Flanax Pain Management Updates

Welcome you to our weekly Pain Management Updates! Our main goal is to give you accurate and helpful information on pain management. So, we’ll be posting regular updates for you to read and comment. Use them as tools to better manage your pain. That way pain will not stop you in your life. If you have a special subject or illness you would like to learn more about, let us know! And we will be happy to find out information about it for you. If you find the information interesting, share it with your family and friends. The Flanax Team.

[flanaxusa]

See what doctors are saying about the use of Flanax for headache

[flanaxusa]

See what doctors are saying about the use of Flanax for menstrual cramps

[flanaxusa]

See what doctors are saying about the use of Flanax for headaches

[flanaxusa]

Flanax Free Sample Offer TV Ad

[flanaxusa]

See what Hoy! thinks about Flanax

[flanaxusa]

See what doctors are saying about the use of Flanax for back pain

[flanaxusa]

COULD YOU HAVE WATER ON YOUR KNEE?

If you ever notice swelling around your kneecaps and you feel stiffness and pain of your knees, you could be experiencing water on the knee.

The fluid build up of the knee may happen because of several reasons; it could be from injuries like broken bones or a ligament tear, to diseases and conditions such as osteoarthritis, cysts, a tumor or bleeding disorders.

According to an article posted by the Mayo Clinic, water on the knee could be defined by your doctor also as an effusion in your knee joint, and a suggested treatment may be removing fluid from the knee as a sample for further analysis to determine the cause. The fluid removal also helps to reduce some of the symptoms such as pain and stiffness.

The treatment may vary depending on the severity of the swelling and your medical history, however, it is usually treated with pain medications, antibiotics, or even other surgical procedures such as joint aspiration.

So, if you ever feel pain or swelling on your knees, visit your doctor so that proper treatment can be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education , 2012 [Online] Available http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water-on-the-knee/DS00662/DSECTION=symptoms

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS SARCOMA?

Sarcoma is another name for bone cancer. This type of cancer is very rare but the symptoms are very common, such as bone pain, swelling and tenderness near the affected area, broken bones, fatigue and unintended weight loss.

As any other type of cancer, it is not clear what causes it other than an error in a cell's DNA. Such error tells the cell to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. This accumulation of cells form a mass or tumor that can spread to other parts of your body.

According to an article posted by the Mayo Clinic, the treatment options available for bone cancer will depend on the type of cancer you have and the stage in which you are, but it is typically treated with chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.

You know your body, so listen to it and do not hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor if you feel something is not right, the sooner the better.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education , 2011 [Online] Available: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone- cancer/DS00520/DSECTION=risk-factors

[flanaxusa]

COULD YOU BE DEHYDRATED?

How many times have you felt a terrible headache, especially when you have been exposed to high temperatures, for example after spending a sunny day at the beach?

Well, it is very probable that you may be dehydrated. The most common symptoms of dehydration are obviously thirst, but also headache, dry mouth, sleepiness, dry skin and dizziness.

During the summer months it is very important to stay hydrated, especially while being exposed to outdoor activities. Dehydration happens when you loose more fluids than you take in. If you leave it unattended, a severe dehydration can send you to the hospital. Small children are more at risk because of their small body weights and high turnover on water and electrolytes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you can treat dehydration with an oral rehydration solution, but the most important recommendation is to prevent it and monitor your intake of water during a hot, humid day. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water, you might already be starting to dehydrate by then.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education , 2011 [Online] Available: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Have you ever felt joint or muscle ache all over your body, combined with extreme fatigue and trouble sleeping? It could be Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Some times, this type of muscular pain can be confused with Osteoarthritis, that's why it is important to identify all other symptoms that may be happening along with the muscular or joint pain. For example, the symptoms for Fibromyalgia are not only aches all over your body, but also, anxiety, depression and incapacitating fatigue.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder, most commonly in women, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, mood and memory issues.

Doctors have not found the exact caused of Fibromyalgia, but it most likely involve a variety of factors working together, for example, genetics, infections that may trigger the syndrome, physical or emotional trauma.

According to information found on WebMd, fibromyalgia is usually treated with pain medication and antidepressants, and also with physical therapy. Stress reduction and regular exercise may help to cope with the symptoms.

WebMd Medical Reference , 2010 [Online] Available http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/fibromyalgia-living-managing

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL?

Have you ever experience tingling, numbness or pain in your fingers or your hand? Well, you might be experiencing Carpal Tunnel. 

Carpal Tunnel is caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. This nerve and several tendons go from your forearm to your hand. This "path" is called the Carpal Tunnel.

According to information found at WebMd, this condition can be lead by other illnesses or circumstances such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, wrist injuries or making the same wrist movement over and over.

The most common treatment for Carpal Tunnel is to stop activities that cause the symptoms, and home remedies like icing your wrist several times a day or wearing a wrist splint. 

Visit your doctor if the tingling, numbness or pain continues for more than one or two weeks of home care. 

WebMd Medical Reference , 2010 [Online] Available: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-health-tools

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING WHEN YOU FEEL A "BRAIN- FREEZE"?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the medical definition for a "brain-freeze" is a "headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus".

