Bones, Joints and Muscles Health

Yes, women who wear high heels can develop a shortening of the Achilles tendon. The height of the heel and how long she has been wearing this type of shoe are contributing factors. As you note, many ladies who ... continue reading  about  Do women wearing high heels experience/suffer from shortened Achilles tendons? Does wearing flat heels cause pain for high heel wearers? Are there any therapeutic exercises or stretches that can help?

This type of pain is usually caused by repetitive use, so called repetitive stress. We don't have a physiologic explanation for it. The location of pain is usually normal on imaging studies. The pain is related... continue reading  about  I sit hunched up at a computer all day, and my shoulders and elbows are really starting to ache. Is there anything I can do, other than just taking a break, to help prevent this pain?

Thanks for the great question. It sounds like your fall led to an injury to the front part of the knee around the knee cap. This is common when the fall happens on a flexed knee - lots of pain, but it generally... continue reading  about  I fell two weeks ago on the sidewalk and hurt the side and top of my knee. It really swelled and was painful to the touch. Now it's much better but it is still sensitive when I kneel on it. Should I continue to give it some time?

Typically muscle cramps that are associated with poor circulation occur only during walking. Classical symptoms of poor circulation are the calves feeling heavy and fatigued, and the person needing to stop and ... continue reading  about  What does it mean when I keep getting cramps in my toes and occasionally my calves? I have a heart condition and was wondering if the cramps could have something to do with poor circulation?

This is a very common complaint in my office. The sensation of "popping out of place" or "giving way" can be very frustrating to patients because they really can't seem to trust their knees. Secondary injuries ... continue reading  about  My right knee pops out with every step that I take and it hurts all the time. It's been doing this for about two years. I've been to a doctor, but was told that nothing is wrong. My knee would not be hurting like this if it was nothing. Help!

This is an extremely common question, and I'm glad you brought it up. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a "wear and tear" phenomenon that affects the majority of the population during their later years. It is not a... continue reading  about  I am 79 years old and fairly fit, but I have some problems with balance and a lot of pain in my knees. An orthopedist said I had "bone-on-bone" issues. Do you have any advice for me that could help me make a decision about knee replacements?

Pain on the ball of the foot has many possible causes. It's important to find the underlying cause. Is it a musculoskeletal problem (muscle, tendon, ligament, bone or local nerve entrapment)? Or is it a neurolo... continue reading  about  For the past five to six years, the balls of my feet hurt and burn all the time. I've tried inserts, Dansko shoes, foot soaks, as well as pain and nerve medications. Any suggestions?

Pain and numbness that spans a region encompassing the upper back, to the shoulders, to the elbows, to the wrists and the hands definitely involves one of the three major nerves that travel the length of the up... continue reading  about  I have pain and numbness across my upper back, in my shoulders, down my arms and through my elbows, wrists and hands. I know I have ulnar nerve damage of some kind. How do I start to ease the pain and numbness so I can sleep and work comfortably?

It is most likely a ganglion cyst, which is a benign, fluid-filled sac that extends from the wrist joint. They tend to wax and wane in size and if it is large enough, they can be drained. Back in the wild west ... continue reading  about  I have had a lump on my left wrist for over a year. It was bigger at one time and now is small. Sometimes in protrudes through the skin. Should I be worried about this? It doesn't hurt.