It's a pretty simple fact. According to reports, over half of adults in the United States will develop osteoarthritis in one or both knees in their lifetime. This a statistic that's even more pronounced in older adults, and unfortunately chronic knee pain has the ability to severely limit activity in older adults when they crave mobility the most — during retirement years.
We may not often think about it, but the shoulder is one of the most important joints in our entire body. The shoulder is one of the largest and most complex structures and is in near constant use. From signing your name to swinging a golf club, your shoulder is a key player in almost everything we do.
One of the most common forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects 27 million Americans. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as “wear and tear” on joints in the body and is generally accepted as part of the aging process. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of natural padding (cartilage) in joints like knees, hips and other weight-bearing joints.
For people who suffer from chronic back pain from degenerative disc disease or damaged spinal facet joints, finding a long-term solution with lasting effects often can seem like a hopeless task. Treatments like invasive surgery or chiropractic care don’t work for everyone and often only provide short-term relief.
If you're a casual observer of professional sports, then you know those common injuries to key players can have a huge impact on a team's wins and loss record. If you follow sports more closely, you know players and teams are constantly searching for alternative treatments to injuries that will have the athletes back in top form sooner.
Don’t be surprised if the next time you see your pain doctor they suggest you go to an acupuncturist. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a recommendation that doctors get up to speed on complementary alternative therapies for treating pain including acupuncture and chiropractic treatment.
It can feel like a Catch-22: Everyone is telling you to need to exercise, but when you’re in pain, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. And unfortunately, the longer you avoid doing it, the harder it can be to get started. Muscles and tendons get weak, stiff, and sore when they aren’t being used, so there can be significant aches and pains when you decide to start moving again. But finding the right exercise program can be an essential tool for pain relief.
As you may have read in the news, Tiger Woods is recovering from a recent back surgery – his fourth back operation in the past few years (this one being a fusion). Once the greatest golfer in the world, Tiger had his first surgery in 2014, but since then, even after two more surgeries, he has not been able to successfully return to the pro tour. No doubt he is hoping that this recent operation will eventually get him to a place where he can compete at the highest level and without debilitating pain.
If you suffer from chronic pain, it's important that your friends and family know what you're going through. With this in mind, here are 5 things to know about the chronic pain that you can share with your loved ones:
When making a decision to move forward with stem cell injection therapy for problems of osteoarthritis and painful soft tissue injury, many patients rely on research to help them make an informed decision. Then they rely on the experience of the doctor helping them. The same can be said for professional athletes. These athletes are approaching stem cells because the treatment regrows cartilage and stops damaging chronic inflammation.
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