Blog
Why I still take notes by hand even at PhD level
Neil's book of all things PhD As laptops become smaller and more ubiquitous, and with the advent of tablets, the idea of taking notes by hand just seems old-fashioned to many students today. Typing your notes is faster which comes in handy when there's a lot of...
Osteoarthritis
Degeneration of the spine is a prevalent problem that generally advances with age, though is not always restricted to the elderly1. The presence of osteoarthritis is not always consistent with pain either. While progressive joint failure may cause pain and disability,...
Heat versus ice for pain
Hearing aids can improve brain function
Hearing aids, by reducing cognitive load, can improve brain function in people with hearing loss. A recent study by Jamie Desjardins, PhD, an assistant professor in the speech-language pathology program at The University of Texas at El Paso, found that hearing aids...
Back pain can be caused by depression
People with depression are 60 percent more likely to develop low back pain in their lifetime, according to Australian research. This is the first study to show that depression itself may actually trigger back pain rather than the injury being the cause. The research,...
Immunology suggests the appendix has a use after all
The appendix has long had a reputation as a redundant organ with no real function. You might want to hang on to it if you can, however. Doctors often remove it even in mild cases of appendicitis to prevent future infection and rupture, which may not always be...
Cervical Dystonia
I think my case is unique insofar that my condition is almost cured against all odds of Western medicine - KA Dystonia disrupts the nervous system's ability to allow the brain and muscles to communicate. How the body controls muscle movement is very complicated and...
Can pain and wellness coexist?
Pain is still part of wellness, right? Is pain a good or bad thing? Often pain is left out of the conversation when it comes to helping people live incredible lives. Dr Neil Bossenger joins all 3 of the Wellness Guys in this absolutely fascinating dive into pain, its...
Ravings of a Master’s student
When I was an undergraduate student I wrote a newsletter that was more of a self-indulgent exploration into the metaphysical than anything substantiated by science. A close friend described those works back then as "existential ravings of a Mensa...
The extrapyramidal system
The extrapyramidal system is a complex motor system that lies parallel to the pyramidal system. The pyramidal system forms the networks that extend from your brain to your muscles, which control voluntary, organised movement. The extrapyramidal system lies parallel to...
Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
He even went through periods where he could not walk properly - CK I've been told personally that a little gluten never hurt anyone. Clinical experience proves otherwise. The combination of misunderstanding, ignorance and rise in everything pervasively gluten-free has...
Fluvax still being given to under-fives
Source: Australian Doctor Some GPs are still failing to heed warnings about not giving Fluvax to children under five, the Department of Health says. Despite being banned in under-fives since 2010 following a spate of febrile reactions, there have been 33 cases where...