What does a broken hip feel like?

A broken hip, also often referred to as a hip fracture, can be a very serious injury. It can lead to a number of critical complications that may even be fatal. The propensity of developing a fractured hip increases with age. The reason for this is that the bones tend to undergo wear and tear and become weaker as you get older. There can also be other factors that make a person more prone to develop a broken hip, such as poor vision, use of medications and issues with balance. Factors such as the structure of the body and weakness can lead a person to fall suddenly, leading to a hip fracture. Women have a greater tendency to develop broken hips than men. It is necessary to perform a surgical treatment in order to correct a broken hip. The hip replacement procedure should also be accompanied by some intense physical therapy. It is always a good idea to include foods in the diet that help in boosting bone density.

There are many factors that can lead to hip fractures. These include excessive consumption of alcohol, unchecked osteoporosis, a family history of poor bone health, being underweight, smoking and not having sufficient amounts of vitamin D and calcium in the diet. A fractured or broken hip can also result from an actual fall or a physical injury. Whatever the cause of a broken hip might be, it is always followed by a lot of discomfort and pain felt in the groin or hip region. The patient may also find it difficult to walk and have his/her mobility compromised. Moreover, the skin surface around the injured area may look red and bruised. If the symptoms are mild, then the person might be able to walk and experience vague signs of discomfort in the hip and groin areas. There can also be noticeable issues around the thighs, the butt, and the back.

In order to diagnose the extent of a hip fracture, the doctor will ask the patient about recent injuries. Additionally, X-rays and a detailed physical exam can be carried out to reach a clear diagnosis. Sometimes a bone scan along with an MRI scan can be recommended by the doctor if the initial X-rays are not conclusive. In order to perform an accurate bone scan, the doctor is going to inject trace portions of a radioactive dye on the body. This ink can travel through the bloodstream into the bones of the affected hip where it shows signs of bone damage.

Depending on the severity of the case, a hip fracture can be deemed critical or not-so-critical. Sometimes a hip fracture can damage the ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels in the surrounding region. Therefore unless the injury and its effects are treated quickly, it can compromise the patient’s mobility in a major way. This can result in further complications, such as bedsores and pneumonia. Many patients are also affected by a urinary tract infection along with the formation of blood clots within the lungs and/or legs. There can also be a significant loss of the patient’s muscle mass. Treatment for the broken hip involves surgical intervention.

The Benefits of Choosing Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Treating Arthritis

Increased age often leads to the weakening of bones, which in turn leads to arthritis. In fact, arthritis is one of the most common issues faced by men and women above 50. Consequently, it is of no surprise that there are always a lot of people suffering from knee health problems who are looking for good medical treatment for their condition. The advancement of science has paved the way for numerous medical innovations and one of them is definitely Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy or PRP Therapy. Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy is said to be one of the most powerful and result-driven treatment procedures available right now for arthritis patients.

PRP therapy involves collecting blood from the patient, which is then put in a centrifuge and the platelets are separated from the red cells by a spinning motion. These platelets are collected and injected into the affected knee so that regeneration and healing can be stimulated. The goal of PRP injection therapy or Platelet-Rich Plasma injection therapy is to reduce signs of pain and swelling by rebuilding cartilage and repair the torn ligaments and meniscus. When applied correctly, it can avoid the possibility of requiring surgical treatment. The Platelet-Rich Plasma injection therapy works by triggering the natural immune repairing process of the body, as well as tissue building and growth activity.

It is to be noted that not every patient can be deemed suitable to undergo Platelet-Rich Plasma injection therapy treatment. That being said, for patients who can, this can help repair the bone and tissues of the affected area so that the patient may recover from all pains and then walk and move normally as before. The platelets have a vital role to play in ensuring the fast healing of the affected tissues.

The benefit of choosing PRP injection therapy is that it can inhibit inflammations as well as greatly slow down the overall progression of the signs of osteoarthritis. The treatment procedure can also boost the production of a naturally occurring lubrication fluid within the joint so that painful friction can be eased. It is also a great way to trigger the development of new cartilage in the area. The plasma collected from other parts of the body consists of proteins that can change the pain receptors of the patient and bring down the sensations of pain. This method of treatment is truly innovative because it uses the natural healing mechanism of the body to treat arthritis.

