Don’t be shy – ask these questions
We highly encourage you to know everything you can about your health. In this article, we will discuss some health tips and give sample questions to ask your doctor. You will be able to maximise your healthcare if you’re fully informed, and that involves asking questions.

Tip #1: Play an active role in your health
To play an active role in your healthcare, participate in all treatment choices and decision-making. Make a copy of your directives and provide it to your healthcare practitioner to get a possible second opinion. If you are too ill or stressed to do this on your own, ask a trustworthy family member or friend to accompany you to your doctor’s appointment.

Just in case it is necessary, there are many different types of healthcare professionals that your GP may refer you to, should a more targeted approach be needed.

For example, your GP may refer you to a dermatologist for a skin rash or skin condition. You may also be referred to a chiropractor or physiotherapist, should you have muscular pain or lower back pain. Find out more about back pain at The Back Clinic here.

Tip #2: If you have any questions or concerns, speak up
You have the right to ask anyone who is involved in your care. It can help to jot down questions to ask the next time you visit your doctor to ensure you have all of the information you require. This information can be a set of questions, information about certain procedures and medication, and information about how long it will take to recover (if applicable).

Tip #3: Before consenting to any surgery, ask healthcare staff what they intend to do
Before surgery, healthcare practitioners should inform you of their plans. It is crucial to understand your symptoms, the diagnosis, and its causes. This includes possible medications and treatment as well as the reason behind it. Find out more about common surgical procedures here.

Tip #4: Bring a list of your medications and any allergies to your doctor
This list should include all pharmaceuticals, home remedies, and herbal medications if any, as well as tea, vitamins, and recorded weight gain or loss. You may even include information about your food intake. There could be dietary restrictions especially if you will be asked to take specific kinds of medicines.

Learn about the medications you’re taking, why you’re taking them, and any potential side effects. Inform the doctors of any allergies you have, as well as the sort of reaction or side effects you usually experience. During your checkup, make sure to ask questions about the medicines you’ve been prescribed.

Here are some medically-related questions you can ask the next time you see your doctor.

Questions about symptoms or the diagnosis:
Why do I experience body pain?
How serious is this condition?
What causes this condition?
Could this be genetic?
What are the effects- both long-term and short-term?
Questions about the treatment or surgery:
How is this condition treated?
How long does the process take?
What are the side effects?
Is this condition recurring?
What are the risks of having surgery?
How will my personal life be affected by this?
How much will the treatment cost?
Will my health insurance cover the cost?
Wrap Up

These are just some initial questions you may ask your doctor or any other healthcare worker. A primary care doctor’s purpose is to assess your health risks and give recommendations to help you take control of your health. This means getting a comprehensive picture of your health. This way, you may prevent possible issues from recurring.

Ouch – what’s that pain?
It is very common to feel certain types of body pain, however is it serious and what does it mean? According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one out of five Australians experience body pain that can last up to months and sometimes, years. In addition, there are a lot of patients who experience minor aches and pains.

We explore some of the most common types of body pain in this article.

1. Muscle pain
Some people frequently try to perform things their muscles aren’t prepared to do. Some examples are lifting weights at the gym or even as simple as gardening. To relieve muscle pain from overuse, your local doctor or healthcare practitioner may recommend hot showers, some stretching, or chiropractic.

2. Neck pain
The degree and length of neck pain symptoms can vary. Neck discomfort is frequently acute and only lasts a few days or weeks. It can also become chronic at times. Your neck pain could be minimal and not interfere with your regular activities, or it could be severe and cause impairment. Here are some symptoms you may experience:

stiff neck
pain when moving
headache
numbness.
Depending on your specific needs, your GP may recommend a chiropractor for neck pain to devise a treatment plan depending on your needs. This may involve certain manual therapy or rehabilitative activities.

How do chiropractors treat neck pain?
Chiropractors commonly treat neck pain through a hands on technique known as a chiropractic adjustment. This technique aims to help address neck pain and increase mobility. By targeting stiff or stuck joints, chiropractors help to increase joint range of motion, improve flexibility and take pressure off the area.

This approach helps to reduce pain brought on by pinched nerves, muscle tension and spasms, poor posture and other musculoskeletal issues.

3. Pelvic pain
Pelvic discomfort is more frequent in women. Menstrual cramps and tendonitis are common reasons. Other probable causes include weak or damaged muscles and connective tissues in the pelvis. Medication and physical therapy are possible treatment options.

4. Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain may occur as a result of overeating. You may feel temporary relief as a remedy to indigestion by simply waiting it out. Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and food poisoning are all typical causes of abdominal pain. In more severe circumstances, stomach pain may be caused by appendicitis or gallstones. Treatment options vary greatly depending on the cause.

5. The Flu or a Virus
Body pain can mean you have the flu, the common cold, or other viral or bacterial diseases.

When this happens, the immune system sends white blood cells to attack the infection. This can cause inflammation, causing the muscles in the body to feel achy and stiff.

Wrap Up
Mild body pain that goes away with rest, water, and over-the-counter medication are usually not a cause for concern. Body aches, on the other hand, can be a sign of a more serious underlying illness. If a person has frequent or persistent bodily aches, or aches that occur in conjunction with other, more serious symptoms, they should consult a doctor or local healthcare practitioner for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Foot pain and foot injury can be caused by a variety of factors. Podiatrists evaluate irregularities in foot and leg movement, as well as techniques and footwear, while diagnosing and treating foot and leg discomfort and pain. In this article, we explore some causes and remedies of foot pain.

