- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCarpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes tingling, numbness and pain in the wrists and hands. With more than three million new cases every year in the U.S., typing and overuse of the hands are often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. However, many studies now suggest these are not causes, and genetics are actually believed to play a major role in determining who gets carpal tunnel syndrome. Orthopedic Surgeon Alex Shushan, MD explains the truth about carpal tunnel syndrome. What causes carpal tunnel syndrome? The carpal tunnel is a small space in your wrist. Nerves and tendons run through this space from your forearm to your hand. Anything that decreases the space available for the nerve may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This may include: Pregnancy. Thyroid issues. Arthritis. Diabetes. Many cases are “idiopathic,” which means we can’t determine the underlying cause. In these cases, genetics may play a significant role. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or wrists. Most patients experience this first at night, waking up with tingling in the hand that can be “shaken off.” This can progress to daytime numbness and tingling. As the symptoms worsen, patients may have trouble manipulating small objects, such as buttons on a shirt. Symptoms may occur in one or both hands. Who is most at risk? People between age 40 and 60 are especially at risk for carpal tunnel. Women are three times more likely to develop the condition. What about treatment? Splints at night are often prescribed. If this does not help, a nerve study is frequently performed to determine the severity of nerve compression. Those who don’t improve after conservative treatments may be candidates for surgery. Surgery is very effective, with more than 500,000 operations performed each year in the U.S. Ninety-eight percent of patients report they have a “good to excellent” result with surgical carpal tunnel release. Learn how carpal tunnel release surgery provided relief for this local cashier. Contributor Alex Shushan, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery at AAMG Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists.
- Community, Giving, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAt age 75, Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation Board Member Anthony Izzo has everything he could hope for: a wonderful wife, a healthy family and four grown grandsons. When friends and family asked his wife Angelina for Anthony’s birthday wish list last year, she decided to surprise him with an idea that aligned with his passion for supporting the community. Instead of gifts for Anthony, Angelina asked party guests to bring new toys to be donated to AAMC’s Pediatric Emergency Department. His friends and family were excited to oblige, bringing several thousand dollars’ worth of new toys. “People get to a certain point in life where they no longer need anything,” says Angelina. “We were hoping it would inspire others to do something like this in the future. We were incredibly surprised by the generosity of our friends.” The gifts were shared among AAMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit–Teddy’s Place, the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Family Foundation Pediatric Inpatient and Emergency Center, the Thomas J. Frank Family Birth Center and the Hackerman-Patz House. The toys were given to pediatric patients and their siblings to help relieve the stress of a hospital visit during the holidays and to play with during treatment.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter the mosquito-borne Zika virus outbreak spread from Brazil to more than 20 countries in Latin America, the World Health Organization labeled it a global health emergency. Zika virus is strongly suspected to have caused microcephaly and other neurological problems in thousands of babies. As this public health issue unfolds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to update guidelines for healthcare providers and citizens. At Anne Arundel Medical Center, we’re taking every precaution necessary to potentially evaluate and care for infected patients. The situation is constantly evolving, but we are staying on top of the latest information from the CDC and WHO,” said Mary Clance, MD, epidemiologist. “We are ready for the Zika virus because of our preparations for other infectious diseases including Ebola, MERS, West Nile and SARS. We have a lot of experience treating diseases coming from returning travelers. Dr. Clance adds that AAMC is regularly collaborating with the state and local health departments to keep doctors and nurses informed about the virus. “We continue to do all we can to ensure we stay ahead of any possible Zika virus spread and protect our community’s health.” Here are some things to know about Zika virus: How is Zika virus transmitted? Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They live indoors and outdoors near people. Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue and Zika often bite people during the day, but they can also bite at night. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person already infected with the virus. These infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. Zika can spread from mother to newborn during birth, although this is rare. This can happen if a mother is already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery. It’s possible that Zika virus can pass from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. The CDC is studying how some mothers can pass the virus to their babies. To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika virus through breastfeeding. Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even in areas where Zika virus is found. Zika can also be spread through infected blood or sexual contact. The CDC recommends taking precautions. What are the symptoms? About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika). The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely a few days to a week. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week but it can be found longer in some people. For more information on the Zika virus, visit the CDC website
- Orthopedics, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBernadette Hagerman suffered through pain in her right hand for years. “I let it go far too long,” she says. “I tried everything to relieve the pain, but there’s a limit to what you can do.” Despite wearing a wrist brace, Bernadette often woke up several times each night due to pain. As time went on, the pain spread to her arm and shoulder blade. As a cashier at Home Goods, Bernadette had no time for hand pain. “My hands are constantly moving,” she says. “At work I would just power through and it was very uncomfortable.” But powering through could only last so long. “I realized that I’m just too busy to let [pain] stop me,” she says. That’s when Bernadette went to Alex Shushan, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center, for carpal tunnel release surgery. As an outpatient procedure, the surgery was quick and only required a few hours of Bernadette’s Friday afternoon. She was back to work just two days later. “Before the surgery, just raising my hand up could cause numbness,” she says. “After five minutes of driving, my hand would go numb. I couldn’t sew, and handwriting was getting really difficult.” Now, Bernadette enjoys better sleep and more ease when using her hands. With so much success in her right hand, Bernadette recently returned to Dr. Shushan for a carpal tunnel release on her left hand. “My left hand wasn’t as painful as the right, but I had the surgery to prevent more pain,” she explains. Again, she returned to work just two days after the surgery. Contributor Alex Shushan, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery at AAMG Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists.
- Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAmy Turpin, a Harwood resident, is unusual in some ways. At 50 years old, this grandmother of four is exceptionally fit, working as a strength and conditioning coach, and competing in marathons and triathlons. “I’m physical all day long, and then running or cycling is what I choose to do for fun,” she says. But there is one way in which Amy is not unusual. Just like almost a quarter of American women, she experienced a pelvic floor disorder. Pelvic floor disorders occur when the muscles or connective tissues that support a woman’s pelvic organs weaken or are injured. This is commonly a result of pregnancy and childbirth. But obesity, smoking and genetic predisposition are also risk factors. The most common problems are incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. In prolapse, organs such as the uterus, bladder or bowel collapse into the vagina. For many women with prolapse, there are no symptoms, other than some pressure or a vague feeling that something is different, until an organ begins to protrude out of the vagina. Physical and Mental Changes “For me, the changes were fairly subtle over a period of time,” says Amy. She began to feel pelvic pressure while jumping rope. On long runs she would feel the same pressure, plus numbness in her legs. Then, one day, the change became dramatic. “I was out for a run, and I just felt like, literally, the bottom fell out.” At this point, Amy had to change her training routine and avoid some activities she enjoyed. “It affected every aspect of my life physically,” she says. “Then there’s the mental pain when you can’t do the things that you’re used to doing.” Tips for a Stronger Pelvic Floor AAMC Urologist Mara Holton, MD, says it’s important for women to remember that pelvic health corresponds to overall health and wellness. This includes good nutrition, physical fitness and maintaining a proper body weight. Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, and help these organs function. The best way to maintain pelvic floor fitness is to do Kegel exercises. “Everyone has heard of them, but most women do them incorrectly,” she says. “Kegels are a dedicated exercise that need to be done properly to get the benefit. There are online resources, as well as physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor strengthening.” Dr. Holton advises women to do Kegels twice a day and says women who follow this regimen can see improvement in urinary continence and sexual comfort in six to 12 weeks. She says exercises that strengthen the core muscles, such as jumping jacks, crunches, wall squats and the bridge pose in yoga, can help strengthen the pelvic floor, too. Seeking Treatment Studies suggest that a woman has an 11 to 19 percent chance of needing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in her lifetime. While lifestyle changes or pelvic floor exercises (called Kegels) can help some women with early prolapse, often the degree of muscle damage or tissue relaxation requires other treatments. One option includes trying a pessary—an insertable device that supports the pelvic organs. But Amy’s active lifestyle demanded a more permanent solution. “For me, surgery was a very clear answer, because I just couldn’t perform at the level that I was used to performing,” she says. She ended up undergoing a minimally-invasive robotic procedure. This involved having small incisions put in her abdomen no wider than her pinky. The operation involved controlled robotic arms that worked through the incisions to move Amy’s pelvic organs back into place and secure them. Amy also had a mesh sling inserted under the urethra, the tube through which urine comes out, to prevent urine leakage. Back to Full Speed “With the great technology that we have, you don’t end up with huge scars, but that doesn’t mean the surgery should be minimized,” says Amy. After her surgery in May 2015, she was careful to follow instructions to avoid stairs and not drive or bend over for at least two weeks, then begin returning to regular activities slowly. Recovery time is typically about six weeks. “I think being compliant and not moving around as much as I’m used to was the most challenging part,” she says. “I feel amazing. I got my life back,” says Amy. “In fact, I recently did a triathlon.” Through her work, Amy meets a lot of women. “I know I’m not unusual,” she says. So she made a conscious decision to be open about the personal nature of her surgery, and she often hears, “Oh my goodness, I have the same thing.” Her advice to the millions of women experiencing a pelvic floor disorder is, “We can’t be quite so proud. If you have symptoms, you need to find out what your options are, because you don’t have to live that way.” Have a sensitive health question you’d like an answer to? Call The Smart Woman Connection, your new go-to health resource focused on one thing—your needs as a woman. Call 443-481-5995. Author Mara Holton, MD, is a urologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
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