Conditions

Back pain is something nearly everyone experiences. But persistent low back pain⎯the kind that lasts three or more months⎯requires evaluation and treatment by a medical professional. Learn more about what causes chronic low back pain, and how it’s relieved.

Neck pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your neck.

A “loose” shoulder can feel like it catches, pops or slides out of place. What it usually means, however, is that the stability of the shoulder’s been compromised, often due to injury of the bone or surrounding ligaments. Keep reading to learn more.

Claw Toe

This is a common foot deformity. With it, one or more toes buckle and curl into a claw shape. Overtime, a claw toe can become locked in this position. It can dig into the sole of your foot. You may have trouble finding comfortable shoes.

Hammer Toe

This condition is a deformity in which a toe bends downward at the middle joint. The second toe is the one most likely to be affected, but this deformity can occur in other toes as well. Sometimes, more than one toe is affected.

Exercise is a major cause of this painful condition. Compartment syndrome is a result of pressure buildup in the muscles combined with a decrease in blood flow and oxygen. Learn more about what causes it and how it’s treated.

First named in 1958, this close cousin to carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, tingling and pain in the hand and arm. Learn what makes it similar⎯and different⎯to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Named after 19th-century Swiss surgeon, Fritz de Quervain, this condition is also known as mommy thumb, blackberry thumb or gamers’ thumb. The underlying cause is irritation or constriction of the tendons located at the base of the thumb at the wrist. Read on for more.

This condition is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can develop as a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back.

This condition is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can developas a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back.

This type of arthritis, also called “degenerative joint disease,” is a breakdown of the cartilage in your hip joint. As this protective cartilage wears away, bone rubs against bone. Bony growths called “bone spurs” may form in the joint. Pain from osteoarthritis can keep you from being as active as you like.

Knee pain may keep you from being as active as you like. And it may come from a gradual breakdown of your knee’s cartilage. That’s a protective tissue on the ends of your bones. In a healthy knee, the bones glide smoothly against each other. But in a knee with osteoarthritis, cartilage begins to wear away. Bone rubs against bone. Bony bumps we call “bone spurs” may form.

This term is used to describe foot problems that stem from diabetes. These problems can be difficult to treat.

Any age. Either foot. Drop foot can happen to anyone, anytime. Usually caused by an injury or a muscle or neurological disorder, keep reading for more on treatments to improve the condition or lead to a complete recovery.

This condition is a thickening of the fascia on the palm of the hand. The fascia is a connective tissue located just beneath the skin of the palm and fingers. This thickened fascia can form lumps or nodules under the skin, or long thick cords of tissue that extend from the palm to the fingers. Often, this thickened tissue contracts. This causes one or more fingers to curl toward the palm. This is called a flexion contracture.

Dupuytren’s Diathesis

Dupuytren’s diathesis is a more aggressive form of Dupuytren’s disease that occurs before the age of40. It is associated with a strong family history, and affects both hands. A person who has Dupuytren’s diathesis also commonly has other diseases of the fascia, such as nodules and contractures in the soles of the feet (called Ledderhose’s disease) and curvature of the penis (called Peyronie’s disease).

Like other joints, the elbow is susceptible to developing arthritis. Arthritis is a painful, progressive condition in which the cushioning cartilage that prevents joint-on-joint contact wears away. Read on to learn more about symptom relief and treatment options.

Not too many people experience a dislocation of the elbow. While rare, when the joints are forced out of place and ligaments are torn, the condition is extremely painful. Find out what causes the elbow to dislocate and how an orthopedic doctor can help.

The elbow is a pretty tough part of the body⎯until it’s hit with strong force or a direct blow. Then it can break one or more of the three bones that comprise it: humerus, radius and ulna. Learn the symptoms and treatment options for this condition.

Osteophyte. This is the medical term for an elbow spur, a bony projection that forms where bone meets bone. Elbow spurs are simply the body’s way of repairing worn-out joint cushioning (cartilage). Keep reading to learn more about how this condition and how it’s treated.

When the tiny connective joints of the vertebrae become inflamed or arthritic, the condition is called Facet Joint Syndrome. This condition is characterized by severe pain, especially at night when muscles are relaxed. Read on to learn more about how it’s treated.

AKA is surgical removal of the leg above the knee. BKA is surgical removal of the leg below the knee. Sometimes after this type of surgery, there may be complications. When this happens, the diagnosis is Failed Knee Amputation. Keep reading to learn more.

After back or spine surgery, a small percentage of people continue to experience pain and/or are unable to resume normal activities. When this happens, the diagnosis is called Failed Back or Failed Fusion Syndrome. Keep reading to learn about additional treatment options.

The femur is the body’s longest, strongest bone. So when it breaks, there’s usually a lot of force involved. And⎯no surprises⎯the primary cause of a broken femur is a car crash. Read on to learn other causes and cures for a broken thighbone.

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint that is formed from the femur, or thigh bone, and the acetabulum, or the hip socket. In an ideal hip, these parts fit together perfectly like a puzzle. Both the ball and socket are lined in a smooth cartilage that cushions the joint, called articular cartilage. On the rim of the socket, there is a specialized fibrocartilage called the labrum. The labrum helps to suction seal the joint and acts as a gasket to keep the joint fluid in the joint.

In many hips, the head of the femur (ball) and the acetabulum (socket) don’t fit together perfectly, causing abnormal contact and friction in the joint. This underlying structural problem of the hip is called hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). After repetitive contact from repetitive activities, like running or kicking, FAI causes the joint to get inflamed and become painful. If left untreated, it can also cause cartilage damage and progress the development of arthritis in the hip joint.

Memory problems. Sleep disturbances. Mood changes. These are just a few of the more common symptoms of fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that causes debilitating muscle pain and fatigue. Read on to learn more about how this condition is managed.

If your finger is dislocated, that means a bone has been forced out of its normal position. It’s a common, painful injury, and one that needs proper treatment.

Although minor, a finger fracture requires proper treatment in order to fully and properly heal. When a finger is fractured, it simply means that the bones are misaligned. Dexterity and movement are usually limited or compromised. Read on to learn more.

“Jammed.” “Stoved.” “Stubbed.” There are plenty of ways to describe a finger sprain, which is what happens when the ligaments supporting any of the three finger joints stretches or tears. Find out why you may need an orthopedic specialist for this condition.

It’s pretty obvious what flat feet are: feet devoid of a normal arch. It happens because connecting tendons do not support the arch and it’s a very common condition. Keep reading to learn more about it.

This is a break of the bone that sits above the heelbone and below the lower leg bones. The talus forms the lower part of the ankle joint. A talus fracture is a serious injury that needs medical care.

When a bone is in a weakened state, as in the case of osteoporosis, just about anything⎯including a strong sneeze or low-energy fall⎯can result in a fracture. Easily broken bones like these are known as fragility fractures. Keep reading to learn more.