Herbal Health – information on herbal medicine

When elderly people become incontinent of urine, this is usually assumed to be permanent. Such pessimism, however, is unjustified since about 80-90 percent of these cases can be cured, the Annals of Internal Medicine (104:429) points out. Even the incontinence that follows a stroke can, in many instances, be overcome.

Before anything can be done, though, the patient must be seen by a physician who has special training (usually a geriatrician or urologist) to have the cause of the incontinence correctly determined. Some cases, of course, are “surgical” and can be cured with an operation for such things as prostate enlargement or a uterus that has slipped down out of place. For patients not needing surgery, treatment with an appropriate medicine, biofeedback, or habit training cures over 70 percent.

Older people whose incontinence is caused by muscular weakness can do a lot to help themselves with exercises that tone up the muscles of the pelvic floor. The exercises involved tightening and relaxing the muscles repeatedly for 15 minutes three times every day, the U.S. Pharmacist (12#8:92) reports. By stopping and starting the flow of urine, victims of incontinence can learn to identify those muscles that need to be strengthened. The same muscles control the passage of stools. Identical exercises, incidentally, are employed by women after childbirth to tone up muscles that support the uterus. To do any good, these exercises need to be performed three times every day for at least three months. Victims of incontinence should be aware of the fact that both constipation and alcohol can interfere with the function of the pelvic floor muscles. They should also avoid drinking coffee, tea and grapefruit juice, all of which can suddenly increase the need to pass more urine. Cranberry juice is a useful substitute.

In addition, they should routinely empty the bladder before and after every meal and at bedtime, even if they feel no need to do so. They should always respond promptly to the urge to urinate, and must never ignore it. In a few cases, surgical repair may be required, especially if the bladder has become displaced by repeated childbirth or by removal of the prostate.

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Symptoms

Sprains: pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, internal bleeding.

Dislocations: visible malformation, inability to use joint.

Home care

A dislocation should not be treated at home.

A sprain can be treated by immobilizing and then resting the affected area.

Cold compresses applied to the area help relieve swelling.

Aspirin or paracetamol can be given for pain.

Precautions

-    A sprain that does not improve rapidly may indicate a bone fracture and should be examined by a doctor.

-    After a dislocation has been corrected, the joint may remain unstable for some time.

-    A severe sprain that is improperly treated can result in a permanently weak joint.

-    A sprain that is still swollen or painful to move is not healed.

-    Elastic bandages do not adequately support or protect a sprained ankle.

All joints of the body are surrounded by ligaments, the tough connective tissues that hold bones together. These ligaments can be partially or completely torn when the joint is forcibly twisted beyond its normal range of movement. A partially or completely torn ligament is called a sprain.

If the ligaments are badly torn the bones of the joint may become dislocated (slip out of position). Besides the usual symptoms of a sprain, a dislocation causes a visible malformation of the area, and marked or total loss of function of the dislocated parts. Even after the dislocation has been corrected, the joint remains unstable for weeks.

Sprains are common during childhood, but dislocations other than a dislocated elbow are rare. Sprains most often occur in the fingers, toes, ankles, neck, and back. Dislocations can also occur in the fingers, toes, kneecaps, and shoulders.

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