Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death for persons under the age of 45 in the United States. Unfortunately, a dramatic brain injury occurs every 15 seconds and approximately 5 million Americans currently suffer some form of disability related to a TBI. The leading causes are motor vehicle accidents, falls and sports injuries. And, individuals who suffer from dramatic brain injuries can experience an injury which ranges anywhere from the very mild to the very severe.

Just as there are several different causes which results in a dramatic brain injury there are also different traumas that can happen to the brain. A closed head injury occurs when the skull has not been opened or penetrated from the direct trauma to the head and a penetrating head injury is the medical term used when an object has penetrated through the bone and into the brain.  Read more...

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is not pumping blood as efficiently as it should and is not getting the required amount of blood to the organs in the body. Soon after the efficiency of the heart goes down the organs do not receive the right amount of oxygen and nutrients, and symptoms occur.

Symptoms of heart failure include:

Edema, irregular or rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating, wheeze, nausea, coughing with phlegm that is white or tinged with blood, appetite loss or fluid retention that results in fast weight gain.

Symptoms are not always apparent while resting but will almost always show up during some type of exercise. Exercise tends to cause an individual to become fatigued and dizzy. The blood pressure goes down and the body attempts to make up for the lost blood volume by setting off hormone and nerve signals that are meant to increase blood volume by retaining water.  Read more...

Spirit Jump is a grassroots non-profit organization with a mission to provide hope and comfort to the many men, women and children battling cancer. Spirit Jump accomplishes this by providing uplifting cards and inspirational gifts during this most difficult time. Visit our website (www.spiritjump.org) to read ALL the Jumpee stories. You can request an address anytime by emailing volunteer@spiritjump.com with the name of the person you want to send a Spirit Jump to.

Bob Needs A Spirit Jump

Bob, 74, is an artist retired from ATT. His book, Star Walker, was dedicated to his youngest son Mark who died in 2004 at 36. Mark had battled schitzophrenia since 19. We began Bob’s move to Fairhope, AL Mother’s Day weekend, 2008 then returned to Atlanta where I lived.

8/3/8 I took Bob to the ER saying something was horribly wrong, Bob was lost while driving. We spent an hour with a neurologist, CT scan completed; “depression/anxiety, go home”. We did, then drove back to AL 8/6…Bob became worse; we saw a young doc who did an MRI: dual lobe brain cancer.  Read more...

Edema occurs when fluid accumulates in bodily tissues and swelling develops. This fluid becomes trapped inside ‘compartments’ that exist in the soft tissues. The tissues that are most often affected are in the ankles, legs and feet. Rarely it shows up in the face or hands. Edema can happen to anybody but it seems to target pregnant women and older people.

Pitting edema can be singled out by applying pressure to the area that is swollen and checking to see if it is still indented after the pressure is released. Non-pitting edema will not leave an indentation behind when the skin is pressed on. Non-pitting edema can usually be found on either the arms or legs.

The doctor will test the swollen area by pressing on it as was described in the last paragraph. Fifteen seconds of pressure is all that is needed before the finger is removed to check for a dimple. There might be other tests to determine the exact cause of the edema. These might include urinalysis, blood tests, ECG (electrocardiogram) and an X-ray.  Read more...

ABCESSES Lavender, Tea Tree, Thyme, Myrrh, Frankincense, Birch (Blends: Antiseptic, Antibacterial, ImmuniBoost, Antimicrobial)

ABDOMINAL CRAMPS Lavender, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Ginger, Basil, Peppermint, Anise, Fennel (Blends: Antimicrobial, DigestAid)

ACCUMULATION OF Toxins Birch, Carrot Seed, Juniper (Blends: Liver Detox, Kidney Clear, Circulate, Energy Balance)

Acne Bergamot, Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Vetiver, Lemongrass, Rosewood, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus Radiata, Orange, Neroli (Blends: Antiseptic, Antibacterial, Liver Detox, MenoPal)

AGING SKIN Frankincense, Helichrysum, Cypress, Rose, Lavender, Patchouli, Sage, Geranium, Rosewood, Sandalwood (Blends: Youthful, Oasis, FirmUp)

Allergies Chamomile, Lavender , Melissa, Patchouli, Ledum, Nutmeg (Blends: Energy Balance, DigestAid, RespiRescue, CongestAid)

AMENORRHOEA (Missing or scanty periods) Basil, Fennel, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Myrrh (Blends: Regulate, MenoPal)

Arthritis Benzoin, Birch, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Juniper, Helichrysum, Balsam Fir, Rosemary, Oregano, Clove, Nutmeg, Tansy, Elemi, Peppermint (Blends: Joint Dr, GoutBGone, BackacheAway, Circulate, PainAway)

Asthma Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Hyssop (Blends: DigestAid, RespiRescue)

ATHLETES FOOT Tea Tree, Myrrh, Balsam Fir, Lavender, Peppermint, Lemongrass (Blends: Antimicrobial, Antiseptic)  Read more...

