Like many of you, I had a lot of questions and hesitations before the vaccine was officially available, so I did A LOT of research in the past several weeks to find the answers. I am writing this newsletter to share my findings with you. Before I start, let me […]
Read MoreContents1 What is Psoritatic Arthritis?2 What causes psoriatic arthritis?3 Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis4 How is psoriatic arthritis diagnosed?5 Psoriatic arthritis treatment: What is Psoritatic Arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can be seen in people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can cause patches […]
Read MoreHow is it diagnosed? Ankylosing spondylitis is diagnosed starting with a thorough history, asking about symptoms and risk factors discussed in previous sections. A detailed exam is necessary to find any kind of inflammatory back signs, peripheral arthritis, or extra-articular manifestations. Certain maneuvers and measurements should be performed in the […]
Read MoreWhat are the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis? AS is characterized mainly by inflammatory back pain (described below). Inflammation can occur in several areas, leading to pain and stiffness. These include: Sacroiliac and spinal joints Hip and shoulder joints “Peripheral” arthritis: smaller joint such as the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, and feet […]
Read MoreAnkylosing Spondylitis is the most common condition from this group. Also known as AS, this form of arthritis primarily affects the spine, and can cause chronic pain, discomfort, stiffness, and eventually fusing of the bones, leading to decreased mobility. Contents1 Who gets it?2 What exactly happens in the disease?3 MORE […]
Read MoreThe signs of inflammation include pain, redness, swelling, heat, and loss of function. Though inflammation is a very complex process involving our immune system (mostly innate immunity and not adaptive immunity which is more specific), there is a delicate balance we must have to stay healthy. No inflammation can cause […]
Read MoreContents1 What is it?2 Who gets it?3 What exactly happens in the disease?4 What are the symptoms?5 How is it diagnosed?6 How is it treated?7 References What is it? Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is a relatively common inflammatory condition that causes aching pain and stiffness in the shoulders, hips, neck, and […]
Read MoreContents1 What causes thumb pain?2 Ways to decrease thumb pain:2.1 1) Bracing2.2 2) Topical analgesic creams2.3 3) Strengthening exercises2.4 4) Thermal modalities2.5 5) Joint preservation techniques What causes thumb pain? The most common causes of thumb pain are arthritis and tendonitis. De Quervain’s tendonitis is caused by the inflammation of […]
Read MoreContents1 Osteoarthritis Treatment- One problem, many solutions2 1. Conservative Therapy2.1 Weight loss2.2 Physical Therapy2.3 Cold/Heat Therapy3 Supplements3.1 Assistive devices3.2 TENS unit3.3 Acupuncture4 2. Medications4.1 Acetaminophen (Tylenol)4.2 Pain medications4.3 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)4.4 Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)5 3. Joint injections5.1 Corticosteroid injections5.2 Hyaluronic acid injections5.2.1 6 4. Surgery6.1 Arthroscopic joint surgery-6.2 Joint fusion6.3 […]
Read MoreContents1 How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?2 Medical history3 Physical Exam4 X-Rays5 Labs6 Joint Fluid7 Reference: How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? Osteoarthritis is diagnosed with a combination of medical history, physical exam, xrays, labs, and possibly other tests. Medical history There are several “clues” a physician looks for in differentiating osteoarthritis from other […]
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