A study in this month’s Anesthesia & Analgesics journal suggests that phantom limb pain, pain often experienced by amputees that’s perceived to be in a missing limb, can be alleviated by mirror therapy. Researchers at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego say they were able to reduce phantom pain in some soldiers via this form of therapy in which patients sit with a mirror vertically between their legs and arms so that the limbs are reflected in it. The reflection in the mirror makes it appear like the injured arm or leg is healthy and normal. The theory behind phantom limb pain is that the pain pathways in the brain and spinal cord can recall the traumatic injury, thus the missing limb somehow continues to hurt, despite not being there anymore. In performing mirror therapy, the brain and spinal cord are visually tricked into believing that all of the person’s limbs are intact and without pain, thus reducing brain activity associated with pain and modulating the pain response experienced by the amputee. [via BusinessWeek]
It appears that the human nervous system is more complex than we know. In addition to the nerves in our skin that allow us to feel pressure, vibration, temperature and pain a fine network of nerves associated with small blood vessels and sweat glands appear to have the same functional abilities. It was previously believed that these nerves simply regulated blood flow and sweating. However, by studying people who were born without conventional nerve endings in their skin, scientists realized that even though their skin sensations were severely diminished, they still had adequate sensation for daily living. “Apparently, these unique individuals are able to ‘feel things’ through these remaining nerve endings. What we learned from these unusual individuals is that there’s another level of sensory feedback that can give us conscious tactile information”, said Dr. Frank Rice, a neuroscience professor at Albany Medical College. The study is published in the December 15 issue of the journal Pain. Could these nerves be associated with pain-related conditions such as migraines and fibromyalgia? Only time will tell. [via Science Daily]
Physicians sometimes call ovarian cancer the “silent killer” because it often presents with symptoms that don’t seem to be related to the ovaries. The most common symptoms include abdominal distention, abdominal pain, and increased urinary frequency. Now, British researchers have published in the British Medical Journal the results of a study that demonstrates more symptoms that they say are associated with this disease, some of which can present months prior to a diagnosis is made. Other symptoms include postmenopausal bleeding, loss of appetite, rectal bleeding and abdominal bloating. The take home message of this news is to remind health care practitioners and the general public that seemingly common and benign symptoms – such as bloating – may, in fact, signify a potentially serious diagnosis, especially when taken together with the constellation of symptoms that can be associated with ovarian cancer. [via CBS News]
Skinny, tight jeans are in fashion and leading to a rise in what’s being called the “tight jean syndrome“, a condition where tight-fitting clothing compresses nerves in the groin and thigh region causing pain and sensations of stinging, burning and numbness. The medical term for this condition is Meralgia Paresthetica and the nerve involved is called the lateral cutaneous nerve. Aside from tight jeans, other causes include tight belts, seat belt trauma from motor vehicle accidents, pregnancy and weight gain. The diagnosis is usually made after x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, or EMG studies show no other cause for the pain. Various treatments are available including pain medicines, neurologic medications, injections and, of course, taking the pressure off of the nerve by weight loss and not wearing tight-fitting pants or belts.
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.