Most people with a disc herniation do not get herniated disc surgery. However, if your doctor or medical back specialist recommends herniated disc surgery, then it’s something you may decide to do.

Keep in mind that disc surgery is not a sure thing. There is no guarantee it will work.

The type of surgery you have will depend on the exact nature of your disc herniation. Typically your surgeon will be able to tell you the type of procedure after reviewing your MRI.

3 herniated disc surgery procedures are as follows.

1. Open Discectomy

As you know by now, the reason a disc herniation can hurt so much is the leaking fluid from your disc presses or irritates a nerve. That hurts. A discectomy removes the leaked fluid that contacts or irritates the nerve. Patients are put under with general anesthesia for this procedure.

2. Endoscopic Discectomy

An endoscopic discectomy, like an open discectomy, removes leaked fluid from the disc herniation that contacts the nerve. However, this procedure is different from the open discectomy in being much less invasive. An open discectomy requires at least a 3 cm incision and peeling muscle from the spine.

An endoscopic discectomy, on the other hand, makes a tiny incision and uses an endoscopic probe with a video recorder attached, through which tiny surgical instruments are inserted to remove the excess disc fluid that herniated. An endoscopic discectomy is much less invasive than an open discectomy. You can go home the same day.

3. Percutaneous Discectomy

This procedure is performed when a disc hasn’t ruptured or herniated, but instead bulges resulting in pain. The procedure is done with a needle-like instrument called a cannula that removes tissue from inside the bulging disc to relieve pressure. This procedure is used less often than an open discectomy, but is much less invasive than an open discectomy. Patients remain awake during this procedure.

Recovery Expectation from Herniated Disc Surgery

Some patients enjoy immediate herniated pain relief upon waking. Others’ pain goes away over several weeks following the surgery.

If you have an open discectomy, you’ll be directed to take it very easy for several weeks. Absolutely no lifting or twisting.

Complications?

Most open discectomies are successful to some degree. However, as with any surgery, there are potential complications of bleeding and infection. In the case of a discectomy specifically, there is a slight chance of fluid leaking into the spinal canal.

The basic information about Rheumatoid Arthritis is important to know since RA affects over 1 million people each year with three times as many women as men developing the disease after the age of 30. RA is a condition that affects the joints with inflammation. The synovial membrane that covers and protects the joint becomes inflamed and begins to deteriorate, causing the affected joints to become swollen and very painful.

The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is unknown, but doctors believe the condition is caused by bacteria that attacks the immune system. Some healthcare professionals suggest that smoking may also be the cause of the onset of RA in some people. In other cases, patients are believed to have inherited it. The disease affects the hands, wrists, knees as well as the skin, eyes, lungs, blood and the heart. Scientists believe that this type of Arthritis shortens the life expectancy of patients from 3 to 6 years.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis can come and go, depending on the severity of the disease. Common symptoms include:

-Swelling

-Bumps

-Stiffness

-Tenderness

-Numbness

-Deformities

-Loss of appetite

-Dry mouth

-Dry eyes

-Pain

-Fatigue

-Weight-loss

For anyone who is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is wise to contact a doctor immediately. A battery of tests will be performed to help diagnose or rule out Rheumatoid arthritis. Common diagnostic tests include:

-Physical exam

-Joint x-ray

-Blood test

-Analysis the synovial fluid

-Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test (ESR)- measures how fast the blood cells are moving

Currently there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, but there are numerous ways to treat it and reduce pain. A licensed physical therapist can help strengthen joints by exercise and the use of treatments such as heat and/or cold compressions, massages, and electric stimulation can help alleviate pain.

Medications are also generally prescribed to help reduce joint inflammation. Methotrexate, also known as Rheumatrex, is a oral tablet that is taken in 7 day cycles. Rheumatrex creates a barrier between the growing cells in the immune system and serve to divide the cells. Leflunomide, also known as Arava, is taken daily and can reduce any swelling or tenderness. Any over the counter medication such as Advil and Tylenol can also reduce some pain and discomfort.

Surgery is often used to treat severe deformities, bleeding and immobility due to the ravages of Rheumatoid Arthritis. During surgery, the lining of the affected joint may be removed completely and replaced with an artificial joint. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a serious condition and generally requires a multiplicity of treatments to help keep patients relatively pain free and to extend quality of life as long as possible.

Does a Calorie Restriction Diet Increase Longevity

On any diet, nutritional choices are very important. Foods such as vegetables are chosen over high sugar foods, high calorie low nutrient foods, and high calorie junk food are to be avoided.

Benefits of Resveratrol

The average American consumes between 2000 and 3000 calories a day.

