Advanced Family Medicine

Your Condensed Guide to Dupuytren's Contracture What is Dupuytren's Contracture? Dupuytren's contracture involves a benign progressive thickening of the skin of the palm, as well as the thickening of the palmar fascia, which is connective tissue responsible for finger contraction and grip strength. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of  Dupuytren's Contracture? Although advanced cases of Dupuytren's contracture involve loss of grip strength, the condition can begin simply with the development of a small, painless lump on the palm, often near the base of one or more fingers, along with  mild aching and/or itching. While Dupuytren's contracture can technically affect both hands, there is a tendency for symptoms to appear only on one hand or the other. In addition to these symptoms, as time passes, the palmar fascia actually changes from collagen type I to type III, which is thicker and allows less range of motion. Once this occurs, knots can form unde...

How To Live Better with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Did you know that 20% of the U.S. population suffers from weekly heartburn? And for many of these patients, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) may be the underlying cause. But even though it has a funny name, this medical condition is no joke. As such, in this article we’ll talk about what GERD is, how you can find out if it’s causing your heartburn, and what you can do to help alleviate some of its symptoms. What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)? What Causes it? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (often referred to as GERD) is recurring heartburn that usually results from a medical condition where a valve in the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) begins to malfunction. As a result, stomach acid is allowed into the esophagus, which can even make its way into the throat and mouth. When this occurs, the lining of your esophagus and throat becomes irritated, which results in a “...

Targeting the Source: Hope for Sufferers of Chronic Pain According to statistics over 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Patients with symptoms of chronic pain are seen by clinicians across multiple clinical settings; and come with pain complaints that rate from moderate to severe. This chronic pain can be persistent and often interferes in the daily routine of the sufferer, causing disability, psychological distress (anxiety, depression), and problems with sleep deprivation. However, there is hope, people with chronic pain can live happy lives without suffering. Two Types of Pain There are 2 kinds of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain alerts the body that there is a problem/impairment in the system; if this problem resolves—the pain goes away. Acute pain  is a important, because it serves as a protective mechanism that permits us to live in an environment with potential dangers. Chronic pain,  on the other hand, is pain which lasts beyond the ex...