Thursday, May 30, 2019

Cervicogenic Headache Treatment In Delhi

What is Cervicogenic Headache?

Cervicogenic headache in simple terms means headache originating from the neck. Even though the pain you experience is in the head or part of the face, the actual problem in lies in the neck. The possible pain generators in the neck include the joints, discs, surrounding tissues such as the neck muscles, coverings of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Headaches afflict people of all ages. The impact is variable from mild discomfort to severe incapacitation, depending on the severity and the frequency of headaches. Often the causative factors are numerous and difficult to pinpoint. Cervicogenic headaches represent one such condition that is easily overlooked and under diagnosed, due to limited awareness about the condition. This is a treatable cause of headaches with possibility of good relief if the diagnosis is correct.

Signs & Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache:

Some of the pointers towards cervicogenic headache include:
  • Increase in headache with neck movements such as nodding or rotation of neck
  • Increase pain with pressure on certain sensitive points in the neck
  • Stiffness and reduced range of neck movements
  • Pain is generally one sided and does not change sides. Sometimes both sides are involved
  • Generally described as a pressure sensation at the back, side or front of head or in the area around the eye. It may be episodic with varying duration or present constantly. During severe episodes nausea and vomiting and other features similar to migraine can be present making the diagnosis more challenging.
The headaches often start after trauma/ injuries such as whiplash. Conditions such as occipital neuralgia (a problem associated with the nerves at the back of head) are closely linked to cervicogenic headaches.

Causes of Cervicogenic Headache:

A number of neck conditions have been attributed to cause cervicogenic headaches including:
  • Degenerative changes in the joints of the cervical spine such as osteoarthritis
  • Discs of the cervical spine
  • Whiplash injury to the cervical spine or other sports injuries
  • Spasms of the neck muscles
  • Bad posture of the neck for long periods of time, such as when working or sleeping

Diagnosing Cervicogenic Headaches:

Diagnosing a cervicogenic headache can be tricky, as a number of headaches can present with similar features. Your doctor will obtain a detailed history often taking you back to when it had first started. You will be asked in detail about your pain symptoms, stress levels, work, eating and sleep habits, medication usage etc. This is usually followed up by examination. Diagnostic investigations such as X-ray, MRI, CT scans cannot conform the diagnosis but do provide support to the diagnosis. An injection is often used for confirmation of the diagnosis.

Cervicogenic Headache Management Options:

There are a variety of treatment methods for helping with cervicogenic headaches. These include:
  • Lifestyle changes such as regulation of sleep cycle, workplace ergonomics
  • Medication may include mild or potent pain killers
  • Interventions such as joint, nerve or muscle injections. These generally involve injection of local anaesthetics with or without steroids. Sometimes Botulinum toxin injections are used for muscles
  • Radiofrequency treatment can help relieve/ reduce these headaches for a prolonged duration

Management Options continued:

  • Physical therapy can help to stretch and relax the muscles in and around your neck. They can help deal with the muscular trigger points
  • Psychology input may involve biofeedback, relaxation therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Complimentary and alternative medicine including meditation, yoga, TENS, acupressure and acupuncture
  • Surgery – this may be used in cases with severe joint changes or nerve compression causing severe headache remains unrelieved by other modalities, but this is rare

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Migraine and Headache Specialist and Doctors In Delhi

Headaches are a common health issue that affects people of all ages world over



Headaches are a common problem that affects people of all ages worldwide. There can be many reasons why people can develop headaches and these poor neck position while working or sleeping, stress, overwork, medical conditions such as degenerative disease of the spine, trauma, sinus problems, strokes, infections etc. Headaches which keep recurring are called recurrent headaches and those that tend to persist for a long period of time are called chronic headaches.
Headaches can hinder day to day activities and severely affect the quality of life especially in individuals who experience frequent severe headaches or long lasting / constant headaches . Recurrent headaches can be quite difficult to handle since they tend to develop suddenly, not giving you an opportunity to prepare for it and plan your day. There a variety of measures that you can take in order to reduce the impact and frequency of these headaches. Some of these are quite simple, but most people doubt the effectiveness and hence are hesitant to implement. These can work synergistically with the other management options suggested by your pain specialist. These include

