Possible causes of uterus enlargement

There are many reasons for an enlarged uterus but most of them are benign. However, they often cause annoying symptoms. If you didn't have any symptoms and your gynecologist spotted the enlargement, consider yourself lucky because they can range from spotting, breakthrough bleeding, heavy periods, b...
There are many reasons for an enlarged uterus but most of them are benign. However, they often cause annoying symptoms. If you didn't have any symptoms and your gynecologist spotted the enlargement, consider yourself lucky because they can range from spotting, breakthrough bleeding, heavy periods, bleeding during intercourse, cramping, pain, pain during intercourse, feeling bloated, pressure, fullness, or pain in the abdomen, dull ache in the lower back and thighs, problems passing urine completely%26hellip;.to name just a few.


If you have spotted an enlarged uterus, the first thing to do is have it checked by a gynecologist. An ultrasound would be the first thing ordered to sort this out but if the question remains open, an MRI could also be used.
If the ultrasound came normal and nothing abnormal was found, there's a possibility that your uterus is just sitting high in your pelvis, so that you can feel it. This is usually due to scarring from previous surgery, endometriosis or infection.


You could be also feeling a full bladder. It may be the bladder you are feeling or the uterus, which does rise out of the pelvis a bit with a full bladder.





If you feel a bulge, try emptying your bladder and see if it gets smaller.
The uterus size is fairly small, it measures about three or four inches in length, which is a size of a clenched fist or a small apple. In pregnancy, the size of the uterus changes as the baby grows and this organ can expand up to 12 inches in length. So, make sure you are not pregnant.

Two conditions that often cause an enlarged uterus are fibroids and adenomyosis.

Fibroids

Fibroids are the most common benign tumor of a woman%26rsquo;s uterus. They grow on the outside, inside or within the smooth muscle in the wall of the uterus. Fibroids may grow as a single tumor or in clusters. Fibroids can be as small as a pea and can grow as large as a melon. It is estimated that 20-50% of women have, or will have, fibroids at some time in their lives. The most common symptoms of fibroids are excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure that can additionally cause frequent urination, pain during intercourse, constipation, abdominal bloating and abdominal pain or backache and of course enlarged uterus. Fibroids can make a women look pregnant although she is not.
Your doctor may decide to overlook the fibroids if they are small or try to remove them if they grow too much. The treatment should be thoroughly thought and discussed with your gynecologist. It includes myomectomy or in severe cases hysterectomy, which should be the last resort.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition similar to endometriosis. In Adenomyosis, the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) also grows within the muscular walls of the uterus. This usually occurs late in the childbearing years and after you've had children.
Adenomyosis is generally harmless but can be extremely painful. Other symptoms include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, severe cramping or sharp pain during menstruation, pain during intercourse, bleeding between periods, passing blood clots during your period, tender lower abdomen or it could be silent but make your uterus bulge. This condition resolves after menopause most of the time, so the treatment should be decided on depending on how close to menopause you are. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory drugs, a hormonal therapy or in severe cases hysterectomy, which is the only permanent solution.

Ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts could also be blamed for your enlarged uterus. Ovarian cysts, like any other cysts, are fluid-filled sacs. The most common type of ovarian cyst is called a functional cyst, which often forms during the normal menstrual cycle but there are also other types such as endometriomas (they develop in women who have endometriosis), cystadenomas (that can become large and cause pain), dermoid cysts (these too can become large and cause pain) and polycystic ovaries.
Many women don't have any symptoms but those that do have symptoms wish them gone as soon as possible. The most common symptoms are pressure, fullness, or pain in the abdomen, dull ache in the lower back and thighs, problems with passing urine, pain during sexual intercourse, weight gain, painful menstrual periods and abnormal bleeding, nausea or vomiting and breast tenderness.
Most cysts resolve on their own but gynecologists usually track their progress. Beside watchful waiting, the treatments include birth control pills or surgery to remove the cyst.

Endometrial (uterine) cancer

Endometrial (uterine) cancer could be to blame too. Cancer of the uterus occurs mostly in women over age 50. Other risk factors include having endometrial hyperplasia, using hormone replacement therapy, being obese and suffering from obesity-related disorders, taking Tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer, or suffering from inherited colorectal cancer. The symptoms of uterine cancer include unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, troubles urinating, pelvic pain and pain during intercourse. Treatment varies depending on your overall health, how advanced the cancer is and whether hormones affect its growth. Treatment is usually a hysterectomy, which is surgery to remove the uterus. Other options include hormone therapy and radiation.


As you have probably noticed, many of these symptoms overlap, so you never can tell for sure what your problem is. Regular gynecologist check-ups and timely interventions will save you from dealing with these annoying symptoms and help you take care of the problems on time.

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What does high white blood cells count indicate?

