Fibromyalgia Syndrome -- Common and Difficult to Diagnose
August 21, 2007If you suffer from aches, stiffness, increased sensitivity to pain, or other arthritis-like symptoms, it could be fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatic condition that accounts for 15–20% of visits to rheumatologists. Fibromyalgia is not a form of arthritis as it does not cause inflammation to the joints, muscles, or other tissues. Instead, fibromyalgia causes pain and stiffness in tissues around the joints. …
Arthritis Q and A on Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery
August 21, 2007Is minimally invasive hip replacement surgery all that it’s cracked up to be? Simon Mears, M.D., chief of total joint arthroplasty and trauma at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, explains the advantages.Q. What are the benefits of minimally invasive hip replacement surgery? A. Patients must understand that although the term “minimally invasive” sounds attractive, the surgery is still the same as the standard procedure, only it is performed through smaller incisions. In fact, recent research…
Got Arthritis? Get Exercise!
August 21, 2007Studies show that most Americans with arthritis are not active enough. Here are some tips for exercise that’s easy on the joints and can be done regularly by those of us who suffer from arthritis.
Could Your Pain and Stiffness Be Caused By Ankylosing Spondylitis?
August 21, 2007Ankylosing spondylitis can be hard to diagnose because early symptoms mimic other arthritic conditions. Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic rheumatic disease characterized by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. These joints are located in the lower back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone of your back) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Inflammation in these areas (spondylitis) causes pain and stiffness in and around the…
Advance Planning for Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery Makes for Smoother Sailing
August 21, 2007Considering hip or knee replacement surgery? Here’s practical advice from Johns Hopkins doctors. Because hip or knee replacement surgery is rarely an emergency, you have plenty of time to set your house in order before you go to the hospital. That includes arranging your home so that it will be rehab-friendly when you return home, taking care of important paperwork, and lining up neighbors and friends to help. …
Q & A on Hip Replacement Surgery
August 21, 2007Considering hip replacement surgery, but not sure when the time is right? Frank Frassica, M.D., chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins, offers advice.