General lifestyle modifications

  • Regulating your sleep cycle: Having a regular sleep cycle goes a long way in helping to reduce these headaches. Good sleep environment plays an important role and includes a darkened bedroom, a quiet place where you are comfortable and it helps to unwind. Some find a relaxing hot bath helpful in unwinding prior to heading off to bed. It is advised to avoid watching TV, using laptops or mobiles before you go to bed.
  • Hydration: Keep yourself well hydrated, because dehydration is a known trigger of headaches, and can worsen preexisting headaches.
  • Regular meals: Have you meals on time. This another important factor that plays a role in the development of headaches. Low blood sugar/ hypoglycemia can trigger headaches. If you are in the habit of skipping meals or eating late and heavy meals, then you should consider changing this.
  • Avoiding triggers: Other trigger/ precipitating factors may vary from individual to individual. From particular foods to the brightness of TV screens to loud noises, certain smells etc there are numerous factors. You are the best person to identify these and avoid them as much as possible.
  • Tea and coffee: Minimize your intake of coffee and tea, because they are known to precipitate headaches. Avoid taking them late in the evenings and just before going to bed.
  • Quit smoking
  • Stress management and relaxation: Learn how to manage your stress in a productive manner and practice relaxation techniques.
These general measures, when used in combination with advice from your pain specialist can help you control your headaches better. Some of the common medical interventions used in management of headaches include:

Medications:

Medications for headache can be used to terminate the headache at the time you are experiencing it or can be taken as a preventive measure to reduce your chances of developing a headache. Preventive medications are usually taken when people experience frequent or continuous headaches, and they should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. Too much of any medication can also end up being the cause of your headache as well, and is given the name Medication Overuse Headache. The different medicines used for recurrent headaches are:
  • Antidepressants: These medications, besides the pain relieving effects can also have other beneficial effects like reducing anxiety and sleep disturbances. The drug selected will depend on your individual situation.
  • Beta blockers: Beta blockers, commonly used in management of high blood pressure and heart problems. They are helpful in the management of migraine related headaches
  • Anti-seizure medicines: Several anti-seizure medicines help in the prevention different types of recurrent/ chronic headaches including migraine.
  • NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used over the counter medications for mild to moderate pain, and they are effective in various different types of headaches. On frequent usage they can have harmful side effects such as gastritis and peptic ulcer disease; therefore they must be used with caution and under medical supervision.

Other interventional methods:

When simple measures such as lifestyle modifications and oral medications are not successful in resolving the headaches, then it may be worth considering other interventional methods. The intervention used will depend on the diagnosis. The common interventions include:

Complementary & Alternative therapies

These include:
  • Acupuncture – which involves the insertion of thin needles at definitive points in your body, with the intention of providing pain relief
  • Massage therapy – this can help to reduce the stress and tension. It helps to relax the tightened muscles and thereby provides relief.
  • Meditation and relaxation therapy
  • Herbs and nutrients – Several organic herbs help in preventing migraine headaches and reduce the intensity of headaches. In deficiency states vitamin and mineral supplements can be taken to reduce headaches and prevent them from reoccurring.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Treatment In Delhi

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome or ‘median nerve compression’ is a painful condition that develops as a result of excess pressure on a nerve (median nerve) as it travels into the wrist through the narrow passageway.
Median nerve of arm carries sensation from thumb, index finger, middle finger and a part of the ring finger to the brain and controls the movement of some important hand muscle.  This nerve arises from the brachial plexus which is formed by the joining of many nerve roots exiting the spine in the neck region.  Median nerve runs down the forearm and passes through a narrow tunnel like passageway (carpal tunnel) on the palm side of the wrist. Your pain specialist can further explain the anatomical details to help you understand the condition better.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

CTS may affect one or both hands. Those, who are involved in jobs requiring repetitive movement of the wrist such as construction workers, manufacturers etc. are more likely to be diagnosed with CTS. Women are three times more likely to have CTS and the prevalence, severity increases with age. Some studies have observed a peak incidence between the age of 45 and 59 years and a second peak between 75 and 84 years. In most cases it is difficult to pinpoint the cause as to why this condition develops although many predisposing factors have been identified and these include:
  • Fluid retention from pregnancy especially in 3rd trimester
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Obesity
  • Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
  • Fractures or trauma to the wrist
  • Repeated over extension of the wrist or movement such as typing, working on computers for more than 20 hours/ week
  • Hereditary factors and conditions such as polyneuropathy (where multiple nerves are affected)

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

In the early stage the symptoms may be intermittent and only at night.  As the condition advances these may become constant with development of wasting and weakness of hand muscles. The common symptoms include
  • Numbness, burning, tingling, shock like sensation, pain in the ring, middle, index fingers and the thumb.
  • Affected individuals often have disturbed sleep with urge to shake out their hand to obtain relief from symptoms.
  • Provocation of symptoms by sustained hand or arm positions especially those involving arm elevation and wrist flexion as while holding a phone.  Provocation may also be more noticeable after repetitive actions of the hand or wrist.
  • Clumsiness and weakness of hand with difficulty performing simple tasks like buttoning clothes & opening jars.
  • Losing grip over things/ difficulty to hold objects firmly in hand due to weakness.
  • Burning sensation/ pain may involve forearm, upper arm.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?