Blood is the fluid that circulates throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen to all the cells and tissues and at the same time removes waste materials and carbon dioxide. During a complete physical test, your doctor will order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test to evaluate Red Blood Cell (RBC...

Blood is the fluid that circulates throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen to all the cells and tissues and at the same time removes waste materials and carbon dioxide. During a complete physical test, your doctor will order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test to evaluate Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, White Blood Cell (WBC) count, the platelet count, hemoglobin and mean red cell volume.

The complete blood count is usually ordered to help evaluate the blood and the bone marrow as well as the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, to identify infections, look for anemia and leukemia and monitor the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, play an important role in the immune system of an individual.
They fight infections in a process known as %26lsquo;phagocytosis%26rsquo; where they surround the foreign organisms and destroy it.





White blood cells also help in production, transportation and distribution of antibodies in order to build the body%26rsquo;s immune system. When acute infection occurs, the white blood cells produce colony-stimulating factor (CSF), which further stimulates the bone marrow to increase the production of the white blood cell. This production can be doubled within a few hours.

However, too much of white blood cells doesn't always mean a good thing. A high white blood cell count (also called leukocytosis) isn't a specific disease but could indicate an underlying problem. This is why high white blood cell count always requires further medical evaluation.

A normal white blood cell count is between 4,500 and 10,000 cells per microliter. In the absence of any disease, they form just about 1% by volume of the total blood in the body. There are five different types of white blood cells and each serves a different function in the body. They are the neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and the basophils.
The differential blood count gives a clearer picture for the cause of a disease.

In a normal person, the number of white blood cells ranges:

%26bull; Neutrophils: 3150 to 6200
%26bull; Lymphocytes: 1500 to 3000
%26bull; Monocytes: 300 to 500
%26bull; Eosinophils: 50 to 250
%26bull; Basophils: 15 to 50
per micro liter of blood.

These counts serve as indicators to specific diseases. For example, a high neutrophil count would indicate an infection, a cancer or physical stress while high lymphocytes counts would indicate AIDS. High monocyte and eosinophil count usually pinpoint bacterial infection.

High white blood cell count could indicate

%26bull; Infection
%26bull; Inflammation
%26bull; Trauma
%26bull; Tissue damage (from burns)
%26bull; Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, antibiotics or anti-seizure drugs
%26bull; Allergy
%26bull; Chronic bone marrow diseases such as a myeloproliferative disorder
%26bull; Acute or chronic leukemia
%26bull; Diverticular Disease
%26bull; Intense exercise
%26bull; Severe physical or emotional stress

It is important to say that high white blood cell count would be considered normal in certain situations:

%26bull; Pregnancy in the final month and labor may be associated with increased WBC levels.
%26bull; Spleen removal could grant persistent mild to moderate increased WBC count.
%26bull; Normal newborns and infants have higher WBC counts than adults
%26bull; Too much smoking could also cause an increased WBC count.

The WBC count tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and they are age-related.
When the white blood cell counts continue to rise or fall to abnormal levels it means that the condition is getting worse.
Scientists are still not certain if, besides being a good indicator or a problem, high white blood cell count could also trigger a serious disease or if it naturally rises after an illness.

One thing is certain though. You should not ignore your doctor's orders to have a white blood count done. It is a reliable and inexpensive way that enables better and sooner prognosis.

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Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Health

Are you interested in great health and vitality? This has always been very important to me, so I have done much inquiry into what creates excellent health. Before going into this, I would like to state some of our challenges to excellent health:1. Some people are born with inherited health issues or...
Are you interested in great health and vitality? This has always been very important to me, so I have done much inquiry into what creates excellent health. Before going into this, I would like to state some of our challenges to excellent health:

1. Some people are born with inherited health issues or inherited tendencies toward health issues. For example, my grandmother and my aunt both died of pancreatic cancer. I have known for a long time that my pancreas is a weak organ in my body.

2. The environment - the air, water, pesticides, hormones, and chemicals that we are exposed to daily can have a disastrous effect on health, especially on inherited tendencies.

3. Severe child abuse erodes the immune system, as a child has to spend too much energy dealing with the abuse.





Many adults of childhood physical and sexual abuse are challenged with health issues as adults due to their weakened immune systems.

4. Ignorance takes its toll. I didn't know when I was younger and washing my hands in turpentine after doing an oil painting that I was adding toxicity to my body. Erika and I were talking recently about how much our parents used %26quot;Accent%26quot; on everything they cooked, not knowing that MSG is harmful to the body. Many people have taken much medication, only to learn years later that it contributes to heart disease or cancer. Millions of people believe that they are eating well when they eat the packaged and processed foods from markets. How many of us knew - or know now - that breathing the formaldehyde from carpets and furniture might cause severe health problems? The list goes on and on.

So, back to what creates excellent health.

1. Exercise - both aerobic and weight bearing
2. Natural, unprocessed organic foods eaten in balance
3. Your state of mind

While all these are vitally important, the last has proven to be the most important. If you change your diet and start to exercise, but continue to think thoughts that cause your body stress, you will not achieve optimal health.

