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Headache
Fibromyalgia
Back Pain
Scar Tissue
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Posture Issues
Tendonitis
Lymphedema
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Shoulder Pain
Knee Pain
Plantar Fasciitis
Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.
Common causes of sciatica include:
§ Slipped disk
§ Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)
§ Pelvic injury or fracture
§ Tumors
Symptoms
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or a burning sensation. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move.
The pain most often occurs on one side. Some people have sharp pain in one part of the leg or hip and numbness in other parts. The pain or numbness may also be felt on the back of the calf or on the sole of the foot. The affected leg may feel weak.
The pain often starts slowly. Sciatica pain may get worse:
§ After standing or sitting
§ At night
§ When sneezing, coughing, or laughing.
§ When bending backwards or walking more than a few yards, especially if caused by spinal stenosis.
Headache Disorder
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are very rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and sometimes by taking medications.
Causes and Types of Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are caused by tightness in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw muscles. These headaches can be related to stress, depression, anxiety, head injury, or abnormal positioning of your head and Tension headaches tend to encompass your whole head and the often start from the back of your head and spread forward. The pain may vary from dull to squeezing pain with your shoulders, neck, or jaw also feeling tight or sore.
Migraine headaches are severe headaches that usually occur with other symptoms such as vision changes or nausea. The pain may be throbbing, pounding, or pulsating. It tends to begin on one side of your head, and may spread to both sides. The pain typically gets increases as movement increases. These headaches may be triggered by foods such as chocolate, certain cheeses, or MSG. Caffeine withdrawal, lack of sleep, and alcohol may also trigger these types of headaches.
Rebound headaches are headaches that keep coming back -- may occur from overuse of painkillers. These may also be called medication overuse headaches. Patients who take pain medication more than 3 days a week on a regular basis can develop this type of headache.
Cluster headaches are sharp, very painful headaches that tend to occur several times a day for months and then go away for a similar period of time.
Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to swelling in the sinus passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning.
**Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the flu, a fever, or premenstrual syndrome.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) health condition that causes pain and tenderness throughout your body. It causes musculoskeletal pain and fatigue.
People with fibromyalgia usually experience symptoms that come and go in periods called flare-ups. Sometimes, it can feel exhausting and challenging to navigate living with fibromyalgia. The peaks and valleys between feeling good and suddenly having a flare-up of symptoms can feel overwhelming. Fibromyalgia is real, and so is how you feel.
Any new pain in your body is often the first sign of fibromyalgia — especially in your muscles. Trust your instincts and listen to your body. Visit a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing new pain, fatigue and other symptoms — even if it feels like they come and go.
Who is affected by fibromyalgia?
Anyone can develop fibromyalgia. It affects people of any age, including children. Around 4 million people in the U.S. are living with fibromyalgia.
People assigned female at birth (AFAB) and people older than 40 are more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Symptoms and Causes
Fibromyalgia can cause physical, mental and emotional symptoms.
What are fibromyalgia symptoms?
What are fibromyalgia symptoms?
The two most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are pain and fatigue. You may experience:
Muscle pain or tenderness.
Fatigue.
Face and jaw pain (temporomandibular joint disorders).
Digestive problems, including diarrhea and constipation.
Fibromyalgia can cause mental and emotional symptoms, including:
Memory problems (sometimes called “fibro fog” or “brain fog”).
Insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Neck and shoulder pain can be classified in many different ways. Some people experience only neck pain or only shoulder pain, while others experience pain in both areas.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Causes of neck pain include:
§ Abnormalities in the bone or joints
§ Trauma
§ Poor posture
§ Degenerative diseases
§ Tumors
§ Muscle strain
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with a large range of movement. Such a mobile joint tends to be more susceptible to injury. Shoulder pain can stem from one or more of the following causes:
§ Strains from overexertion
§ Tendonitis from overuse
§ Shoulder joint instability
§ Dislocation
§ Collar or upper arm bone fractures
§ Frozen shoulder
§ Pinched nerves (also called radiculopathy)
How Are Neck and Shoulder Pain Diagnosed?
§ X-rays: Plain X-rays can reveal narrowing of the space between two spinal bones, arthritis-like diseases, tumors, slipped discs, narrowing of the spinal canal, fractures and instability of the spinal column.
§ MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive procedure that can reveal the detail of neural (nerve-related) elements. Myelography/CT scanning: Sometimes used as an alternative to MRI
§ Myelography/CT scanning: Sometimes used as an alternative to MRI
§ Electro diagnostic studies: Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are sometimes used to diagnosis neck and shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness and tingling
Back Pain
Back pain is often linked to an injury or to spinal degeneration, a process of wear-and-tear of the joints, discs, ligaments, and bones in the spine. Over time, one back problem can lead to other problems, creating a domino effect of cumulative issues.
