A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. If you’ve ever been awakened in the night or stopped in your tracks by a sudden charley horse, you know that muscle cramps can cause severe pain. Muscle cramps are a common problem characterized by a sudden, painful, involuntary contraction … [Read more…]
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. You may still feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but … [Read more…]
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN or TGN) is a chronic pain uncommon disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of lancinating pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution that affects the trigeminal nerve. Typically, brief attacks are triggered by talking, chewing, teeth brushing, shaving, a light touch, or even a cool breeze. The pain is nearly always unilateral, and it may occur repeatedly throughout … [Read more…]
Torticollis is involuntary tonic contractions or intermittent spasms of neck muscles causing the neck to turn from its usual position. It can be present at birth (congenital), inherited or develop as a result of damage to the nervous system or muscles. Torticollis with recurrent, but transient contraction of the muscles of the neck and especially … [Read more…]
Bell’s palsy is an idiopathic, acute, unilateral paresis or paralysis of the face in a pattern consistent with peripheral facial nerve dysfunction, and may be partial or complete, occurring with equal frequency on the right and left sides of the face. There is evidence that Bell’s palsy is caused by herpes viruses. Additional symptoms of … [Read more…]
Angina pectoris (Latin for squeezing of the chest) – is chest pain, discomfort, or tightness that occurs when an area of the heart muscle is receiving decreased blood oxygen supply. It is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. Angina is a Latin word … [Read more…]
Hypertension is high blood pressure, a very common condition in older adults. Blood pressure is the physical force exerted by the blood as it pushes against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure readings are written in two numbers separated by a line. The top number represents the systolic blood pressure and the bottom number … [Read more…]
Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to … [Read more…]
Sexual dysfunction (or sexual malfunction or sexual disorder) is difficulty experienced by an individual or a couple during any stage of normal sexual activity, including physical pleasure, desire, preference, arousal or orgasm. According to the DSM-5, sexual dysfunction requires a person to feel extreme distress and interpersonal strain for a minimum of 6 months (excluding substance or medication-induced sexual dysfunction). Sexual dysfunctions can have a profound impact on … [Read more…]
Brown-Séquard syndrome is characterized by anatomical disruption of nerve fiber tracts in one half of the spinal cord. Disruption of descending lateral corticospinal tracts, ascending dorsal column and ascending spinothalamic tracts leads to ipsilateral hemiplegia and loss of proprioception and vibration with contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation below the level of injuries. Common … [Read more…]
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder in the human body that primarily affects multiple joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, tenderness, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest or a special night. The most commonly affected joints are the wrist, leg, and hands with the same joints typically involved … [Read more…]
Gout is a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow. It affects the spine often enough to be a factor in back pain. Gout usually comes on suddenly, goes away after … [Read more…]