Your doctor will take a careful history and perform examination of your hand, arm, shoulders and neck. The sensation and movements of the hand may also be evaluated. The doctor may also hold, bend your wrist in a flexed position to check if this increases/ brings on your symptoms as this position further narrows the space for the nerve temporarily.
He/she may request for investigations such as electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction studies and electromyography) and ultrasound. Electrodiagnostic studies can help determine severity and prognosis. Plain X-ray may be useful if bone or joint disease/ structural abnormalities are suspected. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is useful in picking up rare pathological causes of CTS such as ganglion or bony deformity and these can have bearing on the surgical plan.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Management of CTS depends on the severity of symptoms. In mild to moderate cases your doctor may recommend the conservative approach which should result in improvement in a few weeks time. This includes

Non-surgical methods

Splinting or bracing – Wearing a splint or brace will keep you from moving or bending the wrist while you rest. One study has shown that using a neutral wrist splint is twice as likely to give symptom relief compared to a splint in extension position. This modality, in combination with other treatment modalities, can be especially useful in pregnancy. However not everyone is able to get accustomed to the splint.
Physical therapy – There is some evidence that physical therapy techniques are effective CTS treatments. Multiple sessions from specialist physiotherapists and treatment modalities include carpal bone mobilization, therapeutic ultrasound and nerve glide exercises.
Oral medications – Oral steroids have shown to improve symptoms for limited time but are less effective than local injections with more side effects. Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) and diuretics have questionable benefits. Similarly  research studies show that vitamin B-6 supplementation has a negligible therapeutic effect.

Ultrasound-guided local injections

This involves injecting local anaesthetics and a small dose of steroid close to the problem site under ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound helps to ensure accuracy and minimises the risk of complications. One study has estimated the risk of serious complication with these injections as less than 0.1%.  There is evidence suggesting that the local injection is effective for more than one month in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome and delays the need for surgery at one year. Some studies have demonstrated improvement lasting 10 weeks to more than one year. This option can help manage the symptoms, avoiding the need for surgery. Certain cases may require a repeat injection for more effective symptom control. Wrist injections may help to relieve inflammation of the affected nerves and the fibrous sheath and fasten the healing process.

Surgical management

This option is suitable for patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome or when symptoms have not improved after four to six months of conservative therapy. It is an effective option and can provide a lasting relief in 70 to 90 % of cases. The procedure involves release of pressure by placing a cut on the fibrous sheath, which will provide more space for the median nerve to pass through.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

How To Communicate Regarding Your Joint Pain To Your Pain Specialist In Delhi


Joint pain can be a source of prolonged discomfort which one may have to endure in life. This can affect your daily activities and make you feel depressed. Joint pain specialists in Delhi NCR are daily visited by numerous patients complaining of severe pain and in search of treatments which can provide quick relief.
For you to get the most appropriate treatment, the way you explain your pain to the doctor is important. There are a plethora of options for joint pain treatment in Delhi NCR . But reaching out to the right centre with experienced and skillful professionals whom you can count upon is important.
Read below to understand the importance of accurately describing your joint pain concerns to your treating doctor:
  • Joint pain is subjective, without your explaining it may be very difficult for the doctor to know what your pain feels like and how severe it is
  • Joint pain can have numerous causes such as like age related wear and tear, injury, trauma, infections etc
  • Involvement of multiple joint in the body may require different assessment/investigations than just one isolated joint problem. Treatment options may also differ depending on the actual pathology
  • Treatments offered depend on the severity of symptoms, their impact on your life, your age, activity levels and your goals/expectations. There are many treatment alternatives –both non-surgical and surgical, depending on the assessment of the above factors
  • These are some important points which may help your doctor to understand and treat your pain better:
  • Explain where the pain is; how long you have had the pain and how it started. If possible point the exact place, is it in the knee, ankle or shoulder pain?
  • The character of pain can help in narrowing down the possible causes. For example is it aching, burning, shouting or stabbing pain? Is it present all the time?
  • Aggravating or reliving factors are equally important- Is it worse when you are walking or at night time when you are trying to sleep. is it when you sit, walk or stand?
  • It is important to tell the doctor how the pain affects your daily life. This information is essential as it enables the doctor to have a clear overview of what you are feeling. While describing the impact of pain do not forget about your sleep and mood.
In case the pain is short-term, your doctor may recommend home care like –
  • Applying ice or hot compression at the joint several times.
  • Avoiding activity that may cause the pain.
  • Using a brace to protect the joint.
Various other options are used for Joint pain treatment in Delhi NCR like steroid or hyaluronic acid injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency treatment. They can all help to ease the suffering and improve your quality of living. Some options are specific to the joints involved. These are mostly combined with medications and physiotherapy to improve outcomes.


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