1/48. Use of cervical spine manipulation under anesthesia for management of cervical disk herniation, cervical radiculopathy, and associated cervicogenic headache syndrome.OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the benefits of cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia as an approach to treating a patient with chronic cervical disk herniation, associated cervical radiculopathy, and cervicogenic headache syndrome. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient had neck pain with radiating paresthesia into the right upper extremity and incapacitating headaches and had no response to 6 months of conservative therapy. Treatment included spinal manipulative therapy, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and acupuncture. magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, and somatosensory evoked potential examination all revealed positive diagnostic findings. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Treatment included 3 successive days of cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia. The patient had immediate relief after the first procedure. Her neck and arm pain were reported to be 50% better after the first trial, and her headaches were better by 80% after the third trial. Four months after the last procedure the patient reported a 95% improvement in her overall condition. CONCLUSION: Cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia has a place in the chiropractic arena. It is a useful tool for treating chronic discopathic disease complicated by cervical radiculopathy and cervicogenic headache syndrome. The beneficial results of this procedure are contingent on careful patient selection and proper training of qualified chiropractic physicians.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/48. Early diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.We report two cases and review the literature concerning the importance of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain as a guide for the early diagnosis and treatment of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). A nonspecific term, ADEM refers to an acute disease that is postinfectious, parainfectious, postvaccinal, or of an unknown precipitating factor. Often when there is clinical suspicion of ADEM, MRI is not done before significant morbidity and mortality occur, despite the existence of adequate treatments. Primary care physicians should be aware of the importance of early MRI in ADEM.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/48. Acute abstinence syndrome following abrupt cessation of long-term use of tramadol (Ultram): a case study.We report on a patient who had taken the centrally acting analgesic tramadol for over 1 year. The compound had proven to be sufficient to treat her painful episodes related to fibromyalgia. Due to lack of supply while being on a trip, intake of the drug was stopped abruptly, resulting in the development of classical abstinence-like symptoms within 1 week. Abstinence-like symptoms consisted of restlessness and insomnia for which the benzodiazepine lorazepam was given. Diarrhoea and abdominal cramps were treated with the peripherally active opioid loperamide, while bouts of cephalgia were treated with sumatriptan. Diffuse musculoskeletal-related pain and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were treated with dextromethorphan. All these different medications proved to be efficacious as they resulted in the cessation of symptoms. Within 1 week symptoms ceased and the patient regained her normal activities without any sequelae. Although tramadol is considered a non-habit- and non-dependence-forming analgesic, abstinence symptoms are likely to develop following abrupt cessation of intake, especially when the compound had been taken over 1 year. Therefore patients should be advised of such an effect whenever they decide to stop intake or their physician is planning to switch to another medication. To avoid abstinence-like symptoms doses should be slowly tapered down.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/48. giant cell arteritis. Episodes of syncope add complexity to an unusual presentation.GCA presents in various forms, creating a diagnostic conundrum for the treating physician. Evaluation requires extensive medical examination, testing, and imaging to rule out other conditions. Compared with the process of diagnosing GCA, treating it is relatively straightforward. Most patients show significant improvement with corticosteroid therapy. Our patient presented with syncope, which also has numerous causes. Detailed testing confirmed a positional trigger for her syncope in the absence of hemodynamic disturbances. She responded promptly to corticosteroid therapy. We speculate that flow-limiting stenosis in the vertebrobasilar system may have caused her symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/48. intraocular pressure elevation in a child due to the use of inhalation steroids--a case report.inhalation steroid therapy can cause ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma. The authors describe the case of a young girl who presented with raised intraocular pressure and headaches due to the prolonged administration of nasal and inhalation steroids. The ophthalmologist should monitor the intraocular pressure in patients who use inhalation or nasal steroid therapy on a regular base. The physician or paediatrician should be aware of this complication in children with headaches or diminished visual acuity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/48. The outcome of treating patients with suspected rebound headache.OBJECTIVE: To prospectively document the outcome of patients suspected of having rebound headache. BACKGROUND: Previous publications on rebound headache have, for the most part, implied that the patients improve, but have failed to specify the percent who improved, the pattern of improvement, or the end point that is achieved. methods: This was a prospective study of 50 consecutive patients presenting with chronic daily headache of over 2 months' duration who were suspected of having rebound headache from the medications that they were using for pain relief, and who were eligible to follow our usual treatment protocol, ie, abrupt termination of the offending medications and use of subcutaneous injections of dihydroergotamine for excruciating headache. RESULTS: One year after the initial patient was enrolled and 8 months after the last patient was enrolled, 29 patients (58%) achieved the goal of 6 or more consecutive headache-free days; the mean time to achieve this goal was 84 days. Another 9 patients showed varying degrees of improvement; 1 continued to improve and achieved 5 consecutive headache-free days after having omitted her medications for 10 months. Eleven patients failed to stop their medications or stopped their medications for only a brief interval. One patient continued to have daily headaches after having essentially omitted all pain relief medications for 12 months and was the only true treatment failure in the group. