Category Archives: Joint Pain Disorders

You should consult an Urologist or a General Physician.

It cannot be completely cured. But it can be prevented by administering medication which can prevent further damage.

If you eat a lot of foods that are rich in purines, you may get gout. Some of these foods are salmon, sardines, liver and herring. You may get gout if you’re

overweight, drink alcohol, or have high cholesterol. Men have gout more often than women do. Women are more likely to have gout after menopause. Some medicines may cause gout, such as certain diuretics (water pills), niacin (a B-complex vitamin), aspirin (taken in low doses), and some drugs used to treat cancer.

Change your diet plan. Avoid the intake of red meats, shellfish, beer, red wine and salt. First, pain relievers such as acetaminophen/Tylenol or other more potent analgesics are used to manage pain.

Secondly, anti-inflammatory agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), colchicine, and corticosteroids are used to decrease joint inflammation.

Common side effects of NSAIDS include irritation of the gastrointestinal system, ulceration of the stomach and intestines, and even intestinal bleeding. Patients who have a history of allergy to aspirin or nasal polyps should avoid NSAIDS because of the risk of an intense allergic (anaphylactic) reaction.

Always take the medication after food or with a glass of milk.

Gout is a painful type of arthritis that develops when uric acid builds up in the body, leading to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The big toe is a common site affected by gout, but it can also affect other joints, including the knees, ankles, heels, or toes. Affected joints are painful, red, swollen, and warm.

Gout is nine times more common in men than in women. It predominantly attacks males after puberty, with a peak age of 75. In women, gout attacks usually occur after menopause.

Uric acid. Uric acid crystals that build up in the joints, causing inflammation, are the cause of the characteristic symptoms of gout. Uric acid deposits can also occur beneath the skin (called tophi), and uric acid can also form kidney stones.

Because alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to remove uric acid, people with gout should avoid drinking alcohol. Alcoholic drinks, drugs, an illness, or even a stressful event can trigger an attack of gout. Attacks usually last for 3-10 days. Another attack may not occur for months to years, but many people with gout experience more frequent and longer attacks over time.

Symptoms of gout generally include the following: Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a joint, an very red or purplish skin around the affected joint, which may appear to be infected. As the gout attack subsides, the skin around the affected joint may peel and feel itchy.

The most common sign of gout is a nighttime attack of swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain in the big toe. Gout attacks also appear in feet, ankles, knees, fingers, heels, and elbows.

Family history.Gout tends to run in families; between 20-80% of those affected have a family history of the disease. Diets high in purines, male gender, overweight, lead exposure, and alcohol consumption are other risk factors.

In severe gout, dietary changes are usually not enough to prevent repeated attacks, and medications are needed to lower the uric acid. However, if you are not taking medication for your gout, and even if you are, it is reasonable to limit your intake of foods high in purines. For the first six months after starting allopurinol for gout, your diet is especially important in helping to prevent attacks. For more information, send us your query by filling up our free consultation form.

That depends on the type and severity of your gout and how your doctor is treating it. Some patients just have one or two gout attacks; they may be treated only when attacks occur and take no medications when they are doing well. However, many patients need long-term medications, which work only while you are taking them. For example, if your doctor has prescribed colchicine to prevent gout attacks, the attacks will return if you stop the drug. If you are given allopurinol to reduce the uric acid in the blood (to reduce gout attacks) or to reduce the uric acid in the urine (to reduce the risk of uric acid-related kidney stones), the risk returns if you stop the drug. So many patients need to take gout treatments for the rest of their lives. For more information on the different drugs prescribed for gout and how they work, send us your query by filling our form.

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

For the most part, routine laboratory testing reveals nothing. However, upon physical examination, patients will be sensitive to pressure in certain areas of the body, called tender points. To meet the diagnostic criteria (set forth for research purposes), patients must have widespread pain in all four quadrants of their body for a minimum duration of three months and at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points. The 18 sites used for diagnosis cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions (more than 90% of these areas are myofascial trigger points). However, if a person has widespread pain, at least six or more tender points and many of the commonly associated symptoms of fibromyalgia (such as disturbed sleep, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent headaches, fatigue, and memory problems), they should still be diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia. Roughly 75% of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)- diagnosed patients will meet the fibromyalgia criteria. If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, but you are unsure about the diagnosis, or you are concerned you have something else that mimics these conditions.

