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Degenerative Joint Disease/Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, affects more than 20 million Americans and is more common in women than in men. The disease affects the cartilage—slippery tissue on the ends of bones that meet in a joint. Headaches Headaches are not normal. Recurring headaches are a sign that something is wrong and should not be ignored. Aspirin, ibuprofen and other medications may temporarily mask the symptoms but they do nothing to correct the source of the problem. As long as the problem remains the headaches will continue to come back. Herniated Discs For many decades, doctors and scientists believed that most back pain was caused by ”slipped” or “torn” discs. We now know this not to be true. Disc problems constitute only a small portion of the causes of back pain and rarely require surgery for pain relief. Low Back Pain A common cause of low back pain can be problems with the disc, the fibrous cushion between each vertebra. A bulging or ruptured disc can irritate nerves that travel from the spinal cord. Leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs may all be a result of disc irritation. Neck Pain It can be common; there is a good chance that you have experienced some type of neck discomfort at one time or another. The neck supports your head, which can weigh 10 pounds or more! In addition to supporting your head it needs to be able to functionally move in all three planes of motion. Tendonitis/Bursitis Bursitis is inflammation or irritation to the bursa (small sacs between bone and other moving parts, such as skin, muscles and tendons). Tendonitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendon (thick fibrous cords that connect muscles to bone). Plantar Fasciitis It is the most common cause of heel pain. The fascia connects the tissue that connects your heel bone to the toes and supports the arch of your foot . Whiplash This is one of the most common and well known injuries from a car accident. This occurs when the force of the accident ‘whips’ the head violently from direction to another farther than normal limits, resulting in muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the spine are overstretched, torn or irritated. Scoliosis All spines have a normal front and back curve to them, this help distribute the bodies weight evenly. Scoliosis is a progressive, abnormal sideways curve of the spine. The spine often curves in a “S” or “C” shape from side to side. Shoulder, Arm, Wrist Pain Neuritis, bursitis, neuralgia, rheumatism, frozen shoulder, fibrositis, sprain and strains are common terms that refer to neck, shoulder and arm conditions. The main controller behind your shoulders, arms and hands is the brain. Spinal Stenosis It is created by the narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing may be caused by mechanical problems or by abnormalities in the aging spine. It may or may not result in low-back pain, limping, and a lack of feeling in the legs. Sports Injuries Injuries that occur in a contact sport such as, football or hockey are similar to those obtained in an auto accident. When the body is subjected to a forceful impact, the vertebrae and soft tissues are compromised. Injuries that occur to the arms and legs are often detected quickly and can be corrected. Subluxation This occurs when the joints in your spine have limited range of motion. When the spinal bones move out of their normal position it is called a subluxation. The spinal cord is the communication pathway for nerve impulses to and from the brain. These messages determine the health and function of virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body. TMJ Pain Temporomandibular disorders, also called TMJ affect the joint where your skull meets your lower jaw. Common symptoms include jaw clicking, pain, stiffness or a locked jaw. These symptoms are a result of the joint being misaligned and/or muscle adhesions in the jaw muscles which can occur from grinding or clenching your teeth, poor posture or an injury. Pregnancy Fibromyalgia |