Chronic Pain Health Center

The 12 ways to relieve back pain include physical therapy, diet, mindfulness and meditation, stretching, lifestyle choices, injection treatments, acupuncture, hot and cold therapies, bed rest, chiropractic therapy, OTC medications, and yoga.

Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendonitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which can require surgical repair). Tendonitis of the ankle can be caused by trauma or inflammation.

A broken bone is a fracture. There are different types of fractures and symptoms include pain, swelling, and discoloration of the skin around the injured area. Generally the recovery time for a broken bone is 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the circumstances of the injury.

The most common causes of broken fingers are a traumatic injury to the finger or fingers such as playing sports, injury in the workplace, falls, and accidents. Treatment for a broken finger may be as simple as buddy taping the broken finger to the adjacent finger, or if the fracture is more serious, surgery. Fingers are the most commonly injured part of the hand.

Broken bones in the foot are a common injury. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, bruising, and limping on the affected foot. Learn about treatment and recovery time.

Broken toes are a common fracture for people of all ages. The little toe (pinky) is the most common toe fractured. Most broken toes can be treated with ice, elevation, rest, and buddy taping the broken toe. Learn about complications and recovery time.

Bunions are an enlargement of the inner portion of the joint at the base of the big toe. The symptoms of bunions include inflammation, redness, tenderness, and pain of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The little toe may also develop a bunion (tailor's bunion).

The medial collateral ligament or MCL tear may heal on its own with the right care, rehabilitation, and rest. Healing depends on the severity of the injury.

Back pain and bloating often go hand in hand and can be caused by a wide range of conditions, from herniated discs to pregnancy. Learn about common causes of back pain and stomach swelling, and check out the center below for more medical references on pain management, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

While you can perform half squats following knee replacement surgery, avoid deep squatting to prevent complications. Check out the center below for more medical references on knee pain and treatment, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

A patient with a broken metatarsal may be able to walk, depending on how painful the injury is. Despite this, the patient with a metatarsal fracture is advised to avoid excessive walking, especially on uneven ground, to eliminate the risk of displacement.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which irritation of the wrist's median nerve causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and the nature of any disease that might be causing the symptoms.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that lasts 6 months or longer, is not improved by bed rest, and may be worsened by physical or mental activity.

Neck stiffness is a common issue that affects many people. Learn the signs of neck stiffness, what causes neck stiffness, how doctors diagnose neck stiffness, and how neck stiffness is treated.

Dislocated ankle symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, ankle deformity, and possible numbness and tingling in the foot. Treatment for a dislocated ankle involves putting the ankle bones back in their normal positions, possibly using gentle traction. The blood and nerve supply to the foot will be evaluated and the ankle will be checked for any related fractures.

With a dislocated knee, the femur and shinbones are out of alignment. Severe pain, swelling, and joint deformity are symptoms of a knee dislocation. Treatment typically involves reduction of the joint, surgery to repair torn ligaments, and immobilization.

The shoulder is the most often dislocated joint in the body due to its mobility. A dislocated shoulder occurs when the head of the humerus is dislocated from its socket. Symptoms of a shoulder dislocation include nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, weakness, and sweating. There are various methods of reducing a dislocation and returning the humeral head to its normal place.

Several studies have confirmed that vitamin D may help with pain relief in selected cases. The pain-relieving action of vitamin D may be due to the following reasons.

Elbow pain is most often the result of tendinitis, which can affect the inner or outer elbow. Inflammation, redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and decreased range of motion are symptoms associated with elbow pain. Treatment for elbow pain depends upon the nature of the patient's underlying disease or condition.

Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases, for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, and drug abuse.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes body-wide muscle pain. Fibromyalgia is characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tender points. Stress reduction, exercise, and medication are the standard treatments for fibromyalgia.

A dislocation is an injury that forces bones out of their normal position. Symptoms of dislocated fingers include pain, deformity, and swelling and an inability to move the finger. Treatment involves reducing the joint to move the bones back to their normal position and then splinting the joint to protect it while it heals.

Flatfoot is a disorder in which the foot's entire sole is touching the ground while standing. Symptoms of flatfoot include heel, ankle, knee, hip, lower back pain, and shin splints. Treatment depends upon the type of flatfoot, the symptoms, and the stage of the disorder.

