Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more likely to develop as people age. The changes in osteoarthritis usually occur slowly over many years, though there are occasional exceptions. Inflammation and injury to the joint cause bony changes, deterioration of tendons and ligaments and a…
What is a Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc Disease? A Prolapsed Intervertebral disc disease (PIVD) is commonly called a herniated disk. A herniated disk is an injury of the spine (backbone). You have a series of bones (vertebrae) in your spine, stretching from the base of your skull to your tailbone. Between your vertebrae are round cushions…
Low Back Pain or LBP is one of the most common causes of pain and disability worldwide. It is characterized by a localized pain and tenderness in the lower back, often on one side of the back, and is often described as aching, burning, or tight. The cause and location of LBP vary from person…
What is oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy? Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare genetic muscle condition with onset during adulthood most often between 40 and 60 years of age, which is characterized by slowly progressive muscle disease means myopathy affecting the muscles of the upper eyelids and the part of the throat called the pharynx. Affected…
What is a Lumbar Spondylolisthesis? Lumbar Spondylolisthesis is a condition involving spine instability, which means the vertebrae move more than they should. A vertebra slips out of place onto the vertebra below. It may put pressure on a nerve, which could cause lower back pain or leg pain. The word spondylolisthesis (pronounced spohn-di-low-less-THEE-sis) comes from…
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a part of a group of inherited disorders called muscular dystrophies that affects muscles and many other organs and systems in the body. In this, the word “myotonic” means “myotonia which is defined as an inability to relax muscles after contraction. The term “muscular dystrophy” means progressive muscle degeneration with loss,…
Chondromalacia patellae (CMP) is referred to as anterior knee pain due to the physical and biomechanical changes. The articular cartilage of the posterior surface of the patella is going though degenerative changes which manifest as a softening, swelling, fraying, and erosion of the hyaline cartilage underlying the patella and sclerosis of the underlying bone. Chondromalacia…
Sciatica is nerve pain from an injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve, which originates in your buttock/gluteal area. The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest (almost finger-width) nerve in the body. It’s actually made up of five nerve roots: two from the lower back region called the lumbar spine and three from the…
Gout, as described by the doctors, is a very painful form of arthritis caused by crystals that form in and around the joints. It’s the most common type of inflammatory arthritis.It’s more common in men and you’re more likely to get it as you get older. Gout occurs in people who have high levels of…
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an incurable inherited neuromuscular disorder is the most common of the more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy. It is a genetic disease that leads to progressive deterioration of muscle fibers of the body. The condition usually affects boys only which is one of the most frequent genetic conditions affecting approximately…