Research indicates that stress is the primary cause of illness - both physical and emotional. Anything that stresses us causes our body to go into a flight or flight reaction, which upsets the immune system.

Therefore, the most powerful thing you can do to bring about excellent health is to change your thoughts. Any thought that causes emotions such anxiety, depression, anger, hurt, tension, or fear is harming your physical health.

Here, of course, is where Inner Bonding comes into the picture. If you are dedicated to being in Step One throughout the day, noticing your emotions, wanting responsibility for your thoughts that are causing any distress, and then moving through the other Five Steps of Inner Bonding, you will gradually be changing your thoughts.

For example, Robert, a client of mine, was distressed following his check up. His doctor told him that his blood pressure was way too high and wanted to put him on blood pressure medicine. Robert decided to work on his thoughts instead. He devoted himself to noticing his thoughts that were creating his stress and started to feel much better. A few months into doing Inner Bonding, his blood pressure was normal!

Robert's situation is not unique. Over and over clients tell me about their health improvements as a result of practicing Inner Bonding.

The most important change you can make in your health is to decide that you WANT 100% responsibility for changing your thinking that is creating your stress.

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The Effects of Emotional Incest

Did one or both of your parents make you responsible for their feelings? Did they come to you with their problems about the other parent? Did they lead you to believe that you could say or do something that would make them feel okay or make them feel badly? Did they say things like, "You make me so ...
Did one or both of your parents make you responsible for their feelings? Did they come to you with their problems about the other parent? Did they lead you to believe that you could say or do something that would make them feel okay or make them feel badly? Did they say things like, %26quot;You make me so happy,%26quot; or %26quot;You make me so angry,%26quot; or %26quot;You are hurting me%26quot;?

This is emotional incest. It has deep repercussions later in life. For example:

Do you find yourself wanting a relationship but never finding the right one, or getting involved with unavailable people? This may be the result of emotional incest, which gave you a deep fear of having to take responsibility for a partner's feelings.





While you really want a relationship, on a deeper level, it will feel engulfing to you if you believe that you are responsible for another's feelings.

If you are in a relationship, are you a caretaker, taking responsibility for your partner's feelings? Are you drained by the relationship due to taking responsibility for his or her feelings while ignoring your own? This may be the result of emotional incest - of being taught that others' feelings are your responsibility.

If you are in a relationship, do you find yourself cheating on your partner as your way to get out of feeling trapped? This may be the result of emotional incest - of feeling terrified of being at the other end of your partner making you responsible for his or her feelings.

Are you constantly angry at your partner for not being there for you in the way you expect - sexually or emotionally? This may be the result of emotional incest. You might have become just like your emotionally incestuous parent, a taker - making others responsible for your feelings.

Whether you find yourself on the caretaking end, or the resistant/taker end of the codependent system, you will have problems in your relationship. Emotional incest takes a big toll on relationships.

The way out of this is two fold:

1. You need to fully understand and accept that you are not and never have been responsible for your parent's feelings or anyone else's feelings. Since people's wounded feelings are caused by their thoughts, how can you possibly be responsible for another's feelings? Since you have no control over people's thoughts, you have no control over their feelings. You also have no control over the life events that might cause painful core-self feelings - such as grief over losing a loved one.
   



2. The other side of the coin is that you are 100% responsible for your own feelings - the feelings that come from your thoughts and the feelings that come from painful life events. You are responsible for your thoughts that create pain, and for nurturing your core-self painful feelings. Just as you are never the cause of others' feelings, others are never the cause of your feelings.

If you are terrified of being in a relationship, or you feel burdened by a relationship, or you feel unsatisfied in a relationship, you can be released from the terror, the burden, or the dissatisfaction by releasing yourself of responsibility of others feelings, and by being willing to take 100% responsibility for your own feelings.

As you practice Inner Bonding, practice consciously choosing to take responsibility for your own feelings and consciously letting go of responsibility for others' feelings. You will not believe the sense of joy and freedom you will feel when you are fully able to do this!

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Physical Activity Reduces Chances Of Cancer

Physically active are less likely to develop cancerThere is convincing evidence that physical activity reduces the risk for specific forms of cancer. A research led by Japanese Health Ministry put forth that individuals who are active physically are less likely to develop cancer than their sedentary...

Physically active are less likely to develop cancer

There is convincing evidence that physical activity reduces the risk for specific forms of cancer. A research led by Japanese Health Ministry put forth that individuals who are active physically are less likely to develop cancer than their sedentary counterparts or less active colleagues. The surveyed population was divided into four groups according to their ratio of individual working metabolic rate, or MET (metabolic equivalent), which was determined by the amount of time respondents spent sitting, walking, standing, sleeping and exercising. This research put forth that the men in the most active group of people surveyed had 13 per cent less risk of developing cancer compared with the least active group, and women in the most active group had a 16 per cent lower risk than their sedentary counterparts.

