150 OFF MATTRESS + 2 FREE PREMIUM PILLOWS, $30-$50 off accessories. Buy More. Save More with Layla.

My family and extended family have personal connections to limb loss, Parkinson’s, and most definitely stress. Won’t you please take a few moments to think about who in your family, a circle of friends, or acquaintances who deal with any of these issues. Your donation of volunteering time, money, or purchases really makes a difference in the lives of those who deal with these every single day. Won’t you get involved?

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. I get a small commission if you click and purchase. Purchasing through this website does not affect your pricing.