Traditional treatments are geared toward reducing pain and improving the quality of sleep, meaning that a sleep study may aid with individualizing your therapy. Deep level (stage 4) sleep is crucial for many body functions (such as tissue repair, antibody production, and the regulation of various neurotransmitters, hormones, and immune system chemicals). Therefore, the sleep disorders that frequently occur in fibromyalgia patients should probably be treated first because they may aggravate the symptoms of this condition. Ambien, Lunesta, clonazepam, and trazodone are just a few of the medications that may be used to aid sleep. For addressing the pain and the symptoms in general, medications that boost serotonin and norepinephrine (neurotransmitters that modulate sleep, pain, and immune system function) are commonly prescribed in low doses, such as amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine and Cymbalta. Ultram may help with the pain, although stronger opioids may be needed. Muscle relaxants, anti-epileptics (such as Neurontin and Lyrica) and other drug categories may be prescribed as well.

In addition to medications, most patients will need to use other treatment methods, such as trigger point injections with lidocaine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation/biofeedback techniques, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, or a gentle exercise program.

Long term follow-up studies have shown that fibromyalgia is chronic, but the symptoms may wax and wane. The impact that fibromyalgia can have on daily living activities, including the ability to work a full-time job, differs among patients. Overall, studies have shown that fibromyalgia can be as disabling and life-impacting as rheumatoid arthritis.

Lifestyle modifications may help you conserve energy and minimize pain. Learn what factors aggravate your symptoms and avoid them when possible. Many patients find warm water (hot tub or shower) to be soothing. Hot wraps for particularly painful areas are also beneficial. Maintaining a rigid sleep schedule (e.g., ensuring that you receive at least eight hours of sleep per night and that you have a routine for easing you into sleep) is one method endorsed by patients to help minimize daytime fatigue and reduce nighttime sleep difficulties. Gentle movement and stretching exercises will help you maintain your function, which is essential when the body is tired and the muscles hurt.

No, but there are researched treatments that have been shown to be helpful for reducing the symptoms. Patients need to beware of the many bogus cures that are being promoted on the Internet and in the media. Many businesses count on people who are desperate to get rid of chronic, unrelenting pain (such as that produced by fibromyalgia). If a remedy sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Doctors cannot “see” and may not understand the sources of your pain or fatigue. However, what they do observe is your anxiety and frustration with having to deal with these symptoms around-the-clock, which may wrongfully lead them to conclude that your symptoms are of a psychological nature. Also, the old school of thought regarding pain is that it is produced by tissue injury, and there is no obvious source of tissue injury in patients with fibromyalgia. Regardless, if your doctor does not believe that your symptoms are real, you owe it to yourself to find another doctor who believes in you and will work with you to help reduce your symptoms.

Although some degree of regular exercise is essential for maintaining function, and if done in warm water, it can improve circulation. Yet, exercise alone will not be enough to treat your fibromyalgia. Many studies on the use of exercise to treat fibromyalgia have been published over the years, and while the documented benefits are minimal, these studies are heavily promoted at medical conferences and widely publicized in the medical journals. Exercise is easy to prescribe and doesn’t cost anything, so it tends to be one of the first therapies that a doctor recommends for fibromyalgia. Yet, you have to be careful because over-working any one muscle will cause others to hurt more.

The pain of fibromyalgia has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing. Intense burning may also be present. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the morning, and you may hurt more in muscle groups that are used repetitively. Read more about muscle stiffness and repetitive activity in fibro.

This symptom can range from mild to incapacitating. The fatigue has been described as “brain fatigue”—patients feel totally drained of energy. Many patients say that they feel as though their arms and legs are tied to concrete blocks, and they have difficulty concentrating (i.e., brain fog). Fibromyalgia fatigue is definitely not just being tired!

Most fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine that recorded brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that most fibromyalgia patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.

If you wake up feeling as though you’ve just been run over by a Mack truck—what doctors refer to as “unrefreshing sleep”—it is reasonable for your physician to assume that you have a sleep disorder. However, to pinpoint the types of sleep disturbances present, an overnight sleep study may be warranted. In addition to the alpha-EEG finding, other sleep disorders have been identified in fibromyalgia patients, including sleep apnea (as well as the newly discovered form of interrupted breathing called upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS), bruxism (teeth grinding), periodic limb movements during sleep (jerking of arms and legs), and restless legs syndrome (difficulty sitting still in the evenings).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which can include constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea is found in roughly 40 to 70% of fibromyalgia patients. In addition, Gastrointestinal Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is equally common in people with fibromyalgia. This can include heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, indigestion, and a chronic cough, among other symptoms.

Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 70% of fibromyalgia patients and can pose a major problem in coping for this group. For some people, aggressive treatment of the migraines also provides tremendous relief of the overall pain of fibromyalgia. Myofascial trigger points, or those knots in your neck and shoulder muscles, are the primary cause of your headaches and they can be treated.

Changes in weather, cold or drafty environments, hormonal fluctuations (premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, depression, anxiety, infections (flu or a cold), and over-exertion can all contribute to symptom flare-ups. Repetitive use of the same muscle group can strain the muscles and lead to more pain.

Fibromyalgia does run in families and there appears to be a strong genetic component. If one parent has this condition, the odds that a child will develop, it is estimated to be 50%. Many research studies are under way to look at the genetic abnormalities that might be linked to various neurotransmitters involved in both pain and sleep regulation.

The best doctor to see is one who has lots of experience treating fibromyalgia patients. There is no specific medical specialty that “owns” this condition, so it is important to inquire about a physician’s level of experience and their general philosophy for treating fibromyalgia.

Studies show that roughly 25% of patients get worse over time, but another 25% get better. Some patients may be likely to improve because they have a good doctor willing to work with them to find which therapies they respond to. Also, as people age, other medical conditions can aggravate the symptoms of fibromyalgia, so it is imperative that patients seek aggressive treatment for age-related conditions, such as arthritis. A preventive medicine program with maintenance exercises and a healthy diet may prove worthwhile.

Balancing work and chronic illness is always a challenge, but most patients with fibromyalgia are able to remain employed. The answer to this question really depends upon one’s job and whether job accommodations can be made to ease the symptoms. Also, the development of other medical conditions may make fibromyalgia symptoms more severe and lead to the need to consider early retirement or disability. Studies show that roughly 25% of fibromyalgia patients receive some form of disability compensation at any given time. If you are experiencing difficulties with work, check out our disability-related articles in the Coping Resources section.

Only a few studies have been conducted on this topic, and most indicate that variations in barometric pressure (which occur when a storm front moves in) may worsen the symptoms. In addition, extreme cold weather and cool drafts can cause you to shiver and this will make your tight, knotted muscles more sore.

No, but a diet full of fruits and vegetables may supply your body with antioxidants, which are known to be useful for protecting your tissues and to minimize the development of “other” sources of pain. Irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux are both common in people with fibromyalgia, so it is wise to avoid foods that irritate these conditions. Click here to read about how your diet can be affecting your symptoms.

One of the surest ways to sustain excessive damage or develop a chronic condition is to continue to use an injured body part as you normally would. With this in mind, it is important to recognize the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis so it does not evolve into a long-term problem.

The primary symptom of this condition is pain above your heel or in the back of your lower leg. This typically starts as a mild ache, but then progressively becomes worse, especially following prolonged physical activity. Sprinting, stair climbing, and even simply running contribute to increasing pain.

Other symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include stiffness and tenderness in the tendon, particularly in the morning. This will typically improve with mild activity as the tendon stretches.

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

Your doctor can tell if you have an Achilles tendon problem by asking questions about your past health and checking the back of your leg for pain and swelling. If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve with treatment, your doctor may want you to get an X-ray, ultrasound scan, or MRI.

Treatment for mild Achilles tendon problems includes rest, over-the-counter pain medicine, and stretching exercises. You may need to wear well-cushioned shoes and change the way you play sports so that you reduce stress on the tendon. Early treatment works best and can prevent more injury. Orthotic shoe devices can also help reduce stress on the tendon.

Even in mild cases, it can take weeks to months of rest for the tendon to repair itself. It’s important to be patient and not return too soon to sports and activities that stress the tendon.

Treatment for severe problems, such as a torn or ruptured tendon, may include surgery or a cast, splint, brace, walking boot, or other device that keeps the lower leg from moving. Exercise, either in physical therapy or in a rehab program, can help the lower leg get strong and flexible again. The tendon will take weeks to months to heal.

The following are the risk factors for the achilles tendon disorders:

1) Sports and physical activity.

2) Sports training errors.

3) Age

4) Weight

5) Footwear