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients suspected of having rebound headache comply with the instructions to omit the offending agents and can be helped. This information might help other physicians who are treating patients suspected of having rebound headache.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/48. Unusual paranasal sinus tumors in two patients with common nasal complaints.Common nasal complaints are managed by both the otolaryngologist and the primary care physician. We describe the cases of two patients with nasal obstruction who were referred to us for evaluation--one with severe headache and the other with profuse epistaxis. Their histories prior to referral included long-term, common rhinologic complaints of low-grade headache and mild epistaxis. Neither patient had been referred to us until their symptoms had become severe. Our examination revealed that both patients had rare paranasal sinus pathology. One patient had a fibroxanthoma of the frontal sinus, and the other had extramedullary hematopoiesis of the maxillary sinus. Fibroxanthoma of the frontal sinus is rare, and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the maxillary sinus has not been previously reported. These two unique cases serve as a reminder that long-term common rhinologic complaints can occasionally be a sign of life-threatening pathology and require a full evaluation by an otolaryngologist.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/48. Eight years of unexplained headaches (why did the diagnosis take so long?).The patient had chronic incapacitating headaches for a period of eight years. Neurologic tests ruling out organic causes such as tumors and analysis of diet, allergies, stress levels, and chronic infections left the patient and physicians without an explanation. The headaches did not fit the patterns of common or classic migraines. The patient's energy level had significantly decreased during this same time period, and she had frequently become short of breath. Diagnosis of underlying pathology occurred when efforts were focused on explaining respiratory conditions. The patient had an oxygen saturation of 77% and a pulse of 98, following a brief walk around the building. Further testing by a pulmonary specialist confirmed diagnosis of emphysema secondary to a deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT). Background materials supporting this case history include: a model for AAT function, genetics of AAT deficiency, pathophysiology of both liver and pulmonary diseases, and a summary of treatment options and prognosis for AAT deficient patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/48. Identifying and managing adverse environmental health effects: 1. Taking an exposure history.Public concern and awareness are growing about adverse health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants. Frequently patients present to their physicians with questions or concerns about exposures to such substances as lead, air pollutants and pesticides. Most primary care physicians lack training in and knowledge of the clinical recognition, management and avoidance of such exposures. We have found that it can be helpful to use the CH2OPD2 mnemonic (Community, Home, hobbies, Occupation, Personal habits, diet and Drugs) as a tool to identify a patient's history of exposures to potentially toxic environmental contaminants. In this article we discuss why it is important to take a patient's environmental exposure history, when and how to take the history, and how to interpret the findings. Possible routes of exposure and common sources of potentially toxic biological, physical and chemical substances are identified. A case of sick-building syndrome is used to illustrate the use of the mnemonic.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/48. Communicating the right therapy for the right patient at the right time: acute therapy.OBJECTIVE: review of problems arising from communication difficulties in headache practice. methods: literature review and assessment of practice experience. BACKGROUND: Advances in understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and the availability of specific acute therapies have given migraine sufferers access to effective treatment and physicians a wide array of therapeutic alternatives. There remains uncertainty about the best drug group for any given patient and about which triptan to use when and in which formulation; about patient preference and satisfaction; about interpretations of pivotal trials and meta-analyses; and about the relevance of large group efficacy and safety data to the individual patient. The clinician may be daunted by the array of triptans with choices of dosage and multiple formulations and will likely learn how to use two or three of them at most, as in depression and hypertension. In the context of the wide array of choices and the complexities of assessing responses and patient preferences, this paper attempts to provide a framework for incorporating the evidence with clinical experience and for communicating these concepts effectively. Benefits, HARMS AND COSTS: None. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Even when an appropriate recommendation is determined, therapy may fail unless the doctor patient relationship permits open communication, time for questions and answers and time for instruction on how to use a given medication, and its probable effects. translating evidence into patient-friendly language is a skill as necessary as that of making the clinical decision itself. Tools are available that can support this effort and aid in creating an environment of "partnership".- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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