Foot pain may be caused by many different diseases, deformities, biomechanical conditions, improper footwear, or injuries. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function.

A frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is when the shoulder joint experiences a significant loss in its range of motion due to inflammation, scarring, or injury. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.

A herniated disc may be caused by injury or degeneration from age. Symptoms depend on the location of the herniation and whether nerve tissue is being irritated. An MRI or CT scan is performed to diagnose a herniated disc.

Hip pain can be caused by arthritis, bursitis, IT band syndrome, fracture, and strain. Symptoms include swelling, tenderness, difficulty sleeping on the hip, and loss of range of motion of the hip.

When a herniated disc causes functional difficulties, such as loss of muscular strength, surgery may be recommended. Surgical techniques can help reduce discomfort and prevent additional damage.

A partner's chronic sickness can have an impact on you and your relationship. However, if you address the circumstance with love and compassion, you will quickly conquer it.

The fingers or digits of the hand are involved in performing various tasks throughout the day. Be it fine movements such as typing, writing, and painting or gross movements such as lifting weights, the fingers are involved in doing them all. The hand has 27 bones, 27 joints, 34 muscles and tendons, nerves, and blood vessels.

The human hand is a miracle; it constitutes several small bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and muscles that facilitate its various movements. The adult human hand has 27 bones, of which 8 are called the carpals or wrist bones. To ensure proper movement and alignment of the bones at the wrist, there are several muscles and their tendons, ligaments, and nerves that pass through the wrist.

If the pain started after an injury and it's a dull ache, it's likely muscle pain. If your pain seemed to come out of nowhere or it's been ongoing, and it feels like your skin is on fire, you're likely experiencing nerve pain.

Brain surgery refers to various medical procedures that involve repairing structural or functional problems in the brain. Neurosurgeons perform different types of brain surgery for different conditions in the brain. The type of brain surgery performed is based on the area of the brain affected and condition being treated. Invasive brain surgery and minimally invasive/endoscopic brain surgery can be performed without any incisions (surgical cuts).

Getting rid of a plantar fibroma may involve pain relievers, corticosteroid injections, and surgery. Check out the center below for more medical references on foot pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

The pain of kidney infection may be felt on the sides (flanks) and the back. Unlike the classical back pain due to muscle or bone involvement, which typically affects the lower back, kidney pain is felt higher up and at a greater depth.

Sciatica can be relieved with stretches and exercises, especially those that target the lower back, butt, and legs. Here are the best ways to loosen up your sciatic nerve at home. Check out the center below for more medical references on sciatica pain relief, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Treatment for perineal pain often includes rest to help the body repair the damage. Check out the center below for more medical references on pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Metatarsalgia is pain at the ball of the foot. It is a common injury that is attributed to poor posture and being overweight.

What is a fibromyalgia attack, and what can trigger one? Learn the signs of fibromyalgia and some of the treatment options for this condition.

In most cases, inner thigh pain heals on its own without any treatment needed. Check out the center below for more medical references on muscle pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Learn what medical treatments can help relieve pain in the back of your knee and help you manage pain in the back of your knee.

The treatment of sore calves usually includes rest, elevation, and compression, as well as lower leg stretches. Check out the center below for more medical references on muscle pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

How do you know if you have a broken bone or just a sprain? Learn about symptoms of a fractured arm and how you can tell when it’s serious.

Learn what medical treatments can help ease your strained neck muscle symptoms and speed up your neck recovery.

Hernias develop when an internal part of the body pushes through a weak point of muscle or tissue. Learn what medical treatments can help your umbilical hernia and ease your symptoms.

Learn about the causes and symptoms of tendonitis in the ankle and treatment options.

Learn what medical treatments can help ease your elbow tendonitis symptoms and help you manage tendonitis in the elbow.

Learn what medical treatments can help ease your symptoms of tendonitis in the foot and help you manage tendonitis in the foot. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed and causes pain from repetitive movement. Learn the types of tendonitis, how it happens, and how to treat it.

Patients typically stay in the hospital for a day or two after hiatal hernia surgery.

Depending on the severity of your deltoid muscle tear, and if surgery is required, it can take weeks to months to heal.

