Q Im a 30 yr old male, i been travelling a lot of late and this caused me severe pain in the back and numbness in the leg.I consulted a neurologist who suggested an MRI scan.The report is 1.L3-L4 mild circumferential disc bulge with mild indentation over thecal sac with moderate sparing of CSF column with sparing or bilateral lateral recess & neural foramina. 2.L4-L5 mild circumferential disc bulge with moderate indentation over thecal sac with mild sparing of CSF column with sparing or bilateral lateral recess &neural foramina. 3.L5-S1 diffuse disc dessication changes with broad based posterior disc extrusion causing thecal sac indentation & loss of CSF column with narrowing of bilateral neural foramina(left>right). My height is 6.2 and weight is 80. Please help me with the answer soon. Is it something serious and what treatment would be done and how long would it take for the recovery and what are the things that i need to be careful from here on. Thank you.

Based on your MRI report the condition is mild to moderate at this stage. But if ignored can turn into something serious. Your symptoms are due to the pressure on the nerves due to disc bulges form L3-L5 and disc dessication at L5-S1. Treatment options for such condition includes use of pain killer to manage pain, physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscle and surgery as last resort. Avoid lifting any weight, sitting in abnormal posture or anything that can put pressure over your back. Use of lumbar belts. The changes that has taken place in your spinal column can not be reversed but with proper care they can be prevented from progressing further.

Q How does umbilical cord work?

During the prenatal life umbilical cord is the connection between the foetus and placenta. It consist of two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein. The vein does the function of carrying oxygenated and nutrients rich blood form the placenta to the foetus. The two arteries do the work of carrying deoxygenated and nutrient depleted blood from the foetus back to the placenta.

Q Is it normal for a 12-year-old boy to play and fondle with his penis?

Its normal for kids of of all age groups to play with genitals out of curiosity about their growing body. This is seen in both boys and girls. Younger kids do it because they feel good about the way it feels. It is not harmful or abnormal in anyway. Do not get angry or reprimand your child. Try and educate them that it might lead to infection sometimes. Some kids even do it to seek attention but this is rare.

Q What is the true cause of trichotillomania aslo known as severe obsessive compulsive hair pulling?

The cause of trichotillomania is unclear. But like many complex disorders, trichotillomania probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Also, abnormalities in the natural brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine may play a role in trichotillomania. While the underlying biology is not clearly understood at this time, we do know that people with trichotillomania generally have a neurologically based predisposition to pull their hair as a self-soothing mechanism. The pulling behavior serves as a coping mechanism for anxiety and other difficult emotions. It does not hurt and they are not trying to damage themselves. While the average age of onset is 11, trich can be found in children as young as one year old. Onset of trich can be triggered by simple sensory events, such as itchy eyelashes, or by stressful life events, and it can occur quite suddenly. For example, it may be a tingling feeling that can only be relieved by pulling. ny relief that comes with hair pulling usually only lasts for a moment. The urge almost always returns. Thats because when the mind becomes used to giving in to the powerful urges that go with compulsive behaviors, the behavior is reinforced, and then becomes a habit. The mind gets trapped in a cycle of expecting to have the urge satisfied. The longer this goes on, the harder it can become to resist the urge.

Q I am married and I still dont have baby

Difficult in conceiving is called as infertility. Causes of primary infertility in females are: irregular menses, hormonal imbalance, being obese, thyroid disorder, PCOD, diabetes, birth defects, etc. In males the cause of infertility are: hormonal imbalance, poor quality and quantity of sperms, birth defects, impotence, retrograde ejaculation, etc. If it is been more than one year since you are trying for pregnancy then you should consult a gynecologist. Preliminary test like sonography for female partner and semen analysis for male partner will help to identify the probable cause.

Q What tips do you have for someone with Social Anxiety?

At first, being social when youre feeling anxious is challenging. As difficult or painful as it may seem initially, dont avoid situations that trigger your symptoms. By regularly facing these kinds of situations, youll continue to build and reinforce your coping skills. The following techniques can help you begin to face situations that make you nervous: Prepare for conversation. For instance, read the newspaper to identify an interesting story you can talk about. 1. Focus on personal qualities you like about yourself. 2. Practice relaxation exercises. 3. Adopt stress management techniques. 4. Set realistic goals. 5. Pay attention to how often the embarrassing situations youre afraid of actually take place. You may notice that the scenarios you fear usually dont come to pass. 6. When embarrassing situations do happen, remind yourself that your feelings will pass, and you can handle them until they do. 7. Develop coping skills- Hang out with people whom with you feel comfortable, Joining a group that offers opportunities to improve communication and public speaking skills, remind yourself that you can get through anxious moments, that your anxiety is short-lived. 8. Take good sleep and healthy diet. Psychiatric counselling and medicine helps to deal with anxiety. Finally positive thinking and building self-confidence is the key to fight against your anxiety. Be confident. All the best.

Q Body too thin...some diet tips

Weight gain depends upon your diet and exercise pattern. Include calorie and protein rich foods in your diet such as eggs, chicken, fish, milk and milk products, nuts, pulses etc. Every morning have a glass of milk with honey and 2 bananas. Consume handful of mixed nuts everyday. Weight gain should be healthy and hence you should limit your intake of junk food. Instead of 3 large meals have 5-7 small meals. Join a gym and practice weight training under supervision.

Q I am 43 year old man and my wife 41 year we have 4 year and 6 month daughter. We are very confused whether to go for second child as my only daughter feels very lonely. Can you advice?

First, determine whether you and your wife are physically, mentally and financially ready to have a second child. It is definitely possible to conceive at this age; however there are many factors that you should take into account before arriving at a decision. A womans fertility decreases drastically in her forties so there is a major possibility that your wife may have to use donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. The risk of complications during pregnancy such as diabetes and high blood pressure increases. Moreover, there are higher chances of premature and still births. You may need to use assisted reproductive techniques thus escalating costs. I am not trying to discourage you, but giving you the facts. On the other hand, some women do get pregnant well into their 40s, and many of them have complication-free pregnancies and healthy babies. Both of you should make an informed decision after knowing all the pros and cons. For any further clarification, visit a gynaecologist who will brief you about all available options. Do consider the possibility of adoption too.

Q Causes for itching after sex?

One of the reason can be that you are allergic to latex condom. Other reasons include rough sex, fungal infection, vaginitis, vaginal irritation, due to menopause because of less lubrication. Consult your doctor to know exact cause and corresponding treatment.

Q My teenage girls want to use nail polish, but I have heard that many nail polishes contain formaldehyde and can cause cancer. Is it safe for my daughters to use it?

As per the guidelines given by FDA if the formaldehyde content of nail polish is less than 0.2 percent by weight than it is safe to use. So make sure you buy good quality nail polish for your daughters. If you used carefully nail polish as are safe.