Ankle Twist Injury & Treatment Methods

An ankle twist injury, also referred to an ankle sprain takes place when someone excessively turns or twists their ankle accidentally. This affects the ligaments or tissues which envelope the leg bones in the area and joins them firmly to the foot. An injury like this can cause tearing or stretching of associated ligaments, which play a vital role in maintaining the stability of the ankle joint. It has a definite range of motion and when the limits of such motion are crossed it leads to serious sprain. The twisted or sprained ankle can lead to injuries that affect the ligaments located just on the outer part of the ankle. If you have an ankle twist injury, it is advisable to get in touch with the doctor as soon as it happens so that proper treatment can be carried out. Complete healing of the twisted ankle takes time and may even take many weeks or months.

The spraining or twisting of the ankle eventually leads to the dislocation of the ankle joint. People who are actively involved in sports or intense physical activities tend to be the group that is most vulnerable to ankle twist injuries. Such injuries can involve the tearing of one or several tissues or ligaments. The injury is usually followed by some signs of bruising and swelling. There can also be a lot of pain and intense discomfort in the affected region. In more critical cases, there can be intense damages to tendons and blood vessels. The cartilages can also experience moderate to critical injuries. Other symptoms of ankle sprain include tenderness, stiffness and discoloration of the skin surface. You may also find it difficult to walk properly once you have a twisted ankle.

A doctor will take a closer look at the injured ankle and see if there are any torn ligaments. The ankle doctor can move the affected ankle joint to see where you are feeling pain and your overall range of motion after the injury. X-rays can be carried out to see if there is any bone fracture. MRI scans help to check for ligament injuries, bone fractures as well as damaging of ankle joint surface. Treatment of a twisted ankle is mainly done at home. The doctor may recommend the usage of bandages to wrap the affected ankle. You may also be asked to wear braces and use crutches. Additionally, medications like ibuprofen can be used for managing the pain and discomfort. The most important thing to remember is that you should take complete rest so that you can recuperate quickly. While it is only a rare scenario when surgery becomes necessary for ankle twist injuries, there have been cases where it is deemed necessary. The two main forms of surgery for ankle sprain are arthroscopy and reconstruction surgery. The prognosis for ankle injury is usually positive and you can go back to your normal healthy life in a short span of time.

The Most Common Musculoskeletal Disorders

Tendonitis

When it comes to the most common musculoskeletal disorders the first name that comes to mind is tendonitis. This is basically a condition where your tendon is inflamed. The tendon is the fibrous tissue that connects bones with muscles. Tendonitis can happen in various parts of your body such as the shoulder, ankle, elbow, and wrist, to name a few.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is commonly known simply as arthritis. This is a condition that affects your cartilage. Cartilage is the rubber-like protective tissue that is located at the ends of all our bones. In this condition, the cartilage wears down gradually.

This can lead to joint pain in the following areas:

Hands
Knees
Neck
Hips
Lower back

Rheumatoid arthritis

In such a condition, the immune system of your body attacks your cells. If you do not treat it, with time this would erode your bones and cause your joints to be deformed, especially the fingers. Such arthritis normally starts by attacking the joint cartilage. The inflammation can then spread to other parts of your body as well.

Bone fractures

There are so many reasons why your bones can suffer fractures. The commonest causes in this regard are trauma, disease, and overuse.

At times, this could lead to a partial break of your bones. In certain cases, your bones could be completely broken as well. A bone fracture is unbearably painful. At the same time, it can also lead to the affected area becoming temporarily dysfunctional.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

This is basically a pinched nerve in your wrist. This occurs more often than not because of using your hand repetitively. It could also happen because of an extreme extension or flexion of your wrist or hand. It normally leads to a sense of tingling and numbness in your arm or hand. If you do not treat it, it can lead to permanent disability and damage.

Fibromyalgia

This is a condition where you have tenderness and pain throughout a significant part of your body. It often comes with a degree of fatigue. Such fatigue can have a bad effect on your sleep habits, mood, and memory.

How to treat these conditions?

If your doctor diagnoses any of these conditions she or he would recommend a treatment plan to resolve the issue. This could include a combination of moderate exercise as well as over-the-counter medicines. This primarily includes medicines that fight inflammation and Ibuprofen. At times, you may also have to undergo occupational and physical therapy to counter your condition. However, you can also prevent such situations from happening. The best way to do so would be to develop healthy habits in life. This includes regular stretching and exercise so that your bones, muscles, and joints are strong. You can also take several safety measures in this regard. One of them would be to minimise repetitive motions that can lead to such conditions. You should also lift heavy objects with more care. Maintaining good posture helps prevent back pain as well.

