Author Archives: Peter Sweeney

How Joint Specialists May Help in Managing Arthritis

Arthritis is a type of joint disorder that can affect your musculoskeletal system and cause the joint to become inflamed, stiff, swollen, tender and warm along with intense sensations of pain. Joints are specific points within our body that bear our body’s weight even when we are standing or sitting, thus giving support to the whole body structure. Joint pain can have the most debilitating impact on a person’s life. If you are suffering from any kind of arthritis, it can be very difficult for you to take part in various day to day activities.

Arthritis affects both the joints and the surrounding tissues, ligaments, muscles and tendons, thus making mobility very painful. In some cases it is practically impossible for a person to move around. Arthritis is not actually a single condition; there are literally hundreds of different types of this disorder including rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis, which are some of the most common types.

Osteoarthritis: The condition known as osteoarthritis is thought to take place when friction between the heads of the bones cause them to wear out. It can also happen when the cartilage cushions offering support to the bone heads are lost.

Rheumatoid arthritis: This is caused by a misdirected immune system, which attacks the healthy tissues and joints. Gout occurs from metabolic malfunctioning along with crystallization of the uric acid in the joint cavities and between the bones.

There are a number of factors that can increase the chances of arthritis, including:
● Obesity
● Heredity
● Wrong diet
● Dehydration
● Joint infection
● Lack of exercise
● Lack of vitamins
● Sedentary lifestyle
● Metabolic disorders
● Natural aging of joints
● Faulty joint alignment
● Degeneration of cartilages
● Overactive immune system
● Joint injuries and bone fractures

If you feel any major discomfort in your joints, it is very important that you get in touch with a joint specialist as quickly as you can, as this will help in managing the condition. Over the years, the science and technology that is used to treat arthritis has vastly developed. Nowadays special diagnostic and imaging techniques are used to understand the precise extent of the damage, based on which your joint specialist may recommend specific treatments. In fact, when diagnosed early, arthritis can be managed without any kind of surgery. Your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes, which can help to ease the pain and enhance mobility to improve your quality of life.

Heel Spurs – A Type of Bony Extension

A Heel Spur can be described as a type of bony extension that impacts the calcaneus bone within the heel. Heel Spurs are generally attributed to different kinds of enduring local inflammations at the point of insertion of the soft-tissue ligaments or the fascia. The heel spurs are mostly located around the back of heel or right under the heel, just beneath sole of foot. The heel spurs that develop around the back of heel are usually associated with the inflammations of the Achilles tendon (i.e. tendinitis). They cause pain and tenderness in the area, which can exacerbated when a person tries to push off from the ball of the foot.

Heel Spurs are usually caused by different kinds of strain injuries that affect the tendons and the tissues attached to heel bone (i.e. the calcaneus). Such a condition can develop after a strain injury or repetitive athletic stress. The heel spurs can also be caused by inflammatory diseases like ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, as well as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. While the heel spurs themselves do not cause any kind of symptoms, they may lead to tenderness of the affected tissues just next to the spur. In some cases, the symptoms of the heel spur are more or less the same as the ones associated with the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. The diagnosis is mostly carried out with the help of ultrasound imaging and X-rays, which reveal a bony outgrowth in the affected area. 

Treatment methods depend greatly on the severity of the condition. Doctors treat symptomatic heel spurs by reducing associated avascularity or inflammation. They also focus on avoiding any chances of reinjury. Usually the treatment is meant for curing underlying conditions like arthritis, Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis that led to the formation of the heel spur. Applying ice in the affected area can minimize inflammation and pains. Physical therapy techniques like stretching exercises can help in preventing and treating plantar fasciitis. Doctors may also recommend anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and injections of cortisone can greatly help to reduce the sensations of pain. Shoe inserts and orthotic devices can be used for controlling excess motion that can strain the specific plantar fascia ligament or the Achilles tendon. Sometimes orthotics can help take the pressure off the plantar spurs with the help of a donut-shaped insert. Using heel lifts can help to reduce stress on the Achilles tendon and relieve the painful spurs that impact the back of a heel. Likewise, sports running shoes that are fitted with the soft, cushioned soles are ideal for reducing the irritation caused by the inflamed tissues resulting from heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. In some cases, surgery is chosen as the form of treatment for chronically inflamed spurs. Some of the recent forms of treatments include injections of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), radiofrequency ablation, prolotherapy injection, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) or ultrasonic micro debridement.

Treatment for Upper Back Pain

If you have been experiencing Upper Back Pain of late then don’t ignore it. What is the frequency of the pain? For how long have you been experiencing it? How long does the pain last? Make sure you are consciously keeping track of these to ensure fast diagnosis and treatment. Treatment for Upper Back Pain largely depends on the underlying cause of the condition. There are times when the exact source of pain may never be known. But excluding certain possibilities does help when it comes to determining treatment options.

Overuse

One of the most common causes of Upper Back Pain is – of course – overuse. You might well be putting your muscles through more work than usual. It’s quite normal for us to take a day off or two to indulge in activities like wall painting, or ceiling painting – things that do take a toll on your body. These are just a few activities that might end up causing ligament sprain, back pain, muscle strain and inflammation in the upper back.