Back pain is caused from a variety of problems including Acute Pulmonary Edema. Edema builds up abnormal and excessive fluids that cause serious actions to the tissue cells. What happens is similar to over watering plants. The plant will swell and gradually wither away.

Edema in acute stages is defined as heart failure to one side, yet the problem extends to cause pain in the back. What occurs is when the heart is interrupted; it channels the fluids to tubes, vessels, ducts, and passageways that extend to the lungs.

Causes of edema:
Edema may arise from inhaling smoke, MI, CHF, Myocarditis, excessive I.V. intakes of fluid, Valvular disease, overdose of drugs, such as morphine, barbiturates, and heroin. Acute edema arises from ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and Atherosclerosis.

The lack of heart pumping can cause stress to the chest, which when the chest is scarred it affects the spines structure and mobility. Overarching the back is where back pain starts, since the chest is restricted from scarring and/or edema.  Read more...

The skeletal muscles supplies us movement, which is supported by the posture. Our muscles will shorten, tighten, contract, and promote mobility. The muscles join with bones that attach to the tendons. Once the muscles begin contracting, the muscles are stimulated and join the fibers through our motor neuron cells. The nerves makeup axon, body of cells, dendrites, etc, and these elements transmit impulses to the nerves, sending the impulses to the major components of our system, such as Central Nerve System.

The network joins with cells, fibers, muscles, etc, and conveys messages, transmitting them through sensations that stop at the brain. The brain transmits signals that are sent from motor impulses and carries onto the organs and muscles. Collagen is produced from the muscle fibers, which the tendons surround the fibers via the softer tissues. (Paratenon)

Injuries in this area occur when a person suddenly stretches, or overexerts the tendons. The back muscles in the leg make up the gluteus medius, (Hamstrings) biceps femoris, (Hamstrings), gluteus maximus, iliotibial tract, Sartorius, adductor Magnus, gastrocemius, semitendinosus, and the soleus.  Read more...

Hypercortisolism is a long medical term that defines Cushings syndrome. Cushings syndrome is a hyperactive disorder that affects the adrenal cortex and results in excessive secretion of cortisol, which is passed from Glucocorticoids. Cushings syndrome can increase sex hormones and mineralocorticoids.

The pituitary glands are stimulated by hypothalamic. The pituitary glands are also affected by carcinoma and/or adenoma.

As well, the adrenal glands are affected by hyperplasia when Cushings syndrome is present. When Cushings syndrome is present, exogenous secretes into the ACTH via the neoplasm, which is malignant. It continues onto the gallbladder and lungs. You will need to read the anatomy of the skeleton system to see how it affects the spinal column, which in turn causes back pain.

The disorder prolongs or submits excessive administration of ACTH and/or Glucocorticoids into the system, which transmits to the cortex. Since ACTH is secreted excessively into the system, it causes joint pain, edema, fragile skin, weight gain, hypertension, ecchymosis, fatigue, weakness, hirsutism, mood swings, and so on. The symptoms carry onto create acne, abdomen striae, slow healing, moon face, muscle waste, recurrent infections, buffalo humps, gynecomastia, truncal obesity, and so on. We see that obesity, joint pain, weight gain, edema, and other elements of the disorder causes back pain as well.  Read more...

How it is defined:

Fractures are defined in medical terms as breaks in the permanence of bones. However, several types of fractures doctors consider before diagnosis is set. The types of conditions include thirteen different types, such as pathologic, complete, avulsion, incomplete, compressed, comminuted, depressed, greenstick, oblique, simple, spiral, compound, and transverse. Greenstick is a fracture of the bones, which often occurs at a youthful age. In this instance, one side of the bone is broken or out of order while the other side is curved or bent.

How doctors treat fractures is based on the findings, since few fractures may include damage of the hips.

Intertrochanteric, intracapsular, and extracapsular is the modes of hip fractures doctors consider. In addition, yes, hip fractures cause back pain.

When doctors consider back or hip fractures they often consider trauma, maturity, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, multiple myeloma, immobility, steroids, Cushing syndrome, malnutrition, bone tumors, and so on.  Read more...

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease such as demyelinating and affects the motor and sensory neurons. The disease will cause cycles of remission, which causes the condition to worsen. When exacerbation starts etiology is reviewed, which includes the cause? The cause at this time is not clear, yet some experts believe that viral infections and autoimmune disease plays a part in Multiple Sclerosis cause.

The disease is complication, yet it cause back pain. According to Pathophysiology views, the scatters of demyelinization will start affecting the brain, as well as the spinal cord. Once it affects these areas degeneration starts targeting the myelin sheath (Nerves that insulates the layers of cells) and causes a string of patches of sclerotic tissues. The patches impair the conduction, which reaches the motor nerve impulses.

How do I know if I have Multiple Sclerosis?

You consider the symptoms. The symptoms include ataxia, blurred vision, weakness, heat intolerance, nystagmus, sensation impairment, speech scan, diplopic, optic neuritis, paresthesia, tremor intentions, euphoria sensations, paralysis, incontinence urine, and powerlessness to feel or measure the pose of the body.  Read more...