Neurology Diagnostics

Archive for the ‘Meralgia Paresthetica’ Category

The research was conducted as part of a disease management program for Medicare (the largest public health insurance for the elderly in the U.S.). The specialist Jürgen Unützer and colleagues analyzed over a year the cases of more than fourteen thousand patients diabetes and congestive heart failure. They studied the health care costs in three groups: patients who had been diagnosed with depression, patients who had no diagnosis but who had responded positively to a self-assessment questionnaire and patients without depression.
The result showed that in one year, patients diagnosed with depression twice spent on health than those without depression. Those who have recognized symptoms of depression, spent 20% more. This difference was not due to expenses for mental health care, but was generated by clinical interventions. Required more home visits, nursing care, clinic controls, hospital care, professional fees and other medical equipment to patients.
A relevant point is that depressed patients consulted some specialists in mental health since the cost of it accounted for only 1% of total expenditure.
The authors reflect on the causes of this low rate of consultation and explained that a home could be economic, given that the co-payment system Medicare patients pay 50% of the cost of mental health consultation versus 20% in other medical consultations. Another reason could be the stigma associated with psychiatric consultation some patients often experience.
Dr. Cetkovich, chief of psychiatry of INEC and the Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro Foundation says about the key finding is that a condition detection and simple and inexpensive treatment, increases the entire system.
“It is certain that a program of screening and treatment of depression would be more economical. And this without considering what is truly important: the mental suffering worse physical suffering. Evaluation and treatment can improve the quality of life of older persons. Contrary to the myopia of those who make health policy are to see and do things right, can be cheaper.
Depression masquerading behind a physical condition is the counterpart of what we are evaluating. Many patients who seek medical help, repeatedly, with no clear organic pathology, often suffer from depressive states that are expressed in physical symptoms. Once treated the mood box properly, either with drugs or psychotherapy, improve physical symptoms.
The therapeutic approach of any medical condition associated with age, you must include a thorough psychiatric evaluation, since the detection and treatment of common psychiatric conditions associated, clearly improves the prognosis and quality of life for patients. “

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society * confirmed long-suspected phenomenon by gerontologists: Costs for medical care of older adults increase considerably if they are depressed.

The research was conducted as part of a disease management program for Medicare (the largest public health insurance for the elderly in the U.S.). The specialist Jürgen Unützer and colleagues analyzed over a year the cases of more than fourteen thousand patients diabetes and congestive heart failure. They studied the health care costs in three groups: patients who had been diagnosed with depression, patients who had no diagnosis but who had responded positively to a self-assessment questionnaire and patients without depression.

The result showed that in one year, patients diagnosed with depression twice spent on health than those without depression. Those who have recognized symptoms of depression, spent 20% more. This difference was not due to expenses for mental health care, but was generated by clinical interventions. Required more home visits, nursing care, clinic controls, hospital care, professional fees and other medical equipment to patients.

A relevant point is that depressed patients consulted some specialists in mental health since the cost of it accounted for only 1% of total expenditure.

The authors reflect on the causes of this low rate of consultation and explained that a home could be economic, given that the co-payment system Medicare patients pay 50% of the cost of mental health consultation versus 20% in other medical consultations. Another reason could be the stigma associated with psychiatric consultation some patients often experience.

Dr. Cetkovich, head of psychiatry at INEC and the Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro Foundation says about the key finding is that a condition detection and treatment of simple and inexpensive, increases throughout the system.

“It is certain that a program of screening and treatment of depression would be more economical. And this without considering what is truly important: the mental suffering worse physical suffering. Evaluation and treatment can improve the quality of life of older persons. Contrary to the myopia of those who make health policy are to see and do things right, can be cheaper.

Depression masquerading behind a physical condition is the counterpart of what we are evaluating. Many patients who seek medical help, repeatedly, with no clear organic pathology, often suffer from depressive states that are expressed in physical symptoms. Once treated the mood box properly, either with drugs or psychotherapy, improve physical symptoms.

The therapeutic approach of any medical condition associated with age, you must include a thorough psychiatric evaluation, since the detection and treatment of common psychiatric conditions associated, clearly improves the prognosis and quality of life for patients. “

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) or femoral nerve sensory neuropathy (NFC) is a relatively common disease, especially in pregnant women or men who have gained weight.

The MP is manifested by burning or tingling sensation unpleasant side or the outer thigh, never below the knee. This discomfort can be permanent and may worsen at night or when you are calmer, and although not disabling, can become very annoying.

The NFC is born of the union of several roots arising from the lumbar spine (L2L3) and running through the abdomen and pelvis from the most dorsal up to the groin, where does the NFC and its branches is given to the sensitivities of the lateral or outer thigh.

The NFC may be compressed by the uterus during pregnancy, especially in more advanced stages of pregnancy. Sometimes, in people who have risen sharply in weight, the NFC is compressed in its output in the groin, l which can also cause the symptoms of MP. Read the rest of this entry »