WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

When a hip joint is damaged by arthritis, the pain can be unbearable. That's the time to talk to an orthopedic surgeon about hip replacement. Close to 200,000 Americans choose this joint pain treatment every year. The success rate is high: Only about 2% of patients have surgical complications such as joint infection. Hip replacement is one of the safest surgeries. Now it's getting even safer. Incisions are smaller, recovery time faster, and there are more surgical options to choose from. The newer operations, called minimally invasive surgeries, no longer require incisions of 6-9 inches. Now, relatively small incisions of about 3 inches are made. These techniques cut through less muscle and soft tissue, so recovery time is faster. Not only is the surgery less invasive, but pain-management methods are also safer. More surgeons use spinal anesthesia, which numbs from the waist down, instead of general anesthesia.

Another less-invasive joint pain treatment is hip resurfacing, which has fewer post-operative limits. Instead of cutting away the bone, the head of the femur is reshaped and a cap is placed onit. This fits into a socket, similar to those used with other hip-replacement surgeries. Good hip-resurfacing candidates are under 50, have good bone quality and participate in athletic activities.

In traditional approaches to total hip replacement surgery, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage, then places a metal stem with a ball on top into the center of the femur. A metal socket fits into the hop bone you were born with, allowing the ball to move. The socket's liner can be made out of plastic, metal or ceramic.

Most hip replacement patients are hospitalized for about three days. A day after surgery, a physical therapist reviews precautions for the next six weeks. Plan on using a cane or crutch for the first 4-6 weeks. You may also have to give up work for one month to six months or more, depending on job activity. Most people with desk jobs can return to work in a month or so. And forget driving, which is one of the worst hip positions. You should plan to have someone drive you around for several months. The therapist will also ask you to avoid crossing your legs until the replacement sets solidly in place. From day 1, you will be doing a lot of exercises. Some patients may work with a physical therapist at home. At about six weeks, most patients return to the surgeon for x-rays to see how they are healing. The doctor may prescribe outpatient physical therapy for 6-8 weeks. Three months is typical for good recovery, but most full recovery takes a year.

Your arthritis pain will likely be gone right after total hip replacement surgery, but you may have surgical pain for two to four weeks. How bad it will be is tough to estimate. How fast you heal depends on your health. If you haven't moved your hips for years before surgery, you may never return to a full range of motion. It's not just the hip but the muscles around it that are affected. If they haven't been used, they atrophy.

Hip replacement is hardly fun, but the results can be. Most people can't believe the pain is gone. They can start doing things that they haven't been able to do for years. Most people see progress every week after surgery. Most hip replacement patients can't return to high-impact sports like running, but they can play golf and do yoga.

source: www.lifescript.com

FOOD POISONING

Food poisoning is a general term for a wide variety of diseases that are caused by ingesting food or beverages that contain toxins or are contaminated with harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses or parasites. Food poisoning is also known as food-borne illness. Food poisoning typically causes irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that can be severe and lead to serious complications in some cases. Food poisoning can often be prevented by taking simple hygiene and food preparation precautions.

The most common form of food poisoning is salmonellosis, which is caused by Salmonella bacteria. Other types of food poisoning and their causes include the following:

1. Botulism - caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria

2. Campylobacteriosis - caused by Campylobacter bacteria

3. Cryptosporidiosis - caused by Cryptosporidium protozoa

4. Escherichia coli - caused by eating food or beverages contaminated with certain types of E. coli bacteria

5. Listeriosis - caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria

6. Mushroom poisoning - caused by eating raw or cooked poisonous mushrooms

7. Shigellosis - caused by Shigella bacteria

8. Staphyloenterotoxicosis - caused by Staphylococcus bacteria

Many types of food poisoning are spread through food or beverages that have been contaminated with human or animal feces that contain infectious bacteria, viruses or parasites. Common sources of foods contaminated with infectious microorganisms include undercooked eggs, chicken, and poultry, or any undercooked or raw food that comes from animals, such as seafood, meat, milk, and dairy products. Any food or beverage can become contaminated with infectious microorganisms that cause food poisoning if it is handled by an infected person with unwashed hands or if it comes in contact with contaminated food or liquids.

Food poisoning can result in serious, potentially life-threatening complications, including dehydration, organ damage, meningitis, sepsis, stillbirth, and chronic arthritis. Seek prompt medical care if you have symptoms, such as vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea and suspect that you have food poisoning. Early diagnosis and treatment can minimize discomfort and the risk of complications and help prevent the spread of food poisoning to other people.