Physical activity reduces risk of various cancers

There is convincing evidence that physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of cancers of the colon and breast. Several studies also have reported links between physical activity and a reduced risk of cancers of the prostate, lung, and lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).

Three large studies in Italy and the USA estimated that physical inactivity could cause 13-14% of all bowel cancer cases and 11% of breast cancer cases.





Another study published in the British Journal of Cancer showed that people who walked or cycled for an hour a day were 16% less likely to develop cancer, and those who walked or cycled for just half an hour a day were 34% less likely to die of cancer, and 33% more likely to beat the disease. The benefits of a physically active lifestyle go far beyond lowering cancer risk. They include lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Reduced breast cancer risk with long-term physical activity

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine showed that strenuous long-term physical activity decreases a woman's risk of invasive and in situ breast cancer. The findings of this study put forth that women who annually participated in more than five hours per week of strenuous activity had a lower risk of invasive breast cancer compared with the least active women. The biggest risk reduction has been seen in lean women who enjoyed recreational physical activity, as compared with obese women and those whose physical activity was work or housework-related. Researchers also found that women who participated in long-term strenuous or moderate physical activity had a decreased risk of estrogen receptor- (ER-) negative invasive breast cancer, but not of ER-positive invasive breast cancer.

While evidence from a study published in Journal of Cancer and epidemiology Prevention put forth that physical activity reduces breast cancer risk in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, high levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity during adolescence may be especially protective. Although a lifetime of regular, vigorous activity is thought to be of greatest benefit, women who increase their physical activity after menopause may also experience a reduced risk compared to inactive women.

Exercise improves colorectal cancer outcomes

Many studies in the United States and across the world have consistently found that adults with increased physical activity can reduce their risk of developing colon cancer by 30-40 percent, relative to those who are sedentary, regardless of their body mass index (BMI), with the greatest reduction in risk among those who are most active. It is estimated that 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day is needed to protect against colon cancer.

Two new prospective, observational studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology offer compelling evidence that regular physical activity in the months following treatment may decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and death from colorectal cancer. In the studies, patients with early- to later-stage colorectal cancer (but not distant metastases) who engaged in regular activity after diagnosis decreased the likelihood of cancer recurrence and mortality by 40 to 50 percent or more compared with patients who engaged in little to no activity.

It is known that physical activity may protect against colon cancer and tumour development through its role in energy balance, hormone metabolism, insulin regulation, and by decreasing the time the colon is exposed to potential carcinogens.

Physical activity reduces endometrial cancer risk

Research suggests that regular exercise as well as routine activities such as walking for transportation or performing household chores can reduce a woman's risk for endometrial cancer. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Prevention suggested that women who are physically active have a 20 percent to 40 percent reduced risk of endometrial cancer, with the greatest reduction in risk among those with the highest levels of physical activity. Changes in body mass and changes in the levels and metabolism of sex hormones, such as estrogen, are the major biological mechanisms thought to explain the association between physical activity and endometrial cancer.

Physical activity reduces lung and bowel cancer risk

Studies suggest an inverse association between physical activity and lung cancer risk, with the most physically active individuals experiencing about a 20 percent reduction in risk. Scientists have found that people who are involved in active jobs are less likely to develop bowel cancer. A large study published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiological Markers concluded that people who are physically active can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by a quarter.

Thus, the overall risk of cancer can be reduced by physical activity. Keeping active is one of the best things that can reduce risk of many types of illnesses, including cancers and heart disease. The above discussed studies give us even more reason to make physical activity an important part of our lives.

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Causes and Treatment of Ganglion Cysts

The word “ganglion” means “knot” and is in this case used to indicate the knot-like mass that forms below the surface of the skin.A cyst is a sac of fluid. Ganglion cysts are filled with a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Their size may vary and it influen...
The word %26ldquo;ganglion%26rdquo; means %26ldquo;knot%26rdquo; and is in this case used to indicate the knot-like mass that forms below the surface of the skin.
A cyst is a sac of fluid. Ganglion cysts are filled with a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Their size may vary and it influences if the cysts will feel firm or spongy.
A ganglion cyst may occur as one large cyst or many smaller ones. Multiple smaller cysts can often give the appearance of more than one cyst, but a common stalk within the deeper tissue usually connects them.

Ganglion cysts may even be so small that they are invisible. Often the only indication of the smaller, hidden ganglion cysts is pain.

Ganglion cysts occur around joints and tendons in the hand or foot. Most commonly, the cysts appear on the back of the hand (60-70%), at the wrist joint but can also develop on the palm side of the wrist. Other less common sites include joints on the shoulder, elbow, outside of the knee and ankle, hip, the top of the foot and the fingertip, just below the cuticle.

