Francis visits Mayo Clinic... migraine cause confirmed

Great question.

DD

 

yeah he went
http://msn.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0802/1413390.html

 

Thanks Rocketkid, great info. Looks like the headaches are soon to be a thing of the past.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Mayo Clinic confirms cause of headaches

Mayo Clinic confirms cause of headaches

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


HOUSTON -- Comprehensive testing at the Mayo Clinic confirmed Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis has an inner ear disorder which caused migraine headaches and frequently kept him off the court last season.

"Steve has shown a strong dedication to getting this resolved and we are very hopeful that he will continue improving and come back strong next season,'' Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said Friday.

The team's medical staff made an initial diagnosis in February of Francis' condition, called Meniere's Disease. The disorder results from an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear. The diagnosis was confirmed at the Mayo Clinic this week, the team said.

Francis has averaged 19.7 points over his three years with the Rockets. His scoring average is the fourth best in franchise history.

Despite being sidelined for 25 games this past season by a number of other ailments, most notably migraine headaches that kept him out of seven games, the 6-foot-3 Francis averaged 21.6 points, a career high.

The Rockets, however, finished out of the playoffs for a third straight year, staggering to 28-54 record, their worst finish in nearly two decades.

I actually have a similar problem with headache's as Steve. I went to the Doctor a few months ago and found out it was becasue of TMJ though. If I can control my headache's, I'm sure Steve will be able to.

 

I wonder how they're going to treat it? Any medical types care to speculate?

 

Wonder if there is a cure for it?

DD

 

19.7 seems kind of low for fourth best in franchis history

 

From the last time this topic came up, I recall a low-salt diet being part of the "cure".

 

Good news. There has to be a cure.

 

What type of treatment is available?
Menieres disease can be treated medically or surgically.


Medical:
Treatment varies. This depends on several factors according to the cause, magnitude and frequency of the symptoms. In order to improve the inner ear circulation and control the fluid pressure, treatment may consist of medication to stimulate the inner ear circulation. Such are vasodilating drugs (blood pressure pills) Diuretics (water pills) with anti-dizziness medication. People with Menieres should void caffeine and nicotine for this has an opposite effect on drug treatment. Another form of treatment is special diets such as reducing salt and or potassium.

Surgical:
Surgery is only recommend where medical treatment fails to relieve the attacks of dizziness and pressure. Surgery is successful in relieving acute attacks in the majority of patients.
Endolymphatic Shunt : This operation drains excess fluids from the inner ear. This operation is advised when hearing is relatively good. An incision is made behind the ear, through the mastoid (bone section behind the ear) and a tube is inserted to control the abnormal fluid pressure.

In severe cases where the shunt in unsuccessful, it is sometimes necessary to remove the inner ear membranes. When this is done, there is total loss of hearing in the operated ear.

It is found that once a person has been diagnose with Menieres, permanent hearing loss is the result once the disease in in the final stages. Fluid pressure eventually damages the inner ear chambers, resulting in hearing loss. Hearing loss varies from person to person. As well, time plays no factor in this degenerative disease. As much as 50 to 95 percent hearing loss has been reported.

There are many causes of dizziness and pressure. If you feel that some of the symptoms matches yours, please see your specialist.

 

Now that would really suck.

 

i hope everthing come's out to be okay

 

Its good they finally labeled the problem. Steve Francis is the cornerstone of this Franchise and he needs to be in excellent health.

 

If they did surgery, would the problem reoccur? If not, I'd opt for surgery. Of course, it's not my hearing that's at stake.

 

Yaargh!!
Doesn't sound good.
Hope Steve still gets max contract.

Best wishes STEVE!

 

The fact they I.D.ed this thing, makes me feel a lot better...Kinda like buying an AR-15, you pay the big money for it because it is well worth it. You expect it to perform and are so excited about having it, when to your chagrin, the barrel seems a just slightly loose, It dampens your enthusiasm for this gun, but you still love it and know that it is good and can perform well...Suddenly the problem is diagnosed as it is known that the handguard is made from plastic and the fact is it is a free-floating piece and this occurance while irritating has been known to occur before and usually never gets any worse...It is a big relief to I.D. this irritating thing, I just hope it is nipped in the bud, so Steve can Max his abilities!

 

Sorry to be a voice of doom, but I have two friends who have Meniere's Disease. One of them (39 years old) has lost nearly all the hearing in one ear and has to wear a hearing aide to hear regular speech. The other (44 years old) has had surgery and still experiences headaches, dizzyness, and a ringing in his ears from time to time.

Just because there's been a diagnosis doesn't mean that there's some kind of quick cure on the horizon. I hope that Stevie is one of those who benefits from getting the best care, but this is the sort of thing that might affect his performance and/or availability for years to come.

 

I wish he had done this back in April...