Back pain affects the lives of millions of people across the world. It is one of the most common forms of pain in the body reported to doctors. It’s rare to experience pain in the back as a result of…
Area of Injury: Back and Shoulder
Back and shoulder injuries are very common. Especially with the increased prevalence of desk jobs, back and shoulder strain have become overwhelming for many people. The stability of the shoulder joint is frequently compared to a golf ball on a tee, as the humerus rests on the shoulder joint very delicately. In addition to a good exercise regime, there are many ways to help deal with back and shoulder pain. Diagnosing a back or shoulder injury can be very difficult, as there are a number of muscles which perform different functions in similar areas. A rotator cuff tear, for example, could refer to any one of four muscles. It is common to get diagnosed by a doctor, and to find that, as you become more familiar with the anatomy of the location of the injury, you feel that you may have incorrectly or misleadingly described your symptoms. One good way to avoid this problem is to know as much about your injury as possible before going in to see the doctor. That way, you can be sure to describe your symptoms in a way which will permit a correct diagnosis.
A spinal cord injury is a frightening thought with fears of a loss of mobility and permanent dependence on others. The spinal cord is the part of the central nervous system that carries nerve impulses back and forth from the…
The discs act as a cushion between the vertebrae and spine. With wear and tear, they can become weak and damaged. These changes cause the outer layer of a disc to bulge out evenly all way around its circumference. A…
Costochondritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the upper ribs and sternum. The tissue connecting these bones and cartilage flares up, causing the person to experience localized chest pain and discomfort. Although it is uncomfortable, it is typically harmless…
When a person has pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, it can be what is known as frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis. This health issue can show up suddenly or gradually, over time. The…
Nerve pain can be mildly irritating to excruciatingly painful. It can feel like pin pricks, electric shocks, burning or being stabbed by a knife. It can start at any point in life, but it becomes more common with advancing age.…
Bone spurs (osteophytes) are hard bumps that grow on bones. Most bone spurs are found on the joints, points where different bones come together. Many cases of osteophytes are mild and cause no symptoms, so they can go undetected for…
Sciatica affects more than three million Americans each year. It is a type of pain that is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. This is a long nerve that runs from the lower back and down each leg. Pain…
A spasm is a sudden and involuntary contraction of a group of muscles or just one muscle. One of the most common areas for a spasm to occur is in the back. When it happens near the nerve roots or…
The shoulder joint has a larger range of motion than any other bodily joint. Because of this however, it is prone to dislocation. A dislocated shoulder occurs when at the glenohumeral joint the humerus is separated from the scapula. A…