Information on arthritis joint pain, causes, diagnosis, symptoms, conditions, prevention, pain relief, surgery and other treatment options. Focus on the joint or part of the body affected by arthritis pain and other symptoms.
Your gait is the manner in which you walk. Gait abnormalities are usually related to disease or deformity, such as those that can be caused by arthritis.
Osteophytes are also commonly known as bone spurs. Osteophytes develop in deteriorating joints damaged by arthritis.
Facet arthropathy is caused by facet joints becoming arthritic and painful. Facet arthropathy can be a cause of back pain.
You can lessen arthritis pain and preserve your joints by following joint protection techniques and principles.
There are several types of joint surgery. It's important to understand the terminology in case your doctor ever presents surgery as a treatment option for you. Do you know the various types of joint surgery? Take Types of Joint Surgery - Test Your Knowledge.
When is it the right time to have a joint replacement? It is a complicated question for people with arthritis, living with intractable joint pain. There are important things to consider while making the decision with your doctor or surgeon.
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System is an alternative to traditional hip replacement.
Hand damage and deformity caused by arthritis can include nodules, swelling, stiffness, ulnar drift, contractures, and other problems. Photos of hands damaged by arthritis.
What actions help preserve manual dexterity in people with arthritis of the hand?
Pain can interfere with daily living. It is important to manage pain and minimize its negative impact. Do you take actions which control your pain or do some of your habits and routines actually increase your pain level?
A step-by-step look at knee pain caused by arthritis.
Back pain is a very common condition. Four out of 5 people will actually experience low back pain sometime in their life. How much do you know about back pain? Do you know how it's treated? Do you know if you can prevent it? Take The Back Pain Quiz.
It's a condition you hear a lot about, but do you understand carpal tunnel syndrome? More importantly, do you have any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Take our screening quiz.
The wrist is surrounded by a band of tissue. Between the band of tissue and the wrist bone is the carpal tunnel. How much do you know about carpal tunnel syndrome? Take our quiz.
There's more to know about pain than the fact that it hurts. Do you know the difference between acute and chronic pain? Do men and women respond to pain differently? How many older people take a painkiller on a regular basis? What is R.I.C.E.? Are there any non-drug pain relievers? How much do you know about pain?
How much do you know about relieving pain? Pain serves as the signal that something is wrong in the body. There are many pain relieving techniques which can be tried. Do you know about the various pain treatment options? Take the Pain Relief Quiz.
Osteoarthritis is also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It is typically seen as a primary disease in older people but can occur as a secondary condition in younger people. Injury, occupation, excess weight, and genetics are among the factors which cause the cartilage of a joint to wear away. Take our Osteoarthritis Screening Quiz.
Paget’s disease of bone and osteoarthritis are completely different disorders that share some of the same symptoms. What are the differences and similarities between Paget’s disease of bone and osteoarthritis? How can Paget’s disease of bone cause osteoarthritis?
Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are specific symptoms and distinguishing characteristics which determine the diagnosis and course of treatment. Do you know the difference?
Pain is broadly categorized as acute or chronic. Acute pain is easier to diagnose and treat than chronic pain. Chronic pain is a lot more complex. An excerpt from Healing Pain explains the different types of pain with a closer look at chronic pain.
If you have low back pain, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some point has low back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation.
A brief explanation and fast facts about the joints.
A brief explanation and fast facts about pinched nerves.
The definition of and related information to DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.
Repetitive motion disorders are a family of muscular conditions that result from repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or daily activities.
Rheumatoid arthritis hand deformity is a common symptom of the disease. Is it Inevitable? Can it be prevented?
Ankle braces can support, stabilize, and limit range-of-motion of the ankle joint.
Arthritic, weak, or injured ankles can benefit from additional support. Support braces and wraps are readily available.
Proper posture can relieve strain on back muscles. Backrests, cushions, and specially designed pillows offer the necessary support.
Elbow pain from arthritis can be very debilitating. Elbow supports can lessen the pain and protect the joint.
Walking can aggravate painful arthritis in the feet. Insoles and cushions for the feet can offer additional support and provide comfort.
Stabilizing and reinforcing the knee joint is important for people with arthritis of the knee. Knee supports can help with joint protection and pain reduction.
A luxurious soak in a warm foot spa/bath helps relieve aches and pains. Great for arthritics!
Wrist splints, wraps, and stabilizers for more support.
Heating pads soothe painful, aching arthritic joints. Dry heat, moist heat, or microwaveable wraps offer relief.
Reusable gel packs for heat or cold therapy, used to reduce arthritis pain and muscles aches, are convenient products to have in your house.
Scooters make up for impaired mobility. Arthritis of the hip, knee, foot, ankle, or spine can make walking very difficult. Back problems also interfere with mobility. Have you considered an electric scooter to compensate for mobility problems?
