Ringing in the ears is called tinnitus. It is not a medical condition, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. According to MayoClinic.com, one in five people are affected by tinnitus. In many cases, the exact cause of the ringing is...
Injuries and disorders of the male skeletal system can occur at any time during the lifespan. Some are more common, however, in certain age groups. Injuries and disorders can occur at one or several locations in the skeleton, or affect all of the...
Otosclerosis is a condition of the middle ear in which there is abnormal bone growth. This growth affects the innermost bone called the stapes. The stapes gets fixed and hence the transmission of sound to the inner ear is affected. This will...
Otosclerosis is a disease of the middle ear caused from abnormal bone growth. This growth affects the innermost bone in the middle ear called the stapes. This new bone growth and deposition affects the movement of the stapes, which makes them...
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia is a very rare condition that affects the bones in the arms and legs, and it occurs at birth. It is caused by a mutation of the gene COL2A1. This gene is responsible for normal development and growth of bone and...
Pediatric bone scans are used to identify and diagnose bone diseases and disorders in children that do not typically show up on typical X-rays. Bone scans are performed on children who present to the doctor with growth retardation, bone pain or...
The spine in the middle back is made up of 12 bones (vertebrae) that are divided by a thick fibrous cartilage (disks). Your spinal cord runs through a canal down the middle of your vertebrae and is very well protected by these vertebrae. In...
Your chronic sinusitis can be induced by bacterial infection, chronic allergies or a pre-existing nasal condition. If an episode of sinusitis doesn't fade within a few weeks, infectious bacteria are probably not the cause. Your doctor will start...
Bone growth is governed by a number of factors. Initial bone growth is determined by the growth and proliferation of cartilage cells--the cartilage tissue becomes calcified to become bone tissue. Once initial bone growth is complete, the bones...
HGH, or human growth hormone, is produced by the pituitary gland. It is necessary for growth in children, and maintenance of muscle mass and protein synthesis. Supplemental HGH is available by prescription only. Indications for use include growth...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in all the tissues of the body. It is responsible for removing phosphate from chemicals. While it is released into the blood from damage to any tissue, its concentration is highest in bone, the GI tract,...
Cervical disc surgery that replaces the damaged neck disc with an artificial disc is a relatively new procedure. It was first approved for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004. The goal of artificial disc replacement is...
Damage to the inner ears can result in several hearing-related problems such as tinnitus, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis and noise-induced hearing loss. These problems may be irritating, but they are not life threatening. Consult an ear...
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for the health and maintenance of bones. It is also important for the functions of the immune system, and for improving muscle strength. Vitamin D is involved in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the...
A test for levels of alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, in your blood is performed when your health care provider wants to assess the health of your liver or bone growth. ALP is an enzyme produced by all tissues in the body, but is particularly high in...
Upper spinal arthritis, or cervical spondylosis, is a disease that can cause many significant neurological and muscular symptoms in the upper body. Cervical spondylosis is the wear-and-tear breakdown of cartilage and formation of bone spurs in the...
Hearing problems can have temporary or permanent complications. The ear consists of inner, middle and outer parts that work together to produce the function of hearing. Problems with one or more parts of the ear can cause hearing problems and...
Didronel (etidronate) is a medication used to treat Paget's disease (a bone disease) and abnormal bone growth resulting from a hip fracture or spinal cord injury, says Drugs.com. Didronel is a bisphosphonate medication that helps reduce bone loss...
Vitamin D3 is a form of vitamin D synthesized in your body, and also found in fortified foods and many vitamin supplements. Its major function in your body is to regulate calcium localization, protecting against abnormally high or low blood...
A ringing sound in your ear is called Tinnitus. According to the American tinnitus Association, about 50 million Americans have this disorder.The sound can be generated from the ear, brain and the auditory nerve, which runs from the inner ear to...
Spondyloarthritis, also known as spondyloarthropathy, describes a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that primarily affect the joints of the spine and trunk of the body. Between 600,000 to 2.4 million people in the United States have...
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is an ailment that will affect most of us at some point in our lives. Osteoarthritis is the "wear and tear" breakdown of the cartilage that covers the ends of bones. These bones then become rough and can rub against...
Arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis, is the wear-and-tear breakdown of cartilage in your joints. Healthy cartilage is important in the knee because it acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and the shinbone. When this cartilage breaks...
Arthritis occurs due to inflammation and damage to the joint between two bones and the structures surrounding it, such as muscles, tendons and soft tissues, causing pain and restriction in movement. It is a common problem among the elderly as well...
Hip replacement surgery, also known as total hip arthroplasty, is used to restore full motion to a damaged hip joint. In hip replacement surgery, the damaged joint is removed and replaced with a fully functioning artificial joint. Recovery can...
Plugged ears are a common problem and may be a sign of an underlying hearing loss. Anything that blocks the outer, middle or inner ear can interfere with the normal hearing mechanism and result in decreased hearing. Conditions such as wax, foreign...
Common causes of spinal compression vary from slow processes to trauma. The results can vary widely, depending on how much the spinal cord or the spinal roots are involved. The symptoms can span from mild changes in sensitivity to excruciating...
Tinnitus is a common term used to describe the sensation of an abnormal noise in the ear, such as buzzing, ringing, roaring or hissing. In 2009, almost 23 million adult Americans had tinnitus for more than 3 months, according to the National...
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, represent abnormal bone growth that can interfere with joint function. Chronic inflammation associated with elbow arthritis, bursitis or tendinitis most commonly causes bone spurs on the elbow. Possible symptoms of...