Healthy adults may recover from mild to moderate cases of some types of food poisoning with rest, avoiding solid food until symptoms subside, and ensuring adequate hydration to prevent dehydration.

source: http://www.localhealth.com/



FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME: MYSTERY PAIN EXPLAINED

Painful and puzzling, fibromyalgia syndrome primarily strikes women. Why? Researchers don't know. With details scarce abut its cause and treatment, dealing with the condition can be maddening. Here are answers to common questions about fibromyalgia in women.

1. What causes fibromyalgia syndrome? Genetics may play a role in developing fibromyalgia. No one really knows what causes the syndrome and there are no known risk factors. The most prevalent theory is that fibromyalgia results from a disturbance in the central nervous system called central sensitization, which may intensify pain signals.

2. Are fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus similar? Although the three are separate conditions, symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome overlap. Fibromyalgia and lupus both involve the muscle and bone network in our bodies, which can cause confusion between the two illnesses. Fibromyalgia is characterized by many symptoms including muscle pain, fatigue, sleep distrubances, irritable bowel syndrome and, in some people, depression. Despite its consistent general characteristics, it can be tough to diagnose because symptoms vary from patient to patient.

3. Why do more women than men get fibromyalgia syndrome? The majority of people with fibromyalgia (80-90%) are women, as is the case with lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome. No one knows why women are affected more often than men.

4. Is it age-related? Fibromyalgia occurs most commonly in people between 20 and 55 years old, although it may arrive at any age, including childhood.

5. Is it an autoimmune disease or a form of arthritis? Neither. In fact, unlike inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease, which cause joint destruction and inflammation, fibromyalgia causes neither, despite symptoms of joint and muscle pain.

6. What are warning signs or symptoms of fibromyalgia? The symptoms of fibromyalgia arrive without warning. They can, as mentioned earlier, include muscle and joint soreness, fatigue, sleep problems, irritable bowel symptoms, morning stiffness, depression and brain fog.

7. How is it diagnosed? Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to be misdiagnosed or have to see several doctors before a diagnosis is made. Your best bet is to see a rheumatologist. He or she will look for symptoms and physical findings that meet a specific definition of fibromyalgia established by the American College of Rheumatology. The doctor will also work to rule out other diseases that have similar symptoms, such as lupus and polymyalgia rheumatica.

8. What lifestyle changes can I make to help alleviate the symptoms? Get plenty of gentle aerobic exercise, working up to at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Weight gain commonly accompanies fibromyalgia. Regular exercise will give you more energy, boost your mood, lower your weight and help you sleep better. Eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats and dairy also will energize you, lower your weight and improve your overall health as you battle fibromyalgia.

9. What are the latest fibromyalgia treatments? Pregabalin, a fairly new medication, is the first to be approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia. Studies suggest that it prevents pain and improves sleep by slowing the release of chemicals associated with pain. Older standbys can help too. Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and muscle relaxers can relieve pain. Antidepressants boost mood as well as lessen pain and improve sleep.
10. What is the long-term outlook for a woman with fibromyalgia? The good news is that fibromyalgia does not cause damage to muscles and joints that can lead to debilitation, immobility or joint replacement. The bad news is that the symptoms typically don't resolve. Many women simply must learn to live with fibromyalgia. The key is finding individual or combination therapies that help. Not all treatments help all patients with fibromyalgia; discovering which help you is a matter of trial and error. Scientists continue to work on finding the cause of fibromyalgia and, ultimately, a cure or effective treatment.

source: http://www.lifescript.com/

TIPS TO PICK THE BEST NURSING HOME FOR A LOVED ONE

Finding the right nursing home for an elderly loved one is a daunting task. And it's one most of us will face, as two-thirds of people over 65 will need nursing home care, at least temporarily, according to AARP. It's best if you can research facilities in advance, but that's not always possible. A sudden illness or injury may force you to confront these concerns sooner than you expect. Either way, here are several key considerations:

1. STAY CLOSE: The biggest influence on the quality of care nursing home patients receive is often the frequency of visits by friends and family. Make sure you'll be allowed to visit when you want - from early morning to late evening - to fit your schedule and enable you to monitor care at different times. Once your loved one is in a nursing home, drop by frequently, sometimes without notice. In the afternoon, see whether residents are enjoying interesting activities together or watching TV alone. At meal times, not how much your mom or dad eats. Stay late sometimes. After your loved one has fallen asleep, remain until he or she wakes up to go to the bathroom. If no one responds quickly to a ring for assistance, that's a serious problem. Residents forced to get up and go by themselves risk serious injury.

2. GET REFERENCES: There are several sources for referrals. Your local Area Agency on Aging or hospital discharge planners can provide listings of nearby nursing homes. Medicare caseworkers, at 1-800-MEDICARE, also can help. Stick to facilities certified by Medicare. They are inspected every year, and any complaints are investigated.

