1

Physiology & Medicine / Scaphoid bones

« on: 20/09/2004 09:55:16 »

Why is the Scaphoid bone so easy to brake but so hard to detect?
I am currently on my 9th brake / crack / fracture to one of my Scaphoid bones and I am awaiting a bone scan to confirm the fracture. Each time I brake it, if it does not show on the x-ray I am sent for a bone scan. The result always comes back as a positive brake from the scan so why does it not show on the x-ray? This time round I have also broken my Radius and Ulna which are both clear brakes on an x-ray, my Scaphoid which is suspected to be broken does not show on the x-ray, why?


Alex

2

Physiology & Medicine / Amitriptyline and Adrenaline

« on: 16/07/2004 17:11:38 »

I have been prescribed Amitriptyline for my back pain and I was reading the instruction inside the box that say it is used to treat depression and bed wetting in children but nothing about its use in pain relief normally? Also my doctor informed me that whilst on the medication I must not take my adrenaline which I carry as I have a nut allergy. Although I have not had a reaction for over 2 years as I am very careful with what I eat I am slightly concerned that if, for any reason I do have a reaction to something containing nuts I am not allowed to use the adrenaline. Why can the two not be taken together?

Alex

3

Physiology & Medicine / What is the normal blood folate (folic acid) level?

« on: 11/08/2004 06:53:14 »

What should the level of Folic Acid in your blood be at? (for a female if it differs). A  recent blood test I had showed my level of Folic Acid was 1.8. I was told that this was quite low. What should the normal level be and are there any dangers of having low Folic Acid levels? Any comments would be appreciated.

Alex

4

Physiology & Medicine / What are they testing for?

« on: 16/07/2004 10:57:44 »

My doctor has asked me to go for a blood test.
On the form she has requested, under Haematology FBC and ESR. Under Immunology she has written CRP please and under Biochemistry she has written CK or C/K (can't make out the writing) please.
What are these tests looking at? Any information would be most appreciated.

Alex

5

Physiology & Medicine / Bad Gene

« on: 06/07/2004 13:00:38 »

Since I can’t really do much at the moment I have taken to reading a few books I bought a long time ago and never until now got round to reading one is called Cries Unheard by Gitta Sereny and it the story of the child killer Mary Bell.
In the introduction it talks about people being born good and made bad by situations that they experience. The whole abused abuser thing, if you are abused you are more likely to become an abuser. But another book I read stated that there could be a “bad gene” something in our DNA that gives us the ability to perform such bad things as killing. I studied A level psychology but did not take it any further. What are people’s views on this? Are we all good but some of us turn bad or is there something built in to a few individuals that makes them bad? Is there such a thing as a “bad gene”?


Alex

6

Physiology & Medicine / Might recent severe back pain when walking be caused by a prior car accident?

« on: 23/06/2004 12:42:42 »

<font color="blue">Nearly a year ago I was involved in a car crash where someone drove in to the back of my car wile I was stationary at approximately 45mph. I was taken to hospital on a spinal board with neck and back pain but luckily nothing was broken. I suffered some problems with my left arm/shoulder causing impaired sensations that has now been resolved with physiotherapy.
After the accident I had very very slight lower back pain when walking but it was so slight I didn’t bother wasting the doctor’s time with it. But it has gradually been getting worse and worse and I now find it very hard to even walk round a supermarket! On resting the pain subsides a grate deal. I have been examined by a GP and my physiotherapist who cannot find a reason for the pain.
Is it connected to the car accident? What could it be? X-Rays are clear!
I have been told by a friend who is a med student that the cause may never be found because the back is such a complicated thing? Can you recommend a painkiller? I am asthmatic and have problems with NSAIDS and I also don’t tolerate codeine very well.
Any help on what the pain may be would be most appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.[]</font id="blue">


Alex

7

Physiology & Medicine / Teenage Brain Haemorrhage

« on: 05/04/2004 08:38:58 »

This posing is on behalf of my partner. He is 25 years of age and suffers from asthma and a few allergies (dust pollen) but apart from that now seems all fit and healthy.
When he was 14 he had a brain haemorrhage. All he can remember of the event if feeling sick, dizzy and not being able to stand up. He woke 3 weeks later in a hospital bed, remained there for another 8 weeks and then had to have 12 months off school learning to walk, talk read and write again he was told that it effected his cerebellum. Physically he is 98% fit now, he can walk and talk, read and write. He does have slightly impaired hand eye co-ordination. Hear comes the embarrassing bit. He has trouble controlling his erections, it pops up at the most inappropriate time and from what he remembers has done ever since he was ill. His theory (based on what he has read on the internet) is that the cerebellum is very close to the pituitary gland and that maybe his pituitary gland was affected too. Can anyone confirm this or offer him any advice? He is now also worried that he may be Infertile due to all the scans he had.


Alex

8

Physiology & Medicine / Nerve Damage after Whiplash + CIDP

« on: 02/04/2004 12:19:36 »

In October 2003 someone drove in to the back of me. I was taken to hospital on a spinal board but was told I only had whiplash (thankfully). My GP referred me for physio and the physio told me that my top left rib was out of place. I have had 2 months of manipulation to get it back in the right place, which it now is but I still have altered sensation in my left are and hand. It feels like I have a glove on my hand all the time, I can’t feel things properly when I pick them up and I keep dropping things. My physio says it should get better but he hasn’t told me what it is and will it really get better? And what has caused it? I had CIDP in 2000 but made a full recovery could it all be related?

Alex

9

Physiology & Medicine / Digestive Disorders

« on: 02/04/2004 12:33:21 »

For the last 18 months I have been feeling constantly sick and tired (I can sleep for up to 18 hours a day). It worsens after eating and first thing in the morning. I also feel as if I have a lump in my throat all the time. In the last 3 months I have lost over 2 stone in weight not through lack of eating. I also have extreme stomach pains mainly on the left side just below my ribs and around the groin area. The pain worsens when I am having a period. I have had lots of blood tests that show I have a low folic acid level and a low vitamin B12 level. I also had an endoscopy in June 2003 which was normal. I have been tested for Ceoliacs and Chrons but both tests came back negative. I currently take 5mg Folic Acid a day along with Domperidone 10mg and Zankac 75mg 3 times a day. Stemitl 5mg as and when required. I saw a specialist and they said I had IBS and gave me Buscopan tablets but they made me 10 times worse.
I am stuck on what to do next. I cannot go on like this; I am unable to do my job. If any one has any advice I would really appreciate it.


Alex