A medial branch block may be done before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to test whether pain is coming from the small nerves that carry signals from a spinal facet joint. If temporarily numbing those nerves meaningfully reduces your usual pain, that response can help determine whether they are reasonable targets for RFA. What Is the Block…
If your shoulder keeps slipping, giving way, or feels loose after a dislocation, you may be dealing with chronic shoulder instability. A past dislocation can injure the tissues that keep your joint centered, so it’s easier for it to happen again. Why Can One Shoulder Dislocation Lead to More? Your shoulder moves more freely than…
If you’re feeling sharp, burning, or electric pain that starts at the base of your skull and moves upward, it could be occipital neuralgia. Migraine and other head or neck issues can feel similar, so where the pain starts and how it feels can help point you in the right direction, but they don’t give…
If you can’t fully straighten your knee after a fall or awkward landing, you may have a quadriceps or patellar tendon tear. These tendons let you extend your leg, and a complete tear can make your knee buckle or keep you from lifting your leg straight. Which Tendons Help Straighten the Knee? Your quadriceps tendon…
Numbness or tingling that wakes you at night can be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, especially when it affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Similar symptoms can come from the neck or another nerve problem, so the finger pattern and exam are important. The Finger Pattern Offers an Important Clue Carpal tunnel syndrome…
Kyphoplasty may help when a recent vertebral compression fracture is causing persistent, focused back pain and non-surgical care hasn’t provided enough relief. Whether it fits depends on imaging, your symptoms, the age of the fracture, and your overall health. What Does a Vertebral Compression Fracture Feel Like? A compression fracture happens when a weakened vertebra…
If your ankle keeps rolling or giving way after a sprain, you could be dealing with chronic ankle instability. Sometimes the ligaments aren’t supporting your joint the way they should, but muscle weakness, tendon issues, or even your foot shape can also be involved. What Does Chronic Ankle Instability Feel Like? When your ankle feels…
A sports head injury needs a concussion evaluation when you notice headache, dizziness, confusion, memory trouble, balance problems, or a change in how the athlete acts. The athlete doesn’t need to pass out, and symptoms may not show up until hours or days after the hit. Concussions Aren’t Always Obvious A concussion is a traumatic…
Both cervical disc replacement and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) can take pressure off your nerves or spinal cord after a damaged neck disc is removed. With disc replacement, your surgeon uses an artificial disc to help keep your neck moving. ACDF connects the nearby vertebrae to add stability. The right choice depends on…
Warehouse and industrial workers should consider seeing an orthopedic specialist when joint or spine pain lasts beyond normal soreness, affects lifting or walking, causes numbness or weakness, or keeps returning during work. Physical jobs can strain muscles, joints, tendons, nerves, and the spine, so an exam can help identify what’s causing the pain. When Is…
