Description and Possible Medical Problems
If you suddenly lose the ability to use your arms, it can be a scary thing. Most often, it is a sign of a stroke, which is caused when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted by a blockage or clot. Typically, a stroke affects only one side of the body, such as one arm, or an arm and leg on the same side, or even the face, arm, and leg.
If you think you have had a stroke, you will need to see your doctor, who will do a complete medical history and physical exam and run some blood tests to check for problems that are easy to treat. These include blood sugar that is too high or too low, coronary disease, or a sodium-potassium imbalance, which frequently occurs in people who take diuretics.
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In a routine exam, your doctor or gynecologist will first conduct a visual and physical exam, including using a speculum to examine your vaginal walls and cervix. She will take a Pap smear, which is a sample of cells taken from your cervix, place it on a slide, and send it to a lab for testing. A Pap smear should be performed yearly on all sexually active women until the age of 65, since it serves as a screening device for cervical and other gynecological cancers. Your doctor may also do a pelvic sonogram, which is a sound-wave test that allows yout doctot to look at your ovaries and uterus. If an area appears irregular, your doctor will use a culposcope, an instrument that allows her to examine the uterus closely, and take a tissue sample for biopsy if necessary.
She will also examine your breasts and ask you if you’ve noticed any irregularities in them during your monthly exam. She will take your height and weight, measure your blood pressure, and ask you if your partner or form of contraception has changed since your last exam.
No matter what stage of your reproductive cycle you’re in, an annual gynecological exam is a must for staying healthy.
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If you have undergone a modified radical mastectomy and would still like your breasts to look like new, one of your options—silicone breast implants—is no longer available. There are always breast prostheses to be worn with specially designed bras, but if you find this to be insufficient and you don’t want saline implants, you may consider breast reconstruction, in which a new breast is “made” from muscle or fatty tissue that’s been taken from the abdomen, the buttocks, or the outside of your upper thigh. It is formed into the shape of a breast with a layer of skin covering it before it is surgically set into place. The skin that’s used to cover the new breast is often taken from the remaining breast or from another part of the body. If you should choose this option, you should be aware that you are still vulnerable to breast cancer, either in the remaining breast or in the reconstructed one, so you’ll still need to rely on mammography and self-exams.
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Margo’s case was especially severe, but not all people with sciatica caused by a herniated disc have to undergo surgery. In many instances, a prolapsed disc responsible for sciatic pain may heal on its own. Doctors recommend bed rest, aspirin, and patience. With the nonsurgical method, however, it is necessary for your physician to treat the pain. Muscle relaxants such as Robaxin 500 taken three times a day can help relieve the pain. Valium can also be used; it will relieve painful back spasms as well as reduce your anxiety. An anti-inflammatory medication such as Naprosyn may be prescribed as long as you have no prior history of an ulcer. The drug will be injected near the ruptured disc and will ease the pain and decrease the swelling. Total recuperation might take up to two weeks when medication is combined with the bed rest
Most herniated discs do heal themselves, but that doesn’t mean you will be without pain. Unfortunately, after your first bout with a herniated disc, your back will never again be quite the same; however, surgeons today view surgery as the last resort, even though only surgery will completely ease the pain of a herniated disc. During the operation, the surgeon opens up the lower back and takes the pressure off the nerve by removing parts of the disc. The recovery period is usually one to three months; during this time, bed rest is about all you may be able to manage. After your back pain disappears, you will be able to do everything you did before.
How do you know when to wait out a ruptured disc and when to have an operation? Your doctor will describe the pros and cons of each, but, as a general rule, if the pain is localized in your back and you feel it gradually decreasing over the course of a couple of days, it’s a good idea to wait it out. If the pain starts to get worse and your leg and buttock begin to grow numb, or if your back still hurts while you’re resting and aspirin doesn’t help, you’re a good candidate for surgery.
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If you find that it’s difficult for you to swallow easily, you should call your doctor. She will conduct a physical exam and run some tests to help her determine what is making it difficult for you to swallow. She may do a blood test, as well as an upper GI series to see if a condition affecting the esophagus is the cause of your swallowing difficulties.
If a sore throat is making it difficult for you to swallow, your doctor will examine your throat to check if an infection is the cause. She may also take a throat culture to see if you have strep throat. If you do, treatment may include antibiotic therapy for a week or more with penicillin or erythromycin. For a common sore throat, over-the-counter lozenges work well and Tylenol will help relieve the pain. It will also help if you eat mostly soft foods that are easy to swallow.
If heartburn is the primary cause, your doctor may simply recommend that you take antacids and raise the head of your bed at night. If you have hyperparathyroidism, she will probably recommend that the parathyroid gland be surgically removed.
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