Issues that increase the risk for back pain:
§ Poor posture
§ Weakened core and back muscles
§ Improper lifting technique
§ Overuse (high impact sports like running, basketball)
§ Accidents or collisions
§ Advanced age
§ Female gender
§ Other musculoskeletal pain
Symptoms Linked to Back Problems
Back pain may be episodic, where a person flares up and recovers, or it may become chronic and last several weeks or months. It usually worsens with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking. Sometimes, as with rheumatoid arthritis, movement improves the stiffness while excessive rest worsens the pain.
Common findings in people with back problems:
§ Muscle spasms and weakness
§ Decreased ability to twist or bend.
§ Numbness, tingling in the upper body.
§ Numbness or tingling in legs/feet
§ Pain in the buttocks, hips, legs
§ A visible curve in the spine
§ Hunched appearance
Situations where there is pressure on the spinal cord are considered emergencies. You should see a doctor immediately if you have:
§ Loss of bowel or bladder control
§ Loss of balance or coordination
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is when the shoulder is painful and loses motion because of inflammation.
Causes
The joint capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint.
Most of the time there is no cause for frozen shoulder. However, risk factors include:
§ Cervical disk disease of the neck
§ Diabetes
§ Shoulder injury
§ Shoulder surgery
§ Open heart surgery
§ Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms
The main symptoms are:
§ Decreased motion of the shoulder
§ Pain
§ Stiffness
Frozen shoulder without any known cause starts with pain. This pain prevents you from moving your arm. The lack of movement leads to stiffness and then can also lead to even less motion. Over time, you become unable to perform activities such as reaching over your head or behind you.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
TMJ dysfunctions are conditions affecting your jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. These conditions can cause several issues, including jaw pain, headaches and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
Symptoms:
TMJ symptoms vary widely and may include:
§ Jaw pain.
§ Facial pain.
§ Shoulder or neck pain.
§ Stiffness in your jaw.
§ Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
§ Jaw popping or clicking.
§ Headaches.
§ Migraines.
§ Earaches.
§ Toothache.
§ Tinnitus (ringing in your ears).
§ A change in the way your teeth fit together (malocclusion).
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition caused by compression of nerve and blood vessels passing through the thoracic outlet.
Symptoms:
Pressure placed on the nerves and blood vessels may cause pain, numbness, and Weakness in the upper limb. If a blood vessel is compressed, it may cause the hand to become a bluish color due to lack of circulation, cause pain and fatigue in the compressed, numbness in the limb and atrophy of the muscles innervated by the nerve may result.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition causes by compression of the median nerve between the carpals and the transverse carpal ligament. The most common cause is repetitive movements.
Symptoms:
carpal tunnel syndrome often results in pain, numbness, and tingling sensations in the hand and wrist. Atrophy of hand muscles may result due to lack of use.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition caused by inflammation in the plantar fascia in your foot. It’s the most common cause of heel pain.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
§ Heel pain.
§ Pain in the arch of your foot.
§ Stiffness.
§ Swelling around your heel.
§ A tight Achilles tendon.
Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer's elbow is a condition that causes pain where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. The pain might spread into your forearm and wrist.
Golfer's elbow is like tennis elbow, which occurs on the outside of the elbow. It's not limited to golfers. Tennis players and others who repeatedly use their wrists or clench their fingers also can develop golfer's elbow.
The pain of golfer's elbow doesn't have to keep you off the course or away from your favorite activities. Rest and appropriate treatment can get you back into the swing of things.
Symptoms
§ Pain and tenderness. Usually felt on the inner side of your elbow, the pain sometimes extends along the inner side of your forearm. Pain typically worsens with certain movements.
§ Stiffness. Your elbow may feel stiff, and making a fist might hurt.
§ Weakness. You may have weakness in your hands and wrists.
§ Numbness or tingling. These sensations might radiate into one or more fingers — usually the ring and little fingers.
The pain of golfer's elbow can come on suddenly or gradually. The pain might worsen with certain movements, such as swinging a golf club.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that can result from overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow. Tennis elbow is often linked to repeated motions of the wrist and arm.
Despite its name, most people who get tennis elbow don't play tennis. Some people have jobs that involve repeated movements that can lead to tennis elbow. These include plumbers, painters, carpenters and butchers. However, often tennis elbow has no clear cause.
The pain of tennis elbow occurs mainly where the tough, cord-like tissues of the forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of the elbow. The tissues are known as tendons. Pain can spread into the forearm and wrist.
Symptoms
The pain of tennis elbow can travel from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. Pain and weakness can make it hard to:
§ Shake hands or grip an object.
§ Turn a doorknob.
§ Hold a coffee cup.
Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common symptom in people of all ages. It may start suddenly, often after an injury or exercise. Knee pain also may begin as a mild discomfort, then slowly get worse.
