Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by the loss of normal bone density. This disease weakens the bone and increases the risk of bone fracture. Osteoporosis itself has no specific symptoms, only consequences such as fractures and pain.
Osteochondritis Dissecans is when a variable amount of bone and its adjacent cartilage that loses its blood supply. It is a joint condition that commonly affects the elbows and knees. Some symptoms include stiffness, joint pain, and locking of the joint.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Some symptoms include joint pain, tenderness, local inflammation, stiffness, creaking, and/or locking of joints. Treatment of osteoarthritis includes exercise, lifestyle modification, medication, and/or manual therapy.
A muscle spasm, otherwise known as a cramp, is an involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles. The contraction can occur suddenly and can usually resolve quickly. Some muscle spasms can be painful and the patient will need to stretch the muscle involved to relieve the spasm.
Lyme Disease is an infectious disease transmitted among rodents by ticks. Some early symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue, depression, and circular skin rashes. Lyme disease can be prevented by wearing protective clothing and light coloured clothing.
Lupus is acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body. It is an autoimmune disease (body’s tissues attacked by its own immune system) with symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, muscle aches, facial rash, photosensitivity, and/or low fever.
A Bunion is an enlargement of the bones and the joint between the foot and big toe. Symptoms include skin irritation around the bunion, redness and pain, and pain when walking. Bunions are treated by resting the foot, avoiding excessive walking, wearing loose shoes, and/or taking anti-inflammation medication.
Bullous Pemphigoid is an acute or chronic autoimmune skin disease where there is tense blistering eruptions on the surface of the skin caused by antibodies and inflammation abnormally accumulating in a certain layer of the skin. Some symptoms include severe itching and burning sensation, pain, and/or sensitivity.
Behcet’s Syndrome is a form of vasculitis (heterogeneous group of disorders that have an inflammatory destruction of blood vessels) that can lead to ulceration and other lesions. Some of the symptoms include recurring mouth ulcers, genital ulcers, and inflammation of a distinct area around the pupil of the eye(the uvea). Some forms of treatment, depending on the severity and location, are steroid gels, oral steroids, and thalidomide.
Baker Cyst is when the knee joint is protruding to the back of the knee and the fluid causes swelling. Baker cysts are common and can be caused by almost any joint swelling (example: arthritis). The symptoms associated can range from nothing to pain or tightness in the knee. The swelling looks like a bulge behind the knee and is usually soft and tender. Cortisone injections are used to treat a symptomatic Baker cyst by removing the excess knee fluid. If there are no symptoms, rest and leg elevation is all that is needed.
