Muscles & Joints

Articles

Bulging vs. Herniated Disk - What's The Difference?
Article

Bulging vs. Herniated Disk - What's The Difference?

Back symptoms such as pain and reduced movement are common and are often due to problems with the disks that sit between each of our backbones. These can sometimes bulge a little to cause symptoms and, at other times, cause problems if they herniate (often called a ‘slipped disk’). In this article, we look at whether it is possible to tell the difference between them, what tests are sometimes needed to make an accurate diagnosis, what symptoms they cause, and how they are usually treated.

Can spinal issues cause digestive problems?
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Can spinal issues cause digestive problems?

Back pain is a common condition that can affect people of all ages. It can be caused by factors such as poor posture, injury, or worsening conditions like arthritis. However, not many people are aware that spinal problems can also impact digestion. This is because the central nervous system (CNS) plays a significant role in controlling the movement and function of the muscles and organs in the digestive system. When the CNS is disrupted, it can lead to digestive problems, such as bloating, gas, and constipation. Also, spinal misalignments can cause nerve pinches that affect the communication between the CNS and the digestive system. This can lead to further digestive issues, such as acid reflux, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It is important to note that not all digestive issues are caused by spinal problems. However, if you have back pain and digestive problems, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to spinal issues and suggest appropriate treatment options.

Neurological complications of psoriatic arthritis
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Neurological complications of psoriatic arthritis

Living with psoriatic arthritis is tough. It's not just joint pain – it can affect many parts of your life. How it can affect your nervous system is often not talked about as much. This adds even more complexity to an already tricky disease. For people dealing with psoriatic arthritis, the idea of having neurological problems can be worrying. However, understanding these issues is important for managing the condition well.

Is degenerative disk disease hereditary?
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Is degenerative disk disease hereditary?

Degenerative disk disease (DDD) is very common and although in some people there may be a genetic component to it there are many other causes apart from genetics. These include factors such as age, lifestyle, and environment that all play significant roles. In this article we look at what degenerative disk disease is, whether you may inherit a tendency to have it, and what is involved if you are considering having genetic testing.

Is cracking knees a sign of arthritis?
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Is cracking knees a sign of arthritis?

Arthritis is a medical condition that affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced motion. There are many types of arthritis, each with specific causes and symptoms, but they all involve inflammation of the joints. Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, but one of the most common places it's found is in the knees. One of the signs of arthritis is cracking knees. This involves hearing a popping or clicking sound when your knee becomes bent or straightened. The sound can occur due to cartilage damage, and is commonly accompanied by joint pain. However, this is not a definitive symptom. If you suspect that you may have arthritis, it's important to try and detect it early and seek treatment.

Pain relief: heat pack vs ice pack
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Pain relief: heat pack vs ice pack

Heat and ice can be great tools for helping treat or ease a wide range of ailments from chronic pain to injury and inflammation. They can also help in certain medical conditions such as arthritis. But which one to use? The general rule is that ice helps with swelling and inflammation whereas heat aids healing and reduces muscle stiffness or spasms. Let’s get a bit more specific, and get you on the road to recovery.

Parkinson’s disease
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Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease is a complex nerve disorder that affects movement. Approximately 1% of the population over 60 years has the condition. Symptoms start slowly, usually in those over 50 years old, and progress over time. It affects both men and women but is very slightly more common in men. The main symptoms are tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement, which can significantly affect their day-to-day activities. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medication can be used to improve symptoms, and most people respond well to it.

Phlebitis: causes, symptoms and treatments
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Phlebitis: causes, symptoms and treatments

Phlebitis (also known as superficial thrombophlebitis) occurs when the superficial veins in your skin become inflamed, with the potential of having a small blood clot form inside of them. It typically occurs in the veins in your leg but it can occur in any vein in your body. Different things can trigger the inflammation. Trauma or injury to the vein (for example from a blood test), people with problems with their veins already (for example varicose veins or a previous blood clot), or people who have conditions that make their blood clot more easily. People who smoke, or are immobile, or have had major surgery are also more at risk.

Rotator cuff tear
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Rotator cuff tear

A rotator cuff tear refers to a tear of one of the tendons of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff tendons of the shoulder are a set of tendons responsible for the movement of the shoulder in different directions. A rotator cuff tear is a cause of shoulder pain and is typically associated with weakness of certain shoulder movements. Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and become more common with increasing age. Rotator cuff tears in younger people are most likely the result of a specific injury, whereas rotator cuff tears in older people are typically the result of longstanding tendon degeneration.

Rheumatoid arthritis
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Rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of arthritis that is a long-term autoimmune disease leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling of the small joints of your body such as the wrists, hands, and feet. It can also cause more generalized symptoms like tiredness and affect other organs in the body. It is a relatively common type of arthritis, affecting about 1% of the population at some time. Although it can develop at any age, it most usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, being three times more common in women than men.

Can a herniated disk cause dizziness and headaches?
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Can a herniated disk cause dizziness and headaches?

A slipped disk - sometimes called a herniated disk or ruptured disk - is a common medical condition that affects our spine. The spine is composed of vertebrae (our backbones) and between each pair of vertebrae is a rubbery disk that acts like a cushion or shock absorber to help prevent the vertebrae from rubbing on each other and being damaged or inflamed. These disks have a tough outer layer and a soft inner gel-like substance. A herniated disk occurs when the inner core of the disk breaks through the outer layer and pushes into the spinal canal. This can irritate nearby nerves and cause a range of symptoms. In this article we look at whether a slipped or herniated disk can cause dizziness or headaches.

Shoulder injury: prevention, treatment and recovery
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Shoulder injury: prevention, treatment and recovery

The shoulder is a complex joint that can move in multiple directions and carry significant loads. But its versatility can put it under stress and make it prone to injury. We need to look after it to prevent any injury, but still enable it to carry out requirements for sports and work. Let’s talk you through the steps you can take to prevent shoulder injury. We’ll also outline any investigations used to assess injury and techniques to aid recovery.

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