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Q: “In a lot of pain and having trouble finding shoes that will work for me. Has anyone got any idea what type of shoe is better? I have tried so many and everyone I have tried is so uncomfortable and my feet are so painful. Could anyone give me ideas whats good and whats not please?"—Jackie A: This is a really common problem in those of us with fibromyalgia. A study published in Arthritis Reaserch & Therapy showed that about 50% of us have foot pain....

Did you just receive a notice from your child’s school about head lice? Head lice are contagious and they commonly spread among kids who have close contact with each other. You should definitely check your child if you are notified they are present in children at your school or daycare. Don’t panic because you have heard that head lice is going around, or even if you find lice on your child....

I once evaluated a patient who was dealing with low back pain and sciatica. He states he had pain in his leg for quite some time, and it got significantly worse about 6 months ago. His doctor at the time sent him to physical therapy with a diagnosis of hip bursitis, and the patient reports he did a lot of stretching in physical therapy with no significant relief. The patient finally saw an orthopedic surgeon, and lumbar surgery was performed on his low back to relieve pressure on his sciatic nerve from a herniated disc....

Treatment for Ocular melanoma may include radiation or laser therapy. Understanding the best treatment options is top of mind for people diagnosed with this condition. The aim is to preserve as much vision as possible while eradicating ocular melanoma. From types of radiation therapy to laser treatment or surgery and more, it’s important to know what each of these can offer. This article will discuss treatments for ocular melanoma tumors, such as radiation or laser therapy, consider when surgery is called for, highlight the role complementary therapy may play, and more....

Snakes are a common fear among millions of people across the globe and logically so. Snake bites can be deadly. While not all snake bites are harmful to humans, some are, and those that are can have a wide variety of terrible symptoms. It is extremely important to react quickly to snake bites, as they can start to negatively impact the body in a matter of minutes. The first step is to contact emergency medical services if they can be reached....

Johnson & Johnson is sharing new research on how long the protectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine lasts. The findings come as many of the people who received the single-shot vaccine have started to wonder if they’re still protected and if they need a booster shot. Key Takeaways Data release by Johnson & Johnson has shown that when a booster dose of the vaccine was given two months after the initial shot, it amplified antibodies 4-fold....

The Lactational Amenorrhea Method, or LAM, is also known as continuous breastfeeding. This is a natural option to prevent pregnancy after you have given birth. Many women find LAM to be appealing because it is safe, free, and effective. Can You Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding? Although the Lactational Amenorrhea Method is an effective birth control option, there are some things to be aware of—if not, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding....

Overview Light and noise sensitivity in fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have been scientifically established since the early 1990s, but they’re still under recognized by the medical community and rarely make symptoms lists. Rest assured, even if your healthcare provider’s never heard of it, you are not alone in experiencing this symptom! When I used to take my kids to daycare, some mornings the noise would hit me like a brick wall....

Many people have difficulty choosing “healthier” snacks and desserts. This is particularly true when trying to make a transition to a low glycemic index diet since most snacks and desserts are high sugar, high-fat foods. Making this change doesn’t have to mean that you give up treats forever, though. Get rid of anything in your pantry or fridge that is high fat or high sugar and stock up on these healthier options....

Treatment of a herniated disc depends on a number of factors including: when the disc herniation occurred, symptoms experienced by the patient, the age of the patient, activity level, and the presence of worsening symptoms. Treatment Options Most often, treatments of a herniated disc begin conservatively and become more aggressive if the symptoms persist. After diagnosing a herniated disc, treatment usually begins with the following. Rest and Activity Modification The first treatment is to rest and avoid activities that aggravate your symptoms....

It is not uncommon for people to experience back pain with lung cancer. The pain can be related to a tumor that has spread to the spine or is pressing on a nerve. However, back pain has many causes and lung cancer is not the most likely one for most people. This article will explore whether back pain could be a symptom of lung cancer, what the causes are, and treatment options....

Nasal polyps are benign (noncancerous) growths in the lining of your nose or sinuses that can significantly impact your breathing. If medications haven’t been successful with shrinking them, you might have them surgically removed. Learn more about recovery from nasal polyps surgery in this article. Surgery Follow-Up Nasal polyp surgery is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll be going home after you’ve recovered from anesthesia. This can take a couple of hours....

Stroke remains the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States following heart disease, cancer, accidents, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Each year, nearly 800,000 people are injured by a stroke and 150,000 die of them. Because stroke is so deadly, you should be prepared with information about palliative care programs in your area for a friend or family member who experiences this serious medical issue. Types of Stroke and Emergency Treatment Ischemic stroke happens when there is a narrowing or blockage of a vessel in the brain caused by a thrombosis or embolism....

The prostate bed is a structure in the male pelvis situated just beneath the bladder where the prostate gland rests. The term is most often used in the context of a surgical procedure known as a radical prostatectomy in which the prostate gland is removed in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Due to its adjacent position, the prostate bed is especially vulnerable to the spread of cancer. Because of this, the prostate bed (also known as the prostatic fossa) is often the focus of secondary cancer treatment....

The spinal column is made of stacked rectangular-shaped bones called vertebrae. There are 33 vertebrae including 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (chest), 5 lumbar (low-back), and 9 fused vertebrae that form the sacrum and coccyx (tailbone). Each of the upper 25 vertebrae is separated by a soft disc made of cartilage and connected by strong ligaments. A normal vertebral column is straight when viewed front to back, but has a smooth S-shaped curved when seen from the side....

Home remedies are best used to prevent swimmer’s ear or to treat it only if you are unable to see a physician right away. If this is your situation, the following information and home remedies should be helpful. It should be noted, however, that any time you can see a healthcare provider for symptoms of swimmer’s ear you should. Untreated swimmer’s ear can lead to complications, such as malignant otitis externa....

The vagal response (vasovagal reflex) is when stimulation of the vagus nerve causes symptoms such as lightheadedness, sweating, and blurred vision. This can happen because of stress, pain, heat, having a bowel movement, or even standing too long. In some cases, vasovagal syncope—a typically brief episode of passing out—can also occur. This article explains the vagal response and its causes. It discusses symptoms you may experience, how a vagal response episode is treated, and some ways you can prevent one from occurring....

Valsalva retinopathy is bleeding from the small blood vessels usually in or near the macula, which is located at the center of the retina. This is the part of your eye that detects light and colors. This condition occurs following a sudden and often non-serious rise in venous blood pressure, which is caused by an increase in pressure in the chest or abdominal cavities. It typically affects healthy eyes and usually resolves on its own....

Vecuronium is a medication given during surgery as part of general anesthesia. General anesthesia is a two-part process: medication to stop the muscles from moving and medication to make the patient unaware of what is happening during the procedure. Vecuronium is a neuromuscular blocking agent, a type of muscle relaxant that is commonly referred to as a paralytic agent. It prevents nerve impulses from the brain from signaling the muscles of the body to move, preventing most of the muscles of the body from moving....

It’s not uncommon for arthritis patients to get mouth sores as a side effect from medications. Oral ulcers or mouth sores develop on the palate, under the inside of the lips or inside of the cheeks. Arthritis medications with mouth sores as a side effect include: NSAIDs Methotrexate Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers Why Do NSAIDS Cause Mouth Sores? Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as Motrin (ibuprofen) can increase your risk of getting mouth sores....