Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) describes an uncomfortable collection of problems affecting the outermost portion of your hip.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is 2-4 times more common in females. Sometimes the problem affects both hips at the same time. Approximately 1/3 of patients with GTPS have lower back pain. Patients who have arthritis in their hips and knees are more likely to suffer from ongoing complaints.

Your symptoms probably include a persistent pain on the outside of your hip, buttock, and upper thigh. Your discomfort may be aggravated by sitting with your leg crossed, arising from a seated position, prolonged standing, climbing stairs, and high-impact activities, like running. Sometimes patients find it difficult to sleep, since lying on the painful hip usually increases symptoms.

Conservative treatment, like the type provided in this office, is successful in about 90% of cases. If you have acute pain, you may need to temporarily limit or discontinue activities that increase your discomfort. Using ice or ice massage at home may help. Some patients find temporarily relief by applying sports creams. Very commonly, patients with pain on the outside of their hip suffer from weakness in one of their buttock muscles, called the “gluteus medius.” When this muscle lacks strength, it is unable to protect your hip during normal activities, like walking. Research has shown that strengthening your hip has a dramatic effect on your progress.

Athletes should avoid running on a banked surface, like the crown of a road or indoor track. Be sure to reverse directions each mile if you run on a circular track. Avoid running on wet or icy surfaces, as this can cause increased tension in your hip. Runners with a “lazy” narrow-based running gait will benefit by increasing their step width to minimize stress on their hip. Cyclists need to make sure that their seat is not positioned too high. Overweight patients should consider weight reduction programs. http://ow.ly/i/uUeyc

“Ramin says some chiropractors are completely ineffectual while some are treating patients the right way. Of the latter, “They have stopped seeking vertebral subluxations [partial dislocations] which don’t actually exist on any X-ray or any type of scan, and have moved onto the very excellent practice of rehabilitation. They may ultimately be a back patient’s best hope because they have studied exercise science and they have worked hard on it.””

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Acute torticollis, also called “wry neck,” is caused by an unbalanced muscle spasm on one side of your neck. There are dozens of potential causes for this painful condition, but yours was most likely caused when a joint in your neck became “stuck.” This restriction created a cycle of pain and spasm and as a result, your body is moving your neck away from this inflammation in an attempt to “decompress” the joint.

Torticollis often starts after sleeping in an awkward position, or sleeping under a draft from an open window or fan. Patients will sometimes report a history of unusual or strenuous activity the day before, such as new exercises, travel or something as simple as prolonged head rotation during a movie..

The condition causes a characteristic head tilt. Pain can be severe and even disturb your sleep. Movement of your head, especially into the side of pain, may be difficult or seemingly impossible. Be sure to tell your chiropractor if you develop a fever or symptoms that radiate into your arms or legs.

You should avoid sleeping on your stomach or in drafty conditions, as this would likely cause additional pain. You might even consider sleeping with your neck covered (with a turtleneck or scarf) for a couple of nights. A cervical support pillow may help prevent recurrences. Your chiropractor may recommend a topical cream to help relieve symptoms. Although Torticollis can make you look “crooked” and feel even worse, it generally resolves quickly with chiropractic treatment. http://ow.ly/i/uSf8l

Your posture plays an important role in your overall health. Poor posture leads to chronic strain and discomfort. “Upper crossed syndrome” describes poor posture that results from excessive tightness in your shoulders and chest with weakness in your neck and mid-back. This combination forces your shoulders to roll inward and your head to project forward. http://ow.ly/i/vCCWN

Your posture plays an important role in your overall health. Poor posture leads to chronic strain and discomfort. “Upper crossed syndrome” describes poor posture that results from excessive tightness in your shoulders and chest with weakness in your neck and mid-back. This combination forces your shoulders to roll inward and your head to project forward. http://ow.ly/i/vCCWN

Your posture plays an important role in your overall health. Poor posture leads to chronic strain and discomfort. “Upper crossed syndrome” describes poor posture that results from excessive tightness in your shoulders and chest with weakness in your neck and mid-back. This combination forces your shoulders to roll inward and your head to project forward. http://ow.ly/i/vCCWN

Your radial nerve begins in your neck and travels past your elbow en route to its final destination in your hand. Just beyond your elbow, this nerve passes through a 2-inch area on the back of your forearm called the “Radial tunnel”. “Radial tunnel syndrome” means that your radial nerve has been compressed or irritated within this space-leading to forearm pain or hand weakness.

