How long does it take for TMJ to heal?

This is a good question. It all depends on how long it takes for the discs to move back into proper position, it all depends on whether or not the distortions to the cranial bones correct in short order or do they need a lot of time.

I generally tell our new patients that I need to work with them for about a year, and then we re-assess where we are at. Sometimes they are done at this point, other times they need more time to keep moving in the right direction.

Is TMD a permanent condition?

Not at all. In almost all cases, we are able to help TMD patients and they are able to resort to mostly normal activity. Think of it like a broken bone – you wear a cast for a while, then do physical therapy and rehab, then go back to normal life.

If you wait too long and ignore the initial signs of TMD, damage may occur which is more difficult to treat. In those cases, TMD treatment will be needed and then possible surgical intervention to help reduce inflammation in the joints.

What are the long term effects of an untreated TMD?

When the discs in the joints are out of place, they tend to rub against the condyle/jaw bone and inflammation builds up. Chronic inflammation can lead to erosion of the condyles and degenerative arthrosis, which is difficult to repair. It can lead to a need for total joint replacement, but none of my patients have ever had to do that because we treat them long before it goes that far.

So if you leave the TMD issues alone for too long, then the chronic inflammation sets in and bone erosion occurs. We see this frequently when a patient says they have had TMD symptoms for many years.

Read more…

What can be the possible consequences of a ruptured ovarian cyst?

Possible consequences of a ruptured ovarian cyst are acute pelvic pain (likely on the side of ruptured ovarian cyst), acute hemorrhage and possible anemia, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, lower back pain, and groin pain.

What can cause an ovarian cyst to rupture?

Ovarian cysts may rupture because they have reached a certain size and cyst walls cannot hold the pressure inside anymore.

Can ovarian cysts lead to ovarian cancer?

Only a very small percentage of ovarian cysts (usually less than 1%) may develop into ovarian cancer.

But the risk of developing into ovarian cancer increase with advanced ages, especially after 60. And with complex cysts, with septations and nodules, the chance of cancer is higher.

Can ovarian cysts cause fertility problems?

It depends on the type of ovarian cysts. If the cyst is endometrioma or chocolate cyst, fertility is significantly compromised by the presence of chocolate cysts.

If it is just a simple follicular cyst, there is no effect on fertility.

Read more…

Do bunions get worse if left untreated?

Yes. If you leave your bunion unattended, it will get increasingly difficult to fit shoes, and the pain worsens because bunions are a progressive deformity, which means it gets worse if left untreated.

How do we stop a bunion from progressing without surgery?

Nothing can stop the progression of the bunion, and you can only reverse it with surgery. The one thing that can slow down the progression is custom orthotics. Please see your nearest podiatrist to get one fitted, if you are not ready to surgically correct your bunion.

Can bunions grow back after surgery?

Yes, if the wrong procedure is selected to repair the bunion. Be sure to consult your surgeon to ensure the correct procedure is done to keep your bunion from coming back.

Should people suffering from bunions wear bunion correctors?

In my opinion, those don’t really work in the long term, but it may help a little in the short term for only pain reduction. Remember, these devices have not shown to reverse the deformity.

Read more…

Is it possible for morning sickness to come and go?

Yes, most pregnant women have periodic episodes of morning sickness that typically begin somewhere between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy.

In 90% of the morning sickness cases, the symptoms tend to be most pronounced around the ninth week and usually subside by the 20th week. In the remaining 10% cases, the symptoms may follow an unconventional trajectory.

There is no set pathological pattern when it comes to such atypical cases, which can be marked by persistent sickness throughout the course of the pregnancy or fluctuating symptoms (on/off periods).

Please provide some important tips and points for taking care of morning sickness for the benefit of our readers.

Most cases of morning sickness are easily manageable at home without the need for any medical intervention.

Although there are anti-sickness drugs available, you should try a few simple self-care measures before resorting to medication.

Read more…