On a diet to increase longevity a person eats only enough to barley stay alive. Resveratrol helps us to live longer without a calorie restricted diet.

Nearly two hundred years before any experiments, were conducted on calorie restriction.

Benjamin Franklin said, “To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.”Now in 2010 65% of Americans are overweight or obese his words ring powerfully true.

Proof that a Restricted Diet Works

Ancel Keys did a study on caloric restriction diet at the University of Minnesota in the 1950s.

He took sixty volunteers who ate an average daily diet of 1,500 calories for three years with a control group who consumed 2,300 calories per day.

The study demonstrated that the calorie-restricted group was healthier. (Keys, lived to be one hundred.)

The calorie restricted group had less visits to the doctor and blood test also showed then to be healthier than the control group.

Does a Calorie Restriction Diet Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Another experiment near Tuscon, Arizona in a Biosphere 2, concluded that one member of the crew Dr. Roy Walford, persuaded the other members to do their own calorie-restricted experiment.

The crew consumed a low-calorie diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and beans, with small amounts of meat, dairy, and eggs.

They lost weight decreased their body mass by 19 percent for the men and 13 percent for the women. Also they had a drop in their blood pressure.

The Genes Behind Calorie Restriction

One theory why calorie restriction works is that it reduced energy production in the cells and therefore led to less toxicity from free radicals.

Theoretically, fewer free radicals should result in less cellular damage and a longer life. Except that antioxidants alone have not been shown to prolong longevity the way resveratrol does.

So What Does the Evidence Show in People?

Were getting heavier and sicker with every generation, this is the first generation since the baby boomers that parents are out living there children.

Welcome screen shows (in % and MB) how much we have spent of our monthly quota. If we keep our current usage constant we will use only 21.6% of my quota, so we will be fine (I believe no one likes to pay those monthly overages).

Also, on this screen we can see how much data is received (downloaded) and transmitted (uploaded) and, of course - total usage. Then we have a quick look on daily, weekly and monthly usage. More than enough data for the welcome screen!

Settings button gives lets us set our monthly qouta (in MB); alerts which will warn us when we are near our quota; update frequency (every hour is fine - more updates, shorter battery life); widget settings (shows quota % used, alert when roaming, etc.) We can also set our phone to vibrate when we’re near our monthly quota, we can set 3G Watchdog to automatically disable 3G (to lower our data usage). 3G Watchdog can work with APNdroid and JuiceDefender. Of course - there is an option to auto-reenable 3G when usage is back under limit.

There is more. When we press “Menu” button on my HTC Desire we get more options: quota traffic history, day traffic history, set quota counters, set today’s counters and refresh.

Quota traffic history shows last 12 recorded quota periods (months).

Day traffic history displays traffic usage for the last 31 recorded days. It also displays averages on all recorded days.

Set quota counters lets you manually enter your quota. You can also reset all counters to zero.

3G Watchdog is a wonderful application and it is a must for every Android phone. It accurately monitors our data usage (3G, GPRS, Edge) and warns us when we are near our quota.

To download this free application search Android Market for 3G WatchDog.

Many people prefer natural remedies for Gout because some prescription medications for the disease can cause negative side effects. Since the onset of Gout is basically linked to lifestyle choices, it makes good sense to make simple lifestyle adjustments in order to resolve or control the condition. Here are some basic dietary changes that are important.

It is necessary to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, maintain a healthy body weight, avoid foods high in purines such as alcohol, shellfish and creamy sauces and reduce ingesting foods and drinks that are high in potassium. There is also some evidence that vitamin C may help in reducing uric acid levels in the body.

The addition of certain foods to the diet such as cherries and cherry juice have also been touted to reduce uric acid levels. Eating an apple every day can help relieve the pain associated with the condition. For Gout symptoms in the toes, pouring one-third cup of ground ginger in a bathtub and soaking the affected area for about 30 minutes can help. Make sure to thoroughly wash the area afterward because ginger can cause skin irritation.

Natural herbs can be a great remedy as well. Nirgundi is one of the most potent anti-arthritic herb. Shallaki is a natural anti-inflammatory herb and Guggul is a natural inflammatory herb that its action is almost immediate. Sonth, also known as dry ginger, is an anti-inflammatory herb. Giloy and Ashwagandha are Indian Ginseng in the west and are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Another popular natural remedy for Gout is drinking Green tea which contains contains vitamin C and vitamin E, which are also beneficial to curb the condition. There are many natural remedies for Gout that can help to ease symptoms and cure the disease. For those who are not knowledgeable about the use of natural remedies for Gout, it may be helpful to talk to a natural health care provider for more information.