Although modern medicine has been successful in managing infection and saving victims of multiple trauma, healthcare providers have offered little relief to individuals with chronic diseases, such as arthritis. Many patients with arthritis are seeking help with disease management from alternative therapies. When used along with allopathic medicine, these therapies may, in fact, increase quality of life for patients with arthritis. This article, second in a two-part series on alternative therapies, returns to the seven fields of practice identified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore additional treatment options for individuals with arthritis.

Bursitis Definition Bursitis is the painful inflammation of the bursa, a padlike sac of fluid found in areas of the musculoskeletal system that are subject to friction, such as joints. Bursae cushion the movement between the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints. Bursitis is most often caused by repetitive movement performed by individuals in the course of their occupations, activities of daily living, or recreational activities.

Carpal Tunel Syndrome Definition Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder caused by compression at the wrist of the median nerve supplying the hand, causing numbness and tingling.

Fibromyalgia Definition Fibromyalgia (formerly known as fibrositis) is an inflammation of the fibrous or connective tissue (muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons) of the body. Widespread pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points characterize this condition. Other symptoms may include sleep disturbance, headache, and bowel disturbances.

Gout is a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow. Attacks of gout usually come on suddenly, stop after five to 10 days, and can keep recurring.

Rural Nurse Organization Hallux Rigidus Clinical Resources

SIGN Guideline Contents - Introduction, Diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis, Principles of treatment, Pharacological management, Role of the multidisciplinary team

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disorder of the joints caused by gradual loss of cartilage that may result in the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints. The name osteoarthritis comes from three Greek words meaning bone, joint, and inflammation.

Osteonecrosis is a pathologic process resulting from direct and indirect injury to the bones' vascular supply. Varying microangiopathic entities cause the death of bone. Bone cell death subsequently causes loss of joint function, impaired mobility, and microfractures leading to collapse of the joints' articular surface. The pathogenesis of osteonecrosis is presented.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Definition Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is primarily caused by human reactions to events outside the realm of ordinary life experience. Domestic and criminal violence, natural disasters, and transportation accidents are major categories of incidents associated with PTSD. Once thought to be experienced primarily by war veterans, PTSD is now known to occur in survivors of sexual, physical or emotional abuse, and in persons who have witnessed a traumatic event.

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Sprains and Strains Definition A sprain is an injury to ligaments and/or the joint capsule that occurs in response to large stresses. A strain is disruption of the contractile elements in muscle and/or tendon. An easy way to remember the difference between sprain and strain is that strain is spelled with a "t," which can infer the associated word tendon. tendon.

The treatment of symptomatic articular cartilage defects of the knee has evolved tremendously in the past decade. Previously, there were limited treatment options available to patients who suffered from either partial-thickness or full-thickness cartilage lesions. Because articular cartilage has a limited capacity for healing, patients were often treated symptomatically until they became candidates for osteotomy or total joint replacement. Recently, both reparative and restorative procedures have been developed to address this significant source of morbidity in young active patients. Microfracture is a reparative technique that induces a healing response to occur in an area of articular cartilage damage. Osteochondral autografts and allografts in addition to autologous chondrocyte implantation are restorative techniques aimed at recreating a more normal articular surface. Both types of procedures have been developed to alleviate the symptoms associated with focal chondral defects, as well as limit their potential to progress to a diffuse degenerative arthritis. Treatment can vary depending on both cartilage defect and patient factors. This article summarizes the various treatment options that have recently become available.

Whiplash Definition Whiplash is the mechanism that causes the neck injury often suffered in a rear-end automobile collision. People also use the same term, whiplash, to mean the resultant neck injury itself. Whiplash produces a wide range of symptoms, but almost all victims experience pain. About 1,000,000 whiplash injuries occur in the United States every year.