Help for Hip Pain
Many people develop hip pain as they get older. Here’s what you can do about it.
Keeping Muscles Strong
Strong muscles are an important component of moving well and avoiding injuries. Learn more.
Keep Your Knees Healthy
Don’t let a knee injury keep you on the couch. Learn what you can do to protect these vital joints.
Bones, Joints and Muscles Topics
Ask an Expert
James D. Kelly, M.D.
SPMF San Francisco HMO Network
I’m having extreme pain in my shoulder near my shoulder blade down to my fingers, with tingling in my hand and fingers. What is causing this and what should I do?
Those symptoms are most commonly associated with a pinched nerve in the neck, a condition called a "cervical radiculopathy." The specific treatment you might need depends upon several factors such as how long y... continue reading about I’m having extreme pain in my shoulder near my shoulder blade down to my fingers, with tingling in my hand and fingers. What is causing this and what should I do?
Suzanne E. Pertsch, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Is it normal to have tingling and numbness in the fingers sometimes? What causes this? Could it be from a pinched nerve?
It is very normal to have tingling in the hands or fingers on occasion. Most of us know exactly what you are referring to since we have experienced it for ourselves. Tingling fingers can be caused by a nerve th... continue reading about Is it normal to have tingling and numbness in the fingers sometimes? What causes this? Could it be from a pinched nerve?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?
Like all nerves, the sciatic nerve originates from the spinal cord and is made up of a bundle of those nerves. It travels within the pelvis, and exits the pelvis to the back of the thigh deep into the buttock. ... continue reading about Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?
Arfan Din, D.O.
Sutter Medical Foundation
I've been having knee pain when I bend it and when it's straight. It's also a little swollen above the kneecap. I'm hoping that this is just a mild sprain, but six years ago I had a blood clot in the same leg just below the knee. Should I be worried?
Knee pain as you describe best fits the picture of a condition we call patellar femoral syndrome. This is a very common condition of the knee that often occurs with activity. Patellar femoral syndrome is typica... continue reading about I've been having knee pain when I bend it and when it's straight. It's also a little swollen above the kneecap. I'm hoping that this is just a mild sprain, but six years ago I had a blood clot in the same leg just below the knee. Should I be worried?
Alexander M. Reyzelman, DPM
SEBMF HMO Network
I sprained my foot/ankle about three weeks ago. The X-rays showed that there were no breaks. The swelling has gone down but it’s still there, and my ankle is somewhat painful at times. Is swelling for this long normal?
Ankle sprains can take a long time to heal. Three weeks is very early in the process, and being careful with your ankle for up to six weeks is realistic. Avoid running and jumping activities for the next three ... continue reading about I sprained my foot/ankle about three weeks ago. The X-rays showed that there were no breaks. The swelling has gone down but it’s still there, and my ankle is somewhat painful at times. Is swelling for this long normal?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I am trying to prevent osteoporosis. What supplements and foods are best?
There's a lot we can do to help prevent osteoporosis, a "weakening" of the bones that can happen over time as we age (osteoporosis literally means "porous bones"). Both exercise and calcium intake can help keep... continue reading about I am trying to prevent osteoporosis. What supplements and foods are best?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I find as I have gotten older (mid 40's), my feet get sore easily and in my workout shoes, I now need extra support. Is this typical? Do feet age like the rest of us, and is there anything I can do to better support my feet?
Our feet undergo changes throughout our lives. This is because the twenty six bones are supported and held together by a complex myriad of ligaments, tendons and muscles. As we age, and especially if we gain we... continue reading about I find as I have gotten older (mid 40's), my feet get sore easily and in my workout shoes, I now need extra support. Is this typical? Do feet age like the rest of us, and is there anything I can do to better support my feet?
Arfan Din, D.O.
Sutter Medical Foundation
I've been suffering from lower back pain for two years. I've had an MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays, but they can't find anything wrong. However I still have constant pain. What other tests can be done to find the reason for my pain?
Back pain can generally be divided into two categories: Acute (less than four weeks duration)Chronic (greater than four weeks duration)Acute back pain is very common and is one of the top reasons that patients ... continue reading about I've been suffering from lower back pain for two years. I've had an MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays, but they can't find anything wrong. However I still have constant pain. What other tests can be done to find the reason for my pain?
Arfan Din, D.O.
Sutter Medical Foundation
I wake up with my right hand numb. My thumb and middle finger seem the worst. It takes awhile for the numbness to wear off. I work in a grocery store, so I'm always on my feet and on the register. What should I do?
Numbness in the hand could be due to a number of factors. Typically we describe this as a "neuropathy" which means the nerve is not working normally. We have nerves that travel throughout our body and when they... continue reading about I wake up with my right hand numb. My thumb and middle finger seem the worst. It takes awhile for the numbness to wear off. I work in a grocery store, so I'm always on my feet and on the register. What should I do?
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