Breaking News

Health

Health Matters: Big toe joint disease leads to gait pain

ESCANABA — Walking can be a traumatic act. This may seem a ridiculous statement but when examined from a perspective of an individual’s biomechanics, it is accurate. Although we don’t particularly think about it, walking is extremely complex. With every single step, various joints are moving, muscles pulling, ligaments tightening. Often, with less than optimal anatomy, these structures won’t function correctly, and gait is disturbed, altered, or changed in some fashion. Also important in this discussion is the intricate interrelationship between the many body parts involved in ...

Health Matters: Plantar fasciitis – dispelling the myths

ESCANABA — The scourge to humanity that is heel pain. (Taking some dramatic license here.) But if you want drama, talk to someone in the throes of acute plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel or arch pain. Although we don’t have precise data, it is believed that this has been occurring for generations. For various reasons, it has become far more common, one experienced in greater numbers than ever before. Part of the confusion surrounding this condition is the variability in presentation. Some experience a sharp piercing pain while others note only a burning sensation. A ...

ESCANABA — The attention directed at the opioid epidemic has been considerable of late, a consequence of the many deaths and hospitalizations resulting from its abuse. Too often, some injury or surgical procedure necessitates a prescription for pain, treated with one of the many prescription opioids. Should the pain continue, or an addiction develop, desperate measures are sometimes taken. Another example of careless, inaccurate marketing claims leading to overuse and misuse. When it comes to pain relief from a chronic condition, there are few options. Most frequently utilized are ...

Health Matters: Plantar fasciitis – dispelling the myths

ESCANABA — The scourge to humanity that is heel pain. (Taking some dramatic license here.) But if you want drama, talk to someone in the throes of acute plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel or arch pain. Although we don’t have precise data, it is believed that this has been occurring for generations. For various reasons, it has become far more common, one experienced in greater numbers than ever before. Part of the confusion surrounding this condition is the variability in presentation. Some experience a sharp piercing pain while others note only a burning sensation. A ...

Functional Neurological Disorder – The illness you didn’t know existed

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body send and receive signals. Physical and/or psychological risk factors can cause functional symptoms which include a variety of physical, sensory and cognitive symptoms that have yet to be explained by a recognized disease. Symptoms - Paralysis/weakness - Non epileptic seizures - Gait and balance problems - Headaches/migraines - Chronic pain - Involuntary movements/tremors - Tics - Visual changes - Speech changes; slurred, stutter, gibberish, loss of ...

Health Matters: Challenging cure for deadly diabetes

ESCANABA — The numbers regarding the global incidence of diabetes are terrifying. This disease of excessive sugar in the bloodstream is well known for the many complications occurring too frequently. Some of them are well recognized and generally common knowledge, like the heart problems and blindness. Amputation of a limb is another concern, performed too often, but is a consequence that is preventable 85% of the time. Pre-diabetes, in which the body is starting to experience problems with glucose management, will be present in 2 out of every 5 Americans within the next ten years. ...