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Recoveries Section -
Medical Definitions
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HNP = Herniated nucleus pulposus is a condition in which part or all of the soft,
gelatinous central portion of an intervertebral disk is forced
through a weakened part of the disk, resulting in back pain and
nerve root irritation.
Some of the Causes: The bones (vertebrae) of the spinal
column run down the back, connecting the skull to the pelvis.
These bones protect nerves that come out of the brain and travel
down the back and to the entire body. The spinal vertebrae are
separated by disks filled with a soft, gelatinous substance,
which provide cushioning to the spinal column. These disks may
herniate (move out of place) or rupture from trauma or
strain. Radiculopathy refers to any disease affecting the
spinal nerve roots. A herniated disk is one cause of
radiculopathy (sciatica). Most herniation takes place in the
lower back (lumbar area) of the spine. Lumbar disk herniation
occurs 15 times more often than cervical (neck) disk herniation,
and it is one of the most common causes of lower back pain. Disk
herniation occurs more frequently in middle aged and older men,
especially those involved in strenuous physical activity. Other
risk factors include any congenital conditions that affect the
size of the lumbar spinal canal. |
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RSD =
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD): A condition
characterized by diffuse pain, swelling and limitation of
movement that follows an injury such as a fracture in an arm or
leg, The symptoms are way out of proportion to the injury and
may linger long after the injury has healed.
Also knows as, Complex regional pain
syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain
condition. The key symptom of CRPS is
continuous, intense pain out of
proportion to the severity of the
injury, which gets worse rather than
better over time. CRPS most often
affects one of the arms, legs, hands, or
feet. Often the pain spreads to include
the entire arm or leg. Typical features
include dramatic changes in the color
and temperature of the skin over the
affected limb or body part, accompanied
by intense burning pain, skin
sensitivity, sweating, and swelling.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes CRPS.
In some cases the sympathetic nervous
system plays an important role in
sustaining the pain. Another theory is
that CRPS is caused by a triggering of
the immune response, which leads to the
characteristic inflammatory symptoms of
redness, warmth, and swelling in the
affected area.
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TBI = Traumatic brain
injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head
causes damage to the brain. The damage can be focal, confined to
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- Neurological causes
–Lesions of upper motor neurons: Stroke,
tumor, abscess, degeneration (e.g.,
Parkinson's disease); voluntary motor
pathways to cranial nerve nuclei 9, 10,
and 12 are affected
–Lesions of lower motor neuron:
Brainstem stroke, amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, hypothyroidism, diabetic
nerve infarction
–Lesions of the neuromuscular junction:
Myasthenia gravis, prolonged effects of
anesthesia, botulism, nerve gas/
organophosphate poisoning; all cause
oropharyngeal or glossal weakness
–Lesions of muscle: Polymyositis,
dermatomyositis, inherited muscle
diseases such as myotonic muscular
dystrophy, mitochondrial diseases
- Structural causes
–Tumors of the lips, tongue, squamous
cell epithelium of the vocal cords and
oropharynx
–Polyps or salivary gland dysfunction
resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth)
–Hypoglossal nerve damage due to
surgical traction from carotid
endarterectomy
- Less common etiologies include
glossitis (amyloidosis, hypothyroidism,
anaerobic infection), acute dystonic
reaction, unrecognized foreign accent,
mild cerebral palsy,
sedative/anticonvulsant intoxication,
poor dentition or ill-fitting dentures,
cleft palate
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| Cervical Laminectomy
= Cervical laminectomy is a procedure that is
performed on the back of the neck to remove pressure from
either the nerve roots or the spinal cord in the neck.
By relieving pressure on the spinal cord it is the goal of
cervical laminectomy to stop the progression of damage to the
spinal cord and allow for as much recovery of function as
possible.
Other procedures, including laminoplasty can also be
performed for this condition. |
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SEVERE
PSYCHOLOGICAL OVERLAY: THE SHAKEN SENSE OF
SELF
It is not possible to comprehend the
devastating impact of cognitive changes
without understanding the nature of how we
maintain our sense of self.
"Sense of self" refers to the balance,
the integrity , the system of feedback that
we all instinctively establish to keep
constant our "identity", our sense of who we
are. It involves the ability to do certain
things and not others, to react and perform
in ways that are predictable and expected,
and generally run our lives based on what we
have learned we are able to do.
Such a sense of self is totally disrupted
following head injury.
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with emotional overlay =
Traumatic brain injury encompasses a
variety of conditions caused by an
external mechanical force to the
head resulting in damage to brain
tissue. Mild traumatic brain injury
refers to head trauma without loss
of consciousness or with a loss of
consciousness lasting less than 20
minutes (Gasquoine, 1997; Miller,
1996). Post-concussional syndrome is
a term often used interchangeably
with mild traumatic brain injury and
refers to the array of cognitive,
psychosocial, and behavioral
manifestations associated with
pathophysiological changes involved
with traumatic brain injury. |
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| Thoracic outlet syndrome =
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) consists of a group of distinct
disorders that affect the nerves in the brachial plexus (nerves
that pass into the arms from the neck) and various nerves and
blood vessels between the base of the neck and axilla (armpit).
For the most part, these disorders have very little in common
except the site of occurrence. The disorders are complex,
somewhat confusing, and poorly defined, each with various signs
and symptoms of the upper limb. |
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