Discovery of Physostigmine

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

An English physiologist by the name of Thomas Willis is credited with clinically describing myasthenia gravis in 1672. Doctors Samuel Goldflam, Wilhelm Erb, and Friedrich Jolly from Germany are responsible for fully describing myasthenia gravis in 1890. In 1934, Dr. Mary Walker of London conducted a successful trial of physostigmine in a patient with myasthenia gravis. Dr. Walker discovered that a subcutaneous injection of physostigmine temporarily restored muscle function in a patient with myasthenia gravis. At that time, physostigmine was used as an antidote for curare poisoning.

Frozen Shoulder

 I had been experiencing some shoulder pain over the last couple of months. It has limited my mobility some what, Well I finally mentioned it to my doctor. After I described the pain to her and completing physical exam. She diagnosed Frozen Shoulder. Pain med was given and I was referred to P.T.( Physical Therapy) It actually was a relief to know it was just not par for the course as a patient with Myasthenia. After further reading I discovered that my long stay in ICU could have contributed. There you have it mystery solved.

Definition
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Over time, the shoulder becomes very hard to move.
Frozen shoulder occurs in about 2% of the general population. It most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60, and occurs in women more often than me

 Cause
The causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood. There is no clear connection to arm dominance or occupation. A few factors may put you more at risk for developing frozen shoulder.
Diabetes. Frozen shoulder occurs much more often in people with diabetes, affecting 10% to 20% of these individuals. The reason for this is not known.
Other diseases. Some additional medical problems associated with frozen shoulder include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson's disease, and cardiac disease.
Immobilization. Frozen shoulder can develop after a shoulder has been immobilized for a period of time due to surgery, a fracture, or other injury. Having patients move their shoulders soon after injury or surgery is one measure prescribed to prevent frozen shoulder.

SC Lowcountry Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

SC Lowcountry Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

We will have a guest speaker at our meeting this coming Saturday October 20th. And, we will be going a little afield from our MG affliction and learning something about some of the local culture.
Cynthia Holl Porcher, one of our supporting members, will talk to us about her new book, The Gullah and Geechee People: The Long Road from 17th Century Africa to 21st Century America. This book, to be published in the near future, is the culmination of a 10-year project by Cynthia researching this fascinating culture which we see every day but about which we know so little. This is a special treat and I encourage all of you to come.

 

meeting is next Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the conference room on the first floor of the East Cooper Medical Center.

THE SMALL THINGS

To day I reflect back to my date of diagnoses. And the trauma I went through after surgery. My recovery period out of ICU.And my rehab once I returned Home. The thought that came to my mind today. I remember trying to find some form of normalcy during rehab. One of the things I did for relaxation was playing bejeweled on Facebook. I played on weekends and after work for relaxation. I attempted to do so after diagnoses. But my reflexes were slow and my hand eye coordination was not there. But a silly grin just came over my face today because I just scored 400+ in bejeweled. And to me that signals I am making it around to full circle . Some time IT IS the little things!