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Diagnostic tools from ‘Wrong Diagnosis’

This is a tool to help to find information about diagnosis and misdiagnosis offered by WD, one of the world’s leading providers of online medical health information. The site is an independent, objective source of factual, mainstream health information for both consumers and health professionals. But before using it, please read on.

Self diagnosis is a dangerous practice. In fact, it is one of the most likely ways to get a misdiagnosis, which is the one thing we want to avoid. We recommend you always seek prompt professional in-person medical advice from your local qualified medical professional.

In practice, self diagnosis is common for many of the most common symptoms and ailments. When you feel the symptoms of a common cold coming on, you don't always rush to the doctor to confirm it. We nevertheless urge you to consult with your doctor about any symptoms, particularly if there is any doubt or concern, or if the symptoms concern a child, infant, elderly, ill, infirm, pregnant, or otherwise at-risk patient.

There are two main ways that a self-diagnosis can go wrong: failure to diagnose a serious illness, or the incorrect self-diagnosis with an extremely serious disease. In the first case, an example would be the failure to diagnose a fever as being caused by meningitis or other serious causes of fever (see misdiagnosis of fever).

You are advised to read the article ‘Self Diagnosis Pitfalls’ (opens on a new window).

• General symptom checker: Select from Common Symptoms, Browse alphabetically and select a Symptom or Choose from the full list (3,000+ symptom names)
• Pain symptom checker: There are many types of pain and many locations to get pain. The body uses pain to tell the brain that something is wrong. Never ignore pain. Any type of pain symptom needs prompt professional medical advice for diagnosis of the underlying cause of the pain.
• Other diagnostic tools: Symptoms, Diseases, Diagnosis, Videos, Tools, Community, Misdiagnosis, Drugs, 10 Common Diseases, Causes of 10 Common Symptoms, Misdiagnosis Centre (including most commonly misdiagnosed diseases, Hard-to-diagnose diseases, Not sure about your diagnosis, See what other conditions have similar symptoms, Silent diseases, Learn about common diseases with no symptoms or vague symptoms) and more.

Epigenetics

• The standard explanation of genetics explains that DNA provides the instructions to make RNA, and RNA creates proteins that control all cell activity. Recent research shows things aren't quite so simple.
• Our genes are not as much in control as we think and we can affect them in many ways including using our thoughts.

• Watch Dr Bruce Lipton’s lecture ‘Biology of Perception’ (shows the science behind the fact that our thoughts, our environment, nutrition and so on dictate how  healthy we are and how genes do not control anything. (7 videos)
• Rob Williams presents ‘The Psychology of Change’.  He often delivers lectures with Dr Lipton (above) challenge the prevailing misconceptions of biology and psychology and provide a logical, scientific and practical way to understand and use these revolutionary new ideas. (8 videos)

Educational videos

• Back Pain (video): This video explains where disc related back pain stem from by taking you through the anatomy of the back. It talks about mainstream treatments but - as you are on this website - you know that there is much more that can be done.

Exercises

• Frozen Shoulders exercises

Forever Free from Chronic Pain

Chronic knee, hip and back pain is a problem of epidemic proportions leaving millions of sufferers desperate to find relief.  But after trying invasive surgery and countless therapies in an effort to try something - anything - to alleviate their chronic pain, why are so many still aching with indescribable pain?

The answer is that a very common source of chronic musculoskeletal pain has - until now - remained unknown. In his  groundbreaking book, Chronic Pain Expert, Professor/Doctor Brian A Rothbart finally reveals the secret to success for thousands of his patients who live pain free lives.  

Healthline

Excellent health website comprising information on:

Diseases A to Z, Learning Centers A to Z, Drugs A to Z, Drugs by Disease, Supplements A to Z, Supplements by Disease, Symptoms A to Z, Symptoms by Disease, Videos A to Z, Videos by Disease

Nutrition Data

• Nutrition Data’s Home Page: On Nutrition Data, you'll find detailed nutrition information, plus unique analysis tools that tell you more about how foods affect your health and make it easier to choose healthy foods.

