Adhesive capsulitis, or “frozen shoulder”, describes a long-standing and ongoing painful limitation of shoulder motion. Frozen shoulder progresses through three stages. The first stage is the painful “freezing” stage that includes a progressive loss of shoulder motion. The second “frozen” stage is characterized by an ongoing and sometimes dramatic loss of range of motion that can last several months. The final “thawing” stage entails decreasing pain and improved mobility.

Most patients report a slow onset of pain and stiffness that started following an event, (i.e. fall/surgery) or another condition (i.e. rotator cuff strain, bursitis, etc.) Some patients are not able to identify a cause for their problem. Your range of motion will be most limited with reaching overhead, behind your back, or to the side. Sometimes this can pose a challenge for grooming and dressing. You may feel a grinding or popping when you move your shoulder. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice fever, night sweats, excessive thirst, excessive urination, nausea, chest pain/ pressure, or shortness of breath.

Patients with diabetes or thyroid disease are much more likely to develop adhesive capsulitis. The condition is most common in the 40-65 year old population. Females are affected more frequently, and there is no preference for handedness. If you have had a prior episode in the opposite arm, you are at greater risk.
While there is no single treatment that can quickly “cure” adhesive capsulitis, our office may help. It is important that you understand that this condition improves very slowly. Be patient with your recovery. Some patients can require several months to regain function, while a minority of patients report permanent stiffness. If needed, you may apply ice or heat to your shoulder for 15-20 minutes at a time at home. http://ow.ly/i/uGNdM

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Your spine consists of 24 individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other. Flexible cushions called “discs” live between each set of vertebrae. A disc is made up of two basic components. The inner disc, called the “nucleus”, is like a ball of jelly about the size of a marble. This jelly is held in place by the outer part of the disc called the “annulus”, which is wrapped around the inner nucleus much like a ribbon wrapping around your finger. The term lumbar disc lesion means that your disc has been damaged.

Disc lesions start when the outer fibers of the disc become strained or frayed. If enough fibers become frayed, this can create a weakness and when the disc is compressed, the outer fibers may “bulge” or “protrude” like a weak spot on an inner tube. If more fibers are damaged, the nucleus of the disc may “herniate” outward. Since the spinal cord and nerve roots live directly behind the disc, bulges that are accompanied by inflammation will likely create lower back pain that radiates into the buttock or the entire lower extremity. This condition is called sciatica. If the disc bulge is significant enough to create a mechanical compression of your nerve, you may also experience loss of your reflexes and weakness. Be sure to let our office know if you notice progressive weakness or numbness, any numbness around your groin, any loss of bowel or bladder control or fever.

Surprisingly, disc bulges are present without any symptoms in about 1/3 of the adult population. Another one third of adults will experience pain from a lumbar disc at some point in their lifetime. The condition is more common in men. Most lumbar disc problems occur at one of the two lowest discs- L5 or L4. Smokers and people who are generally inactive have a higher risk of lumbar disc problems. Certain occupations may place you at a greater risk, especially if you spend extended periods of time sitting or driving. People who are tall or overweight have increased risk of disc problems. The condition is uncommon in children and is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.

Researches have shown that disc bulges and sciatica may be successfully managed with conservative care like the type we will provide. http://ow.ly/i/uGmaY

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Your hip socket or “acetabulum” is covered by smooth, glassy cartilage extending all the way to its outer rim. The term “Femoroacetabular impingement” (FAI) means that this rim of cartilage is being pinched when you move your hip into certain positions. Repetitive pinching results in irritation, tearing, or even detachment of this cartilage from your hip socket.

FAI occurs because of a mismatch between the head of your femur and the socket of your hip. The mismatch may be from an abnormally shaped hip bone (cam deformity), or having too much cartilage on the rim of your hip socket (pincer deformity). Most frequently, FAI results from a combination of both (combined or mixed deformity).
FAI is most common in young active people. Although the deformity may be present on both sides, symptoms are usually one-sided. The condition is equally common among men and women. Symptoms of FAI include a constant dull pain with periods of sharp pain, made worse by activity. Walking, pivoting, prolonged sitting, stair climbing, and impact activities like running or jumping can aggravate your symptoms. Snapping, locking, and clicking are common.

Our office will help direct a rehab program to maximize your chance of recovery. You should attempt to stay active, but avoid activities that aggravate symptoms. You may consider temporarily switching to low-impact activities, like stationary biking or water-walking. You should avoid motions that combine flexion and internal rotation, like- getting out of a car with one leg at a time, swimming the breaststroke, or performing squats. Patients with FAI should avoid excessive stretching, as this could aggravate the condition, but will likely benefit from strengthening exercises in the type of treatment provided in this office. http://ow.ly/i/uUeNI

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