Wrist Surgery Options

Joint replacement seems appealing because it retains, and may even improve, range of motion in the wrist. "The problem is durability of the implant," says Dr. Shapiro. With wrist replacement, bones are removed and an implant composed of metal parts and a plastic spacer is inserted. These implants are not as predictably long-lasting as implants for other joints, such as hips and knees. And complications can be particularly challenging to treat.

The Right Way to Shovel Snow


Bringing Healthcare Home

Telemedicine also includes a standard doctor's office visit, with the notable difference being that the doctor is in his or her office and the patient is at home. Using a computer, smartphone or tablet, the patient signs in on a website at the time of the appointment. Doctor and patient can then see and hear each other on their screens. It's like having a chat on FaceTime or Skype. In the case of virtual office visits, the software used for the video conferencing must comply with strict standards of security and confidentiality.

Exercises for Knee Pain

Getting a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis doesnt mean you have to give up the activities you enjoy. But it will require some effort to establish a routine of doing the types of exercises that will help to ease pain and stiffness.

Life After Joint Replacement

After your joint replacement surgery, you might go home on the same day or stay in the hospital for up to four days. Some people go to a rehabilitation center for a short time. Wherever you are, don't expect to lie in bed for long. A physical therapist will meet with you on the same day as your surgery, or on the next day, to get you up and moving. The therapist will teach you how to walk with the aid of a walker, cane or crutches. You will also learn how to go up and down stairs.

Ask The Doctors: November 2018

The spine is a complex structure, the core of which is a stack of small bones (vertebrae). Cushioning disks separate each vertebral body, and the bones are connected to each other at small joints (facet joints) between bony protrusions at the back of each vertebra. The spinal cord runs through the center of the spine. Nerves exit this spinal canal through openings at most levels of the spine. Layers of muscles, ligaments and tendons surround the spine.

What Is Nerve Pain?

This will likely be one of the first questions your doctor asks if you complain of chronic pain. Unless there is an obvious reason for pain, your doctor needs a lot of information to identify the underlying cause. This includes the location, type, intensity and frequency of pain. The doctor is partly trying to determine whether the pain is nociceptive or neuropathic (also called nerve pain), or possibly both.

Physical Therapy for Back Pain

The muscles deep in the abdomen, which help stabilize the spine, can become weak or dont fire properly. People with back pain often have a difficult time engaging the correct muscles, says Houser. When deep spinal muscles weaken, other surrounding muscles become overly tight as they try to stabilize the spine, but thats not their role, and pain and tightness will often develop.

Ask The Doctors: October 2018

For a chronic pain condition, such as osteoarthritis, heat seems to work best. However, some people find that cold also helps to dull the pain. So the answer is, try them both and use whichever works best for you. Exercise is an important part of treatment for osteoarthritis. Heat and cold can also be used to make exercising a little easier. Try using heat before exercise to loosen up muscles and cold afterwards to minimize any achiness.

Topical NSAIDs: A Safer Option

Diclofenac gel (Voltaren Gel) can be used to treat pain from osteoarthritis in the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. It may be applied four times daily. The liquid formulation (Pennsaid), which can be used for osteoarthritis of the knee, is applied twice daily. The patch (Flector Patch) is placed over the painful joint. It should be changed every 12 hours. Without insurance, the patch can be expensive, at over $100 for 10patches.

How to Prevent Falling

In addition to aging, other factors can put you at higher risk for falling. Having fallen in the past raises the chances that you might fall again, especially if the fall resulted in an injury. Feeling unsteady when you walk or needing to hang onto something, such as furniture or the walls, makes you more likely to fall. People come to rely on that support, which can change the way they walk, says Bebb. They may lean forward or have a change of posture that can increase fall risk.

Ask The Doctors: August 2018

A: Arthritis in the hands, whether from osteoarthritis (the wearing down of the cushioning cartilage in joints) or rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease), can make even simple daily tasks challenging. If you have arthritis in any of the hand joints, its best to avoid excessive stress to protect them. There are many products that can help, including arthritis gloves. Most provide gentle compression, which increases circulation and helps decrease swelling and pain. They are made from a material that helps maintain warmth in joints, which helps decrease discomfort during motion. Arthritis gloves can make your hands feel better, but they do not stop the destruction of arthritis.