Spinal Disc Herniation

The term “herniated disc” indicates an excruciating condition that affects the spinal discs. These discs form a kind of rubber-like cushion positioned between the individual bones. All of which makes up your backbone. These bones in medical terminology are described as vertebrae. Spinal disc herniation is also known as a “ruptured or a slipped disc”. It happens when there is a rip in the annulus and some of the nucleus pushes out through it.

What are the symptoms?

The most common signs can be perceived as discomfort in the limbs. Sometimes, you might feel a lingering stinging sensation or sort of coldness in the affected parts. Not only that, feebleness is also considered as a common indicator in such cases. Most of these herniated discs happen in the lower back. Having said that, such a condition can even occur in your neckline. The common indicators and possible signs of spinal disc herniation depend on the area where the affected disc is pressing on the nerve. For example, if your herniated disc is at the lower back, you would experience throbbing pain in your backside, calf area, and thighs. Such a condition normally affects only one side of your body.

What are the primary causes?

Disc herniation occur due to the regular wear and tear that your discs suffer from owing to increasing age. This is also identified as disc degeneration. Even as you grow older, your discs lose their suppleness and thus become prone to tears even with a slight twist or strain. The biggest factors that can result in a herniated disc are increasing bodyweight, genetics, and occupation. You need to take into account emergency medical care especially when your signs are getting worse, when you start suffering from saddle anaesthesia.

How is it diagnosed?

Doctors normally check if your back is tender or not when they are diagnosing the problem. The doctor may ask you to try moving your limbs in different positions. This helps them determine the reasons why you are suffering from such a problem. Your specialist could also conduct neurological assessments to examine your normal reflexes, ability to stride, muscle strength, and your capability to feel quivering, pricks, or touches. In most of these cases, all that a specialist requires are your medical past and a physical test.

How to treat such a condition?

There are several ways to treat a herniated disc. The doctors can suggest medical intervention. The treatment process can involve the use of over-the-counter pain medications, muscle relaxers, cortisone injections, and opioids. You can also undergo therapy as advised by the specialists. In certain cases, surgery is definitely a possibility of bringing a positive solution. For mild symptoms, you can also try some home and lifestyle remedies to get better results in these cases. This includes the likes of applying and administering cold and heat on the problem area, resuming your regular activities slowly, and ducking excessive bed rest. You can try alternative treatments if you want such as chiropractic, massages, and acupuncture, to name a few.

Pain in The Knee When Running

The words “runner’s knee” describes one of the various conditions that can cause discomfort around your kneecap. The most prominent among these are “anterior knee pain syndrome”, “chondromalacia patella”, “patellofemoral malalignment”, and “iliotibial band syndrome”. As the name would suggest, running is one of the most common causes of these conditions. However, such a disorder can also transpire when you put constant stress on your knee joint. This includes involving actions such as:

walking
jumping
skiing
pedaling
biking
playing soccer

Harvard Medical School states that runner’s knee is found more among females than in males.

This is mostly true of women who are in their mid-30s-40s. If you are overweight, you could suffer from this problem as well.

Symptoms of Knee Pain:

The most easily identifiable sign of this particular condition is pain around or behind the kneecap. It can happen in the patella region as well. This is especially at the meeting point of the femur or the lower part of the thighbone. In these cases, you can feel pain when you perform the following activities:

walking
running
descending or climbing stairs
standing up or sitting down
squatting
sitting for an extended period with bent knees
kneeling

You also have other symptoms in these cases such as inflammation, crushing, and popping of the knee. In case of iliotibial band syndrome you would experience the severest pain on the outer parts of your knees.

Knee Pain Causes:

The pain that you experience is primarily due to the irritation in the lining of your knee and the surrounding soft tissues. At times, your cartilage could get torn or inflamed, or your tendons could get stressed as well. Below are some other principal reasons for developing runner’s knee:

overuse
tight or feeble thigh muscles
kneecap shock
insufficient stretching prior to workout
kneecap misalignment
arthritis
fractional or full displacement of kneecap
kneecap fracture
flat feet
synovial plica syndrome or plica syndrome – here the lining of your joint is inflamed and thickened

Diagnosis of Knee Pain:

Your specialist will likely ask for your medical reports and about your medical history. Your medical history would help the doctor to execute a detailed physical checkup to confirm if you are indeed suffering from runner’s knee or not. The assessments could include blood examinations, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, X-rays, and CT (computed tomography) scan.

