The Pain Relief Clinic

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admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:07:30 +0000

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admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:00:40 +0000

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admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:50:57 +0000

We’ve received your question and will try to respond as soon as possible.
Please note that this cannot replace a consultation with your doctor, and is not for emergency medical help.
Kindly call us at +65 64057280 ( or +65 90689605) if you need a faster response.

Trigger Finger

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:21:22 +0000

What Is Trigger Finger? (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a painful condition of hand and fingers characterized by snapping movement of the fingers due to snuggly fitted tendons through the wrist tunnel.

As you try to straighten the finger, the tendon becomes momentarily stuck at the mouth of the wrist tunnel and finger becomes locked in bent position, then on further straightening, finger snaps as the tendon gets freed through the tight area. This usually causes pain and catching of the fingers.

The thumb can sometimes also be similarly affected and in such cases, it is referred to as a Trigger Thumb.

What Causes Trigger Finger?

The specific cause of trigger finger is often unclear, but people who perform repetitive griping movements are more susceptible to this condition.

When a person suffers from trigger finger, there is swelling and inflammation occurring around the tendons which are attached to the fingers.

Who Is More Likely To Suffer From Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger can affect persons of all ages, but it more often appears between 40 to 60 years of age.

Women more often affected develop trigger finger than men.

People suffering from Diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Amyloidosis, Tuberculosis and Hypothyroidism are also more prone to suffer from trigger finger

When Should I Suspect That I May Be Have Trigger Finger?

One should consider the diagnosis of a trigger finger if he/she has the following signs and symptoms:

Pain in the palm and fingers.
Difficulty in finger movements.
Locking of fingers in a bent position when trying to straighten the fingers.
There is stiffness in the fingers which tends to be more severe after a period of inactivity. (e.g. in the morning)
On feeling the fingers, there is a lump or nodule felt along the line of a tendon

How Can Trigger Finger Be Treated?

Trigger finger can be treated in several ways, depending on the severity of the disease. The the common treatments for trigger finger:

Conservative treatments:

Immobilization of the fingers for brief period.
Ice application for pain and inflammation.
Heat therapy.
Splinting the affected finger.

Medical treatment:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).
Local injection of steroid around the tendon.

Surgical treatment:

If the above measures fail and the condition doesn’t respond to injections of steroid, then surgical intervention may be considered. It consists of removing the inflamed and scarred tissue to widen the opening of wrist tunnel so that the tendon can slide through easily.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to patients.

For patients who are still suffering despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for trigger finger.

Tennis Elbow

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:21:04 +0000

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, and epicondyle bursitis, is a condition in which there is tenderness around a bony prominence called the epicondyle, at the lateral (outer) aspect of elbow.

How Is Tennis Elbow Related To Tennis?

Tennis elbow is a condition that commonly follows a period of over activity, particularly unaccustomed activity that involves active extension (to stretch out) and supination (turning palm upward) of the wrist. The backhand swing of tennis involves such movements and can injure the tendons and muscles of the elbow thus leading to inflammation and pain.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Any activity involving repeated movement of the wrist and forearm, or repeated twisting of the wrist coupled with inadequate rest, may cause Tennis elbow. Possible activities include:

Working with a screw driver
Painting with a brush
Hammering
Scissoring

Such activities may cause tiny tears in the muscle fibers and the tendons attaching the muscles of the forearm to the epicondyles. These tears may heal themselves if given sufficient rest but if the activity is vigorous or continued, healing becomes delayed and there is prolonged inflammation and tissue degeneration of the tendons.

What Are The Main Symptoms Of Tennis Elbow?

Pain on the lateral aspect of the elbow.
Pain that becomes worse on doing some work.
A weak grip.
Stiffness in the forearm.
Restriction of elbow movements.

What Are The Standard Treatment Options For Tennis Elbow?

The aim of the treatment is to allow the tendon to heal. Some helpful measures include:

Avoidance of the activity that is causing the injury.
Ice or heat application.
Analgesics
Anti-inflammatory drugs.
Local injection of steroids.
Splints to keep the elbow and forearm fixed in a resting position.
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to patients with tennis elbow.

For patients who are still suffering despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for tennis elbow.

Spondylosis

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:20:47 +0000

What Is Spondylosis?

Spondylosis is a degenerative disease of the spine in which there is the presence of osteophytes along the anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral column.

Osteophytes are bone spurs or bony projections that form along joints. These are usually formed due to damage of the joint’s surface. These osteophytes cause restricted joint movements along with varying degrees of pain.

Which Part Of The Spine Is Affected By Spondylosis?

Any part of the vertebral column may be affected by Spondylosis, but usually the cervical and lumbar regions tend to result in symptoms more commonly. The terms Cervical Spondylosis, Thoracic Spondylosis, and Lumbar Spondylosis describe the part of the spine affected.