3. CHECK ON STAFFING: No matter how dedicated individual employees are, if there aren't enough, care suffers. Check the ratio of aides to patients. CMS requires each patient have a daily minimum of 2.8 hours of nursing aid time and 1.3 hours with an RN or LPN.

4. SCOPE IT OUT: Visit each nursin ghome you're considering and take notes. Snoop around. Check residents rooms for cheerfulness and safety. Inspect the kitchen for cleanliness. Once you have narrowed your choice down to two or three facilities, bring along your loved one if he or she is physically and mentally up to it.

5. CONSIDER COSTS: For most families, cost is a key factor. Last year, a semi-provate room ranged from an average $46,355 in Texas up to $222,285 in Alaska. Medicare will pay for a stay of up to 90 days; Medicaid covers costs for the poor. Many people must use up most of their assets to reach the point where Medicaid takes over ongoing costs. Visit AARP's new site for caregivers, with a cost calculator for different types of care, checklist of questions and tips: www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-05-2012/caregiving-resource-center-asking-right-questions.2.html

6. SWEAT THE DETAILS: Ask about anything that could affect whether your loved one will be happy and well treated. Will special needs be accommodated? Are there organized outings or visits by young people and pets? What activities are listed on the bulletin board, and is there a full-time coordinator? Do they have a library, Internet access, exercise classes or other stimulating offerings?

There's almost nothing the care of your loved one that shouldn't be checked on. And don't hesitate to move your loved one if they are not receiving the care they need and deserve.

source: www.cbsnews.com

DO YOU HAVE HEALTHY FEET?

Cracked heels, damaged cuticles and dryness aren't just ugly. They can put your health at risk. Serious medical conditions can result from neglected feet - from bacterial infections to cutaneous tuberculosis. But chill out! You don't have to celebrate summer without healthy, pretty feet. Here are easy fixes for 4 common foot woes.

FOOT PROBLEM #1: PAINFUL CRACKS

Some disorders, such as diabetes, poor circulation and thyroid problems, contribute to dry, cracked feet. Dryness may also be caused by skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Plus, a poor diet and not drinking enough water makes cracks worse. So can scrubbing with harsh soaps and applying alcohol-containing lotions.

FOOT FIX: If your feet are already cracked, your top priority is to avoid infection. Here's how: Don't walk barefoot outdoors where germs, fungal spores and parasites lurk in grass; Always wear flip-flops or water socks at public pools and in shower rooms; When getting a pedicure, make sure the footbath is sterilized before dipping in your toes.

FOOT PROBLEM #2: DRY, ROUGH CUTICLES

Trimmed, smooth cuticles certainly make a woman look fabulous, but they're also essential to good foot health. Cuticles serve as a seal between skin and nail bed to prevent microbes from getting in and causing infections.

FOOT FIX: Dry feet thoroughly after bathing, and then apply a cuticle-removing product to soften cuticles and dissolve any dry, excess skin. Finally, push them back gently with an orange stick.

FOOT PROBLEM #3: CORNS AND CALLUSES

Corns and calluses are technically the same - a hard, thickened area of skin - but they show up on different parts of your feet. Calluses can form in various places - heels, toes or balls - but corns always appear on top. What causes them? Pressure on the skin caused by the way you walk, structure of your foot and nonsupportive or ill-fitting shoes. Pronation - rotating your foot in and down as you walk - is another factor. It can trigger calluses on sides of big toes and bottom of your feet. Although those bumps are unattractive, calluses and corns are the body's defense mechanism. The body produces callus material to protect itself from irritation.

FOOT FIX: Prevention is really the goal. It's much harder to deal with the problems after they have developed. Creams with urea can help, too. So can changing your shoe-buying habits. Once you have a callus, a simple pedi won't fix it because pedicurists aren't allowed to cut off calluses in many states. For that, you need to see a podiatrist.

FOOT PROBLEM #4: ATHLETE"S FOOT

You don't need to be a jock to get the itching, burning and flaking skin that comes with this fungal infections. So why the name? People catch it from walking barefoot in showers or locker rooms - as well as from sharing footwear, clothing or towels. Not taking care of your feet can make the fungus spread. Warm, sweaty feet with lots of dead skin on the surface are an incubator.