Knee Pain Treatment:

Your knee doctor would suggest an appropriate treatment. In a majority of cases, patients do not undergo surgery. In the initial stage of treatment, you normally need to practice what is known as “RICE (relaxation, ice, compression, and elevation)”. If you are seeking respite from pain, your doctor can consider prescribing anti-inflammatory pills like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. You can be prescribed acetaminophen, which is considered as an active component in Tylenol. There are several ways to prevent this condition like staying fit and healthy, using the correct pair of running shoes, stretching, using the right form for running, and increasing your physical training gradually.

Flat Feet Pain Symptoms & Treatments

Individuals who have flat feet are found to either have no arch or a rather negligible one at best. Both feet or just one foot can be affected. There are 33 joints in the human foot and they hold together twenty-six different bones. There are also more than a hundred muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The arches offer you a spring to every step and also aid in issuing the weight of your entire body across the legs and the feet. How you walk is determined by the structure of your arches. They have to be supple and robust at the same time so that they can adapt to the various surfaces on which you walk and also deal with the pressure you put on them.

What are the symptoms of flat feet pain?

The most common – and most obvious – symptom of flat feet pain is pain. This can happen when your feet muscles, or the ligaments that are connected to them, get strained. If you put an abnormal amount of stress on your hip and knees you can get pain in those joints as well. Such stress becomes more likely when the ankles turn inwards.

What are the causes of flat foot pain?

There are several causal factors related to flat feet, including:

Genetic factors where you can inherit flat feet from your parents.
Weak arches – this means that the arches of your foot can be seen when you are sitting but when you stand up your feet flatten into the ground thus making them invisible.
Ankle and foot injuries can cause flat foot pain as well.

You might also experience this kind of a pain because of rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis or if your posterior tibial tendon is damaged, ruptured, or dysfunctional.

How is it diagnosed?

If you have flat feet, but do not experience any painful symptoms, there is no need for you to consult a doctor for your condition. However, there are some situations where you may have to seek medical help. The best doctors normally diagnose the condition by examining your feet and by observing you when you walk and stand. The foot doctor would inspect your feet in these cases from both the back and the front. You may also have to stand on your toes to let the doctor inspect the function and shape of your feet.

How to treat such pain?

There are certain exercises that you can try in this regard such as heel cord stretching and the golf ball roll. You may also have to wear well-fitted and supportive shoes to help you deal with the pain. You can also get considerable relief from extra-wide-fitting shoes. Doctors may also suggest you wear orthotics or fitted insoles and customized arch supports. These would release the pressure that is being put on the arch. This would bring down the pain even if your feet roll inward excessively.

Treating Neck Sprains

The first thing that you need to know in this context is that all sprains are treated the same way. This means that a sprained neck would be treated the same way that a sprained ankle is.

A sprained neck would heal over time – it would not happen overnight. However, you have to follow the right method of treatment and give it the time it needs to heal. Sometimes, you might have to wear a soft collar around the neck. This would help provide much-needed support to your head and reduce the pressure that is normally put on the ligaments whenever a sprain happens.

This, in turn, would give the neck the time to heal.

Using pain relievers to treat the condition

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can be extremely useful in these cases as they reduce the pain as well as the swelling. You can also use muscle relaxants that can make the spasms easier to bear. Apart from that, you can apply ice packs on your sprained neck for around 15-30 minutes at a stretch. You can do this for 2-3 days after you first suffered the injury.

This helps bring down the levels of inflammation and thus makes it a lot more comfortable for you as well. Heat, especially moist heat, can play a major role in helping you heal by loosening up the cramped muscles over there. If you want to use heat or ice on the sprained neck you should do it within the first couple of days of suffering the injury. This will help you reduce the swelling.

Other treatments

You can also take recourse to some other treatments when the injury is in a better state. However, you should never start them without being supervised by a doctor. The most prominent options in this regard are massaging the tender area, using cervical or neck traction, ultrasound therapy, and isometric and aerobic exercises.

A few things to know in this regard

Most of the symptoms that you suffer from in neck sprain tend to go away within a span of 4-6 weeks. However, if you have a severe injury it would take a lot of time to heal totally.

Some initial treatments for neck sprain

When you first get a neck sprain and the pain starts the doctors normally recommend a few ways to check and cure the condition. The first among them is activity modification. In these cases, you have to stop taking part in activities that put strain on your body and rest your neck for a few days. This will give the tendons and muscles over there the time to start the healing process and this would make you feel better as well. If you attempt to push through the pain and do not reduce your normal activity levels it would make the injury worse and this would make the pain last longer.

