Pain Management

Strides have been made in acknowledging and understanding fibromyalgia, but challenges remain. No blood or imaging test can confirm it, and there is no single solution to manage it. It takes a multipronged approach to ease its debilitating symptoms. “Fibromyalgia is a chronic, stress-related condition that affects about 5% of the population and at least 20% […]

We rely on our shoulders, which provide the widest range of motion of any joint in the body, for countless everyday activities. Shoulder pain can seriously interfere with daily life. If you have pain in your upper arm when you reach up for something on a high shelf or when you stretch your arm out […]

Q: I have scoliosis and have been told there is no cure. How can I deal with the pain? A: Scoliosis is a sideways curve in the spine. The disorder can develop in childhood, but adult-onset scoliosis is even more common. Many adults ages 60 and older have some amount of spine curvature that can […]

Sharp, stabbing pain at the elbow that doesn’t go away may mean you have what is commonly referred to as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. In medical terminology these are called tendinopathies because they involve tendons. Tendons are cords of fibrous tissue that attach a muscle to a bone. Tennis elbow occurs when the tendon […]

Treating osteoarthritis usually involves a combination of approaches. The location and severity of joint symptoms, such as pain, swelling and stiffness, along with other considerations will dictate the most effective therapies. Osteoarthritis results from loss of cartilage in joints. Cartilage is a tough, somewhat elastic material that covers the ends of bones, allowing for smooth […]

Back pain is very common, and it can make even simple daily tasks agonizing. Pulling or overstretching muscles and ligaments are common causes. As we get older, osteoarthritis in the spine can also contribute to a painful back. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing down of cartilage, which is the covering over the ends of […]

Pain in the groin, stiffness at the hip and increased pain while walking are all signs you may have hip osteoarthritis. If this is the case, you may be tempted to rest to avoid aggravating the joint. But movement and exercise are good for arthritis. And too much rest can make it worse. Cleveland Clinic […]

Q: Ive been taking alendronate (Fosamax) for osteoporosis for four years. Do I need to stop? If so, for how long?A: The drug you are taking is a type of drug called a bisphosphonate. There are three other drugs in this class, which are all used for the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. They are risedronate (Actonel), ibandronate (Boniva) and zoledronic acid (Reclast).

If you have osteoarthritis and you are looking for an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, consider curcumin.

Statins are commonly-used drugs to lower cholesterol. Some studies have found that these drugs may also have a positive effect on bones. According to a recent study, the effect may depend on the dose. The study, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (September 2019), examined the relationship between statins and the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. Researchers analyzed health data on 353,502 people who took statins, 11,701 of whom were diagnosed with osteoporosis. They were compared with over 7 million people who did not take statins. Overall, those who took statins were more likely than nonusers to have osteoporosis. However, the effect depended on the dose. Those who took a low statin dose of 10 milligrams (mg) a day actually had up to a 60% reduced risk of osteoporosis. Taking 40 mg or more of simvastatin or 20 mg or more of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin increased risk.

Core exercises are the starting point of overall fitness because you need to hold those muscles engaged while you strengthen other muscles, such as the biceps in the arms or the quadriceps in the legs. Smith suggests setting short-term goals (for about a month) and then more long-term goals. Once you have achieved short-term goals, such as getting around more easily, add other types of weight-training or resistance exercises to build muscleelsewhere.

For most older adults, Dr. Hashmi recommends starting with acetaminophen (Tylenol). "It is weaker than an NSAID, but you can compensate for that by taking a higher dose," he says. A potential side effect is liver damage, but you can safely take up to 3 grams a day. Tylenol typically comes in pills of 325 or 500 milligrams (mg). "You can take up to two 500-mg pills three times a day without fear it will affect the liver," he says.