Physical Therapy May Ease Pain
Q. My husband was recently diagnosed as having DISH, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. What can you tell me us about this disorder? - S.A., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
A. The first thing I can tell you about DISH is what its big, long name means: Hyperostosis means that there’s a condition of increased growth of skeletal bone. The term idiopathic is nothing more than one of those fancy words doctors use when they’d rather not simply admit they have no idea why this disorder occurs.
What happens in DISH is that the ligaments that connect one spinal bone (vertebrae) to another, and tendons that connect muscle to bone of the spine become calcified from abnormal bone growth (e.g.- bone spurs). This can occur anywhere along the spine, but the thoracic spine (midback) and cervical spine (neck) are the most common sites to find DISH. The disc spaces themselves are not involved in DISH. DISH has nothing at all to do with osteoporosis, but it is a form of degenerative arthritis of the spine.
Who’s at risk for DISH? It’s most common in elderly men, and it seems to be present in folks who are diabetic and/or have a history of gout. Also, folks who have been on Accutane for acne have an increased risk, over time, of developing DISH. Why that’s so is idiopathic, or anyone’s educated guess.
If you have DISH, what can be done? The usual treatment is anti-inflammatory drugs like Motrin or Alleve. Tylenol-based pain relievers can help with pain, but they won’t help with inflammation. Some folks find relief with physical therapy and chiropractic care. Surgery may be necessary for DISH of the neck if it’s pressing against the esophagus. Otherwise, surgery isn’t part of the treatment unless one of those bone spurs is pressing into the spinal cord.
Q. My brother-in-law (an electrical engineer) won’t sleep under an electric blanket because he believes the small magnetic field generated by the blanket can cause one to develop cancer after years of use. What’s your opinion on this? - E.P., Warner Robins, Ga.
A. Electrical and magnetic electrical fields are all around us. Our own earth produces electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) through lightning storms and electric currents flowing deep within its molten core. Electrical power lines, batteries, household appliances and the wiring within our homes are all known to generate electro-magnetic fields.
The concern has been raised as to how safe all this is. Electric blankets do generate a small magnetic field that have caused some folks, like your brother-in-law, to express concerns about whether exposure to such fields might induce cancer.
The concern stems from studies that have shown an association between those living or working close to high-voltage power lines and an increased risk of cancer. An international panel of experts in June 1998 reported to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the NIH that electric and magnetic fields like those surrounding electric power lines should be regarded as a possible human carcinogen (cancer inducer).
What about electric blankets? As a result of the concern about EMF exposure, most manufacturers have redesigned their blankets so as to generate extremely low electro-magnetic fields. Remember, there’s no way to make an electric blanket totally EMF-free. Newer blankets seem to be quite safe at least from the cancer standpoint.
The concern that I have about electric blankets is that you can abuse them. You could risk starting a fire if you damage the wires by sitting on the blanket or by placing heavy objects on your bed. If your blanket is marked UL listed (look for the tag or label), it has been subjected to the insurance industry safety standards and should be quite safe and effective when used and not misused.