Millennial Movement
Despite a tendency to put off healthcare, younger generations can benefit from addressing joint pain now As a former high school volleyball player and competitive dancer, Evanston resident Stephanie Smith-Schellhorn has always been an active individual. Even now, the 37-year-old spends much of her time on the go, whether taking care of her teenage son, […]
Does Weather Affect Arthritis Pain?
Medical myths die hard. Maybe that’s because there’s no agreement on whether a common belief is indeed a myth. For example, there’s the longstanding belief that weather affects arthritis pain. Many of my patients notice a clear connection; some are so convinced of the link, they believe they can predict the weather better than the […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Evaluation Can Guide Treatment for Knee Pain
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: One year ago, I fell and broke my arm. While my arm has healed, my knees also have been bothering me since I fell. I have arthritis in both knees and a slight tear in the meniscus on one knee, but both knees are extremely painful when I walk. Is it possible […]
Three questions your doctor will ask about your aching joints
Over the years, a lot of people have come to see me about an aching knee, back, shoulder or other joint. The first thing I do with every patient is try to determine whether their arthritis is degenerative (less serious) or inflammatory (more serious). I start by asking three questions. 1. Does your pain get […]
Busting the Myth About Knuckle Cracking
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: People keep telling me to stop cracking my knuckles. Does it cause arthritis? A: Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many. It can become a habit or a way to deal with nervous energy; some describe it as a way to “release tension.” For some, […]
The mysterious rise in knee osteoarthritis
While there are more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is by far the most common. Osteoarthritis is the form of joint disease that’s often called “wear-and-tear” or “age-related,” although it’s more complicated than that. While it tends to affect older adults, it is not a matter of “wearing out” your joints the way tires […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: Seeking relief for morning foot pain
The Medicine Cabinet Q: Every morning when I get up my right foot hurts so much that I can hardly walk. In addition, I feel a burning and tingling sensation in my right foot and leg during the day. What could be causing this? A: You definitely need to seek medical evaluation. Your symptoms could […]
Rebuilding Man
Ankle replacements give patients more viability By Brett Dworski It’s been over 40 years since Dan Chesman, a former ROTC Naval Officer at Miami University in Ohio, shattered his ankle in a toboggan accident. At the time of the accident, back in 1972, the latest surgical treatment was to fuse the ankle bones together, which would have […]
Old Arthur Itis
Are the effects of arthritis just something we have to deal with as we age? By Karen Schwartz Ah, getting older… You wake up each morning, and that back pain makes it hard to get out of bed. Or perhaps you jogged around your neighborhood, and it feels like you’ve run a marathon. Should you […]
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Reducing the inflammation and painful, swollen, tender joints in rheumatoid arthritis not only gives much greater comfort but also reduces progression of the disease. On the other hand, patients need to be fairly certain that they do have active rheumatoid arthritis and not some other condition that resembles it including lupus, fibromyalgia and others. Many […]
Great Pains
The key to living with arthritis is good pain management Each year, 27 million Americans suffer from the chronic disease, osteoarthritis (OA). The cause of OA is still not completely understood, and there is no known cure. What is known is that arthritis hurts. Osteoarthritis can be either primary or secondary. Primary OA is a […]