A ganglion grows out of a joint and looks like a balloon on a stalk. It rises out of the connective tissues between bones and muscles. Inside this balloon is the already mentioned thick, slippery fluid similar to the synovial fluid in our joints.
This type of cyst is not harmful.

Symptoms

The only symptoms are its appearance and occasionally pain. The pain may occur if the fluid-filled sac puts pressure on the nerves that pass through the joint. Smaller ganglions, hidden under the skin, may be quite painful while the big ones are unattractive but this is not the rule.
The more active the wrist is, the larger the cyst becomes but with rest, the lump generally decreases in size.

Frequency

Ganglion cysts are more 3 time more likely to occur in women than in men but can actually develop in patients of any age and sex, even children. Seventy percent of ganglion cysts occur in patients between the 20 and 40 years of age and around 15% of ganglion cysts occur in patients younger than 21 years.

Causes

The exact cause of the formation of ganglion cysts is still unknown. It is known though that the cysts form when tissues surrounding certain joints become inflamed and swell up with lubricating fluid, so a trauma to the joint or tendon could be a trigger. Overuse of a specific joint, which results in the degeneration of the surrounding fibrous tissue, is also regarded as a risk factor. Other risk factors include regular, repetitive movement that stresses your wrist or hand like in weight lifters, gymnasts, waiters, tennis and golf players; having osteoarthritis, which can increase fluid within the joints and make it leak into the tendon sheath and accumulate in an existing cyst; or it may be an early signs of arthritis that will become more obvious in the future. Rheumatoid arthritis is also associated with ganglion cysts.

Treatment

Sometimes, ganglion cysts may disappear by themselves, however, most of the time, they linger around or grow larger. When large enough, they start putting pressure on surrounding structures and this is when the pain begins. Pain is the most common reason the ganglion cysts are removed.

Home care used to include applying heat, topical plaster or even smashing the cysts with heavy objects such as large books but these measures are no longer suggested simply because they did not prevent the cysts from reoccurring and could actually cause further injury.

Other conditions can cause lumps around the wrist, so it is important to have this type of lump checked by a doctor. Other conditions include a lipoma or giant cell tumor, infections and carpal bossing (bone spur) and they have different treatments.

A doctor will perform a physical exam but may even order X-rays to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis or a bone tumor or MRI and ultrasound if a ganglion cyst is not visible.

The initial treatment is not surgical.

Your doctor will first decide to

%26bull; OBSERVE the ganglion cyst. Watching for some time is encouraged because ganglion cysts are not cancerous and may even disappear in time.

The doctor may even suggest

%26bull; Shoe modifications if the cyst occurred on a foot. Doctors usually advise wearing shoes that do not rub the cyst or cause irritation as well as placing a pad inside the shoe to reduce pressure against the cyst.

and

%26bull; Immobilization because activity tends to make the ganglion to increase in size and cause pain by increasing pressure on nerves. A wrist brace or a splint may relieve symptoms and help the cyst decrease in size. Exercises may also be encouraged to strengthen the wrist and improve range of motion.

Actual treatment may include:

Aspiration is a procedure in which the fluid gets drained from it by punctured with a needle and drainage. However, ganglion cysts may return after aspiration. The recurrence rate may be as high as 80 percent. If this happens, aspiration can be repeated and multiple aspirations may result in no recurrence of the cyst.
Some doctors recommend a steroid injection into the empty cyst after aspiration to reduce the recurrence rate of the cyst. If this combination fails, and the cysts reoccurs, a surgery may be suggested to have it removed.

Surgery

Surgery is, in most cases, performed on an outpatient basis, and you will be able to go home the same day. You will undergo local or general anesthesia. The surgery is done by making an incision in your skin at the location of the ganglion cyst. The size of the incision depends on the size of the cyst. The surgeon will remove the cyst, then suture and bandage the affected area. During the surgery, your doctor may also remove part of the involved joint capsule or tendon sheath.

Some tenderness, discomfort, and swelling may be felt after the surgery but normal activities are usually resumed two to six weeks after the surgery.

Your doctor or his staff may advise you to keep the area elevated for up to 48 hours to help reduce swelling and recommend analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others) to relieve discomfort.

Surgery is no guarantee that a ganglion cyst won't recur. The recurrence rate is reduced to only 5 to 10% though if the cyst is fully taken out. Complications rarely develop.
An alternative to open excision of ganglion cysts that is available today is arthroscopy. During arthroscopy, the origin of the cyst can be seen. This procedure requires no immobilization after.

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Dealing With Abuse Memories

When children are severely physically or sexually abused, they often cope with the abuse through some form of dissociation. Dissociation is on a continuum, from temporarily leaving the body to fragmentation into different parts, as in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Dissociation allows the chi...
When children are severely physically or sexually abused, they often cope with the abuse through some form of dissociation. Dissociation is on a continuum, from temporarily leaving the body to fragmentation into different parts, as in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Dissociation allows the child to separate out from the experience in order to tolerate it.

