Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumours (non-cancerous growths) in the wall of the uterus. They are also called leiomyoma uteri, leiomyoma or myoma. Fibroids are the most common tumours that are found in the female pelvis. Hysterectomy is often performed due to the presence of fibroids.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become brittle. Women are particularly susceptible to this condition as they grow older. Loss of calcium (bone mineral) causes the skeleton to weaken and become fragile. This leads to fractures. Frequently, patients with osteoporosis develop painless spinal fractures, which lead to a condition called dowager's hump. This is a curvature of the spine with protruding abdomen. Acute back pain in elderly women is often the result of a spontaneous vertebral fracture as a result of osteoporosis.

Who is at risk?

• Post-menopausal women of small body frame with a previous history of smoking, excess alcohol and coffee consumption and lack of exercise.
• Daughters of mothers with spinal or hip fractures.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed and treated?

Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of the joint. It refers to more than 100 rheumatic diseases which usually affect the area in and around the joints, including muscles and tendons. The most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis. These diseases usually cause stiffness, pain and fatigue. How severe the symptoms are varies from person to person and from day to day. In some people, the entire body may be affected. Arthritis is most often chronic (it could last for a whole lifetime, coming at intervals). This section answers any questions you might have about arthritis in general.

Diagnosing and evaluating arthritis

Most types of arthritis show symptoms of joint inflammation. These include swelling, stiffness, tenderness, warmth or redness. There may also be weight loss, fever or weakness. If these symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, they may be caused due to rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms could also be caused by infection. This could lead to septic arthritis. However, the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, does not usually show joint inflammation. This is a degenerative disease of the joints. It is caused by mechanical abnormalities in the joint.

Pain and methods of coping

Strong painkillers are not advisable if you have arthritis, as your pain is most likely to be long lasting. Your pain is caused by inflammation, damage to joint tissues, muscle strain caused by overworked muscles attempting to protect your joints from painful movements and fatigue. Along with physical changes, the emotional challenges of arthritis also worsen your pain. Stress and depression can worsen your pain. But don’t lose hope. Many people with arthritis find that they can cope with their pain eventually. The answer to the pain is to make a determined effort to get the better of it in a sustained manner. There are many ways to control pain. Using a combination of methods is often the best bet.

First of all, you must get a hold of yourself and develop a positive attitude. Then try any of these methods: heat or cold treatments, physical therapy, exercise, relaxation or massage. Take as few pain-relieving medicines as possible.

Developing a positive attitude: You might well be feeling helpless and depressed because you have arthritis. Learning to think differently is very important, and having a more positive attitude will help you to cope better. Try not to build your life around your pain. Eat a balanced diet, follow your treatment plan and exercise regularly. Pursue your hobbies and interests. Remind yourself of all the things you can do rather than those you can’t. Instead of dwelling on your pain, try to distract yourself from it by doing things that take your mind off it. Alcohol is not a good solution. Try to avoid drinking as a habit.

Heat and cold treatments: These treatments can reduce stiffness and pain. Heat works by relaxing your muscles. Heating pads or lamps can be used, or a hot bath. Don’t go to sleep with a heating pad as you might get burned. Use an electric blanket instead, or a hot water bottle. Ask your doctor about paraffin baths. Cold deadens feeling in the affected area. Cold packs are recommended for severe joint pain and swelling. Don’t use cold treatment if you have poor circulation or vasculitis.

Don’t use either heat or cold if you have open cuts or sores. Don’t use extremes of either heat or cold. Creams and lotions are not advisable while using heat or cold.

Relaxation: When you’re in pain, you’re experiencing stress, and stress in turn makes you less able to cope with the pain. You tend to contract your muscles and breathe hard, while your blood pressure and heart rate increases. Relaxation techniques help you to break this pattern and ease the pain. It is not easy to relax when you’re in pain, but it is certainly worth your while to make the effort – and practice does make it easier.

One of the most common ways of relaxing is called guided imagery. First, take slow, deep breaths. Then think that you are in a place or situation where you felt comfortable and secure in the past. Try to relive all the details exactly as you then felt them. This helps to take your mind off the pain and think of more pleasant things. Never mind if you are distracted at first by other thoughts, just concentrate on your breathing. Most people are able to learn to relax with some practice.

Migraines

Migraine is a headache that affects people at intervals with complete relief between attacks. If you have migraine, your headache would usually be accompanied by any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, visual disturbances or numbness. The cause of migraine is still uncertain, though it is often brought on by stress, fatigue, exertion, hormonal factors and missing meals. Classical migraine is accompanied by what is called an aura, while common migraine is not.

What is an aura?

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is also called lumbar pain. It refers to pain in the spine or the muscles of the lower back. If you have spasms of the large supportive muscles alongside the spine, you are likely to have low back pain caused by injury to the back. Pain caused by muscular strain is usually limited to the back, though in some cases it radiates to the buttocks or thighs.

The most common causes

Frequently, muscle strain or a pulled muscle in the back causes low back pain. This, in fact, is the most common cause. Other possibilities are ache in the muscles because of a viral infection, arthritis or poor posture. Women often suffer low back pain during their periods and sometimes as part of PMS.