Primary, essential huh? cryptogenic, idiopathic, what in the world? I don't understand what you are saying, can you just fix me?
These are words your doctor or health care provider may use. Information has exploded and continues to multiply at an exponential rate. However, there continue to be many mysteries, especially in medicine. For all intents and purpurposes, there are just some things we cannot yet explain. This is when you will see, or hear rather, these words.
Pain is a symptom, something that happens, typically, as a result of something else. Many diseases, and syndromes, or conditions can cause pain. Primary or essential pain is essentially pain without an identifiable source. This is not to say that the person is making up the pain, but that the pain is not the result of disease, and not a symptom of any other condition. Both words simply indicate there is nothing else identifiable causing it. There are a multitude of symptoms, fever, diarrhea, constipation, headaches and many other symptoms that can be primary or essential. Similarly cryptogenic and idiopathic are words we apply in similar situations.
This can be both comforting and disturbing at the same time. It is comforting to know there is not some terrible process occurring in your body that is expected to get worse and intensify, and ruin your life. But it can disturbing to not have a reason, a source, something to blame for the symptoms that ail you. The same symptoms that can ruin your lifestyle.
In the case of primary symptoms, unfortunately, treatment is either symptomatic or non-existent. Now the best scenario is when a treatment exists for your symptoms. The goal then is to suppress the symptoms as much as you can with as few side effects as possible. Who wants to just trade one symptom for another. Since we lack a source in these situations it is not possible to eliminate the source and subsequently the symptoms.
Hiccups are a good example of a primary symptom. They are quite an unusual phenomena, they are a result of a muscle spasm of the diaphragm. Because it is a muscle the diaphragm can, of course, spasm we just don't know what causes the spasm. There are many theories, but as of yet there is no unified theory that is supported by any credible research. Because of this there are not any really good treatments for hiccups, drinking from the wrong side of the glass will only get you wet. Luckily, hiccups are self-limiting. A situation that will not cause other problems, and will resolve on itself in time. But if they persist for an extended period of time hiccups can be very troublesome.
They key, as always, is to be thoroughly honest and complete when talking to your physician or health care provider. Full honesty will allow them full confidence to assure you that there is not something serious underlying your troubling symptoms, if indeed this is the case. Once the assessment is complete the next step is to discuss treatment options and have an open and honest conversation about your thoughts and feelings in regards to the treatment possibilities, and the most likely course of your symptoms. It may assure you to know that whoever is caring for you would like to cure you too, and it may be difficult for them also. Don't forget they are on your side. For questions or comments, or updates you can follow @Maddog_MD on twitter.