Foot pain and plantar fasciitis
Many people experience soreness at the bottom of their feet. This could be caused by overuse of one of your foot’s various structures. Plantar fasciitis is a common case (overuse of a ligament-like structure that runs underneath the length of the foot).

Standing pain in the morning is a common sign of plantar fasciitis. It is one of the most prevalent difficulties encountered by runners, accounting for a number of running injuries. It is also frequent in persons in their forties and fifties. It frequently begins as low-grade discomfort in the arch or heel of the foot and can worsen over time.

Home remedy for plantar fasciitis
Here are some home remedies you may try to alleviate plantar fasciitis:

choose shoes that are supportive
purchase footwear with a low to moderate heel, thick soles, a decent arch support, and additional cushioning
avoid wearing worn-out athletic sneakers
choose a low-impact sport like swimming or bicycling
apply ice underneath your feet.
Shin splints or soreness in the shins
‘Shin splints’ is a word that refers to various frequent pains that develop in the shin area during or after exercise. The pain can be caused by a number of tissues in the shin area, including tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, and it occurs at the spot where the muscle joins to the bone at the front or inside of the shin.

Possible causes of shin pain
Shin pain is typically caused by improper biomechanics (the way your feet and legs move while running or playing sports), poor training practices, or, in certain circumstances, over-training. The surface on which you run or play your sport might also contribute to shin pain.

How to avoid shin pain
It is necessary to warm up and stretch before exercising or playing sports. Cooling down and stretching afterwards also has to be part of the exercise as this can help prevent shin soreness and pain.

Corns and calluses
A callus is a hardened region of skin on the foot that occurs in response to pressure or friction, most commonly from ill-fitting shoes. When pressure builds up in a limited space, a corn with a centre core may form. Calluses and corns can become painful if the pressure is not eased.

Possible causes of corns and calluses and those affected by it
Anyone can acquire corns or calluses, however certain groups of people are more vulnerable, including:

those who spend a lot of time standing as a result of the constant pressure on their feet
those with flat feet as a result of pressure on the balls of the feet
those with high-arched feet as a result of pressure on the outside of the foot
those who wear shoes that are small, tight, or ill-fitting on a frequent basis.
If you have corns or calluses or suspect you may be developing them, consult a podiatrist.

Here are some possibilities for treatment:
determining and eliminating the source of friction and pressure
callus or corn removal
padding that is tailored to redistribute pressure
long-term pressure alleviation provided by permanent shoe inserts or orthotics
suggestions for better footwear
advice about proper foot care, such as applying moisturiser on a regular basis.
In summary
The majority of common foot problems may be avoided and addressed. You are encouraged to wear shoes that fit properly and provide adequate support for your feet. Foot or shin pain may be caused by abnormalities in the mobility of your feet or legs or incorrect footwear, among other factors. You may consult a podiatrist regarding the best options for you.

You are not alone if you experience body aches and pains. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in five Australians over the age of 45 experience chronic pain.

Chronic pain is defined as persistent pain and discomfort throughout the body that lasts for 3 months or longer, regardless of medication or treatment. The essence of chronic pain is that it lasts far longer than you might imagine. If you’re currently experiencing this, you might be curious as to why this is the case.

1. Back pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical attention. According to medical research, up to 80% of people will have a back ailment at some point in their lives. This portion of the body is in charge of bearing the weight of the upper body. This function puts a strain on the lumbar spine, which may result in a strain. For more information about back pain, you may check the website of New World Chiro.

2. Neck pain
Approximately 15% of adults per country experience neck pain that lasts at least a full day over the course of three months. Pain and stiffness can result from irregularities, inflammation, or trauma in your neck. This occurs when tissues get strained or injured, which may be a result of overuse, overextension, and poor posture.

According to Sydney chiropractor Dr. Paula Basilio:

“As a chiropractor, I have seen an overwhelming trend of people coming into my clinic after spending months working from home,” said Dr. Basilio.

“My speculation is that they are moving from their ergonomically well set up workstations in their office to working from home on their kitchen table.”

With more people working from home, employers and health care providers are reporting a significant increase in neck pain complaints.

“New patients are coming in with low back and neck pain,” continued Dr. Basilio.

“My existing clients aren’t necessarily developing different symptoms, just intensifying the chronic ones.”

3. Degenerative discs
Some people have no signs of disc degeneration, while for others, the pain is so severe that they are unable to go about their daily lives. It is caused by spinal disc wear and tear and can worsen as a result of injury, health and lifestyle factors, and genetics.

4. Myofascial pain syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain illness that generates pain throughout the musculoskeletal system. Because it is related to trigger points in the muscles, this is a unique condition. Here are some possible symptoms:

muscular pain
painful trigger points
muscle stiffness
exhaustion
restless sleep
migraines.
5. Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is frequently associated with stress. Most people are stressed at an alarmingly high rate these days. Stress has undoubtedly taken its toll on adults during the pandemic.

Wrap Up
When your body pain is intensified, your central nervous system clings onto impulses and perceives them as painful. The brain and spinal cord receive messages from the nerves and send signal patterns to the muscles that regulate movement in the arms, legs, and spine. For any pain or discomfort, you may contact your local GP, allied health practitioner (such as a physiotherapist or a chiropractor) or other health professionals.