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Do you have a spinal condition that’s causing you chronic pain intense enough to interfere with your life or day-to-day activities? Are you afraid you’ll never be able to get your pain under control or that it might continue to worsen as you age?
Many people with spinal disorders feel frustrated, confused, and helpless about their conditions. As many as 500,000 people suffer from some form of spinal injury each year. The good news is that you can ease your concerns and fears by gaining a better understanding of your condition.
At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, we work to help you understand your symptoms, diagnose your condition and inform you of the various treatments. Below is an overview of the most common types of spine conditions, as well as other orthopedic conditions.
A quadriceps tendon tear occurs when a tendon that attaches one of the four quadriceps muscles (the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius) to the kneecap suffers an injury. Usually, this condition affects middle-aged individuals who participate in sports, with men being 8 times more likely than women to sustain this type of injury.
Ankle Instability occurs when the moving parts of your ankle (i.e. ligaments, tendons, and bones) wear down over time, making the ankle more prone to buckling and injury. Obviously, overuse (particularly in regard to athletics) is a common cause of the disorder; but anyone one with a genetically weak ankle or who uses the ankle repetitively (such as during their occupation) is at risk of developing this condition.
A torn MCL occurs when the medial collateral ligament that keeps your inner knee stable suffers an injury. Oftentimes, this occurs when an athlete (such as a football player or skier) changes directions too quickly or lands incorrectly after attempting a jump. Because the medial collateral ligament has a good blood supply, it tends to heal more easily than ACL injuries.
Golfer’s Elbow, or medial epicondylitis, occurs when the tendon that connects the inside of the elbow to the forearm becomes inflamed. Usually, this occurs when one engages in activities that apply repetitive stress to the flexor muscles of the wrist. Common activities that lead to this problem include golf, baseball, bowling, weight lifting, painting, yard work, or using a screwdriver.
An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle suffer an injury, for example, when one steps the wrong way or rolls the foot too far inward or outward. Such injuries can involve many different ligaments, including the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), or the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL). For individuals with ankle instability, ankle sprains are particularly common.
Patellar Tendinitis (or Jumper’s Knee) occurs when the tendon that connects your patella (or kneecap) to your shinbone suffers inflammation or injury. Because overuse is the primary cause of patellar tendinitis, athletes are particularly at risk for developing this condition. “Weekend warriors” who fail to warm up or condition properly before working out may also sustain this type of injury.
A hammertoe is a type of toe deformity that affects the second, third, or fourth toes. It occurs when an unnatural bend develops in the proximal interphalangeal joint, aka the first bend in the toe, closest to the foot. Sometimes, this occurs in response to a congenital or neuromuscular imbalance in the toe muscles. Other times, environmental factors, like improper footwear, can bend the toe into unnatural positions.
A SLAP tear occurs when the labrum of the shoulder tears from the anterior to posterior side where it attaches to the biceps tendon. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the socket of the shoulder, also known as the glenoid cavity. These types of injuries can occur with repetitive motion (such as occupational injuries), from trauma, or age-related degeneration.
A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, occurs when a large bony bump develops along the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) where the innermost metatarsal bone meets the big toe. This bony protrusion typically forms when the MTP joint shifts out of alignment, forcing the big toe to turn inward, toward the second toe. This can lead to numerous secondary problems, such as calluses and corns, etc.
A Diabetic Foot Ulcer often occurs in response to poor circulation or peripheral neuropathy from diabetes. Typically, an innocuous sore evolves rapidly into a much more serious condition, one that can require limb amputation if not promptly addressed. For individuals with diabetes, therefore, routine foot care becomes absolutely essential. One can prevent diabetic foot ulcers by instituting regular checks, cleaning, and supporting the feet.
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NJ Spine and Orthopedic is dedicated to delivering minimally invasive laser spine surgeries to eliminate the pain, discomfort, and dysfunction of numerous conditions of the neck and back.
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