Radial tunnel syndrome is thought to result from muscular overuse, especially prolonged or excessive wrist extension or rotation. The most common cause of compression comes from excessive tightness in a muscle called the “Supinator”. Workers whose jobs require heavy or repetitive wrist movements are at an increased risk for this disorder. Occasionally, the radial nerve can become irritated from direct compression by a tight band or brace. The condition may be more common in those who have diabetes or thyroid problems.

Symptoms from irritation of the radial nerve depend upon which specific nerve fibers are irritated. The most common symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling or decreased sensitivity along the top of your forearm radiating toward your hand and thumb. The symptoms often mimic those of “tennis elbow.” When the nerve fibers that control muscle function become compressed, you may experience weakness when trying to extend your fingers, hand or wrist. Seventy percent of radial tunnel patients also have problems in their neck or upper back.

Conservative treatment of radial tunnel syndrome is generally successful. Fixing the problem means limiting excessive or repetitive wrist movements, especially extension and rotation. In severe cases, a splint may be necessary to limit your motion. Try to avoid compression of your forearm, particularly from tight bands or braces. Use of a tennis elbow brace will likely aggravate your symptoms. You may find relief by applying ice or ice massage to the area for 10-15 minutes at a time. http://ow.ly/i/uGUh9 http://ow.ly/i/uGUi4

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From the Harvard blog:

Because some #medications carry significant risks, we really shouldn’t be recommending these right off the bat. Rather, we should be providing guidance on heating pad or hot water bottle use, and recommendations or referrals to #acupuncturists, #massage therapists, and #chiropractors.

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The “Rotator Cuff” describes a group of four muscles that hold your shoulder in its socket while your larger muscles move your arm. Your rotator cuff tendon lives in an area of your shoulder called the “subacromial space”. Sometimes this space can become crowded by: abnormally shaped bones, arthritis, spurs or even lazy muscles that fail to keep the bones separated properly. This overcrowding may create a painful pinching of the rotator cuff tendon and or bursa when you raise your arm. This condition is called “Shoulder Anterior Impingement Syndrome”, or simply “Impingement”. Long-standing impingement leads to rotator cuff tears in much the same way that a rope is damaged by repeatedly being struck by a dull stone.

Impingement is the most common shoulder disorder and accounts for about half of all shoulder complaints seen by physicians. Those who perform repetitive overhead activity are at greater risk for impingement. This includes athletes who participate in: swimming, baseball, volleyball, weightlifting and tennis as well as jobs like: carpenters, electricians, painters and wall paper hangers.

Impingement often starts after a period of overuse. Initially, your symptoms may be limited to a sharp pain during overhead activity or while reaching behind the back to fasten a bra or close a zipper. As your condition progresses, you may develop a constant ache that is present even at rest. Nighttime pain is common, often disrupting sleep. Impingement is a disorder that, if left untreated, will progress through 3 stages and eventually lead to rotator cuff tearing and surgery.
Your successful treatment will focus on restoring your range of motion while avoiding aggravating movements i.e. reaching overhead and behind your back. If you work out at the gym, you should especially avoid overhead presses, lateral raises and push-ups. Avoid sleeping on the “bad” shoulder, especially if this causes pain. You may benefit from sleeping on your “good” side and placing a pillow between your side and “bad” arm.

Therapy modalities like ultrasound, and ice may be used initially to relieve your pain. NSAIDS like ibuprofen are often helpful. Your doctor will use some specialized soft tissue manipulation and stretching to help loosen tight muscles and tendons. Specific strengthening exercises will be prescribed to help restore normal and pain- free function of your shoulder. http://ow.ly/i/uGMNS http://ow.ly/i/uGMVd