What Causes Spondylosis?

Spondylosis is believed to be caused by problems in the circular disc of cartilage between two vertebral bones. This disc is called the “Annulus fibrosus”. It is prone to degenerative changes with age. As the disc ages, it looses water, fragments and collapses.

This results in direct contact between the adjacent vertebral bones and they start corroding due to friction. The result is the formation of osteophytes which cause painful and restricted joint movements. Other than increasing age, conditions like arthritis and trauma have also been implicated as causes of spondylosis.

What Are The Symptoms Of Spondylosis?

A patient suffering from Spondylosis may experience:

Neck pain which radiates to the shoulder, or backache. The location of pain is related on the portion of vertebral column involved.
Abnormal sensations or loss of sensations according to the segment of vertebral column involved.
Muscle weakness (especially in arms and legs).
Loss of balance.
Loss of bladder and/or bowel control(a medical emergency).

What Are The Treatment Options For Spondylosis?

Many patients with spondylosis feel that their treatment is not ideal. Conservative treatment and lifestyle modification yield some results in many cases. The goal of treatment is to slow the disease process and improve the quality of life by improving signs and symptoms of the disease.

The following are some possible modalities for the treatment of Spondylosis:

Conservative treatment:

Analgesics (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory medications like NSAID’s.
Muscle relaxants.
Heat therapy.
Electrical stimulation.
Message therapy.
Physiotherapy and exercises to strengthen the muscles.
Injections for spinal joints in severe cases.

Surgical Treatment:

If above methods do not yield required results or if the severity of disease is beyond limitations of conservative treatment plan, then surgical intervention may become necessary.
It involves repair of the affected inter-vertebral disc or removal of the disc if it’s not repairable.
Sometimes fusion of two vertebrae is performed by using pieces of bone and inserting them between the two adjacent vertebrae.

In many cases, patients are often started on medications, and physiotherapy by their doctors. Injections and surgery may also be discussed as possible options.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to patients.

At The Pain Relief Clinic, we provide cost-effective and on-site Xrays, MRIs, and treatments for spondylosis.

Even for patients with severe spondylosis as well as long-standing pain and stiffness despite undergoing other treatments, we offer a number of particularly effective options.

Slipped Disc

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:20:27 +0000

What Is “Slip Disc”?

Pain due to injury of the spine is quite common and can include a slipped disc, disc prolapse, bulging disc, ruptured disc, and herniated disc. These terms refer to situations in which the intervertebral disc displaces from its normal anatomical position.

The backbone consists of bony parts called vertebrae separated by spongy (cartilaginous) disc like structures called intervertebral discs that lie between two vertebrae.

The intervertebral disc consists of two parts, a tough outer part (annulus fibrosis) and a softer inner part or a nucleus (annulus pulposus). These discs are especially designed to work as a shock absorber.

What Causes Slip Disc?

The intervertebral disc and the adjacent vertebrae undergo changes with increasing age. As a result of associated degeneration, the disc loses its ability to retain water. These changes are usually present without causing apparent pain but as the annulus fibrosis thins and radial slits appear in it, this allows the nucleus (annulus pulposus) to bulge and even to rupture through it, resulting in “slipped disc”.

While this degeneration occurs with age, severe trauma may also cause a disc to herniate (bulge out). Some common causes include:

A sudden fall or accident.
Heavy weight lifting.
Long term strain over the back.

What Are The Common Problems Experienced By A Patient With Slip Disc?

Depending on the region of the spine affected, a patient may experience some of the following problems:

Cervical Spine:

Pain and stiffness in neck.
Arm pain.
Weakness and numbness in the arms.
The feeling of pins and needles in the arms.
Unsteadiness of gait.

Thoracic Spine:

Back pain.
Possible physical deformity of the spine.

Lumbar Spine:

Pain in the lower back that may radiate to the buttocks and back of the thighs (sciatica).
Problems in performing daily tasks like picking up things, sitting, walking, running and so on.
Altered bowel or urinary bladder function.
Weakness and numbness in one or both legs.
Impotence and erectile dysfunction (in males).

The pain is often aggravated by work and relieved with rest. The backache will often improve but may last for a long time.

How Is Slip Disc Treated?

Standard treatment options for slipped disc include:

Non-Surgical Treatment:

Physiotherapy.
Analgesics for pain.
Muscle relaxants.
Application of heat and cold.
Back exercises.
Weight reduction.

Surgical Treatment:

Surgery may be indicated depending on the duration and severity of the pain, physical signs, and the radiological findings.
Partial removal of bone or discs may correct the impingement on the spinal cord.

In many cases, patients are often started on medications, and physiotherapy by their doctors. Injections and surgery may also be discussed as possible options.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a few new treatment options available to patients.

