General Medical issues thread

[drron]

I looked after a patient that had 5 operations on the same valve. The first 2 were repair operations in 1948 and 1954 as there were no valve replacements available. They didn’t even have angiogram or echocardiograms to help diagnose but relied on clinical signs.They were done at RPAH. She was just under 20 but the valve problem was due to rheumatic fever

 

[JohnK]

Each trip brings new challenges.

I've had numbness (and pins and needles) in fingers of both hands for years. Heck I get pins and needles with the phone in the palm of my left hand. Right thumb and forefinger are the worst. I can't do simple things like pick up a glass with my right hand unless I push the glass into my right hand with my left hand and even then theres a risk I'll drop the glass. This is not a minor inconvenience. It's a struggle and a challenge and it affects my work as I struggle to type at times.

I've been in Thailand for 4 days and numbness in my right hand slightly worse and left hand a lot worse but yesterday morning had a scare until I searched Google for reassurance. My right upper leg from halfway up the thigh to the waist was numb. I panicked. I've never had it before. Came and went a few times through the day. Possibly sciatica but more than likely osteoarthritis in right hip getting worse.

I've also got more general aches and pains but the strange thing is I've played 2 games of golf and had 38 points Friday and 36 points yesterday winning Division 2 on the day. The aches and pains are slowing down the swing which is a good thing.

If I was in Brisbane I'd go and see a GP and maybe do some tests but I have another 24 days here and 2 days in Sydney before going back to Brisbane. Will monitor over next few days but heading to SanPaTong today for 5 days of relaxation before heading back to Pattaya next week.

Did anyone say getting old is fun?

 

[Quickstatus]

I've had numbness (and pins and needles) in fingers of both hands for years

The usual suspects:
Carpal tunnel in both hands
Spinal stenosis in your neck which may also give you symptoms in legs.

Sounds like you are having a good time - at least on the outside via golf.

 

[RooFlyer]

What's the official medical opinion (AMA?) on acupuncture, administered properly and professionally, say for pain relief?

Quackery? Sometimes works? Potentially dangerous?

How about electro stim with acupuncture?

 

[Quickstatus]

acupuncture

For chronic pain there have been studies demonstrating efficacy.
In Australia all acupuncturists are required to be registered with AHPRA and have valid qualifications
Some health funds even cover acupuncture

My view is that it has a lot more legitimacy than medicinal cannabis.

 

[andye]

For chronic pain there have been studies demonstrating efficacy.
In Australia all acupuncturists are required to be registered with AHPRA and have valid qualifications
Some health funds even cover acupuncture

My view is that it has a lot more legitimacy than medicinal cannabis.

And it does have a scientifically rational physiological basis for pain management

 

[VPS]

What's the official medical opinion (AMA?) on acupuncture, administered properly and professionally, say for pain relief?

Quackery? Sometimes works? Potentially dangerous?

How about electro stim with acupuncture?

I've had it on my shoulder and it worked for me - they were Chinese and very experienced

 

[RooFlyer]

And it does have a scientifically rational physiological basis for pain management

What do you mean by phycological basis? Placebo effect?

 

[prozac]

What's the official medical opinion (AMA?) on acupuncture, administered properly and professionally, say for pain relief?

Quackery? Sometimes works? Potentially dangerous?

How about electro stim with acupuncture?

More than a decade ago I had long term pain under my right shoulder blade that frequently led to headache. My regular physio suggested I see a local acupuncture practitioner in Balgowlah, an Australian who'd trained in China. He used needles, cupping, massage and other mumbo jumbo I am skeptical about. Finally it worked and I have never had the issue since.

 

[andye]

What do you mean by phycological basis? Placebo effect?

Physiology not psychology. Stimulation in sensory dermatome (skin area supplied by a nerve root) can inhibit other (i.e the bothersome painful ones) nerve impulses at the spinal and brain level and also upregulate inhibitory neurotransmitters. Like much pain science, much not completely understood but the mechanism is plausible.

Like other alternative therapies, placebo and the therapeutic relationship with the practitioner may also play a part. Feeling happier and cared for has potent effects on well-being too

 

[RooFlyer]

Physiology not psychology.

Oops, sorry.

I have osteoarthritis in my I think it’s L5 facet joint and also my right side SI joint. Shown by a bone scan. Gives me intermittent R lower back ache and I and they can’t tell which one it’s coming from, if not both. I’ve had one steroi_ CT guided injection into the facet joint which didn’t seem to do much and in the New Year I’m going to have them do the SI. Long-term I think I’m going to be facing some discomfort on and off for a long time.

On my recent cruise there is of course a spa and they were offering acupuncture. More out of curiosity than anything else I agreed to have a session. I didn’t check on qualifications but she appeared to be the real deal.

She electro stimulated a few areas explaining that the needles weren’t always on the area of pain but the acupuncture map determined where they went in.

Funny sensation with the electrostimulation on and I had it almost up to the max I think and they were pulsing away. I think she said some of the needles were 3 cm deep.

At the end she recommended two or three following sessions and was very disappointed when I said I was leaving the cruise the next day. I wasn’t - being on a cruise ship it was in US dollars and bloody expensive.

There was no noticeable improvement then or over the next day or so.

My physio does dry needling on the area and some good hands-on physiotherapy which helps so I’m just trying to figure out whether I should pursue acupuncture a bit more.

Any thoughts welcome.