The Phantom Limb

Phantom Limb Syndrome

The Phantom limb syndrome is a condition in which the person has had a body part amputated or removed but the sensation of having that arm or leg feels as if that body part is still there. They often experience pain which could worsen when the person is stressed due to this condition. Some of the pains that people who experience this say that it feels like a stabbing, piercing, or burning pain where that body part was located. They still have the feeling that the limb is attached to their body, but when in reality that body part is no longer there. This is caused because the brain continues to receive signals from the nerves that originally carried impulses from the missing limb. The exact cause of the phantom limb syndrome is unknown but some studies say that the sensations are there because the brain is attempting to reorganize sensory information after the amputation of the body part. The brain is trying to adjust itself to the changes that have occurred to the body part. It is very important to tell the doctor if they experience any pain or other sensations since early treatment can improve the chances of success. There is no actual test to diagnose someone to say they experience phantom pain. All the doctors could do is ask if they have been experiencing any pain or other sensations in the body part that has been amputated.  They could also recommend the person some medication to try an ease the pain but as you already know the medication would only work for some time. There are also other methods that doctors could use in some cases which is called electrical nerve stimulation. There are different forms of this treatment that they could conduct, one being transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) were a tiny electric current is sent through the skin to points on the nerve pathway. Another being Transcranial magnetic stimulation were a strong magnetic pulse is sent though the scalp into the brain. There is also another technique being used which is called the mirror box therapy were the patient with the amputated limb places a mirror between there body where they can see one body part and with reflection being the amputated limb so in their brain they could see that they have that limb and more it around and send signal to the brain that it is moving and this treatment could also ease some of that pain which is caused by the phantom limb syndrome.  Phantom limb video

Drug Abuse and Addiction

Many people experience problems with drug abuse or addictions. First they might want to experiment with a drug or try something new, or maybe they are peer pressured by some friends. By using drugs for the first time does not necessarily mean a person will become an addict. Yes, it will give the person the high they are looking for temporary, but at the same time it is causing so much harm to the body. There are many reasons people turn to drugs at first they never believe that they will become an addict they just do it as a regular things. Within a couple of months they notice they have not stopped and never realize that they have been addicted to something in order to stimulate their bodies.  Others might do this in order to ease problems such as stress, anxiety or even depression. They believe and feel once they use the drugs that the problems they had will go away. Why do people become addicts? Some the problems start at home they might have a family history of addictions or abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences in childhood. Others might just have a mental disorder which makes them believe that what they are doing in nothing wrong. The addiction of drugs affects the brain so once the brain has felt that feeling it will remember it and want to experience it again and again. The drugs will take the same significance as other survival behaviors like eating and drinking and will see it as a need to survive and ask for it frequently. The drugs will affect the brain making it think you are thinking clearly when in reality you will not. It will also impair you from having good judgment and it will also take over your behavioral which would make you into a mood machine. Having your drugs will become your main priority and will make you forget about your family, friends, career/job, and even your own happiness and health all the body will require is getting the high it has been use too. Now you might ask, how does a person get over this? It will be one of the hardest and challenging things they have even done but it is possible and could be done. All within time and a process needed with support groups and counselling a person could finally understand that they have become an addict and need the help to change their life. There are many ways or paths people could take in order to recover from addiction they could choose entering a rehab and getting the therapy you need. For a person recovering from an addiction it is much easier with the support of family members, close friends and therapists or counselors that they can be familiar with and allow them to help them out.

Why you need Thiamine

Thiamine better known as Vitamin B1

Who would have known that thiamine would be so important in maintaining a healthy nerves system. Some people do even know what this is? Thiamine or thiamin or better known as vitamin B1 turns foods into useable energy for the body. Thiamine helps the body maintain healthy nerves system and heart. Without having thiamine in our system the muscles would show weakness and the nerves tissues would exhibit a poor growth. People who have low thiamine in their systems often show signals of depression and a weakness in their bodies. Thiamine could be found in many founds that you could eat in a regular basis such as whole grain products, enriched wheat, brown rice, lean pork, lean meat, milk, nuts and even sea foods also carry thiamine. You could also find it in different kinds of vegetables and fruits but you have to be careful when cooking the vegetables and only cook them with very little water with the lid to preserve the vitamins. Also when rinsing pastas and rice it is said better to wait till it has been cooked. Another very important thing to avoid is the consumption of teas and coffees because they destroy this vitamin known as thiamine.

Some people are even diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome which is a brain disorder due to thiamine deficiency. The lack of thiamine is common in people with alcoholism. Some of the symptoms due to Wernicke would be confusion and loss of mental activity which could lead to coma and even death. The loss of muscle coordination and unable to control your body properly leading to walking with a different rhythm maybe in jerking or drag of the legs. Could even cause vision change, Nystagmus, which is fast and uncontrollable movement of the eyes going from side to side to up and down. Some of the symptoms that someone with Krosakoff would show inability to form new memories, loss of memory could be very severe. Also they tend to make up stories and see and hear things that are really not there. When examining the nerves and muscular system it will show the damage that has been done to the nerves system cause by thiamine deficiency.

So now you know why thiamine is so important and why you must eat all your veg’s and fruits. This vitamin B1 is so important for the body to have so that it can function properly and at its best. Of course this will not happen overnight but for the people who are on the wrong path this is what is waiting for them. It would be a combination of poor eating habits and alcohol in a long period of time. Yes, you could have that beer you will not get diagnosed with Wernicke-Krosakoff  syndrome just make sure you stay in the right path and have you daily vitamins and exercise that the body needs in order to stay healthy