Dissociation causes the abusive event becomes repressed, which means that it becomes unconscious. It will likely remain repressed until the child aspect, who has the memory, feels safe enough to bring it to consciousness.

This often occurs when people are in a safe therapeutic environment, or start to practice Inner Bonding and begin creating a loving Adult.





At some point in the healing process, the memory may emerge in dreams, in drawings, or in body feelings - called body memories. Occasionally, there may be an %26quot;abreaction,%26quot; which is when the person relives the abusive event as if it is happening in the moment. The person might swell up from bruises, or have intense internal or external physical pain. The person in the abreactive state may or may not remember having been in the state after returning to normal consciousness. Often, the abreaction is a way that the inner child who received the abuse lets the therapist know what happened.

If you are starting to remember severe abuse as a result of your Inner Bonding work, what is the best way to handle this?

First, I highly recommend that you seek therapeutic help if that is at all possible. You were alone with no one to help you when the abuse occurred, and it is best to not be alone when you remember it. It is best to be with a warm, caring person who can help you feel safe during the memory process.

However, this isn't always possible. If you need to deal with your memories alone, there are some things you can do to help yourself through this process.

1. I highly recommend that you learn the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to help release both physical and emotional feelings from your body, as well as old false beliefs. You can learn this technique by going to emofree.com.

2. Practice a process called %26quot;revivification.%26quot; This is technique of watching the abuse on a screen, as if you are watching a movie. Instead of having to relive all the pain of the abuse, you can see what happened and what shame and beliefs you absorbed at the time of the abuse. You can then visualize giving the darkness of the shame back to the abuser, and work with your Guidance on letting go of the false beliefs.

3. Inner Bonding is a powerful process for healing abuse. By continually going through the 6 Steps of Inner Bonding whenever a memory comes up, you discover the false beliefs, move into truth from Guidance, and bring love and nurturing to your wounded children.

4. Trust the memories. Realize that dissociated memories will always appear dream-like. It may feel as if you are making them up, but if you do not trust your inner children who have the memories, you will do more damage. These parts of you need to be heard and believed by you in order to heal. Unless you never repressed the memories, they will not experienced in the same way conscious memories are experienced, but this does not mean that they are not real.

While it is not ideal to go through abuse memories alone, it can successfully be done, and has been accomplished by others doing Inner Bonding. By learning to be a loving Adult for your wounded parts, you CAN heal the past.

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Treatment For Sciatic Nerve Pain

The sciatic is the longest nerve in the body, beginning from nerve roots in the lumbar part of the spinal cord (lower part of the back) and extending through the buttock area to send nerve endings down to the legs. It connects the spinal cord and the leg/feet muscles.Pain resulting from irritation o...
The sciatic is the longest nerve in the body, beginning from nerve roots in the lumbar part of the spinal cord (lower part of the back) and extending through the buttock area to send nerve endings down to the legs. It connects the spinal cord and the leg/feet muscles.

Pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve is called sciatica. It is a symptom rather than a disorder itself. It is important to understand this because it is the underlying diagnosis that needs to be addressed in order to relieve sciatic nerve pain.

The clinical diagnosis of sciatica is referred to as a radiculopathy. Radiculopathy means that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. This is most commonly a result of a disc herniation, which compresses the L5 or S1 nerve root found in the lower spine but any other irritation or inflammation of this nerve can lead to the symptoms of sciatica. A mechanical compression of the siatic nerve as a result of spondylolisthesis, arthritis or spinal stenosis may also cause the pain.

When the sciatic nerve is pressed, the pain that radiates along its path is typically felt at the back of the thigh and is usually difficult to ignore. Depending on where damage to the nerve occurred, the pain may be accompanied by symptoms such as numbness or tingling, a burning sensation or general weakness in the leg.
There is no danger of paralysis because the spinal cord is not present in the lower (lumbar) spine.

Over time, the nerve usually heals itself and pain gradually dissipates, given proper rest and care.







Depending on the severity of pain, aspirin or ibuprofen, muscle relaxants or cortisone injections may be prescribed, along with urging of regular exercise which helps ease inflammation. Relief for aching muscles can also be found in gentle cold or hot compresses.

There are a few sciatica symptoms that may represent a medical emergency. They are:

%26bull; Progressive weakness in the leg
%26bull; Bladder or bowel incontinence or dysfunction

Patients with either of the above symptoms are suspected of suffering from cauda equina syndrome and are advised to seek immediate medical attention.
In the so called risk group, who should contact their doctor if sciatica occurs, belong people who
have been diagnosed with cancer;
take steroid medication;
abuse drugs;
have unexplained, significant weight loss;
have HIV.