Arthritis creams can be effective for soothing minor arthritis and muscle pain. Some contain the active ingredient salicylate while others are based on the pain-relieving effect of capsaicin or menthol.
The development of post-op blood clots is more common following hip replacement surgery than any other surgery. New research has pointed out the importance of taking preventative measures.
Since 1969 silicone finger implants have been used to treat hands severely damaged by arthritis for the purpose of restoring function and relieving pain.
Not all arthritic joints are candidates for replacement. Sometimes arthrodesis is the better surgical treatment option.
Important advice to make your recovery from hip replacement surgery without complications.
Though hip replacement surgery can relieve pain dramatically and improve mobility, it is not always a permanent solution. Implant loosening can result in the need for revision surgery.
A study of the use of home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for the purpose of improving quadricep strength in older adults with knee osteoarthritis has produced promising results. The report in the July 2003 Journal of Rheumatology points to NMES as a alternative when medications, exercise, and surgery are not options.
The steps involved in the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Two recent reports offer different solutions as to what should be the primary treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. One study from the Netherlands suggests surgery is more effective than splinting, while another report claims prevention is the key.
Research findings point to an association between osteoarthritis in a single finger joint in men and the likelihood they will die from cardiovascular disease.
Some people suffering from arthritis have maintained a higher quality of life because of successful joint replacement surgery.
Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. Do you have symptoms which are associated with gout? Do you have a lifestyle which increases the risk factors associated with gout? Take our Gout Screening Quiz.
Acronyms for tests, treatments, & surgical procedures related to arthritis.
Sciatica is a condition involving impaired movement and/or sensation in the leg, it occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve, located in the back of the leg. Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. 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.
Advice about good body mechanics and assistive equipment to help you avoid further damage to your joints.
A brief explanation and fast facts about viscosupplementation.
A brief explanation and fast facts about Hyalgan injections.
A brief explanation and fast facts about Orthovisc injections.
A brief explanation and fast facts about Supartz injections.
A brief explanation and fast facts about Synvisc injections.
An explanation of Synvisc and viscosupplementation.
Synvisc appears effective against pain in some patients with osteoarthritis of the knees and may delay the need for replacement surgery.
You can help your treatment work. Arthritis can strike at any age. It hurts the joints, where two bones meet. It damages the joints and makes them stiff and painful. Correct treatment can ease the pain and help prevent more damage.
Most forms of arthritis are associated with pain that can be divided into two general categories: acute and chronic. Acute pain is temporary. Chronic pain, such as that seen in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can last a lifetime. Learn more about arthritis pain in this 10 part Q and A.
A brief explanation ( with several images )of the spine.
A brief explanation about acute and chronic pain.
Learn more with this guide to foot care and common foot problems.
Learn more about the common types of sports injuries.
Compartment syndrome involves the compression of nerves and blood vessels within an enclosed space, leading to impaired blood flow and nerve damage. Compartment syndrome is most common in the lower leg and forearm, although it can also occur in the hand, foot, thigh and upper arm.
Joints are areas where two or more bones come together. If a sudden impact injures a joint, the bones that meet at that joint may become dislocated (not connected). It may be hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. Both are emergency situations.
A brief explanation and fast facts about Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.
Avascular Necrosis is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of the blood supply to the bones. The disease is also known as osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis and ischemic bone necrosis.
A brief explanation and fast facts about limited range of motion and range of motion exercise.
TMD is not just one disorder, but a group of conditions, often painful, that affect the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint, or TMJ) and the muscles that control chewing. TMD disorders fall into three main categories: myofascial pain, internal derangement of the joint, and degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint.
Repetitive stress injuries include a large group of conditions that primarily affect the soft tissues, including the nerves, tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition thought to be a disorder of the nervous system. Older terms used to describe complex regional pain syndrome are reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) and causalgia.
A three-part guide to chiropractors and chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a form of health care that focuses on the relationship between the body's structure, primarily of the spine, and function. Doctors of chiropractic, who are also called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, use a type of hands-on therapy called manipulation (or adjustment) as their core clinical procedure.
A brief explanation and fast facts about a TENS unit.
HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, can also cause arthritis pain, joint pain, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. It's important to determine whether the symptoms of rheumatic disease presented by a patient are or are not associated with HIV. Rheumatic disease associated with HIV may alter usual treatment and prognosis.
When are muscle relaxers appropriately prescribed for arthritis patients? How do muscle relaxers work? Are muscle relaxers a short-term treatment or can they be part of a long-term maintenance regimen for arthritis patients to control aches and pains?
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Polyarthritis is one of the major criteria associated with rheumatic fever. Polyarthritis occurs in 75% of cases of rheumatic fever.