For patients who are still suffering despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for slipped discs.

Shoulder Pain

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:20:08 +0000

What Are Causes Of Shoulder Pain?

Of all the joints in the body, the shoulder probably offers the greatest range of movement yet it is a relatively unstable joint because the ball of the humerus bone doesn’t fit into the shoulder joint completely. Any injury, swelling, tear or entrapment of tendons can cause pain in the shoulder. Some common conditions causing pain in the shoulder include:

Rotator cuff tears.
Frozen shoulder.
Dislocation of the joint.
Tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon).
Arthritis of the shoulder.
Ruptured tendon.

A shoulder pain may also be a referred pain, meaning that the cause of pain occurs at a site other than the shoulder.

How Is Shoulder Pain Treated?

Treatment of shoulder pain will depend on the precise cause and severity of the patient’s problem. Your doctor will have to first reach a diagnosis after a taking a detailed history and performing a clinical examination. In some cases, an Xray, ultrasound, or MRI may also be necessary. Patients are often started on medications, and physiotherapy by their doctors. Injections and surgery may also be discussed as possible options.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a few new treatment options available to most patients.

For patients who are still suffering despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for shoulder pain.

Sciatica

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:19:50 +0000

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is the name given to pain which originates in the lower back and radiates to the buttocks and down the legs due to irritation of the Sciatic nerve. Sciatica is one of the most common causes of lower backache.

The sciatic nerve is one of the most important and big nerves affecting to the back and lower limbs. It emerges from the openings in the sacral vertebral bone (tail bone) and supplies muscles in the back and lower limbs. In sciatica, the openings in the sacral bone through which the sciatic nerve emerges, is narrowed, causing pressure on the sciatic nerve and resulting pain along its course. As this nerve supplies back and lower limb, there is backache and pain running down the legs.

What Are The Causes Of Sciatica?

The causes of sciatica are mostly conditions that cause irritation of the nerves. These include:

Fractures of the pelvic or hip bone.
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal).
Prolapsed intervertebral disc.
Osteoarthritis.
Spondylosis.
Intra-spinal abscess.
Intra-spinal tumor.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica?

The symptoms of sciatica vary according to the severity of impingement on sciatic nerve. Sciatica should be suspected if patients experience:

Pain and cramps in the back, buttocks and down the posterior aspect of legs.
Weakness in the legs during standing and walking.
Pain and weakness that is relieved with rest.
Numbness or tingling in the back and along the legs.
Reduced sensations along the areas supplied by the sciatic nerve.

How Is Sciatica Treated?

In many cases, patients with sciatica are often started on medications, and physiotherapy by their doctors. Injections and surgery may also be discussed as possible options.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to patients.

For patients who are still suffering despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for sciatica.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:19:28 +0000

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that primarily causes chronic inflammation of the synovium of joints, often associated with other multi-system features.

An autoimmune disease, refers to a condition where the body’s defense mechanism acts against the body’s own tissues. In the case of Rheumatoid arthritis, it is the synovium of joints which becomes a victim of the body’s self inflicted damage.

Who Suffers From Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Though believed to be a disease of the general population, Rheumatoid arthritis affects women more than men. The cause for this occurrence is not well understood.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect persons of all ages, but it usually appears between 25 to 50 years of age.

Rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes also affect children and is known as“Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis”.

What Is The Cause For Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The specific cause of Rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, but it is thought to possibly be a genetic disease. There is also evidence of infections and other environmental factors being possible causes.

What Are The Signs And symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Some of the possible signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis include:

Low-grade fever
Fatigue and tiredness
Lack of appetite
Small joints in the fingers, toes, hands, feet, wrists, elbows, and ankles becoming swollen and painful.
Large joints like knee joint, can also be affected.
Pain and swelling is symmetric (same joint on both sides).
Joints later become stiff and deformity may also occur.
Morning stiffness of affected joints which occurs after waking up in the morning and lasts for at least 30 minutes.
Stiffness after prolonged inactivity of affected joints .
Subcutaneous nodules which are hard swellings just under the skin may be present.

How Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Treated?

The following methods can help to relieve some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:

Physiotherapy.
Weight loss.
Heat therapy.
Cold therapy.
Occupational therapy.

Medications should often also be used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis. Some of these medications include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s):
Corticosteroids
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARD’s):
Anti-cytokines

Some of these medications not only relieve the symptoms but can also suppress the immune system and also slow down further progression of the disease.

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is complex and should include the supervision of a rheumatologist.

If deformity occurs during the course of this disease, then surgery may become necessary to improve the patient’s quality of life.

With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to most patients. It is best to discuss these treatments with your doctor.

For patients who are still in pain despite other treatments, The Pain Relief Clinic offers a number of highly effective solutions for Rheumatoid Arthritis.