Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body. Some signs and symptoms include numbness and weakness in one or more limbs, electric shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, partial or complete vision loss, prolonged double vision, blurry vision, slurred speech, dizziness, fatigue, tingling or pain in parts of the body, and problems with sexual, bladder, and bowel functions. There is no cure for MS; however, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks of the nerves. There are many different options for treatment whether it be through injections or oral medication that decrease the frequency of relapses and to delay disease progression. Research has shown that Multiple Sclerosis does more damage in the first year than in later years. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Laryngitis is when your larynx is swollen and inflamed from overuse, irritation or infection. This swelling and inflammation causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, the voice sounds hoarse or even undetectable. Many conditions can cause the inflammation that results in laryngitis such as viral infections, environmental factors, and bacterial infections. Symptoms of laryngitis include: a breathy, raspy, and hoarse voice; a cough; feeling of tightness or of something stuck in the throat; a headache; nasal congestion or runny nose; sore throat or clearing of the throat often; and/or trouble swallowing. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

October marks National Physical Therapy month, which draws awareness to the ever important field of physical therapy. Physical therapy is the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery. In the United States every year, about 500,000 people undergo surgery for lower back pain alone. On average when a diagnosis is reviewed, 88% of initial diagnoses are changed or revised. As a common alternative, physical therapy can save a person from having to undergo unnecessary and expensive surgery.

If you or a loved one has recently received a diagnosis for surgery, it may be advisable to have the diagnosis, MRI, X-Ray, CT scan or other reports reviewed by a third-party expert online at SecondOpinions.com. American Board Certified physicians review your file and can give you peace of mind in minutes.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits that form in the kidneys and vary in size, with some being as small as a grain of sand, and others being as large as a pebble. They usually originate in the kidneys; however, they can develop anywhere along the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Small kidney stones pass through the urinary tract without causing any symptoms, but larger stones may become stuck in the urinary tract at which point a person will experience the first signs and symptoms of a kidney stone. Some signs and symptoms include: severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs; pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin; pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity; pain or burning sensation while urinating; pink, red or brown urine; cloudy or foul-smelling urine; a persistent need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts; nausea and vomiting; and/or fever and chills if an infection is present. Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

A kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is when bacteria or viruses cause problems in one or both of the kidneys. It is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI). They can be sudden or chronic, are often painful, and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Symptoms of kidney infection usually appear two days after infection and may vary, depending on age. Common symptoms include: pain in the abdomen, back, groin, or side; nausea or vomiting; frequent urination or the feeling that you have to urinate; burning or pain while urinating; pus or blood in your urine; bad-smelling or cloudy urine; chills; and/or a fever. Women are most commonly affected by kidney infection, as are pregnant mothers, children under 2 years of age, and individuals aged over 60 years. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Hyperhidrosis is a condition when there is abnormally excessive sweating that is not related to heat or exercise . For many people, excessive sweating is simply caused by sweat glands that are slightly overactive. However, overactive sweat glands are just one of the underlying causes. Some other causes of hyperhidrosis are diabetes; pregnancy; cancer; heart disease; side effects from antidepressants, analgesic painkillers, and cardiovascular drugs; hormones during adolescence; obesity; alcohol abuse; Parkinson’s Disease; infection; anxiety and stress. Hyperhidrosis usually affects the hands, feet, underarms or face and causes at least one episode a week, during waking hours. The sweating usually occurs on both sides of the body. If heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea, this is serious and needs medical attention immediately. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Huntington’s disease is a hereditary condition where your brain’s nerve cells gradually break down, which affects your physical movements, emotions, and cognitive abilities. The symptoms can develop at any time but often first appear when people are in their 30s or 40s. There is no cure, but there are ways to cope with this disease and its symptoms. Initial signs often include: depression, irritability, hallucinations, psychosis, minor involuntary movements, poor coordination, difficulty understanding new information, and/or trouble making decisions. Symptoms that may occur as the disease progresses include: uncontrolled twitching movements called chorea, difficulty walking, trouble swallowing and speaking, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, speech changes, and/or a decline in cognitive abilities. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Cancer is a disease to take very seriously. Cancer is a result of uncontrolled growth and division of abnormal cells. There are many different types of cancers each of which are unfortunate if caught. There are many side effects that come along with this disease such as fatigue, loss of appetite resulting in weight loss, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, and many others. This disease can also result in death. This disease requires many opinions and views to be sure of the best diagnosis and treatment. If you would like a second opinion for your cancer diagnosis please contact SecondOpinions.com.

Viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, are a group of distinct diseases that affect the liver. It can have many causes, including viruses, alcohol, recreational drugs, and prescription medications. Sometimes there are no symptoms of hepatitis in the first weeks after infection, which is the acute phase. But when they happen, the symptoms of types A, B, and C may include fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, belly pain, a mild fever, or yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). Chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms and can last many years and lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which means the liver becomes heavily scarred and less functional.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes an acute inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) that gets better on its own. It can be more serious if a person is older. It is easily spread from person to person by close personal contact (including sex or living in the same household) and in food and water. Raw shellfish, fruits, vegetables, and undercooked foods are common culprits in hepatitis A outbreaks. There is no chronic infection. Once you have had HAV infection, you cannot get it again.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be both acute (short-term illness) and chronic (ongoing illness) and is spread through blood or other body fluids in various ways. In the U.S., it’s most often spread through unprotected sex. Hepatitis B is very common in Asia and Africa, and those who were born or lived in these areas should be checked for hepatitis B. Anyone can get hepatitis B, but people who have multiple sex partners or inject illegal drugs have a higher risk.

Chronic hepatitis C can cause very serious complications, including liver failure and liver cancer, and spreads only by blood. Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination, but not hepatitis C. People who have injected illegal drugs at any time, even one time, many years ago, could be walking around with chronic hepatitis C. Because there are often no symptoms, many former drug users may not realize they have the infection.

Chronic HBV and chronic HCV can lead to cirrhosis and can sometimes lead to cancer of the liver or liver failure, both of which may require a liver transplant. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause blisters and skin ulcers in the genital and anal area. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-2 is the more common cause of genital herpes while HSV-1 more commonly causes sores on the face and mouth. There’s no cure for genital herpes, but medications can ease symptoms and reduce the risk of infecting others. Condoms also can help prevent the spread of genital herpes infection. Sometimes you can catch herpes when your sexual partner has no visible sores or symptoms. This is because the virus can become active on the skin without causing any visible blisters or sores. This is called “asymptomatic shedding”. Many people with the genital herpes infection have no symptoms; however, when symptoms do appear, they can include: itching, burning, soreness, and small blisters in the genital or anal area; small ulcers (skin sores) when the blisters break; local pain if urine touches the genital ulcers; enlarged or painful lymph nodes (swollen glands) in the groin; and headache, fever, muscle aches, and a generally sick feeling. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.