By Heather Auxier, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Pain Management
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neurological condition that causes severe pain in a limb. The pain is disproportionate to the injury or trauma that caused it. This affects roughly 200,000 people in the United States.
CRPS is believed to be caused by malfunctioning of the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Your peripheral nervous system relays information from your brain and spinal cord to your organs, arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The abnormal functioning results in an overreaction to pain signals that your body can’t turn off.
The main symptom of CRPS is prolonged and excessive pain. Other symptoms include the following:
By Joy Johnson, CNMT
Nuclear Medicine - Lead Technologist, Blanchard Valley Health System
Nuclear medicine testing is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive materials, called radiopharmaceuticals, to provide information about the physiological function of tissues and organs, such as blood flow, metabolism, and biochemical processes. This can be particularly useful in diagnosing certain diseases, monitoring treatment responses, and assessing disease progression. Other imaging modalities like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI primarily provide structural images of the body.
Radiopharmaceuticals are drugs containing radioactive isotopes. These isotopes emit gamma rays that are detected by specialized cameras. In contrast, other imaging modalities use external sources of energy (X-rays, magnetic fields, etc.) to create images. The amount of radiation used in nuclear medicine tests is considered safe for patients. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women are typically advised to avoid these tests unless absolutely necessary.
By Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
On April 2, 1956, Johnny Cash recorded his first number 1 country hit I Walk the Line at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The song crossed genres and ranked number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. In an interview, Johnny indicated he wrote the song about resisting temptation and being accountable in relationships.
By Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
On September 15, 1980, American rocker Pat Benatar released her single Hit Me With Your Best Shot. Eddie Schwartz, who wrote and produced the song, was inspired after he started using bioenergetics. His therapy was punching a pillow. Bioenergetics involves improving well-being while releasing blocked energy.
This song was Benatar’s first top 10 hit in the United States. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November of 2022. She no longer includes this song in her concerts as a protest to mass shootings.
By James H. Legge III, MSN, APRN-CNP, PMHNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Center of Northwest Ohio
The holiday months (mid-November to post-January) can be extremely difficult for loved ones suffering from mental illness. It’s postulated that family members and friends can reach intolerable levels of anxiety and depression during this time due to accentuated family dynamics, financial strain, and other stressors.
