Gout is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints, making them look bright red and swollen, and they will also feel hot and painful. It most often affects the base of the big toe (the ball of the foot), but it can also inflame the fingers, knees, wrists and elbows. Symptoms tend to come on very quickly, usually worsening over a day and often causing excruciating pain. Gout is caused by high levels of a substance in the blood called uric acid. These levels are affected by our diet and medical conditions but also by our genes - some people are just genetically worse at getting rid of uric acid than other people. When uric acid builds up, it forms crystals in the joint, which produces the pain and inflammation. Gout is not contagious and cannot be passed on. It affects about 2% of adults and is rare under the age of 20, typically occurring first in middle age with men being more commonly affected than women. If left untreated a gout attack may last several days but usually goes completely away within 7-10 days. Gout is more likely to develop in the following people: middle-aged men and women after menopause certain conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes or high cholesterol taking certain medication such as diuretics (water tablets) for blood pressure having parents, siblings, or other family members with gout being overweight drinking alcohol, especially beer You cannot do much about genetic or age-related factors relating to gout, however, you do have the power to control environmental and lifestyle factors, to reduce your chances of experiencing gout attacks.

Golfer's elbow is also known as medial epicondylitis, a type of tendonitis where the tendons attached to the elbow can become painful and inflamed. Golfer’s elbow affects the inside of the elbow and doesn't just affect golfers, but anyone that repeatedly uses their wrists and fingers in a clenched or closed fist manner. Tennis elbow is a similar condition but affects the outside of the elbow. Golfer's elbow is caused by repetitive use of the forearm muscles, through twisting and gripping activities that cause you to bend and open your wrist and hand repetitively. It affects both men and women equally and is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.

Frozen shoulder is a condition characterized by pain and loss of movement of the shoulder. Otherwise known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a disorder affecting the lining of the shoulder joint which becomes inflamed and tightens. What causes a frozen shoulder? The exact cause is unclear but because it becomes more common as we get older, it’s thought to be due to some form of irritation to the shoulder joint and surrounding capsule of the shoulder. This irritation causes inflammation, which then causes small adhesions or scarring between folds of the shoulder capsule. This is why it’s also sometimes called ‘adhesive capsulitis’.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. It can be a lifelong condition, although there are treatments that help to relieve pain and make living with the symptoms much easier. The name fibromyalgia comes from the words fibrous tissue (fibro), muscles (my) and pain (algia). It’s a syndrome (FMS), which means it can cause a collection of symptoms. Alongside pain, these include tiredness, headaches, bowel symptoms (bloating), constipation, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating and remembering, sleep disturbances (including restless leg syndrome), muscle stiffness and increased sensitivity to pain. However, fibromyalgia is not a type of arthritis and so joints are not usually affected but many areas of the body can feel tender when pressed. About 1 in 25 people develop fibromyalgia at some time, and it’s much more common in women than in men. It typically begins between the ages of 25 and 55 and has often been present for a long time before it’s diagnosed. Symptoms may wax and wane, so the aims of treatment are to keep most symptoms at bay and reduce the severity of symptoms if you get a flare-up. Fibromyalgia can also go hand-in-hand with other conditions, including depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Disk herniation describes the sudden onset of pain as a result of a problem with an intervertebral disk in the spine. Disk herniation is characterized by the sudden onset of pain that can be severe. Disk herniation can cause pain in the back or neck, numbness, tingling, weakness in arms or legs, muscle spasm, and muscle weakness.

DOMS stands for delayed onset muscle soreness and describes the soreness and stiffness felt in your muscles after you have done exercise. It is normal and usually occurs when you do an exercise or movement for the first time, after a long break or you work harder than your body is normally used to. DOMS tends to start gradually the next day or so, where you may wake up feeling sore. It usually only occurs the first couple of times you are doing the new exercise but if you keep doing it regularly, over time your body gets used to it and the DOMS is less severe or may not occur at all. The soreness is due to small micro-tears in the muscle which then lead to some inflammation but no need to worry, this is completely normal and your body will actually rebuild the muscle back, usually stronger than it was before.

Costochondritis is the inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breast bone (the sternum). Cartilage is a connective tissue that covers the joints and acts as a shock absorber. Costochondritis is a type of chest wall pain that has no clear cause. It usually goes away by itself after a few weeks, with simple pain relief and rest but unfortunately it can also come back again in the future.