An oblique strain is a specific injury that affects your abdominal muscles. An oblique strain may heal within a few weeks to six weeks.

Shoulder tendinitis can take 4 weeks to 6 months or longer to heal, depending on the severity of your injury. Learn about symptoms and treatment.

Humerus fractures cause severe pain and swelling. On a scale of 10, pain in patients following a humerus fracture is eight or more. Shortening of the arm is apparent with significant deformity of the bones.

A broken collarbone is a common injury. But most collarbone fractures heal completely within a few months with no complications.

The seriousness of retrolisthesis depends on the extent of vertebral displacement and can worsen if not diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

Although a bulging disc and herniated disc are often confused with each other, there are few key differences between the two conditions.

Making the diagnosis of back pain or kidney pain requires the healthcare provider to talk to the patient, take a history of the illness and examine the patient. Most often, this can help determine if the symptoms are caused by back pain or kidney pain.

Knee injuries, especially meniscus tears, are common in contact sports. Symptoms of a meniscus tear include knee pain, swelling, a popping sound, and difficulty bending the leg. Treatment may involve wearing a knee brace, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and stretching the knee.

Acute injuries, medical conditions, and chronic use conditions are causes of knee pain. Symptoms that accompany knee pain include redness, swelling, difficulty walking, and locking of the knee. To diagnose knee pain, a physician will perform a physical exam and also may order X-rays, arthrocentesis, blood tests, or a CT scan or MRI.

There are many causes of lower back pain. Common causes of lower back pain (lumbar spine pain) include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints.

A Morton's neuroma is an inflamed nerve between the bones at the ball of the foot. Symptoms include a burning, sharp pain on the bottom of the foot. Treatment involves resting the foot, wearing better-fitting shoes, ice packs, and cortisone injection.

Muscle pain (myalgia, myofascial pain syndrome) is pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.

Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.

Shoulder and neck pain may be caused by bursitis, a pinched nerve, whiplash, tendinitis, a herniated disc, or a rotator cuff injury. Symptoms may include weakness, numbness, coolness, color changes, swelling, and deformity.

Neck pain (cervical pain, cervicalgia) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Treatment for neck pain depends upon the cause. Treatment typically involves heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.

Neck pain and dizziness are both symptoms that may result from several causes and risk factors. Check out the center below for more medical references on neck pain and dizziness, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

The goal of pain management for each patient is to minimize suffering and improve quality of life. This goal may be different depending on the patient’s circumstances and disease or injury.

A pinched nerve causes pain, numbness, or tingling in the affected area due to pressure on a nerve. Sciatica is an example of a condition caused by a pinched nerve.

Piriformis syndrome may develop if the piriformis muscle spasms and compresses the sciatic nerve. This causes buttock pain that radiates down the back of the leg along the sciatic nerve. Symptoms include numbness, a pins-and-needles tingling sensation, and low back pain.

Radiculopathy is a condition due to a compressed nerve in the spine that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the course of the nerve. Radiculopathy can occur in any part of the spine, but it is most common in the lower back (lumbar radiculopathy) and in the neck (cervical radiculopathy).

Rotator cuff tear and injury is damage to any of the four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Shoulder pain and tenderness are common symptoms. Rotator cuff tear and injury treatment depends on the severity of the shoulder injury.

Sciatica, caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, typically radiates from the low back to behind the thigh to below the knee. Disc herniation is usually the cause of sciatica. Medication to alleviate pain, physical therapy, and bed rest are treatments for sciatica.

Shin splints are injuries to the front of the outer leg caused by overuse and typically happen to runners or aggressive walkers. Shin splint pain can be extreme enough to prevent you from working out. Rest is usually the best treatment for shin splints, and you can also ice the injury and take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine to relieve pain.

Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs due to repeated overhead activities and causes pain and discomfort in the shoulder. Check out the center below for more medical references on chronic pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Sickle cell disease (sickle cell anemia), a blood disease that shortens life expectancy, is caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms of sickle cell disease may include bacterial infections, painful swelling of the hands and feet, fever, leg ulcers, fatigue, anemia, eye damage, and lung and heart injury.

Spondylolisthesis is a forward or backward slippage of one vertebra on an adjacent vertebra. The five types of spondylolisthesis include dysplastic, isthmic, degenerative, traumatic, and pathologic. The most common symptom of spondylolisthesis is lower back pain.

