Bones, Joints, Muscles and Connective Tissue Diseases Archives - Healthhype

Leg Joint Pain

Dr. Chris — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:25:42 +0000

Joint pain in the legs can make walking and standing difficult, often contributing to a change in gait. The pressure of supporting the upper body weight when suffering with a joint disorder can aggravate joint pain and swelling and it is important to seek appropriate treatment or it can hamper daily functioning. The knee and ankle are prone to a number of joint disorders, although diseases affecting the smaller joints of the toes can be equally painful and disturbing. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and occurs due to the wearing down of cartilages in the joints, and occurs more frequently in the elderly. Women are more affected than men. Hereditary factors and a history of joint injury may be among the risk factors for developing osteoarthritis. It is a chronic degenerative disease which can affect any joint but leg pain occurs when it involves the hips, knees, and low back area. There is pain in the joints during and after movement such as walking, stiffness of the joints (especially on getting up in the morning or after a period of inactivity), and restriction of joint mobility. X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help in diagnosis, and [...]

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Sacrum and Coccyx (Tailbone) of the Spine Anatomy and Pictures

Dr. Chris — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:01:08 +0000

Sacrum Anatomy The sacrum is a single wedge-shaped bone formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae. In childhood, the sacral vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs in much the same manner as the upper parts of the spinal column. However, around the age of 20 these vertebrae start to fuse by ossification of the discs. This is a gradual process and it is not uncommon for ossification to only be completed up to or even beyond 40 years. The sacrum is wider in proportion to the length in females although the first sacral vertebra (S1) is larger in males. The vertebral column which houses the spinal cord continues in the sacrum. The sacral canal contains a bundle of spinal nerve roots known as the cauda equina (Latin for ‘horse tail’). These nerves exit the sacrum through the four pairs of sacral foramina on the anterior (pelvic) and posterior (dorsal) surfaces. The pelvic surface faces anteriorly (front) and is smooth and concave. Examination of the pelvic surface reveals four transverse lines which indicate where the sacral vertebrae have fused. The dorsal surface faces posteriorly and is rough and convex. The longitudinal ridges in the middle of the dorsal surface [...]

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Hip Pain and Hip Joint Pain – Causes and Other Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:35:27 +0000

The hip is the area on the side of the buttock and is made up of several muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. Hip pain is mainly due to disorders of the muscles, its tendons and or surrounding ligaments or may be due to the hip joint. The latter is more common and chronic hip joint problems are seen more frequently with advancing age. It is a common joint pain in the elderly. As one of the most mobile joint in the body and bearing the entire weight of the upper body along with additional strain with impact like running, the hip joint is prone to various problems. Pain can therefore be an indicator of many underlying diseases. The hip joint is known as the acetabulofemoral joint. It is the point where the femur (thigh bone) articulates with the pelvic bone. The hip joint is a ball and socket synovial joint. The head of the femur is the “ball” while the acetabulum of the pelvis is the cup-like surface that serves as the “socket”. It is somewhat similar to the shoulder joint although it is much more stable given the deeper socket. As with any joint, cartilaginous surfaces allow for smoother [...]

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Elbow Pain and Elbow Joint Pain Causes and Other Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:31:38 +0000

Elbow Anatomy Elbow pain may arise from any of the several structures making up the elbow or from structures around the elbow. It is important to understand the anatomy of the elbow in order to identify possible causes of elbow pain. The elbow is a complex joint that is responsible for movement in more than one axis. It allows for motion of the forearm and serves as a major site of attachment for the muscle tendons of the wrist and fingers. Given that the arms are the most active parts of the human body and often undergoing significant strain and wear-and-tear, elbow pain is not an uncommon occurrence. Bones The elbow is the area between the upper and lower arm (forearm). It is a joint that is made of three bones – humerus (upper arm bone) and radius and ulnar (forearm bones). There three points of articulation between the humerus and radius, humerus and ulnar and the radius and ulnar. The articulating surfaces of these bones is covered with cartilage to prevent erosion of the bone and serve as a shock absorber.. The most prominent features of the elbow is the protrusion at the back (posterior) which is formed by [...]

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Bone Tuberculosis and Back TB (Pott’s Disease)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:02:31 +0000

What is bone TB? Tuberculosis (TB) is a well known infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis ~ lung TB). However, it can affect various other sites of the body and is then referred to as extrapulmonary TB. When it affects the bone, it is known as tuberculous osteomyelitis or simply bone tuberculosis (TB). The weight bearing bones and joints are most commonly affected – the spinal column, followed by the knees and hips. The joints of these bones are also often involved but TB of the joints (tuberculous arthritis) usually has a predilection for the the hips and knees. Other bones and joints, like that of the wrist, hand and elbow may also be affected typically after an injury to these areas. The bone, with its hard outer surface, is often thought to be impermeable to an infection. However, the inner soft tissue of the bone is just as prone to an infection as with any other part of the body. Bone tuberculosis almost always occurs secondary to an active tuberculous infection in some other organ. It reaches the bone by traveling through the bloodstream (hematogenous spread). At other times it can spread to the bone through [...]