Before jumping to treatment, here are some useful tips when suffering from sciatic nerve pain:

• Sciatica will usually get better on its own, within a few days, or possibly a few weeks.



• If possible, stay at work and active



• If the pain forces you to rest, know that it is not a good treatment for sciatica. Try limiting time spent in bed



• Simple pain killers, including paracetamol or ibuprofen, may come in handy



• Do not necessarily put strain on your back.



• If the symptoms are present for more than a few days, consider seeing a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath.



• An epidural injection into the spine may be helpful in cases of severe and disabling pain



• Complications arise in a minority of cases. Your doctor may suggest surgery if sciatica does not settle or complications occur.



• Most commonly, symptoms of sciatica pain decrease after a few weeks or months with non-surgical treatment.

Typical sciatica treatment

Depending on the nature of the diagnosed reason for sciatica, your doctor may recommend different treatment approaches. To cure sciatica symptom, the root cause needs to get eliminated.

Non-surgical treatment options

Cold packs are useful with minor irritations to the sciatic nerve. Cold packs reduce inflammation, muscle spasms and pain when placed on the affected area by slowing down the blood circulation. It can also be used in addition to the main therapy in more serious conditions.

Hot packs work by increasing blood flow to get more blood in the area of application in order to generate more oxygen and drive more nutrients in to affected area.

OTC medications like aspirin or ibuprofen belong to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory group of drugs. They act as pain killers and are help with reducing inflammation.

Prescription medications are stronger and prescribed in cases of chronic conditions or severe pain. These are muscle relaxants and anti depressants.

Regular exercises should be easy to be able to do them at home. All the exercises need to be adjusted to suit individuals needs. Your doctor may recommend swimming and walking and even yoga. A therapist will first train his patient to perform regular exercises, so they would be able to do them alone in their homes later on.
A doctor suggests stretching and strengthening exercises.

Stretching helps bring sustained pain relief. The type of exercises focus on increasing flexibility in the disc, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It is important to stretch those muscles that are not directly involved with the injured area, such as the arms and legs.

Strengthening exercises are very important in the management of low back pain.
These exercises are designed to strengthen the %26ldquo;core%26rdquo; or trunk muscles. Two common forms of strengthening exercises to treat sciatica are McKenzie exercises and Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization exercises.

In order to be effective, these exercises must be done regularly (typically two times daily) and correctly. You need to make it your daily routine. The duration of these exercises are progressive starting from short periods and low reps at start.

Regular exercise is crucial for both current and recurrent episodes of sciatica and for overall back health. In addition to exercises, patients with sciatica should minimize everyday stress on the lower back by maintaining good posture, making sure the lower back is supported while sitting, and avoiding standing for long periods of time.
A patient is also likely to receive a complementary diet program during the therapy sessions to help them accelerate the body%26rsquo;s recovery.

Alternative treatments

Acupuncture bases its practice on the philosophy of achieving or maintaining well being through the open flow of energy via specific pathways in the body. The practitioner uses hair-thin needles and inserts them into the skin near the area of pain. This kind of practice has been approved by the U.S. FDA as a treatment for back pain, and the National Institutes of Health as effective in relieving back pain, including sciatica.

Massage - some forms of massage have been shown to have numerous benefits for back pain, including increased blood circulation, muscle relaxation, and release of endorphins - the body%26rsquo;s natural pain relievers.

Surgery

Surgery should be the last solution. There are different types of surgeries depending on the diagnosed root cause for sciatica.

Microdiscectomy is a microscopic surgery performed through a very small incision with very small instruments to remove either the whole or parts of a herniated disc.

Endoscopic Discectomy invloves a tube-like structure is inserted in the body and the operation is performed within. Recovery from endoscopic surgery takes longer than microscopic.

Percutaneous Discectomy is a way to remove a herniated disc from the back bone. A surgeon may decide to completely remove the disc or only a part of it.

Laser Discectomy, just like the name says, involves lasers to remove the herniated disk. This is the most recent development in surgical treatments that are available for sciatica.

Lumbar laminectomy (open decompression) is offered to those patients who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis that causes sciatica pain that waxes and wanes over many years. After this procedure, around 70% to 80% of patients typically experience relief from their sciatic nerve pain.

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Elavil (Amitriptyline, Endep) Side effects

Elavil (Amitriptyline, Endep) is a part of a drug group called tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants increase the availability of three different neurotransmitters thought of being responsible for mood. There are different indications for this drug. It can be prescribed for treating d...
Elavil (Amitriptyline, Endep) is a part of a drug group called tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants increase the availability of three different neurotransmitters thought of being responsible for mood.

There are different indications for this drug. It can be prescribed for treating depression, bulimia, chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia, neuropathic nerve pain and other conditions, severe IBS, reducing the incidence of chronic headaches or migraines, ulcers, uncontrollable hiccups, primary insomnia, and to control the involuntary crying and laughing often experienced by individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Elavil (Amitriptyline, Endep) does not start %26ldquo;working%26rdquo; right away. It may take up to a few weeks to feel any benefits. Doctors encourage their patients to be patient and wait up to 30 days before experiencing any positive changes.