FOOT FIX: Keep feet dry to prevent them from hosting organisms that causse athlete's foot; Change socks frequently if your feet sweat a lot and always right after aerobic exercise; Use absorbent powder on feet daily, including inbetween toes; Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. It takes at least 24 hours for sweat in shoes to dry out from the previous day's wearing. If you have athlete's foot, treat mild cases with over-the-counter ointments. A more severe infection may require antibiotics. See your doctor if the problem persists.

source: www.lifescript.com

WHAT TO DO WHEN GRANDMA GETS THE BLUES

Your 75-year-old mom, once so full of energy, is irritable and keeping to herself. Your octogenarian uncle, who used to crack jokes and love a good time, has lost his zest for life. You attribute their personality changes to aging and health issues. After all, getting depressed seems inevitable when knees ache, vision starts to go or blood pressure soars, right?

Despite what you hear, depression isn't a normal part of aging. In fact, older adults are less likely to have depressive disorders than are middle-aged adults. When older people do develop depression, it hits them especially hard. It tends to last longer and is more likely to lead to suicide, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.

The worse the depression, the more a person's quality of life and physical andmental functioning diminished. Wondering if an aging relative or friend may be depressed? Here are some warning signs and what to do about them.

Depression often goes unnoticed in the elderly. Rather than acting "sad," an older person may complain about aches, pain or other ailments. Older people tend to underreport depression symptoms and overreport physical ones. If an elderly person has any of the following conditions, it may coexist with - or even mask - a case of depression.

ILLNESS: Health problems often accompany depression, and boost risk for the disorder.

INSOMNIA: Sleep problems, which are common in the elderly, can also increase the risk of depression.

FORGETFULNESS: A hallmark of depression, this may be incorrectly attributed to mild cognitive impairment or even Alzheimer's disease. Unlike people who truly suffer from some form of dementia, a depressed person is more likely to complain and be upset about their forgetfulness.

LIFE STRESSORS: Common situations faced by older people - losing a loved one, caring for a sick relative, financial setbacks, trouble with family members, too little support from others, loneliness, a change in living situation, or getting ill - all increase the likelihood of depression.

PREVIOUS DEPRESSION: Even if someone was treated and recovered from an earlier depressed period, there's a chance the condition will return.

If you suspect your elderly relative is depressed, take him or her to a primary-care doctor or geriatric psychiatrist. Once you do, you're 80% of the way toward diagnosing or ruling out depression. Once diagnosed, depression is treatable - no matter the age. The doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Psychotherapy may also be recommended. If insomnia is at the root of your loved one's depression, a combination of sleep medication and cognitive behavioral therapy may be prescribed. If your relative has lost a spouse and is still mourning months later, bereavement therapy can help with the healing process.

Depression affects 20 million people in any given year and is a serious enough disorder to compromise one's ability to function normally day to day. Find out if your loved one is just blue or if they might be clinically depressed.

source: http://www.lifescript.com/



SHINGLES & CHICKENPOX: WHAT'S THE LINK?

Research begun in the 1950s has shown that when we recover from childhood chickenpox infections, the virus that causes the infection, varicella zoster virus, remains latent in nerve cells. What causes reactivation of the virus is unclear, but as we age, experts believe the immune responses that keep varicella zoster virus dormant in the nerves weaken with age. One in three people will get shingles during their lifetime, and at least half of all people 85 and older have had the ailment.

When you get the shingles rash, it typically involves a particular "dermatome," that is, the skin area supplied by the involved nerve usually one one side of the body or face. However, in some cases the shingles rash can be widespread. Before the rash appears, people may have nerve symptoms of pain, itching, burning, or tingling. The rash has blisters that scab over in about a week. Although shingles isn't contagious, the virus can spread to others and can cause chickenpox.

Antiviral drugs can be used to lessen the severity and duration of shingles, but effectiveness is dependent on usin git as soon as possible. Pain medicines and other remedies may be used to help treat symptoms.

Up to one in five people who get shingles suffer from postherpetic neuralgia, usually defined as a zoster-related pain that occurs in the area of the shingles rash even after the rash is gone. It can last for a few weeks, months, or longer. The older you are when you have zoster, the more at risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia.

The has approved a shingles vaccine as a one-time dose for people 50 and over. As noted, the rate of shingles increases with age.

What if you have never had chickenpox or have already had a case of shingles? You should still get vaccinated because studies show that nearly all adults 40 years and older have had chickenpox whether they remember having it or not. Also, if you've already had shingles, the vaccine can help protect against recurrence.

The vaccine is not safe for all people. People who should NOT get the vaccine include:

1. People who have ever had a life-threatening reaction to or are severely allergic to gelatin, neomycin, or any component of the shingles vaccine.

2. People with a weakened immune system from certain medical conditions or treatments.

3. Pregnant women or those who may be pregnant.

The most common side effects reported with getting the vaccine include redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the injection site, and headache. Some people may develop a rash at the injection site that looks like chickenpox.

www.webmd.com