Swollen Elbow Causes

A swollen elbow, also known as elbow bursitis, olecranon bursitis or Popeye’s elbow has many causes. The most common is trauma or a fall. If you get a hard blow to the tip of your elbow it can lead the bursa to produce extra fluid; the trauma irritates and inflames the synovial membrane of the bursa. Your body eventually reabsorbs the blood. However, the membrane is still inflamed, which leads to swelling and other symptoms that you normally see in case of a swollen elbow.

Prolonged Pressure:

This is also a major reason why you can get a swollen elbow. If you lean on your elbow on hard surfaces like tabletops for a long time it can lead to the swelling of your bursa. Such bursitis normally takes a few months to develop. People who work in certain professions tend to be highly vulnerable to this ailment. This includes the likes of plumbers and other professionals who work in the air conditioning and heating industry. This is mainly because they have to lean on their elbows and crawl on their knees in tight spaces.

This is also applicable for people who are in professions such as scrubbing floors and laying carpets. Some athletic activities like holding the plank position for a long time can also lead to the growth of olecranon bursitis. Such pressure is also known in medical circles as mini traumas.

Infection:

If you suffer an injury at the tip of your elbow and if it succeeds in breaking your skin, bacteria can enter your bursa and cause an infection. This is especially common with insect bites, puncture wounds, and scrapes.

When your bursa gets infected it produces fluid, swelling, redness, and pain in the affected area. If you do not treat the infection it could become pus. At times, your bursa sac may also get infected even if your skin does not suffer any evident injury.

Medical Conditions:

If you are suffering from certain health-related conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, there is a possibility that you could suffer a swollen elbow as well. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where your joints are attacked by your immune system itself. Gout is a kind of arthritis.

If you suffer from kidney failure to the extent that you need dialysis, which is an operation where a machine is used to filter your blood, there is a high chance that you develop this particular condition.

Repetitive Positions & Motions of Your Arm:

This is also a major reason why you may get this condition. These are especially motions and positions that put pressure on the bursa that is located around your joints. This includes movements like lifting things over your head or throwing baseballs. A lot of health experts feel that this is the most common reason for a swollen elbow.

Exercises for Frozen Shoulder

There are several exercises that you can take up when you are suffering from frozen shoulder.

Pendulum stretch

The first frozen shoulder exercise that should be attempted is known as a pendulum stretch. First of all, you should relax the shoulders. After that, stand somewhere and bend a bit. Hang the weak arm down. After that, move the arm around in a tiny arc. The arc’s diameter should never exceed a foot. Perform 10 revolutions on either side. You should do this at least once every day.

Even as the condition of your weak arm gets better you can swing the arm in a bigger diameter. However, remember to never force the motion.

Towel stretch

Take a towel that is approximately 3 feet high. After that, use your functional arm and hold the upper part of that particular towel. Place it in the rear of your back. Get the other end by using the weaker arm. Maintain a flat position in this situation. Let the weak arm be pulled up by the good arm. Stretch the weak arm. This frozen shoulder exercise has a better or tougher version as well. Take the towel and use it to drape the shoulder which is working. Hold the towel’s bottom part with the weak hand. Then pull that towards your lower back by using the arm that is working. Perform 20 repetitions of the same a day.

Finger walk

The next name on the frozen shoulder list is that of finger walk. Stand before a wall and face it. The distance between you both should be 3/4 of an arm. After this, touch the wall. In this workout, your arm should be at your waist level. You should bend your elbow in this case. Now use your fingers gradually as if they are climbing the wall. Do it just like a spider. Do it till you no longer feel comfortable doing it. Remember that you should not use the muscles of your shoulder for this particular exercise – rather your fingers need to carry the weight.

Cross-body reach

The good thing about this particular exercise is that you can do it any way you want to. You can do it when you are sitting or standing. Take the arm that is working and use it to raise the weak arm. Do this by the elbow of the weak arm. Now you can bring it upwards or take it across the body if you want to. All this while, apply only gentle pressure in order to draw out the weak shoulder. You should be in this position for around 15-20 seconds. Perform 20 repetitions every day.

Armpit stretch

Take the good hand and raise the weak arm and place it atop a shelf or any other surface that is at the height of your chest. Bend the knees but be gentle with it and extend the armpit. Now go a bit deeper with the bend and elongate that armpit a bit more. After that, straighten it.

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