With this drug it is important to build up a steady dose overtime and then try to maintain it. The drug doses should not be skipped or altered on your own, because skipping could decrease the effectiveness of the drug; abruptly decreasing or stopping may cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, and a feeling of bodily discomfort while gradual dose reduction may induce disturbances in sleep and dreams, irritability, and restlessness.
Elavil (Amitriptyline, Endep) is most commonly prescribed for no more than 6 months during which time your doctor should follow your reaction to the drug.

Side Effects

Like with any antidepressant, side effects are likely to occur during Elavil treatment. In the first few days of the treatment, you are likely to experience sleepiness.

Other frequent side effects of this drug are: blurry vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, dry mouth, fatigue, sensitivity to sunlight and temperature sensitivity. Fatigue can be reduced by taking Elavil with food or in the evening. To avoid getting burned or developing other skin problems, make sure you wear sunglasses, protective clothing, and apply sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and under no circumstances use sunlamps and tanning beds. Saunas, jacuzzis and exposure to extremely cold weather should be avoided too due to temperature sensitivity.

Other reported side effects taken for different conditions such as depression, insomnia, neuropathy, anxiety, severe IBS, fybromyalgia are: weight gain, sleeping for 12-15 hrs per day, excessive sweating especially around neck and upper chest area, decrease in libido, being groggy in the morning, inability to lose weight, increased appetite, bladder spasms, sore throat, etc

Occasional Elavil side effects include changes in blood sugar, dental cavities, dizziness, fainting, headache, hives, indigestion, nausea, rash, shaking, swelling of the face or tongue, unsteadiness, weakness. To relieve indigestion and nausea, try taking Elavil with food.

Rare Elavil side effects include breast enlargement, brown or red spots on skin, change in sense of taste or hearing, irritated tongue or mouth, nightmares, sexual dysfunction including impotence and problems with orgasms, vomiting, etc.

It is not wise to stop taking the drug because of the side effects. Many of the side effects can be treated and someone even lived with.
However, reporting the side effects to your doctor is important especially if they are new and sudden and especially if you start having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Elavil as well as other antidepressants have been linked to increased risk of suicidal thinking and behaviour in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Elavil Interactions

Since this drug is a central nervous system depressant, it should be used very cautiously in combination with any medication that warns it 'may cause drowsiness,' or increases your level of alertness.

Elavil in combination with alcohol can cause dangerous side effects.

Elavil may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

Elavil can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.




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Men Turning to Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately.When I first started training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends ...

Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately. When I first started training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends after the procedures. They stayed away from the operating room themselves.

Not anymore. Last year more than 1,000,000 men had plastic surgery procedures, according the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery. The number is growing: I see more and more men every month. Sports Illustrated now sits with Vogue in our magazine rack.







Men are turning to plastic surgery to feel better, look younger, and help with their careers. But just as men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relationships, so too are they different when it comes to plastic surgery. With the wrong procedures, or the right procedures done the wrong way, men wind up looking less like they did when they were in college -- and more like their college-aged daughters.

Where women tend to undergo lifts, men steer more toward reshaping and recontouring. Nationally, the top three surgical procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose work), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Men are going for Botox and skin treatments as well.

Even in-shape guys have love handles that tend to scream %26quot;flab.%26quot; These areas usually can be eliminated with liposuction. Likewise, many men I see complain of fullness in the chest (and I am not talking pecs here) that diminishes their masculine look. Liposuction provides excellent results here too. This surgery can help bring back the abs men had in college.

Liposuction for men often provides desired outcomes that often cannot be achieved at the gym. Localized fat deposits that are hard to exercise away stand as inviting targets for liposuction. I had one patient nickname my liposuction machine his %26quot;mechanical personal trainer.%26quot; Results like this are improved still more as men head back to the gym after their procedures.

Like rings in a tree trunk, lines reveal our age. In men, they tend to develop around the eyes and forehead. When treated early, Botox smooths fine lines on the face. By weakening tiny facial muscles, it stops the constant pulling that leads to lines on the overlying skin. Though the results only last between three and six months, the changes look very impressive.

When fine lines around the eyes graduate to true wrinkles, eyelid surgery turns back the clock. By removing excess skin and fat of either the upper or lower eyelid, men look refreshed without changing their overall appearance.

Men have different goals from women in seeking plastic surgery. And their distinct anatomy means that simply offering the same procedure to men as women will leave men dissatisfied with the results.

Plastic surgery is no longer for women only. Men have great results, just like women. But their bodies, goals, and temperaments are different. So the correct procedures, done in the right way, need to be selected to give men the outcomes they're looking for.

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