Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition of the fascia, the thick tissue stretching from the heel to the toe joints along the bottom of the foot.The most common symptoms include burning, pain and a stabbing sensation at the heel. A patient...
Most often, spinal cord compression is caused by spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal column in the neck, upper back or lower back. Slipped disks or bone growth from arthritis can compress the spinal cord as it passes through the...
Knee pain can be caused by arthritis, muscular imbalances, tears to the ligaments and tendons, bone spurs and overuse injuries. The first step in designing a treatment plan is to have the cause of your knee pain properly diagnosed. Various...
The ulnar nerve travels from the armpit down the inner side of the arm and into the small and ring finger of the hand. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), ulnar neuropathy occurs in the arm when the ulnar nerve becomes...
The iliotibial band is a tendon that runs down the outside of the thigh, connecting the tensor fascia lata muscle of the iliac crest to its attachment point on the lower outside of the knee. Iliotibial band friction syndrome, an irritation of the...
The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that herniated disks commonly occur in people in their 30s and 40s. When one of the spinal disks, which are located between the spinal vertebrae, sticks out, or herniates, patients can...
A number of injuries and conditions can cause pain in the tailbone, a small bone at the end of the spine. Bruising of the tailbone, or coccyx, may occur after an injury, most commonly after falling backward onto a hard surface, according to the...
An L5 bulging disk can cause back pain that radiates down the back of your leg, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your spinal column is composed of 24 vertebrae with disk between each bone. This anatomical structure allows a greater flexibility in...
The hip consists of two main parts: The ball at the top of the thighbone fits into a rounded socket in the pelvis. Ligaments -- bands of tissue -- connect the ball to the socket, and cartilage cushions the bone surfaces from rubbing against each...
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, labeled C1-C7, which form the upper part of the spine in the neck. As people age, the discs between the vertebrae that cushion them and help them move more easily, degenerate. Herniated discs, also...
The thoracic spine is the mid-portion of your back and extends from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. It is made up of 12 thoracic vertebrae, which are separated by soft spongy discs that aid in shock absorption. The thoracic...
Soccer is a high-impact sport with plenty of running, sudden stopping and changes in direction. As a result, soccer players are at risk of knee injuries --- including fractures, dislocations, ligament damage, cartilage tears and overuse injuries....
A cholecystectomy refers to the surgical procedure performed to remove the gallbladder. It is performed on patients who experience frequent gallbladder attacks. A low-fat diet is a conservative treatment often recommended when gallstones or...
MayoClinic.com describes a disc as the cushioning between the vertebrae in the spinal column. These discs have a hard outer layer and a soft inner layer. Doctors consider these discs herniated when a part of the inner layer pushes itself out...
Herniated discs frequently occur in the lumbar spine, between the bottom ribs and the hips, as FamilyDoctor.org explains. These discs provide a cushion for the bones of the spine, allowing you to move your backbone. A disc is herniated when it...
The fluid-filled discs that serve as shock absorbers between the vertebrae of the spine gradually dry out over time, causing inflammation and instability. This condition, called lumbar degenerative disc disease when it involves the discs of the...
A nerve becomes pinched when excessive pressure is placed on it by nearby structures, such as a herniated disc or bone spur. When the nerve becomes pinched, it causes local and radiating pain, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and changes in...
Cramping of the lower leg or calf muscles while jogging is usually the symptom of a bigger problem. Dehydration and chronic compartment syndrome are possible causes of cramping. Treatment varies depending on the diagnosis, but conservative...
Running can put a large amount of stress on the feet. Over time, all that pounding on the road can lead to heel pain. One cause of heel pain is a heel spur. A heel spur is a bony growth on the bottom of the heel. Having a heel spur does not mean...
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that keep your upper arm bone (humerus) attached to your shoulder blade. This anatomical structure allows your shoulder to be the most mobile joint in your body. Rotator cuff tears are common...
A bulging, or herniated disk occurs when the cartilage between your bones in your back (vertebrae) moves out of place. These disks are important in increasing the flexibility of your spine. In addition, they act as shock absorbers that decrease...
Your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments and a network of tendons, nerves and blood vessels required for proper running technique. Because of the complex nature of your foot, injury may occur from time to time. As a runner, you may...
Rotator cuff tears often heal with few or no long-term effects. A conservative treatment, usually consisting of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, is generally tried first, and often with very good results. For specific kinds of...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," herniation or protrusion of a cervical disk commonly causes pain in the neck, shoulder, arm or hand. C-3, C-4, and C-5 designate the third, fourth and fifth cervical disks, counting from...
Cervical spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal by surrounding structures, leads to spinal cord impingement and spinal nerve issues. Depending on the severity of condition, a medical professional should closely monitor any exercise...
With age and normal wear and tear the discs that are located between the vertebra in your spine start to lose their fluid. This results in a loss of space between the vertebra. When this happens you may be diagnosed with arthritis of the spine or...
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Achilles tendon is not only the largest tendon in the body, but one that is rather vulnerable to sprains and strains because it takes a great deal of force every single day. Fortunately,...
Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, can be a mild to severe injury that normally occurs in athletes. Recovery can take up to a few weeks to a few months for mild cases. Those who have a severe injury that requires surgery may take up...
Generally, pain at the top of the thigh is minor in nature and will resolve itself quickly with conservative treatment. It the thigh pain is debilitating or does not improve within two weeks, it should be evaluated by a medical professional for a...
