Fibromyalgia turns a whisper of pain into a scream. It is a condition caused by the amplification of pain by the nervous system. Light stimuli become painful and average levels of pain are experienced as much more severe. The brain’s normal processing of pain becomes impaired, leading to intense discomfort, fatigue, anxiety and many associated…
It’s Stoptober again – and you probably already know many reasons to quit tobacco and become a non-smoker. We hardly need tell you again about cancer, strokes and heart disease. But did you know that smoking affects the musculoskeletal system too? It increases the risk of developing conditions in joints and bones and makes recovery…
When suffering from back pain, it’s not surprising if all you want to do is rest. However, low-impact exercise is actually one of the best things you can do to improve your symptoms. Often high-impact exercising can be too painful if you’re suffering from spinal issues, so walking is a great option to make sure…
The term arthritis covers many joint conditions. The symptoms are usually stiffness, reduced mobility and often (but not always) pain. Arthritis often appears after a long period of dysfunction and it can be a result of injury, wear and tear, autoimmune disorders or genetic predisposition. Osteoarthritis is the commonest type of arthritis and is almost…
Cracking joints can feel satisfying. Most of us have done it! We’ve even talked about it before on this blog. That satisfying pop (cavitation) is quite harmless and is caused by gas being displaced within the joint cavity. It’s very common and almost everyone has experienced a painless cracking in their knuckles or other joints.…
It’s back to school time! Back pain in children is far more common than you might think, and carrying heavy school supplies can sometimes make it worse. However, these problems are easily alleviated by paying attention to your child’s posture, the weight they’re carrying and how much exercise they’re getting. Read on for some…
Heel pain is equally common among the fit and the not-so-fit. It’s known as Plantar Fasciitis, arising from an overload of the long arch beneath the foot. The ligaments (Plantar Fascia) that run from the heel fan out into five bands to the base of your toes, and these can thicken, degenerate and become sharply…
We all know that as we age our bodies change. Naturally, our joints, bones, soft tissue and organs suffer from the passage of time. The years bring age-related wear and tear on the joints and lower back pain is common among the over 65s. MRI scans confirm that degenerative changes of the spine are typical…
Camping can hurt. There’s no doubt it’s also fun and gets you out in the open air, but it can take a toll on the back and neck. It’s not surprising, though: you’re spending several days in unusual living conditions, sleeping on a different surface and perhaps carrying large packs. So here are 7 tips…
If you suffer from back pain, the hours spent cramped in an airline seat can be agony. Hand luggage can be heavy and awkward getting into overhead lockers. When you arrive at your destination you have to deal with hauling heavy bags off the luggage carousel and dragging them thought the airport an into a…
