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Is massage therapy dangerous in the treatment of cancer associated pain?

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Posted by RobynNazarRN on January 10, 2013 at 10:02 am

There is a common misunderstanding that the use of massage therapy to treat cancer pain is dangerous, as, it could cause cancer to spread.

Massage therapy is one of the most common alternative therapies offered to patients in a clinical setting to help relieve the pain associated with cancer. Massage is often used in conjunction with other pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain treatments, such as these listed by this pain clinic in Minnesota.

Massage use in the clinical setting has been associated with relieving pain, encouraging relaxation and reducing anxiety. Massage carries out a manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, which produces effects on the vascular, muscular and nervous system. However, massage therapy contraindications for cancer have been raised as it was suggested that the massaging of the soft tissues of the body could help spread the cancer through the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Many studies have proven that the stimulation of these systems, via massage, is no more than what would be caused by gentle daily exercise. However message directly over the tissue of a tumor is not recommended due to associated localized pain.

Although not contraindicated for cancer treatment, research suggests that in some cases of cancer, massage technique should be adjusted, for example, in patients with coagulation disorders. Deep tissue muscle massage should be replaced by a lighter tissue massage, as not to influence the development of DVT’s, hematomas and superficial bruising.

Massage for relief of cancer pain, is rarely used alone to treat cancer pain; however with other pain relieving therapies it is considered an effective and safe practice.  Although like any treatment, it is not risk free, there are very few reports of patients suffering adverse effects secondary to massage therapy for cancer pain. Also, unlike pharmacological treatment for cancer pain, massage therapy does not carry the side effects of nausea and constipation.

Some precautions need to be taken when providing massage therapy to a cancer patient, however treatment is not considered high risk or dangerous.

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Can Acupuncture Treat Scoliosis?

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Posted by Heather Aarons on July 10, 2012 at 8:25 am

Currently there is no cure for the spinal deformity known as scoliosis, which affects around six million people in the United States. Although it can begin in early childhood or even before birth it is often not noticed until the child has fully developed.

The curvature can be very minor or it can be so severe that it significantly affects a person’s life. Wearing a protective brace or even surgery are recommend for those with severe scoliosis, however, alternative treatments, such as acupuncture are beginning to be more common.

Acupuncture is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that provides pain relief and is believed to restore energy balance within the body. Acupuncture Bergen County NJ specialists, for example, use acupuncture to treat the patient as a whole person rather than a set of symptoms.  This technique focuses on important points throughout the body that balance and regulate energy flow. Small needles are inserted at the surface of the skin to stimulate a natural response from the body and to promote circulation. For patients with scoliosis, acupuncture can relieve painful symptoms and is generally considered very safe. If you have a good relationship with your doctor it is a good idea to consult him or her about seeking acupuncture treatment.

To learn more about how this ancient traditional Chinese medicine is successfully applied to pain management today visit this acupuncture Bergen County NJ specialist website.

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What Is the Difference between Worker’s Comp and Disability Retirement?

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Posted by Heather Aarons on May 15, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Workers compensation is a type of insurance in the form of payment for wage losses due to an illness or injury caused by work. For state and federal employees it is administered by the Office of Personnel Management.

As work-related illnesses or sickness can dramatically affect your life, workers compensation program Dallas experts know how important it is to receive the medical treatment and wage loss payment you deserve. They even help workers file their claim. The Federal Employees Compensation ensures that by law workers compensation grants a payment for workers that have a permanent, total of partial disability sustained while performing job duties. There are non-scheduled and scheduled awards for those that were disabled on the job. Non-scheduled awards are for employees that will be able to return to work, and schedule awards are for employees that have a permanent impairment, such as losing an eye.

The disability retirement program is distinct in that the payment is received whether or not the disease or injury was sustained while on the job. This program is administered by the Office of Personnel Management and it pays an annuity in order to partially compensate for any salary lost due to the disability.

You cannot receive workers compensation and disability annuity payments at the same time. If you receive federal or state workers compensation your disability payments will be suspended until your workers compensation payment plan has ended.

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Why Are Painkillers So Addictive?

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Posted by Amanda Rahi on April 10, 2012 at 1:30 pm

While it is a well-known fact that painkillers are addictive, many patients that take them to relieve chronic pain do not do so with the intention of developing an addiction problem. Instead most patients that take pain medications are dealing with difficult, painful conditions, such as post-surgery pain or pain related to diseases such as cancer.