Another name for this condition is ice cream headaches, and what happens is that you feel a brief, keen headache after consuming a very cold food or drink. 

Believe it or not, scientists have not figure out yet exactly why this type of headaches happen, but one theory is that when you ingest a cold substance, it may temporarily alter the blood flow in your brain, causing a brief headache. 

There are no treatments for it because of its short duration, but if it does not go away in less than five minutes, visit your doctor because you might be experiencing something else.

Mayo Clinic Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2012 [Online] Available: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ice-cream-headaches/DS00640

[flanaxusa]

HAVE YOU HEARD OF TENNIS ELBOW?

Did you know that when you find it painful to turn a doorknob or hold a cup of coffee, you might be experiencing tennis elbow?

Tennis Elbow is not necessarily a condition just for tennis players. Tennis elbow happens because your elbow is overworked and it is usually associated with pain from the outside of your elbow into your forearm and wrist. 

According to an article posted by The Mayo Clinic, the best treatment for tennis elbow is self-care, such as rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers. It also mentions that this condition is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. 

If such treatment does not ease the pain, call your doctor; you might need something more besides home remedies, such as physical therapy or even surgery. If it is left untreated, tennis elbow can result in chronic pain. 

Full Article: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2010 [Online] Available: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tennis-elbow/DS00469

[flanaxusa]

PREMATURE MENOPAUSE

As we mentioned on our last update about menopause, it usually happens to women around the age of 51, but did you know that it could happen before this age? 

According to an article published by WebMd, if menopause occurs before age 51 its called premature menopause. There is no specific reason why it may develop before expected, but it is usually due to genetics or because of a hormone imbalance, meaning that your body is not producing enough estrogen. 

The symptoms are the same as "regular" menopause,  for example, hot flashes, irregular periods, lack of sleep,etc. So, visit your doctor if you have this symptoms even if you are 40, he will probably do a blood test just to rule out any other condition such as pregnancy, and suggest treatments and home remedies just for you.

An interesting thing to know is that when premature menopause starts, it can't be reversed, which means that once it is diagnosed, you will start menopause no matter if your are younger than 51 years old.

Full Article: Ratini, Melinda WebMd, 2012 [Online] Available: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/premature-menopause?page=2

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

How many times have you heard the word menopause without knowing exactly what is it? 

We found an article on Women's Health that says that menopause is when a woman stops having menstrual periods and it typically happens after the age of 51.  It is important to know that periods at that age can stop and then start again, so, it is considered menopause when it has passed over a year without a menstrual period, this transition is usually defined as perimenopause. 

Some of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, trouble sleeping, mood changes, and vaginal and urinary problems. Every woman is different so other symptoms may occur during this period in time.

 Lifestyle changes can help you cope with some of the symptoms, for example, changing your diet or being physically active. You can seek for medical help if even with those changes your symptoms don't improve. 

Hormone treatment is also another option, however it is important to visit a doctor specialized in menopause to help you understand the risks and benefits of proceeding with such plan of action.

Jones, Lisa Women's Health 2010 [Online] Available: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menopause-treatment.cfm

[flanaxusa]

WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL COMPLICATIONS

For all women, it is important to pay attention to your menstrual cycle.  Have you noticed that every cycle is different in length and heaviness, also, that every woman’s cycle is different?

It is fundamental to track your menstrual cycles so that you have information to help you identify if what you are experiencing falls between normal ranges.  While menstrual cycle irregularities are not serious, sometimes they can signal health problems. 

According to an article posted by Women's Health, the most typical problems women have during their period are pain, heavy bleeding, and skipped periods. As a rule of thumb, see your doctor if you haven't had a period in 90 days, if you have severe cramps in which pain isn't managed by over the counter pain relievers, if you bleed between periods, if the length of your period is for more than 7 days or if your period comes either before every 21 days or after every 35 days.

Some of the complications that can occur are amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and abnormal uterine bleeding, just to mention a few. So call your doctor if you have any questions regarding your menstrual cycle, it is always better to get checked if you feel something is not right. 

Full article: Nelson, Lawrence, Women's Health.org, 2009 [Online] Available http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.cfm#h

[flanaxusa]

WHAT IS AVASCULAR NECROSIS?

Did you know that approximately 20,000 people between the ages of 20 and 50 suffer from avascular necrosis? 

According to an article posted by WebMd, avascular necrosis is a disease that happens when the blood supply to the bones gets interrupted. Yes, the bones also need blood because they are living tissue, and without it they could die. 

This cut of blood supply to the bone may happen due to various circumstances, such as an injury, dislocation, or fracture, long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs, excessive alcohol use, blood clots and damage to the arteries. 

The symptoms during early stages are almost inexistent, but after a while you start to feel a constant pain in the affected bone that increases over time. 

If you feel these symptoms, it is important to visit your doctor, avascular necrosis can occur because of a lot of different reasons, that's why it is important for the doctor to identify them to recommend proper treatment. For example, if it is because of a blood clot, your doctor may prescribe medications to dissolve clots, if it is due to an injury, he may recommend the use of crutches to take the weight off the damage area.

Johnson, Kimball, WebMd, August 2012 [Online] Available: http://arthritis.webmd.com/avascular-necrosis-osteonecrosis-symptoms-treatments