Disk herniation, also known as a slipped or ruptured disk, occurs when the soft cushion-like disks between the vertebrae in the spine get damaged or shift out of place. Symptoms are characterized by a sudden onset of pain (usually back pain or neck pain. Cervical disk herniation describes a disk prolapse in one of the intervertebral disks in the neck. This can cause pain in the neck along with numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms. Cervical disk herniation can also cause severe symptoms of weakness of the legs and even affect the ability to walk properly. In this guide, we explore cervical disk herniation to help you understand what it is, causes, its symptoms, treatment options, and prevention strategies.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of one of the nerves in your hand (the median nerve) that helps you move your thumb. It also gives a particular area of skin the sensation of touch, pain, and temperature - this is the skin over the thumb and parts of the first two fingers. The median nerve runs through something called the carpal tunnel as it navigates through your wrist into your hand. The carpal tunnel, which is a gap formed from the bones in your wrist and a big ligament, can swell up and squash the nerve. This usually causes pins and needles, numbness, and pain in your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, and sufferers typically say symptoms are worse at night. Sometimes, if you’ve suffered from this for a long time, the muscle at the bottom of the thumb loses power as the muscle wastes away. There is no one specific cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, but it is more common in women, the elderly, and during pregnancy or menopause. Swelling of the carpal tunnel can occur from injury to your hand or wrist, joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and from diabetes or obesity. You may be at higher risk if your job or hobby involves a lot of manual work, such as bending the wrist or gripping things for a long time, or using work tools that vibrate, such as a pneumatic drill. It is thought to be more common in pregnancy and menopause as there is often increased water retention, so the tissues in the wrists and hands may be more swollen, causing the carpal tunnel to narrow and put pressure on the nerve.

Living with discomfort or pain in your big toe can significantly impact your quality of life. Whether hindering your ability to walk, exercise, or even wear particular shoes, big toe arthritis, (medically known as hallux rigidus), can be frustrating and debilitating. However, by delving deeper into understanding this ailment and exploring the available treatment options, you can take proactive steps towards managing your symptoms and regaining control over your mobility. What is big toe arthritis (hallux rigidus)? Big toe arthritis, or hallux rigidus, is a degenerative condition that affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which is the joint at the base of the big toe. A degenerative condition is a medical condition that causes progressive deterioration or breakdown of tissues, organs, or systems within the body over time. This condition is caused by the gradual breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones within the joint. As the cartilage wears away, the bones may begin to rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Hallux rigidus typically develops over time, often due to repetitive stress on the joint or natural wear and tear associated with ageing. However, it can also be triggered or accelerated by factors such as trauma, injury, or underlying conditions like gout or rheumatoid arthritis. The severity of hallux rigidus can vary widely among individuals, ranging from mild discomfort and stiffness to severe pain and limited mobility. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this condition is essential for devising an effective management and treatment plan.

A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee. These often cause no problems at all but the larger the cyst, the more likely it is that you may have symptoms from it. The cyst can become inflamed, causing pain in the knee and calf and you might find your knee locks or clicks. For some people, they may get a sharp pain if the cyst bursts, which happens in about 1 in 20 cases. Fluid can then leak into the calf, causing swelling and redness. Baker's cyst is more likely to develop in women than men, and people over the age of 35, although it can affect anyone including children in the 4-7 year old age group.

Arthritis is a term used to describe pain and inflammation affecting a joint. Any joint in the body can be affected by arthritis but the most commonly affected joints are those of the fingers and thumb, wrist, hip, knee, shoulder, lower back and neck. There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and inflammatory (rheumatoid) arthritis. What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is associated with increasing age – often from the mid-40s onwards - though it is a distinct entity from the changes associated with aging. It’s more common in women, and if you have a family history of the condition. Osteoarthritis is a disease affecting the cartilage layer that covers the ends of bones at a joint which normally functions to provide a smooth surface that allows friction-free joint movement. In osteoarthritis, there is a breakdown of the smooth cartilage layer which then tries to heal itself. There is gradual thinning of the cartilage layer with complete loss eventually. Osteoarthritis is characterized by pain and stiffness that is usually worse with movement and tends to be worst at the end of the day or after intense activity. The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are the hands, knees, hips and spine.