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Arthrosis Define, Causes, Symptoms Treatment, Difference

Dr. Chris — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:45:07 +0000

Arthrosis Definition Arthrosis has two definitions – one anatomical (part of the body) and one pathological (disease). Arthrosis is the term for any joint in the body(Greek ~arthros). A joint in turn is the point where two bones meet in a manner which allows for movement (articulation). The different types of joints – ball and socket, hinge, condyloid, pivot, gliding and saddle joints – articulate in specific ways. Arthrosis is also the term for a degenerative disease of the joint where the cartilage lining the joint erodes over time. Arthrosis is a broad term for degenerative and other diseases of the joint and is more commonly understood in the form of osteoarthritis. Therefore the term arthosis is sometimes considered to be synonymous with osteoarthritis while at other times arthrosis is seen as a prelude to or the early stages of osteoarthritis. Arthrosis Meaning What is arthrosis? Arthrosis is not a commonly used term to describe degenerative joint disease. To fully grasp the meaning of arthrosis, it is important to first understand the anatomy of the joint. The ends of bones that are part of a joint have a smooth surface known as the subchondral bone. Over it lies the articular [...]

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Shoulder Pain Causes and Other Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:24:22 +0000

Shoulder problems are common conditions and mainly present as pain and/or limited mobility. Although the more persistent problems tend to affect middle-aged and older people, any person can be afflicted with a shoulder problem like shoulder pain. This is largely due to the strain that the shoulder joint has to bear at times. It is a highly mobile joint allowing the upper limbs a large degree of movement to carry out various tasks in everyday like. The shoulder is the area containing the joint, surrounding muscles and supporting tendons that connects the upper limbs (arms) to the torso of the body. It lies between the neck and arm. Three important bones make up the shoulder – the shoulder blade (scapula), humerus (upper arm bone) and clavicle (collarbone). The main joint of the shoulder is a ball and socket joint known as the glenohumeral joint. The rounded head of the humerus is the “ball” while the glenoid fossa of the scapula serves as the socket. The other joint at this site is formed by the scapula and clavicle ans is known as acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The shoulder is highly mobile but the shallow glenoid fossa does not make for the most [...]

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Gout (Uric Acid Crystals in Joints) and Gouty Arthritis Attacks

Dr. Chris — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:44:57 +0000

What is gout? Gout is a disorder where uric acid crystals accumulate in and around the joints as a result of high levels of uric acid in the blood and tissue fluids (hyperuricemia). This leads to transient attacks of painful joint inflammation (gouty arthritis). Another similar condition which is caused by raised levels of calcium pyrophosphate is known as pseudogout. These conditions are the two most common crystal-induced joint diseases (arthropathies) caused by endogenous crystals. Similar joint diseases can occur with endogenous (from within the body) and exogenous (external sources) crystals. Gout is more likely to affect men than women, occur in those with a family history of gout, is rare before the age of 30 years and is more frequently seen in spring. However, it is not a seasonal disorder and can affect a person at any time of the year. Uric Acid and Urates Uric acid is produced in the body and then excreted through the kidneys. A small amount of this uric acid comes from the breakdown of cells but most is derived from the breakdown of purines which is abundant in proteins. Uric acid can exist in the form of different salts and ions known as [...]

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Brittle Bones Tests, Scans and Other Diagnostic Investigations

Dr. Chris — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:42:13 +0000

Screening for osteoporosis in high risk groups like postmenopausal women, elderly men, or patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy is always advisable for early detection. Management of osteoporosis also requires recording of the baseline values of parameters for monitoring the progress of osteoporosis therapy. The diagnostic procedure becomes more complex in younger patients without any known risk factors and therefore other uncommon causes of osteoporosis also have to be investigated these individuals. The most important investigations related to early detection and management of osteoporosis are radiological investigation, laboratory tests and biomarker studies. The traditional diagnostic tests for diagnosis of osteoporosis are radiological investigations. Radiological studies ranging from conventional radiography to complicated imaging studies may be used as an aid in diagnosis of osteoporosis. The gold standard osteoporosis diagnostic study is the bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. BMD measurement can be done with any of the imaging study options available. Common imaging study options available for BMD estimation include : single/double-photon absorptiometry (SPA/DPA) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scanning magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) EXA is the most commonly used method among the options available for measuring BMD. Best results of fracture risk assessment related to osteoporosis are obtained with [...]

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Inflamed Joints (Arthritis) Causes, Pathophysiology, Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:52:31 +0000

What is arthritis? Arthritis is the term for inflammation of the joint. It is usually characterized by pain and stiffness of the joint. While arthritis is more frequently seen in the elderly and often associated with wear and tear on the joint, it can also afflict young people and even children. The two more common types of arthritis seen are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which affects the elderly and young adults respectively. A joint is a site where two bones articulate with each other. It provides flexibility, mobility and stability to the different parts of the body and the body as a whole. It is made up of several different types of tissue n a configuration which is ideally suited for flexibility, bearing weight and providing stability to the site. Types of Joints Joints may be classified either as synovial (cavitated) or non-synovial (solid). Synovial joints have a greater degree of movement. The two bones are separated by a space with a surrounding synovial lining and capsule. The synovial lining (synovial membrane/synovium) produces synovial fluid which occupies the joint space and acts as a lubricant and shock absorber. The fluid also provides oxygen and nutrients to the cartilage [...]

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