My grandfather also died of Alzheimers a few years back. My grandmother is now starting to show the signs, but we think that some other physical ailment is going to take her before the Alzheimers gets too far..
Anyway, thanks for the info on the disease. It helps to research this stuff and know at least some of the things you can be expecting from someone with the affliction.
Should I ask you about scoliosis, or should I just keep my mouth shut, and read what you dig up?
Scoliosis is not a disease. It's simply extra curvature of the spine, so that in X-Rays the spine is shaped like an "S", as opposed to a normal slight "C" shape. It occurs more often in women than in men, and most cases (~70-80%) are idiopathic (meaning we have no frosting clue about what causes it). In the rest of the cases, the causes can be congenital spine deformities, genetic conditions, neuromuscular problems, limb length inequality, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy and tumors. (phew! if you want explanation on any of these, let Payquage do it or wait for another post! )
From personal experience (I have a mild case of scoliosis. I diagnosed myself at like 10 years old. Long story), most cases of scoliosis are simply monitored. Treatment is reserved for extreme cases, where the degree of curvature is great. Methods of treatment for scoliosis include a brace (think along the lines of a corset, but a lot less pretty) and surgery. The surgery really depends on where the curve is located along the spine, and what causes the curve (if it's known).
I'm not sure if this answers your question at all, but if not, let me know and I'll post more.
Heh. I gathered all of that. I'm just checking in about something that a shiropractor told me about scoliosis also being linked to back spasms, muscle cramps and tension, headaches, body weight gain, and other posture and metabolic ailments.
I was like "A bad back can cause weight gain, or weight loss? I can see muscle cramps in the back and shoulders, but stomach or legs? Not unless the spinal cord was affected.." You know. Wondering if he was actually trying to take me for a ride just so that he could suck some cash out of my already thin wallet..
After all, I have yet to be diagnosed, but I have a feeling that I have something fairly slight, but yet in my line of work it helps to know what your limitations are before getting in over your head.. (literally!)
Ah, well. A bad back can cause both weight gain and weight loss, depending on how you look at it. The pain can sometimes decrease appetite in people, hence the weight loss. Pain also tends to decrease mobility, hence the weight gain.
It can cause cramps in the stomach and legs. Whether you notice it or not, your abdominal muscles play a serious role in maintaining your posture. If they have to work harder to maintain your posture because your spine is misshapen or because your back muscles are shot, then they're more likely to cramp up.
Your legs are also a major influence on your back. Ever have your back hurt because you were standing for too long? It also works the other way around. If you have to change the way you stand because your back hurts, your legs could cramp up due to holding an unnatural position for too long, for example.
Many people have some degree of scoliosis--after all, no one's perfect. This is why treatment is reserved for people with really severe cases, or for children whose growth can make the condition worsen.
Nods. Thus from this statement I could honestly infer that if there's something wrong with you, the root cause very well could be your back. After all, if an arm hurts, it could be something to do with your back. As well as your head hurting because of some serious tension in your neck.
If it affects the back, chances are that it's also manifesting somewhere else in the body as well.. Would this be a safe assumption?
Heh, good point. I'm not saying that ALL pains are rooted in back problems, but a good chunk can have something to do with it. Think of how important your back is. It determines how you move, both in terms of musculature and nerves. Every person is different, so if they're complaining of back pain, there's a chance it's manifesting as another problem as well.
For example, for a while I was getting these crazy neck pains, where I couldn't look down without almost shouting with pain. It turned out to be that my lower back was cramping up because of the position I slept in, and this caused tension all along my back muscles up to my neck, and for some reason, I only felt the pain in my neck. I didn't feel a thing in my lower back. Go figure.
And to answer your question, yes probably, back pain has a way of manifesting in different ways.
Some chiropractors attribute nearly all ailments to misalignments in the spine. Some help with more specific problems which could be caused by pinched nerves (or spasms or other compensations) caused by a misalignment. I did once have a chiropractor offer treatment for my mild scoliosis, but I think several years of Iyengar yoga did me even better.
The topic was genetics, I think. I can't think of anything else to add, offhand.
I saw mention of spinal muscular atrophy a few posts back and was stunned: I suffer from this same-said, damnable ailment. I'd thought it was so rare noone had ever heard of it, other than those of us who have it. Got any info on studies that might be going on right now? I participated in one a few years back in which Gapentin's effects on this genetic nerve disease were tested (with no improvement, let me add -- also, Gabapentin is a drug, and not even a good one).
