- Osteoporosis
- ArthritisI will discuss each of these, but less common causes include fractures, tumors, inflammatory diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, urine infections, scoliosis, and many others. Tumors are very rare, so if your back pain does not improve, don’t assume that you have cancer. But, by the same token, go to a doctor to get it examined.
- Emergency Care
- Diabetes Care
- UltrasoundEst, i ce, c ompression, e levation. To this I would add anti-inflammatory medication and possibly physiotherapy. Since people complain of calf pain, an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot may be considered depending on the patient’s history.
- MRIBoth those who work out and their fitness trainers can stress the A-C joint when they do bench-presses and overheads because any exercise that uses a substantial amount weight to move the arm also involves stress to the shoulder. Both of these lifts strengthen the powerful deltoid muscle which lies along the acromion and the clavicle and thus, the stress of heavy lifting can be transmitted to the small A-C joint. People who lift weights for years may injure the A-C joint and develop arthritic degeneration in the area. My patients frequently complain of pain and popping at this joint. I can even hear the pop on examination before x-ray or MRI confirms the injury or arthritic condition.”
- X-Rays
- Computed Tomography
- SciaticaPatients with a disc herniation may only have local back pain, but frequently also have intense pain which radiates down an arm or leg. We call this radiculitis. In the lower extremities, it is referred to as Sciatica. This pain pattern frequently extends from the back towards the buttocks and down the back of the thing. A more severe disc herniation can cause numbness and tingling or even weakness.
- Pinched NerveUsually, the pain is confined to the back and does not radiate down into the legs (sciatica). Likewise, there is no numbness, tingling, or weakness. A neck sprain will not result in burning pain into the arms, unless a pinched nerve is involved – either from a disc herniation or from a stretch injury.
- Orthopedic SurgeryWell, maybe there was a time when many muscular medical students in the lower half of their class went into orthopedic surgery, but that certainly has changed. The orthopedists that I have known throughout my career have been plenty smart.
- Knee Replacement
- Reconstructive SurgeryRecently a saw a man in his late thirties who complained of recurrent ankle sprains. A stress x-ray in my office indicated severe laxity. I told him that unless he wanted to live with this, reconstructive surgery would be the only feasible treatment to stabilize the ankle. He initially injured his ankle years before while playing college football, and it was my impression– from speaking to him–that he never received adequate treatment early on after he sprained his ankle. Thus, the outcome did not surprise me. The torn ligament probably never healed.
- Sports Medicine
- Physical TherapyOveruse or overdoing it! One common condition is bicepital tendinitis. “The biceps muscle bends the elbow and it’s long tendon lies in a groove in the front of the shoulder. Tendinitis or inflammation of the tendon can occur with bench presses and ‘dips’. Treatment consists of pain and/or anti-inflammatory medication; Physical therapy can be useful. Sometimes, a cortisone injection. is necessary.
- Frozen ShoulderBut, the results are frequently good, although there are no guarantees. Much of the success of this surgery depends on the patient. Patients must adhere to their doctor’s orders, lest they re-tear the repair in the vital post-operative period. And, if they do not follow-through with their rehab program, they may develop stiffness, a frozen shoulder, or weakness. And in older patients with poor circulation, the repair may not heal; also, in patients who smoke or have diabetes.
- Tennis ElbowOne of the most frustrating problems for the tennis player is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). It is not an exceedingly painful or disabling condition, but it can produce enough discomfort to interfere with enjoyable or competitive playing.
- Slipped DiscSlipped disc. I compare the disc to a jelly doughnut. Squeeze the doughnut and the jelly will squirt out. Or think of a tube of toothpaste. Squeeze it and the toothpaste pushes out. This is a rough analogy as the nucleus is thicker jelly-like sap on a tree.
- Flatfoot Correction
- Ankle Sprain
- Back Pain
- Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy
- Ankle Sprain
- Flat Feet