PhD. ELLIE CANNON: How can I reduce the pain caused by the "electric shock" in the mouth? - dawn (2023)

to askThree years ago, while on vacation, I received electric shocks in my mouth. When I got back I went to the dentist who diagnosed me with trigeminal neuralgia. My GP agreed, but was unable to give me any advice or treatment. Fortunately, the pain went away with time, but started again a few weeks ago. My doctor prescribed pregabalin, but that didn't help. Is there anything else you can do?

ATrigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, severe attacks of facial pain, usually on one side of the face. Patients often describe it as an electric shock or sharp stabbing pain in the jaw, teeth or gums. Episodes are usually short, lasting seconds to minutes, but in severe cases it can happen up to 100 times a day. They can be activated by touch, talking, or even brushing your teeth.

Understandably, this is a distressing condition that can lead to disability.

The pain is caused by a problem with the trigeminal nerve, which runs from the temples and branches around the eyes and forehead and sends signals to the jaw muscles.

In some people, there are underlying causes such as B. Dental problems, damage from blood vessels or tumors that press on nerves, or diseases such as multiple sclerosis that cause nerve degeneration. If there are other worrying symptoms, such as vision or balance problems, the doctor may order a scan to rule out anything more sinister.

But trigeminal neuralgia is an important condition in its own right. Patients may find themselves unable to eat, lose weight as a result, suffer from depression from not being able to continue their normal daily activities and even lose their job.

This is certainly not something doctors should ignore.

An epilepsy medication called carbamazepine is approved for this condition and can be prescribed by a general practitioner for pain relief. NHS guidelines recommend that if this drug does not work or cannot be used, specialists should be hired to manage and treat pain, including other anti-seizure medicines and specific nerve painkillers. Ask for a referral to a team of neurology or pain specialists.

Q: My husband is advised to measure his blood pressure twice a day because it is extremely high. The NHS website says the reading should be taken three times per minute and we should ignore the first reading as it will always be higher. The problem is that the GP only took it once and then gave him the medicine. Would they be wrong?

ABlood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day depending on several factors, including the time of day, what we eat and drink, and how stressed we are.

Stress can also increase blood pressure, which is why blood pressure tends to be higher in GPs - a phenomenon known as white coat syndrome. Therefore, repeated measurements, rather than single measurements, are the only true way to tell if someone has high blood pressure.

Taking three times means improving the degree of accuracy - it is better to take five or ten times, of course, we must choose the appropriate one. However, very high values ​​in the clinic can clearly indicate a problem and lead to the prescription of blood pressure medication. We will still request home measurements to confirm the diagnosis and give us an accurate picture of the patient's blood pressure.

We usually ask for one week measurements.

One of the best ways to test your blood pressure, especially when there is uncertainty or wide variations in readings, is with a blood pressure monitor called an ABPM. This is a digital monitor that attaches to the patient's waist and arm cuff. Wear time is 24 hours, take at least 14 measurements while awake. It is considered an accurate method of confirming a diagnosis of hypertension.

Q: I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia. I've heard that exercise can improve bone density, so I really want to try it, but I'm worried about fractures. Should I take my hand away just in case?

AOsteopenia is the diagnosis we make when bone density is below average, but not high enough to be considered full-blown osteoporosis - when bones become weak and prone to fracture. Typically, osteoporosis patients are not treated with osteoporosis medications, but lifestyle changes are recommended to improve the condition.

Yes, exercise is key. Exercise is also recommended for people with osteoporosis, as they are less likely to break a bone. Conversely, exercise increases bone density, builds muscle strength and reduces the risk of fractures. Walking and climbing stairs, jumping rope, tennis, and star jumping are all good choices because a small impact can promote bone growth. Muscle exercises are also recommended. This could include lifting weights, using a resistance band, or doing bodyweight exercises such as wall pushups two to three days a week.

Patients with osteopenia are generally advised to get enough vitamin D from daily supplements and enough calcium from the diet - the Royal Osteoporosis Society provides information on choosing richly good advice on calcium-containing foods

Why Your Water Pipe Leak Doesn't Mean Prostate Cancer

Do you recognize the signs of prostate cancer? Okay, this is a little trick question.

The fact is that in a large number of patients there are no noticeable symptoms. So I was pleased to see experts from the University of Cambridge raise concerns about NHS public health campaigns telling men to watch out for urinary problems, for example B. more often than usual as a possible sign. However, there is little evidence that these problems are disease-related and that they are more likely caused by an enlarged prostate.

Confusion about the true symptoms may be the reason that about half of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

So what should you pay attention to? It's all about risk factors -- being older than 50, being of African or Caribbean descent, or having a father or brother with a history of the disease. If all three are true, regular GP checkups are crucial. If both boxes are checked, attend all health checks and be alert to any anomalies.

I feel Covid problem again

The anosmia associated with COVID-19 - loss of sense of smell - is making a comeback with a vengeance, as judged by my patients.

This strange symptom became synonymous with the virus during the first wave.

But then Covid mutated and people got vaccinated and became immune and something seemed to go away.

Well, not anymore. The latest wave of Covid resulted in a slew of cases.

One more note: it seems random these days who gets the dreaded Covid symptoms and who gets them wiped out. I've known older guys who said their infections were nothing more than a bad cold, and younger athletes who had the "worst flu ever."

I'd love to hear your story - how has Covid affected you? Do you sometimes smell bad or hardly notice it? Write me.

Source: |This article was originally from Dailymail.co.uk