As for Scoliosis, I've had me own run in with that foul ailment as well, as a result of the SMA. Basically, unless it gets really bad, a brace and some painkillers are all most doctors will do about it. I'd like to say all doctors are frauds, but my Neurologist is superb. He actually tries to help me (physical therapy, etc.) instead of just throwing his prescription pad at me.
One think that irks me, though, is the whole suppression of research with Stem Cells. I know there's no such thing as a "miracle cure-all", but these handy little things could change the lives of myself and millions of others. Standing in our way are these people from a darker age who fear . . . Well, I don't know what they fear, exactly. I read somewhere once that a true physician "brushes the hands of God" in some of the miraculous cures that have been done down the centuries. Quite frankly, while I have faith in God, he gave us the ability to HELP OURSELVES. Is this the 1500's? No. My son would tell you (as he's told me), "We live in the 21st century. We're friggin smart!!" While I admire his sense of destiny, his hope, I fear small minded people who fear what they do not understand will limit the field of medicine for years to come.
One of my best friends has scoliosis, and let me tell you , he has really suffered. I have tried to be there for him. He really is incapacitated for life, but they won't declare him "disabled".
Anyhow, here is an interesting article on stem cell research:
Cool article, Herc. Ballyhooing over stemcells concerns the embryonic variety, which involve destroying--or killing, depending on what side of the fence you sit--embryos. It all comes back to the abortion debate, really. The basic question behind both is whether or not an embryo/fetus is a human life.
I'm not about to drudge up that old argument, so I'll just leave the explanation there. In short, stem cells aren't the problem, it's where they come from.
Oh, don't misunderstand me, I get the two sides of the argument. And sometimes, I am more conservative than the conservatives, but, I am very open minded about science, which makes me a really weird person.
This is why I read science fiction. WE, as a species, need to be careful, and not think that there are no limits to what we can do. We can probably reach a point of being able to duplicate God Himself (or Herself -- depending on your views). My point, though, is this: We need to be careful and not underestimate power for the sake of science. We need to use science to help ourselves and our fellow human beings. Science for the elite, or for only those that can afford it, is useless. Science for everyone, with the proper restrictions, that will not create subclasses of humans, bred to be organ donors, for example, is what I endorse. I am not a science prude. But, I do not worship science. I respect it. I see the benefits. I am, in a way, a scientist myself (engineer actually). I plan to some day finish that PhD in Physics.
Anyway, I am off my rant. I guess my only point is this, without getting political (I don't want to go there)... I think, this type of research (genetics, stem cells, alternative ways of researching stem cells, fixing genetic diseases) is great.
BUT! And this has an impact on the show "Heroes" also.... I don't want it to end-up limited as cures for the few. If they find a cure that can fix everyone, then FIX EVERYONE. It's kind like the whole AIDS Epidemic. There is a whole continent dying -- Africa. But, given cheap drugs, lots of people can be helped. I know the drug companies have to defend their super-expensive research, but when you balance that against a WHOLE CONTINENT DYING?
Like I said, I am weird in my views. I hope, I did not offend anyone. If I did, I'll ask a mod to remove this message. * sorry *!!!
Ah, I get ya. Don't worry, I didn't see anything offensive about your post. I totally agree with you. I am all for stem cell research and the like.
My one big hang up is the insistence on embryonic stem cells. There's enough controversy surrounding it as is, and it's always better to have several different sources, that way there can be a bigger supply down the road.
This whole controversy is really what's holding up the research, if you think about it. Would the general public even really know about stem cells if someone hadn't started complaining about the embryos?
That's why I like the article you posted. It's a good step forward.
PS: I don't mean to offend anyone! It's a touchy subject, I know. I'm just expressing my frustration at the lack of progress.
Sorry Obsidian! Sorry Everyone! I thought twice about my posy after I did it, and came back last night to remove it. I was like 5 minutes too late to do so.
Again, I hope, I did not offend anyone. Like Obsidian said, I try to not be political in my views. I love genetics, that's why I started this thread. I love science. But I also love intelligent human beings (if you know what I mean).
Anyhow, sorry if I offended anyone.... Send me a private message and I'll ask a mod to delete my post.
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I can't think of anything else to add, offhand.
* sorry *!!!
