The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-06-27


only, and then only through
his column.
unusual condition and after inves'
tigation it turns out that it throws
a great deal of light on some ole
and common condition.
Sciatlca, or neuralgia of the sci
attic nerve, is certainly one Of the
oldest of human complaints. The
medical profession had about
given up expecting to find any
thing new about it and, 10 and be-
hold. recently a condition was dis
covered which probably explains
Is per cent Of all cases Of sciatica.
The sciatic nerve is given off
from the lower part of the spinal
cord, energies from the openings
between the lower vertebrae, goes
down over the sacro-iliac joint and
comes out into the leg about near
the bone that you sit on and is
distributed to the back part Of the
leg and calf. When it begins to
ache-the condition which we call
sciatica-it causes about as excru-
ciating discomfort as anything
that can happen. Medical men
have ascribed the cause Of sciatica
to Inflammation or injury Of the
nerve everywhere along its course
from sacro-iliac strain to impinge-
ment on the nerve in the sitting
posture, to focal infection, and SC
forth and so on.
Not long ago, in fact as short a
time ago as 1884, some surgeons
found that slight injuries would
cause a peculiar condition in the
vertebral column. The bodies of
the vertebrae are separated by a
cartilaginous cushion in the mid
die Of which is a soft globule of
tissue called the nucleus pulposus.
This nucleus pulposus gets pushed
around with considerable ease and
can be herniated out between the
vertebrate, causing pressure on the
spinal nerve roots.
Once Considered Rare
At first this was considered
to be quite rare but in the time
that has interviewed it is found
more and more often as diagnostic
thought has become more alert;
doctors have been taught to look
for it. Furthermore, a great many
cases Of low back pain and sciatica
have been found to be due to this
cause. When seen at operation,
the nucleus pulposus is sticking
out between the vertebrae and
stretching the roots of the sciatic
nerve so that it is evident to any
observer that it is causing severe
pain.
AS l said above, some neuro-
surgeons believe that this causes
sciatica in as much as rs to so per
cent Of all cases. The condition can
be relieved by very simple surgical
procedures which remove the pro-
truding muscleus pulposus and
take the strain off the roots of the
sciatic nerve.
OF course, it is advisable to try
every form of conservative treat
ment first, such as resting the pa
tient in plaster cast, manipula-
ton, injection of the nerve and
taking plenty Of time before try
ing surgery. In order to prove
definitely whether sciatica is due
TO herniated nucleus pulposus it is
possible to visualize it with prop
erly planned x-ray studies.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
H. A.:-What is meant by the
loss Of a reflex and what bad
symptoms or pains does it cause?
Answer. A reflex is a subcon-
scious impulse that goes through
the nervous system, starting as a
sensory impulse and coming out
as motor impulse. For instance,
if you touch something red not
without warning. you pull your
hand away; that is a reflex. The
sensation Of heat and burning
makes the muscles move. A reflex
is lost whenever the nervous arc is
interrupted. This may be due to
neuritis either in the sensory or
motor nerves or a destruction of
some part Of the spinal cord. Loss
Of reflex is not in itself associ-
ated with pain although some Of
the diseases in which reAexes are
lost have pains as part of their
symptomatology.
overdoses-tkat they're awful ex-
oensive and not much good.
One Of their latest assailants
vas Senator Willard E. Tydings Of
Maryland.
He issued a statement on the
subject. Cut down on press re-
leases was his theme.
He issued ii. though, In the
'orr Of a mineoC-aphed press re-
lease.
You get It? Press releases are