Rare Diseases

• List of rare diseases provided by the Health on the Net Foundation using a database provided by Orphanet. Orphanet is a portal for rare diseases and orphan drugs providing services for professionals and patients. Information includes:  

disease Alphabetical list, Search by clinical sign, Search by gene, Emergency guidelines, Encyclopaedia for patients, Encyclopaedia for professionals, Classifications, Prevalence of Rare Diseases and so on.

Resources from the

Harvard Medical School

•  Symptom Checker: Information provided by Harvard Medical School
• Guide to Diagnostic Tests: What do you have to do to prepare for a MRI? Will having a liver biopsy be painful? Will I need to do anything special afterward? How soon will it be safe to go home after a cardiac catheterization and what are the risks? How soon will the results of that antibody test be back?
• Medical Dictionary
• News from Harvard Health: Health articles from Harvard Medical School

Rothbart’s Foot

(Primus Metatarsus Supinatus)

Rothbart's Foot Structure originates from birth. It is a structural problem of the bones (Talus) of the foot that progressively causes more problems with age and activity. Having been both a physician and researcher for 40 years, Professor Rothbart's approach is different from other approaches in many ways.

• Rothbart’s Foot Test: Prof Rothbart developed a 3 minute screening test to determine if the individual has Rothbarts Foot, or not.  This 3 minute screening test consisting of three separate tests. The test is on this page
• Research - Dental Occlusion (Bite) is Impacted by Foot Motion

Skin conditions

• Skin Condition Finder: Great resource for medical practitioners and therapists who need to touch bare skin. Search for visual diseases by body location. Simply select a body location and gender, and see a list of matching diseases on the skin or body. Browse photos of skin conditions including full clinical information.  Over 170 skin conditions and thousands of medical pictures. Provided by SkinSight.
• ABCs of Melanoma Identification: Learn the ABCs of melanoma identification. Included are definitions, animations, and self-care tips on each of the key identifiers of melanoma. Provided by SkinSight.
• Melanoma Information for Adults: An embedded page from SkinSight with skin cancer information including Overview, Who's At Risk, Signs and Symptoms, Self-Care Guidelines, Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe, References/Trusted Links.
• Skin rashes not to miss:Skin rashes caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal etiologies are very common presenting complaints to primary care clinics, emergency departments, and dermatologists. Although many presenting symptoms overlap, discrete identifiable factors for each disease can help aid in diagnosis and treatment.

Pain Management and treatment

National Pain Foundation (Alternative and Complementary) (USA): The National Pain Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1998 to advance functional recovery of persons in pain through information, education and support. The NPF is built on the belief that early intervention of pain conditions can positively change the direction of a person's life. All information distributed by the NPF is peer-reviewed by NPF Board members and other professionals who are highly qualified in their respective fields. This means that the information about pain conditions created by the NPF is both up-to-date and accurate.

Research

• National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): Major Clinical Trial Results and Recent Study Results Spotlighted
• NCCAM Clinical Trials A-Z : Includes all clinical trials of therapies, conditions, nutrients, etc
• NHS Evidence (CAM) Newsletter: This newsletter is to keep you informed about the latest developments and additions to the NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine specialist collection. Data provided by NICE.

Includes evidence on: CAM general, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Chiropractic, Dietary and nutritional therapies, Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, Hypnosis, Massage, Meditation, Osteopathy, Reflexology, Yoga, Acupressure.  

Also:  Alexander technique, Art therapy, Autogenic training, Ayurvedic medicine, Biofeedback, Breathing techniques, Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Music therapy, Naturopathy,Qi gong, Relaxation techniques, Tai chi, Therapeutic touch, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Also includes NICE recommendations for a variety of conditions including the use of body work for low back pain (Low back pain: early management of persistent non-specific low back pain).  See ‘Conditions A-Z’