Due to the potential health risks of becoming addictive to painkillers, many pain management clinics have begun to practice extra caution when prescribing pain medication.  Auto injury Dallas specialists, for example, incorporate many different disciplines including physical therapy and psychologically-based chronic pain care as a way of achieving long-term pain relief and recovery from injuries.

The group of painkillers known as opioids has the most addictive properties. They are strong and powerful and have been the drug of choice for temporary and immediately eliminating the sensation of pain. They can lead to addiction for a number of reasons that relate to their ability to alter how we feel and experience pain. Opiates can successfully numb people’s ability to feel emotional pain and also help relieve tension in the body. They function by slowing down the pain receptors in the brain that sense pain.

To learn more about pain management programs that incorporate other pain relief techniques apart from medications visit auto accident injury Dallas Accuhealth website.

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What Causes Numbness and Tingling in the Body?

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Posted by Marie on April 4, 2012 at 9:51 am

Numbness or tingling sensations in the body are usually felt in the arms, hands, fingers, feet, or hands.   Though they are most commonly a symptom of nerve damage, a number of other problems can cause these sensations.

Putting pressure on a nerve for an extended period of time can cause odd tingling sensations and numbness in the affected extremity – this is common when a person sits or lays in an awkward position and an arm or leg “falls asleep.”  However, when tingling and numbness occur without an obvious reason, it might be due to some other cause.  Seeing a chiropractor for examination and diagnosis may benefit patients with these symptoms.

Nerve DamageNerve damage
Certain medical conditions and substance abuse problems can cause the myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves to degenerate, exposing the sensitive nerve cells and interfering with their ability to transmit electrical signals.  Alcohol and tobacco use or lead poisoning can cause this type of damage.

Nerve Injury
Direct physical damage to the nerve – especially in the spinal column – can cause tingling and numbness in parts of the body that that nerve connects to.  A neck injury could cause symptoms in the arms, and a back injury might cause symptoms to be felt in the legs.

Herniated Discs
Herniated (or “slipped”) discs result when the tough outer shell of the cushioning intervertebral discs breaks open, exposing the soft and sensitive material inside.  A herniated disc can out undue pressure on the nerves of the spinal column, causing chronic pain and numbness or tingling in the extremities affected by that nerve.

If you are experienced numbness or tingling with no explained cause, treatment from a NJ chiropractor could help pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms.  By first identifying the underlying condition, your chiropractor will be able to treat your real problem and eliminate the discomfort of constant, unexplained numbness.

Posted in: Health, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Physical Therapy
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What Do You Do After a Car Accident?

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Posted by Amanda Rahi on February 16, 2012 at 8:46 pm

Especially during winter months when accidents are more common it is important to be prepared by knowing what to do immediately after a car accident.

Auto accident pain Dallas specialists highly recommend seeking medical care for the majority of car accidents. If you were jolted during the accident it is important to see an experienced healthcare professional as soon as possible. Even a minor impact is enough to cause major damage to your soft tissue and bones. If left untreated the injury can lead to long-term pain and even disability.

When you are at the scene of the accident it is important to stay as calm as possible and determine if there are serious injuries that need an ambulance and immediate emergency care.

Next, it is important to call the police in order to file a police report. That way the accident is on records for legal and insurance purposed. Having a legal accident report is very important especially in cases where there are severe injuries and significant automobile damage.  Unfortunately accidents can easily go to law suits and can often be difficult to settled without a third party inference.

For this reason, car accident injury Dallas experts provide complete accident pain and injury services that even include insurance claims processing and attorney referrals.  To summarize, get medical attention as soon possible and make sure you get a police report of the incidence.

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Do Facet Joint Injections Have Any Side Effects?

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Posted by Marie on January 23, 2012 at 1:18 pm

Many patients with chronic pain – especially in the neck and back – are finding pain relief with minimally invasive injection therapy.  The treatments offer a faster recovery time and quick orthopedic specialist Ocean Countyrelief from pain with up to several months of results.

Facet joint injections are an excellent treatment option for patients with chronic pain in the neck or back due to problems with the facet joints, or the small joints in each segment of the spine that help guide its motion and allow it to rotate.  Your orthopedic specialist Ocean County will numb the area with a gentle local anesthetic and inject an anti-inflammatory steroid medication directly into the facet joints causing your severe pain.  The procedure takes under an hour, and you will be able to go home that day.  Most experience results within 3-7 days of having facet joint injection NJ treatments, and your results could last up to several months.

