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When we talk about pain, it's important to use the right words. In medical jargon you often see the term “chronic,” but that can be misleading. “Chronic” may imply that your pain will last forever, which usually isn't the case. Even healthcare professionals don't always agree on its precise meaning – is pain chronic after three months? Or does it require six months? For this reason it's better to use the terms “persistent” or “peristent” (persistent is preferable). These describe your situation more accurately: your pain has been present for a longer time, but that doesn't mean it must remain so forever.
Nerve pain (medically called neuralgia) is an unpleasant condition that can significantly affect your daily life. You are not alone with this problem – a large portion of people will face some form of it during their lives. In this article you will find important information about nerve pain, its various forms of presentation, and most importantly: effective treatment options, with special attention to methods you can use at home.
Torticollis is a Latin term meaning a tilted neck: the head tilts to the side, turns or bends forwards or backwards against your will. However, what we commonly call a “crooked neck” is actually an umbrella term – at least three very different conditions can hide behind it, each requiring completely different action.
Neck pain is one of the most common complaints today – it affects 10–24% of adults during a given period (Martimbianco et al., Cochrane 2019, PMID 31830313). Computer work, stress, a poor sleeping position and draughts – everyone encounters it. The good news is that a significant proportion of mild and moderate neck problems can be meaningfully eased at home, without medication, using a simple electrotherapy device: a TENS device.
Among musculoskeletal disorders, hip conditions are not confined to old age. Hip pain is a common complaint that can be caused by many different problems. Precisely locating the hip pain can provide valuable clues to the underlying cause. Problems arising within the hip joint itself typically cause pain deep in the hip or in the groin. Sharp pain on the outside of the hip, the upper thigh, or the outer buttock usually suggests problems with the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint […]
Burning foot syndrome typically causes symptoms that worsen at night. Affected people usually describe a burning, pins-and-needles type pain, most commonly located on the sole, around the ankle and sometimes on the lower leg. Although there may be no visible signs on the feet, the agonizing pain can make it impossible to sleep. Sleepless nights and days filled with suffering significantly reduce your quality of life. […]
Shoulder pain refers to sensitivity in and around the shoulder joint. The shoulder is not a single joint but a group of joints held and connected by tendons and muscles. This arrangement allows the arms a wide range of motion. While this mobility is an advantage, it also brings a vulnerability: because of its structure the shoulder can become unstable. In addition, painful conditions can develop due to impingement between soft tissues and bones […]
The foot is a complex structure of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles, containing 26 bones and 33 joints. It is strong enough to bear the entire body's weight. Because of its complexity, however, it is prone to injuries and pain. This can be caused by a condition affecting the whole body or by a problem local to the foot. Any part of the foot can be affected, from the toes to the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel.
Heel pain most often occurs at the bottom or back of the heel. Although it rarely indicates a serious disease, it can interfere with everyday activities—particularly making physical activity difficult. The foot (from below the ankle to the toes) is made up of 26 bones, the largest of which is the heel bone. The heel's job is to provide a stable support for the body's weight, which is why our heel is subjected to significant impact with every step. This area is more vulnerable, and pain here significantly affects mobility. Heel pain is one of the most common complaints affecting the foot.
You've almost certainly experienced tight or aching muscles. Muscle pain may affect a small muscle (for example the sternocleidomastoid in a stiff neck) but it can also involve the whole body. Its intensity ranges from mild to excruciating. A large portion of muscle pain resolves on its own within a short time, but sometimes you may feel it for months. “There can be a thousand causes,” one might say. Here I list the most common ones (presented in alphabetical order).
We speak of leg pain when pain is felt in the lower limb (the area from the thigh to the toes). Leg pain can appear suddenly or gradually. It can be constant or intermittent. It may affect the whole leg or only a localized area, such as the shin, the ankle or the knee. The sensation can take many forms, for example stabbing, sharp, pulling, dull, burning, […]
