Acute or chronic pain in different parts of the body, such as hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles, may happen due to various underlying conditions. In fact, the sensation of pain in one part of the body may have roots in another part or an underlying disease/condition. As such, the only way to achieve long-term relief from symptoms is to identify and treat the underlying condition. Below, we describe some of the most common conditions responsible for your pains.
Other Conditions
Acute/Chronic Pain
Pain occurs when something in your body has gone wrong, but not all pains are alike. Before we discuss the various conditions responsible for pain, it’s important to understand the types of pain — acute pain and chronic pain.
- Acute pain occurs suddenly due to specific incidents or injuries, such as burns, cuts, broken bones, surgery, falls, etc. It’s usually a sharp pain that recedes in a few days or weeks.
- Chronic pain is an ongoing pain that lasts longer than six months, often increasing in intensity with time. This type of pain persists after the inciting injury is healed. Chronic pain may occur due to arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, and other underlying conditions.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition wherein one or more of the joints in your body are swollen, tender, and stiff. This leads to joint pains and stiffness, making regular movements and mobility difficult and painful. While there are several types of arthritis, the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis occurs due to the wear and tear of the cartilages in the joints. The cartilages located at the ends of the joints provide the lubrication necessary to minimize friction. The wearing away of cartilage makes the bones grind against each other during movements.
- Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the tough membranes surrounding the joints. Over time, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed, and the disease may eventually destroy the cartilage and joints, causing severe pain.
Headaches
Headaches are common problems that may have numerous underlying causes, such as emotional stress, medical conditions, physical injuries, and environmental factors. Diagnosing the true root cause of headaches is essential for treatment. However, headaches can be categorized as primary or secondary.
- Primary headaches occur due to injuries or problems in the head and neck, resulting in cluster or tension headaches.
- Secondary headaches occur as symptoms of other conditions, such as strokes, brain tumors, hypothyroidism, infections, etc.
- Migraine headaches involve pulsating and throbbing pains on one or both sides of the head. Migraine episodes can last a few hours or several days.
Complex Spinal Pain
Complex spinal pain occurs due to disorders of the spinal structures, such as the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, or soft tissues. The most common causes of complex spinal pain include infections, fractures, tumors, and herniated discs. This often causes severe pain and affects your stability, mobility, coordination, breathing, and bladder control.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes bodily pains and mental stress. This condition causes soft tissues and myofascial pains, and its most common symptoms include headaches, jaw pain/ stiffness, pain in the facial muscles, stiff joints, fatigue, and irregular sleep. While fibromyalgia can happen at any age, it’s most common amongst patients over 45 years of age.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a condition wherein the bursa becomes inflamed. The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the muscles, tendons, and bones around the joints, facilitating smooth and frictionless movements. The bursa inflammation may occur due to repetitive movements, improper posture, injuries, and underlying conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is a condition wherein the tendons become inflamed. The tendons are the tissues connecting the muscles to the bones. They can become inflamed due to repetitive movements of your joints or injuries. The most common types of tendonitis are golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, and jumper’s knees. Physical therapy is essential for persistent tendonitis.
Dizziness/Balance Disorder
Dizziness or balance disorder may happen due to various underlying factors, such as problems with medications, mobility issues with the neck joints, migraines, head injuries, motion sickness, and more. This can lead to vertigo (sense of motion or spinning), lightheadedness, unsteadiness, and floating sensations. Understanding the root cause of your balance disorder is an essential component of the therapy.
Schedule an Appointment
Miami Neurology & Rehabilitation Specialists is led by a talented team of physical therapists. Our physical therapists examine your motion, stability, flexibility, and strength to identify and treat the root cause of your conditions, thereby promoting long-term relief from symptoms. For more information, please schedule an appointment at our centers in Miami, FL.
