What Is Arthritis?
There are over 100 forms of arthritis and other rheumatic
diseases. These diseases may cause pain, stiffness, and
swelling in joints and other supporting structures of the
body such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Some
forms can also affect other parts of the body, including
various internal organs.
Many people use the word "arthritis" to refer to all
rheumatic diseases. However, the word literally means joint
inflammation; that is, swelling, redness, heat, and pain
caused by tissue injury or disease in the joint. The many
different kinds of arthritis comprise just a portion of the
rheumatic diseases. Some rheumatic diseases are described
as connective tissue diseases because they affect the
body's connective tissue--the supporting framework of the
body and its internal organs. Others are known as
autoimmune diseases because they are caused by a problem in
which the immune system harms the body's own healthy
tissues.
Examples of some
rheumatic diseases are:
* Osteoarthritis
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Fibromyalgia
* Systemic lupus erythematosus
* Scleroderma
* Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
* Ankylosing spondylitis
* Gout
Laser surgery for
Herniated Disks
Technological advances in recent decades have led to the
use of lasers for operating on patients with herniated
discs accompanied by lower back and leg pain. During this
procedure, the surgeon inserts a needle in the disc that
delivers a few bursts of laser energy to vaporize the
tissue in the disc. This reduces its size and relieves
pressure on the nerves. Although many patients return to
daily activities within 3 to 5 days after laser surgery,
pain relief may not be apparent until several weeks or even
months after the surgery. The usefulness of laser
discectomy is still being debated.
What is Laser?
Laser stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated
Emission of Radiation(LASER).
A laser is a light beam that can be precisely focused. It
is used to treat tissues by heating the targeted cells
until they "burst". It may also be used for cosmetic
purposes, including removal of wrinkles, tattoos, or
birthmarks.
There are several types of lasers, including the carbon
dioxide (CO2) laser, the YAG (yttrium aluminum
garnet) laser, and the pulsed dye laser. Each laser
has specific uses. The color of the light beam used is
directly related to the type of procedure being performed
and the color of the tissue being treated.
Laser may be used to:
Remove tumors
Seal blood vessels
Seal lymph vessels to reduce swelling and decrease the
spread of tumor cells
Seal nerve endings to reduce postoperative pain
Remove warts, moles, and tattoos
Reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles
Remove hair
Possible side effects of
laser therapy:
Bleeding
Infection
Pain
Scaring
Skin color changes
