PAIN MANAGEMENT

If you are experiencing lack of circulation, pain, or heaviness in certain areas, you might be having vascular pain. This develops when there is interruption in blood flow to a tissue, organ or nerves. Often times pain can be centralize in the shoulder known as Adhesive Capsulitis or in the knee known as Osteoarthritis.

Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, the medical term for “Frozen Shoulder”, is a stiffness in the shoulder joints that is due to overgrowth of fibrous tissue within the shoulder joint. This tissue is known as the shoulder capsule.

In many cases, there is no history of injury or there is a very mild injury. Many patients will say that they woke up with a sore shoulder one morning which just kept getting worse. In any case, a proliferative process of fibrous tissue growth ensues rapidly and results in pain and reduced mobility. This condition typically worsens over weeks to months.

Frozen shoulder is most common in women, and is more likely to occur between the ages of 40 and 60. If you are recovering from a stroke or a surgical procedure that prevents the movement of your arm, that can increase your risk of developing frozen shoulder. Medical conditions like heart and thyroid disease, Parkinson’s, and diabetes have also been linked to frozen shoulder.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis or DJD of the knee is a condition in which the cartilage and underlying bone of the knee breaks down over time. Without cartilagen, the bones can begin to rub together. After enough time, this can cause the formation of painful growths known as bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis of the knee most commonly affects older demographics, but patients of any age can experience this progressive disintegration of cartilage. Other common risk factors include a history of knee injury, or a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis. Obesity also contributes significantly to the development of osteoarthritis, as excess weight can put a strain on the joints of the knee.

Spinal Fracture

Spine fractures can be painful and make daily life hard. When discussing your back pain with your primary care physician, an X-ray is often the first imaging order for diagnoses for spine fractures. Because a MRI can determine the age of fractures, it is often the most effective scan in determining treatment options for treating spine fractures. For patients who cannot undergo an MRI, a nuclear medicine bone scan may be sufficient.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious and common complication of diabetes. It’s a type of nerve damage caused by long-term high blood sugar levels. The condition often develops before diagnosis of diabetes is made and can worsen overtime.

If you have diabetes and notice numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in your hands or feet, these are early symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The danger is usually when you can’t feel pain and an ulcer develops on your foot.

In cases of severe or prolonged peripheral neuropathy, you may be vulnerable to injuries or infections. In serious cases, poor wound healing or infection can lead to amputation.