Problems With Posture

Poor posture remains one of the foremost causes of Upper Back Pain. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that our posture ends up as one of the worst victims of our sedentary lifestyle. Our desk-bound lifestyle requires us to sit in front of computers for prolonged periods of time.And this leads to a series of physical discrepancies including:

• Our muscles becoming Weak
• They are rendered deconditioned
• Unnecessary pressure on spine bones, ligaments, muscles, discs etc
• Head and shoulders hunch forward

Accident or Collision

Upper Back Pain can also be caused by accidents or collision. You might well have had the experience of a car accident or collision of some sort. If the accident has had a consequential impact on your muscles, discs, ligaments and nerves then do expect a certain degree of upper back pain in the immediate future.

Now these are just a few of the most common causes of Upper Back Pain. There may be a combination of causes at play as well. For example, your Upper Back Pain might result from poor sitting posture as well as improper lifting during exercise.

A Few Facts about Knee Pain

Not many people are aware, but our knee is the most complex joint in our body. The knee is composed of the cartilage, bones and ligament. The muscles support these elements to work smoothly without difficulty. However, the normal functioning of the knees is disturbed following an injury or pain. Now, what exactly can a knee injury lead to? The simple answer to that would be – “pain”. And this pain is something that ends up affecting the quality of life in a major way. Limited movement and muscle weakness are immediate consequences that need to be dealt with and you should consult a specialist.

Knee Injury:

Regardless of whether you are an athlete or a regularly active individual, you are vulnerable to knee injury. It must be noted that knee injuries might differ in terms of severity and other factors. For example, an athlete is more exposed to these injuries than a regular individual is. So, knee specialists should ideally have customised treatment facilities for patients with varying needs. If a particular specialist is unable to offer you bespoke solutions, you should ideally seek services of the clinics that can.

Do You Need Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee Replacement Surgery is often a last resort when treating injuries. The most reputed clinics out there will always explore non-surgical options before finally recommending surgery. Some of the common non-surgical options are PRP therapy, physiotherapy etc. These are effective methods employed to address various conditions. If Knee Replacement Surgery emerges as the only viable treatment then your surgeon should ensure that you have access to the best state-of-the art facilities.

Here are the most common knee conditions affecting people in the UK:

• Cartilage Injuries
• Sports Injuries
• Overuse Symptoms
• Knee Fractures
• Knee Arthritis
• Patellar Dislocations and Disorders
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Wear and Osteolysis
• Meniscal Tears

Remember!

Make sure you are actually reaching out to knee clinics, Lodnon that have earned a good reputation in this field. A lot depends upon their experience and expertise. It is a good sign if you find a clinic that has earned consistent client endorsements. Make sure you are reading up reviews and ratings and then reaching a decision.

Causes of Big Toe Pain

Big Toe Pain is a common issue that can affect anyone. It is to be remembered that big toe pain is not a condition in itself but a symptom and sign of a more serious underlying condition. In most cases, patients experiencing big toe pain suffer from swelling, tenderness, misalignment, discoloration or bruising, ingrown toenails, bunions and corns as well as discomfort while walking.

Big Toe Pain can be caused by nerve damage, trauma, pressure and friction on the big toe or any kind of autoimmune disease.

Here are the most common underlying conditions that lead to Big Toe Pain:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of arthritis that can cause swelling, pain and stiffness of joints, as well as loss of function. The condition can impact any joint of the body including the big toe. RA is a common autoimmune disorder and it requires lifelong treatment.

Gout

Gout is classified as a type of arthritis, which leads to sudden pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. It frequently affects the big toe.

Raynaud Phenomenon

Raynaud Phenomenon is a disorder that affects the blood vessels. The symptoms are mostly observed in the toes and fingers where the blood vessels get narrowed when becoming cold or stressed. Once this happens, the blood cannot reach the skin surface and all the affected areas tend to turn blue and white.

Bunions

Bunions can be described as a type of joint deformity that is noticeable around the base of big toe. Wearing certain types of footwear can aggravate bunions.

Toe bruising

Toe bruising or toe contusion is a condition that involves damage of blood vessels (capillaries and veins) that return the blood from the tissues to the heart. Blood tends to pool in the affected area and it turns purple or blue. It is mostly caused by a hit, bump or a fall.

Toe fracture

Toe fracture and broken toes are quite common. They are usually caused by crush injury i.e. some object falling on or stubbing of the toe.

Treatment of big toe pain

Treatment for big toe pain depends on the underlying condition that led to the symptoms in the first place. The doctor will perform a number of diagnostic tests such as X-rays and bloodwork to determine the condition that has led to the pains. Based on that, your doctor will recommend treatment methods. In many cases, the pain can be resolved with rest, application of ice and elevation. Sometimes soaking the affected toe in lukewarm water may also help. The doctor may also recommend a change of footwear and prescribe some NSAID medications. Surgeries and injections may become necessary if the condition that causes the big toe pain is a serious one.

Spinal Health Issues: A Few Words Treatment

Spinal health issues are common in the UK. With severe or chronic back or neck pain, it becomes challenging to carry out even the smallest everyday-tasks.