A Landmark Study on Palliation of Bone Mets PainWhen a primary cancer such as cancer of the breast, prostate or lung spreads to the bone (bone mets), treatment strategies become complex. In today’s world of oncology, better systemic chemotherapies can add months and even years to a patient’s life; in addition, local cancer control of […] KEEP READING
What You Should Know About CartilageOne of the most fascinating components of the human body is cartilage, an incredibly versatile material. Trying to describe cartilage is like the six blind men who try to figure out what an elephant is: “The elephant is like a pillar,” said the man who touched his leg. “Oh no! […] KEEP READING
How Stress Makes Essential Tremor WorseEssential tremor (ET) is the most common form of uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The involuntary trembling results from abnormal communication between certain areas of the brain (cerebellum, thalamus, and brain stem). It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from ET, though many […] KEEP READING
If back pain had been a Founding Father, it might have written this line in the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal” (women too, of course). Back pain is very even-handed and does not play favorites. It can attack anyone with no holds barred: rich, poor, young, old, every ethnic group and geographic […] CONTINUE
“The discovery and development of the bisphosphonates … is a paradigm of a successful journey from ‘bench to bedside’.”i Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs most commonly used to strengthen thinning bones (low bone mass) in older people. During aging, the normal balance of healthy bone maintenance (re-absorbing old bone and building new bone) may […] CONTINUE
For 79-year old Karl Weidamann, a patient suffering with essential tremor (ET), beaming sound waves into his brain produced a result that must have seemed miraculous. It stopped the dominant hand tremor that had plagued him for 15 years. Now he can once again sign his name clearly, feed himself soup without embarrassing splashes, and […] CONTINUE
One of the best human partners in medical research is the humble pig. Pigs seem like an unlikely “equivalent” to test new medical procedures for humans, but they are greatly helpful to determine what will or won’t work in our own bodies. For certain clinical studies, they are ideal laboratory animals. Pigs and humans share […] CONTINUE
When essential tremor (ET) is early and mild, symptoms generally don’t interfere with daily tasks. If symptoms worsen, medication may be prescribed to reduce the speed (frequency) and amplitude (size) of motion. One type of drug used to control ET is called a beta blocker. As the name suggests, the action of the drug blocks […] CONTINUE
We take our backs for granted. We don’t really think about the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves and blood vessels that are carefully structured together from our neck to our hips…until trouble happens. When back pain occurs, it’s impossible to ignore. It literally follows you wherever you go, and the slightest move can elicit twinges […] CONTINUE
In the nutritional supplements aisle of any store, you will find several brands of glucosamine tablets. Glucosamine sulfate is a naturally-occurring chemical in the body. It plays a role in developing joint cartilage. However, the cartilage that cushions bone-on-bone contact can wear thin (osteoarthritis) from aging or use. The facet joints in the spinal column […] CONTINUE
Essential tremor (ET) is a condition characterized by involuntary shaking or trembling of an affected body part. There are several circumstances and medical conditions that can cause this type of movement, some more severe than others. For example, tremors can happen temporarily when a person is anxious, after long-term exposure to a toxic substance, such […] CONTINUE
Lower back pain is estimated to affect 80% of adults at one time or another. Most of the time, if there has been no specific injury or trauma that caused it, it clears up within a few weeks. It may be due to sitting long hours in a poorly constructed work chair, the strain of […] CONTINUE
One of the most embarrassing effects of essential tremor (ET) is the inability to control one’s hands during intentional movement. Medication to control movement only works for about half of people, and its effect can diminish over time. Daily acts that most people take for granted, like engaging a zipper or sipping coffee, become nerve-wracking […] CONTINUE