Causes
Knee pain can have different causes. Being overweight puts you at greater risk for knee problems. Overusing your knee can trigger knee problems that cause pain. If you have a history of arthritis, it could also cause knee pain.
Medical conditions
§ Arthritis -- Including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, and gout
§ Baker cyst -- A fluid-filled swelling behind the knee that may occur with swelling (inflammation) from other causes, such as arthritis.
§ Cancers that either spread to your bones or begin in the bones
§ Osgood-Schlatter disease
§ Infection in the bones around the knee
§ Infection in the knee joint
Injuries and over used
§ Bursitis -- Inflammation from repeated pressure on the knee, such as kneeling for a long time, overuse, or injury
§ Tendinitis -- Inflammation of the tendon with change in activities, can be related to overuse or deconditioned tissue
§ Dislocation of the kneecap
§ Fracture of the kneecap or other bones
§ Iliotibial band syndrome -- Injury to the thick band that runs from your hip to the outside of your knee
§ Patellofemoral syndrome -- Pain in the front of your knee around the kneecap
§ Torn ligament. -- An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, or medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury may cause bleeding into your knee, swelling, or an unstable knee
§ Torn cartilage (a meniscus tear) -- Pain felt on the inside or outside of the knee joint
§ Strain or sprain -- Minor injuries to the ligaments caused by sudden or unnatural twisting
Posture Issues
Poor posture is particularly hard on the muscles of the body. The way in which the spine, head, neck, and hips are aligned can impact muscle tension in a number of ways.
Poor posture puts more strain on the muscles
One of the most common forms of poor posture is called forward head, which forces the head in front of the body’s midline.
This type of posture adds significantly more weight that the muscles of the head and neck must support. With good posture, the head adds 10-12 pounds of weight to the torso. With bad posture, the head can add 27-60 pounds to the affected muscles.
In addition, poor posture can trigger the body to tighten certain muscles in order to create more stability. This tightness, combined with the strain of supporting extra weight, can lead to increased muscle tension, as well as neck, head, and back pain that interferes with daily life.
Poor posture weakens muscles
Because poor posture places extra stress on the muscles, it tends to weaken them, making it harder for them to maintain the body’s position and stability over the long-term.
This weakness is the result of poor posture forcing the body to use muscle fibers that are dedicated to movement, called phasic fibers, to support the body, rather than using the muscle fibers that typically support posture, called static fibers.
Because the static fibers, which are the inner fibers of the muscle, are not being used, poor posture causes these parts of the muscle to weaken and lengthen. This makes it difficult for the individual to stand up properly, placing increased tension on the easily fatigued phasic fibers.
Poor posture tires the outer muscles
Phasic fibers, the outer fibers of the muscle, typically only contribute to movement of the muscle. Poor posture, by forcing them to work harder and take over more of the work of supporting the body, wears them out quickly, leading to soreness and chronic pain.
The muscle tension caused by poor posture can lead to a host of problems that leave people tired, sore, and even struggling to complete daily tasks. Here are some of the most common problems faced by individuals who have poor posture:
§ Head, neck, and upper back pain
§ Lower back pain
§ Headaches
§ Difficulty walking
§ A change in appearance (e.g. A hunchback)
§ Increased risk of injury
§ Disc degeneration
§ Trapping of the tendons in the shoulder, called shoulder impingement
Common Posture Problems
1. Forward Head
As mentioned above, forward head posture places the head in front of the body’s midline. The result of too many hours hunched in front of a computer, looking down at a phone, or driving, this type of posture problem can create significant neck and shoulder pain.
2. Kyphosis
Kyphosis is similar to forward head posture, but is more severe and is sometimes referred to as hunchback. Defined by a significant curvature of the upper back, this type of poor posture is often the result of osteoporosis, aging, and disc degeneration.
3. Swayback
Swayback occurs when the hips sit in front of the body’s midline. This type of poor posture often occurs because of extensive sitting, which weakens the back and gluteal muscles. It can create an inward curve of the lower back that is distinct even when standing.
4. Flatback
Flatback is a type of poor posture defined by a loss of the curvature in the spine. Flatback, which is often caused by conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, can lead to pain when standing for too long.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema refers to tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that's usually drained through the body's lymphatic system. It most commonly affects the arms or legs, but can also occur in the chest wall, abdomen, neck and genitals.
Lymph nodes are an important part of your lymphatic system. Lymphedema can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage your lymph nodes. Any type of problem that blocks the drainage of lymph fluid can cause lymphedema.
Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown. Treatment may include compression bandages, massage, compression stockings, sequential pneumatic pumping, careful skin care and, rarely, surgery to remove swollen tissue or to create new drainage routes.
Lymphedema signs and symptoms include:
§ Swelling of part or all of the arm or leg, including fingers or toes
§ A feeling of heaviness or tightness
§ Restricted range of motion
§ Recurring infections
§ Hardening and thickening of the skin (fibrosis)
And More
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