Swollen ankles and swollen feet is a symptom of an underlying disease or condition such as edema, medications, pregnancy, injuries, diseases, infections, lymphedema, or blood clots.

Tailbone pain (coccydynia) is an inflammation of the bony area (tailbone or coccyx) located between the buttocks. Tailbone pain is often worsened by sitting. There are many causes of tailbone pain that can mimic coccydynia. Tailbone pain can be relieved with home remedies such as rest, heat application, ice packs, and stretches as well as over-the-counter pain relievers.

Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis. Symptoms of tennis elbow include tenderness and dull pain of the outer elbow. Resting, applying cold packs, and taking anti-inflammatory medications are usually effective treatments for tennis elbow.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a condition where symptoms are produced from compression of nerves or blood vessels because the passageway through the neck and armpit is inadequate. Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome include neck, shoulder, and arm pain, and numbness or impaired circulation to the extremities.

A torn meniscus (knee cartilage) may be caused by suddenly stopping, sharply twisting, or deep squatting or kneeling when lifting heavy weight. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include pain with running or walking long distances, popping when climbing stairs, a giving way sensation, locking, or swelling.

The three stages of complex regional pain syndrome include acute, dystrophic, and atrophic. Check out the center below for more medical references on chronic pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

"Cankles" is slang for a leg part where the ankle meets the calf without a defined contour. Learn more about what causes it.

Compartment syndrome is a very painful condition that occurs when the pressure in and around the muscles increases. A compartment is a group of muscles, nerves and blood vessels covered by a thin, firm membrane called a fascia. In compartment syndrome, the blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and nerves are cut off. Compartment syndrome often occurs in the lower leg but can also affect other parts of the leg, feet, arms, hands, abdomen and buttocks.

When the ligaments in the sacroiliac joint become too lax or tight, it can cause pain. Here are the eight best exercises you can do for SI joint pain.

Different types of knee surgery include knee replacement surgery, ACL surgery, and meniscus surgeries.

Plantar fasciitis is pain felt on the bottom of your foot that can severely limit your ability to walk normally. Learn about the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, what causes plantar fasciitis, and how to treat plantar fasciitis.

The shoulder injury is an injury to any of the structures in the shoulder joint, including bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilages. Shoulders are easily injured because they have a complex structure that provides a wide range of motion. They are the most mobile joints in the body and consequently, the most unstable.

Although large-scale studies are still needed to confirm their effectiveness, the newest FDA-approved treatments for fibromyalgia include Quell and milnacipran.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Genpril, Midol) is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. Side effects of NSAIDs include diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, bloating, gas, ringing in the ears, nausea, anxiety, vomiting, fluid retention, swelling and skin peeling and rashes.

Symptoms of a shoulder tendon tear or rotator cuff tear may include dull pain, tenderness, swelling, weakness, or stiffness.

What causes pain behind the knee? Learn about Baker's cyst and other causes of pain behind the knee and what to do about them.

Pain above your private parts is known as pelvic pain and may result from several conditions for both men and women. Check out the center below for more medical references on pelvic pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Anyone can experience pain in their pelvic region. Learn the causes and symptoms of pelvic pain, as well as what doctors do to diagnose and treat pelvic pain.

Hyperalgesia is a condition in which you develop an increased sensitivity to pain, often caused by bodily injury or opioid use.

Neck pain can affect your employment, social life, and personal relationships. The causes of neck pain in seniors include muscle spasms, arthritis, poor posture, cervical spondylosis, cervical spinal stenosis and disk problems.

Trapezius or ‘trap’ muscle pain is often known as acute or severe pain that affects a number of small muscles in the upper back and neck.

There are various reasons you may be having pain on your left side above the hip. Learn more about the possible causes of your condition. What to know about hip tendonitis: Learn how to recognize what tendonitis feels like in the hip.

Sacroiliitis is a condition where the sacroiliac joint is inflamed. Learn what causes sacroiliitis, how sacroiliitis is diagnosed, and what is done to treat sacroiliitis.

Scapula pain is most commonly caused by injury or strain of the muscles in the back. Check out the center below for more medical references on back pain, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.