Side effects of the treatment are very minimal in comparison with the pain and long recovery time associated with major surgery.  During the procedure, you may be slightly uncomfortable while your injections are being administered.  After the procedure, you may experience:

  • Numbness at the injection site for up to six hours after the injections.
  • Slightly worsened symptoms for a day or two following the injections, then significant relief as the treatment begins to work.
  • Less than 5% of patients could experience facial flushing, mild rises in body temperature, headaches, and bloating for 1-3 days following treatment.  These are all side effects of any steroid medication and are very uncommon with facet joint injections.

These side effects are all very mild, and the benefits of minimally invasive facet joint injections far outweigh the potential negatives.

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What Are the Benefits of Regenerative Medicine?

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Posted by Amanda Rahi on January 17, 2012 at 2:27 pm

Regenerative medicine promotes the natural healing ability of the human body to repair damage in cell tissue and organ tissue through the use of stem cells. According to stem cell therapy Long Island experts, the body can naturally heal wounds and tissue damage by injecting regenerative cells in the injured area.

Stem cell therapy can be performed by using mesenchymal cells from the patient’s own tissue avoiding the controversial and ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stem cells meaning that they can differentiate into a variety of cells. They are found in bone marrow, circulating blood, and fat tissue and function in the body to restore damaged cartilage, tendon, and bone. This type of stem cells treatment allows medical professionals and patients to take full advantage of the healing properties and medical advances offered by stem cells.

Stem cell and back pain Bergen County professionals at Spine & Joint Center extract the mesenchymal cells from a patient’s body fat tissue and inject the cells in the injured area to repair damaged spinal and joint issue. This technique is non-invasive, does not require surgery, and has proven to be safe and effective.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are also used in conjunction with stem cells in order to enhance growth factors and proteins and are used to treat moderate to severe joint and spine conditions. PRP injections also serve as an alternative to surgery for orthopedic injuries and conditions. This treatment can be used alone or in conjunction with mesenchymal stem cell injections.

According to professionals at Spine & Joint  and herniated disc New Jersey center, patients that can benefit from regenerative medicine include those that suffer from arthritis, disc herniation and injuries, tendonitis, joint cartilage problems, and sacral iliac joint pain and injury.

To learn more abut regenerative medicine read Does Pregnancy Contribute to Sciatica Pain?

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What is MircoVascular Therapy?

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Posted by Amanda Rahi on January 17, 2012 at 11:55 am

MicroVascular Therapy, also known as MicroVas, is a treatment for neuropathy and that releases electronic impulses to affected areas in order to relieve painful symptoms. Over recent years this treatment has grown in popularity.

NorthEast Spine and Sports Medicine Clinic Jackson, for example, offers MicroVascular therapy for neuropathy treatment in addition to a number of other treatments that relieve pain and help patients return to their normal lifestyle.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, neuropathy is the damage to the nerves, or nerve group, which results in loss of movement, sensation, or function of that nerve.  Other symptoms of this condition include paralysis, tingling, burning, pain, and weakness.

MicroVas Therapy is described by its patent holders, MicroVas Technologies Inc, as a “non-invasive vascular treatment device that delivers electromagnetic energy to targeting areas within the human body”. The electronic impulses help stimulate capillary circulation in order to increase the oxygen flow to the damaged nerves and muscles.

MicroVas therapy can also be used to treat chronic low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sports injuries, pressure ulcers, ischemic rest pain and wounds. While MicoVas Technologies report that MicroVac is highly effective at relieving pain associated with neuropathy and a number of other conditions, they warn that it is not appropriate for all patients. It is important to consult a health professional about whether or not it is the right treatment for you.

Physical therapy and chiropractor Point Pleasant professionals and others alike help patients determine which pain treatment method will result most effective for their condition.

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What Kind of Training Does a Physical Therapist in Minnesota Need?

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Posted by Marie on November 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm

As with most medical professionals with credentials, a physical therapist in Minnesota must meet a number of requirements to become licensed and practice their profession.  They Physical Therapist in Minnesotamust also renew their licenses annually.

Each state licenses physical therapists individually and sets different requirements.  In Minnesota, physical therapists must graduate from an accredited physical therapy program plus complete 20 contact hours of physical therapy education in order to apply.  They must also pass an exam before becoming licensed.

Though some states allow graduates with only a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy to practice, most (Minnesota included) require PTs to have either a master’s degree or a doctorate in physical therapy in order to become licensed.   Minnesota PTs also need to do 20 hours of continuing education courses every year in order to qualify to renew their licenses.  Many choose to take these courses online, which simplifies the renewal process and helps PTs work around their busy schedules.

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