A Henry Ford Hospital study has found that post-menopausal women suffered significant bone density loss in their hip after they were treated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain relief.

Bone density loss after six months was six times greater when compared to the typical bone density loss seen in a year in a post-menopausal woman who doesn’t receive steroid injection, researchers said.

Shlomo Mandel, M.D., a Henry Ford orthopaedic physician and the study’s lead author, said physicians should exercise caution prescribing an epidural steroid for select patients, suggesting that multiple injections may compromise bone strength.

“The findings of our study suggest that epidural steroid injections for back pain relief should be approached cautiously in patients at risk for bone fragility,” Dr. Mandel said.

(more…)

A. Apples are good for Osteoarthritis.

B. 3 ml of lemon juice mixed in 100 ml of water taken thrice daily helps the kidney to detoxify.

C. 30 ml of French bean juice is also said to be effective in Osteoarthritis. It has to be taken for at least 30 days as one course.

D. Cherries play a vital role in improving the anti oxidants in the system. Some naturopaths recommend 10 fresh cherries a day to keep Osteoarthritis in control.

E. Carrot juice mixed with the juices of beet and cucumber acts as diuretic hence it is recommended for Osteoarthritis.

F. A charcoal bath is a good home remedy for Osteoarthritis. In an old basin, mix one half cup of charcoal powder with water until a paste is made. Place affected foot into the basin and add water until the foot is enclosed. Keep your foot in the charcoal bath for thirty to sixty minutes.

(more…)

For most of you who have spent sleepless nights worrying whether your child is breathing properly while tucked up in their cots, a new device has been developed that may help parents rest easier while their baby sleeps, and keep the little one’s feet warm at the same time.

A team from Brigham University, Utah, have created a sock-like baby monitor which straps around an infant’s foot and uses pulse oximetry to monitor the heart rate and blood-oxygen levels, the Daily Mail reported.

If the child stops breathing or has a significant change in heart rate the monitor will notify parents by alerting them on their smart phone.

Jacob Colvin and his five colleagues hope the device, which is completely wireless and uses safe, non-invasive technology, will reduce the annual cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which sees at least 300 baby deaths unexpectedly in the UK every year.

“Our hope is that we can give parents time to react and see that something’s wrong before it’s too late,” Colvin said.

(more…)

Extending nightly sleep in mildly sleepy, healthy adults increases daytime alertness and reduces pain sensitivity, a new study has suggested.

“Our results suggest the importance of adequate sleep in various chronic pain conditions or in preparation for elective surgical procedures. We were surprised by the magnitude of the reduction in pain sensitivity, when compared to the reduction produced by taking codeine,” said Timothy Roehrs, PhD, the study’s principal investigator and lead author.

The study involved 18 healthy, pain-free, sleepy volunteers. They were randomly assigned to four nights of either maintaining their habitual sleep time or extending their sleep time by spending 10 hours in bed per night. Objective daytime sleepiness was measured using the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), and pain sensitivity was assessed using a radiant heat stimulus.

(more…)