Does Stress Cause Chronic Neck Pain? How Relaxation Strategies Can Help You Keep Pain At Bay
By Dr. Asim Aijaz Stress can certainly cause or even exacerbate chronic neck pain. When you experience stress, whether a chronic stress disorder, or bouts of anxiety, or depression, your body will trigger the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for your “fight or flight” response. This response, when triggered, will produce and release an increase in cortisol and adrenaline hormones. Elevations in cortisol, particularly, can lead to a loss in muscle mass and an increase in fat accumulation. In moments of threat, your body’s stress response is a helpful reaction because it can help you either fight
Spondylosis Vs. Spondylolisthesis 101: Symptoms and Treatment
By Dr. Victor Taylor Spondylosis is an umbrella term for deterioration of the spinal vertebrae and associated structures particularly the disc and facet joints. Spondytolisthesis is a term used when one of the vertebrae slips forward over another. Causes of Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis Spondylosis is common and could be considered a normal part of the aging process. Though almost everyone over the age of 50 years old will have some degree of spondylosis, not everyone will suffer from symptoms of the condition. There are many factors in why it could be more severe in some over others. The condition can be strongly linked to
What are The Different Types of Orthopedic Surgery?
The persistent pain in bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles can seriously disrupt the everyday movements of the body. As these parts make up the musculoskeletal system, the problems related to them require a special branch of medicine, called orthopedics. An orthopedist or orthopedic surgeon is a doctor specializing in this field. Some may be general orthopedic doctors who can diagnose and treat all types of orthopedic conditions but usually, there are specialties based on different types of body parts - hand, foot, knee, etc. An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses your joint/bone problems and suggests the ideal surgical or non-surgical orthopedic treatment. You
What Does Meniscus Pain Feel Like And How Can You Get Relief?
By Micheal Albrecht, M.D. Meniscus pain is typically sharp and stabbing, and can have an audible or palpable popping or clicking, or even a mechanical locking sensation where the knee literally cannot be moved (called “painful mechanical symptoms”). Meniscus tear pain can make even the most simple tasks feel unbearable, like rolling over in bed, getting out of a chair or car seat, twisting, or squatting and kneeling or crossing the leg. Anyone can experience pain from a meniscus tear, and unfortunately for us all, meniscus tears become more common as we get older. Thankfully, Advanced Orthopedics is well-versed in meniscus
What is the Best Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is one of the most severe joint disorders people suffer from. Unlike other joint problems, this is caused by the “attack” of one’s own immune system, resulting in unbearable pain and inflammation in different joints of the body. While the causes for this autoimmune condition are unidentifiable, it may occur due to factors like age (more common in middle-aged people or the elderly), gender (more prevalent in females), genetics/heredity, infections of the gut or mouth, stress, smoking, etc. RA develops gradually and can affect any region of the body, but it usually occurs in - the hands, fingers,
What Happens if Chronic Pain is Left Untreated?
We all experience occasional pain at some point, owing to a number of factors like - occupation, improper postures, injuries, and so on. Even though we continue to cope with various pain issues and live normally, it not always possible to deal with all of them on our own; especially those that hamper our ability to perform basic physical movements such as walking, standing, running, etc. If you’re experiencing persistent pain in your body, and face difficulties in doing your everyday tasks, this could be an indication of a chronic pain condition. It is different from the usual and temporary type
Spinal Cord Stimulator: What You Need to Know
If the chronic pain in your back (or neck) prompted you to search online for a suitable treatment, you might have come across results for a Spinal Cord Stimulator. It’s important to know if it may be suited for your condition. To help you with this, we’ve listed everything you should know about Spinal Cord Stimulation. Let’s first begin with the basic understanding of what it is and how it works. A spinal cord stimulator (also known as SCS) is a remotely controlled device that treats or manages different types of chronic pain by sending a low-level electrical current to the
Dealing With Endometriosis Pain Is Challenging–But There’s Hope!
By Amanda Trout, M.D. Endometriosis is a disease where tissue that usually grows in the uterus during the menstrual cycle is found outside the uterus. It can cause extreme pain and compound with existing menstrual cramp pain. It’s also a common painful condition, affecting as many as 1 in 10 women during their chilbearing years. Most of the abnormal tissue growth occurs in the abdomen, but it could be anywhere in the body. It grows in time with the menstrual cycle and the abnormal tissue growth can cause inflammation and pain wherever it is located. This can cause mild to severe pain
Patient Spotlight: Two Very Different Total Joint Replacement Surgeries
By Vernon Rerich When I learned I had to get both knees replaced, it was a daunting thought. How could I take enough time off of work to get both surgeries and fully recover? As someone who works a physically-demanding job, it seemed even more far-fetched. However, these were the circumstances I found myself in last year when my job gave me six months off to get my procedures done. It was already going to be a tight squeeze, but when the ice storm hit Texas, I lost two weeks. I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to get
A Pain Specialist Explains The Anatomy of Walking with Chronic Pain
By Austin Horrocks, D.O. Chronic pain can make any of us into a bit of a hermit. It’s hard to do the things we love to do when they’re physically challenging or even painful. It can be easier to withdraw from certain activities and social obligations. This is where walking comes in! It may seem small in comparison to the magnitude of things you want to do. However, it’s a great place to start. Walking has numerous physiological and psychological benefits for people struggling with chronic pain. It can also be just the thing to help you ramp up your physical exercise and